"Ouch!"
"Please, have mercy!"
"We... we won't do it again..."
Inside the tennis park, after Akutsu's intervention, Yukita and his gang lay on the ground, bruised and begging for forgiveness.
But Ishikawa wasn't about to let them off so easily.
After hearing from bystanders about the despicable behavior of these delinquents, he immediately called the park's security and handed them over to the police.
"Bunch of scum," Akutsu muttered, his face filled with disgust as he watched them being led away.
He had heard of these guys before.
They were shameless creeps who often used the guise of friendly conversation to harass girls. Sometimes, they even forced others into relationships.
To someone like Akutsu, who had been in real fights and seen real violence, these guys were nothing but a disgrace to the reputation of delinquents.
"Good job, senpai," Ishikawa said with a smile as the delinquents were taken away. "Though, I have to admit, I didn't expect you to have such a strong sense of social responsibility."
"Hmph," Akutsu snorted, clearly annoyed by the comment. "If you hadn't promised me an extra chance to challenge you, I wouldn't have bothered with this nonsense."
With that, he crossed his arms and turned his head away, his usual prideful demeanor on full display.
"You're a good kid," an elderly voice chimed in.
Sitting on a nearby bench was an old man with a white beard, nodding approvingly at Akutsu.
"This old guy..."
Akutsu's expression twisted slightly at the old man's words. He wasn't the type to lash out at someone so elderly, especially since he had learned to tolerate even Coach Banji's antics. This old man looked even older than Banji, and Akutsu's pride wouldn't let him stoop to arguing with someone of that age.
"Young man," the old man continued, shaking his head, "you have talent, but you lack patience. Whether it's tennis or anything else, without patience, you'll never see the true essence of things."
"Old man!"
Akutsu's temper flared.
He had already been holding back his anger, but now this old guy was pushing his limits. Did he really think Akutsu wouldn't snap?
"Sir," Ishikawa stepped in before Akutsu could lose his cool, smiling politely. "If I'm not mistaken, you're the coach of Rokkaku, right? The match is about to start. Would you like us to take you there?"
"Oh?"
The old man turned to look at Ishikawa, and his previously half-closed eyes suddenly widened.
"You're quite impressive," he said, his tone shifting from casual to genuinely appreciative. "I didn't expect to meet another young man like this, aside from that one person."
"This old guy... what's with the cryptic talk?"
Akutsu frowned, feeling increasingly uneasy. There was something off about the old man. Even though he was sitting right there, Akutsu had the strange sensation that the old man didn't quite exist unless he focused on him.
"Young men," the old man suddenly spoke up, "if you're willing, I can teach you a method to calm your minds and cultivate your inner selves."
"What nonsense is this?"
Akutsu shook his head, turning to Ishikawa. "You can keep entertaining this old man if you want. I'm out of here."
"Wait," Ishikawa stopped him, shaking his head. "Don't be so quick to dismiss him. I think this old man genuinely wants to teach us something. Of course, you don't have to learn, but if you want to catch up to me, it might become even harder."
Hearing this, Akutsu's eyes narrowed. He had been about to leave, but now he hesitated, glancing back at the old man.
The old man slowly stood up and gestured for them to follow. "Come with me."
With that, he began walking, and Ishikawa followed without hesitation.
Akutsu hesitated for a moment longer but eventually decided to trust Ishikawa. If the guy said there was something to gain, it was worth checking out.
Soon, the old man led them to a quiet corner of the park.
He sat down on a patch of grass meant for resting visitors and gestured for the two to join him. "Sit like this."
Ishikawa nodded and followed the old man's example, sitting cross-legged on the grass.
Akutsu, though skeptical, mimicked the posture as well.
"Close your eyes and relax," the old man instructed. "Feel everything around you. Let your emotions settle and free yourself from external distractions."
"Relax your body, relax your mind, let go of all your worries..."
As the old man spoke, he opened his eyes to observe the two young men.
Ishikawa had already closed his eyes, his expression calm and natural. Akutsu, on the other hand, had his brows furrowed, as if struggling with something.
However, as time passed, Akutsu's tense expression gradually softened.
"Not bad," the old man nodded in approval.
This wild and untamed young man, though not as naturally gifted in mental discipline as the other, was still able to suppress his inner turmoil. That alone was impressive.
Of course, what pleased the old man even more was the black-haired boy. Ishikawa's demeanor was becoming increasingly serene.
The sharp edges of his presence were fading, and he now seemed almost ordinary, blending seamlessly into his surroundings.
This was the first step in mastering one's emotions and connecting with nature.
"That kid back then took several hours to reach this point," the old man thought, a smile forming on his face as he recalled a certain brash but brilliant disciple.
Sadly, that disciple had retired at the peak of his professional career. Otherwise, Japan's tennis scene would have been even more dazzling.
"In comparison, this boy reminds me more of that other person," the old man mused, glancing at Akutsu.
The young man bore a striking resemblance to a certain blond-haired boy who had come to Chiba two years ago, seeking to further his training.
Both were brimming with confidence.
Both possessed extraordinary talent.
The old man had a feeling that Akutsu's path would be similarly fraught with challenges and pain, a journey of death and rebirth.
*Chirp chirp...*
Just then, something astonishing happened.
A small white bird landed on Ishikawa's shoulder, seemingly out of nowhere.
Then, a second, a third, and a fourth...
By the time the old man blinked, six birds of various colors had perched on Ishikawa's shoulders.
Yet, Ishikawa remained perfectly still, his expression calm and natural, as if he had become one with his surroundings.
**[Ding!]**
**[Player has learned a new secondary profession through practice: Yoga]**
The system's voice rang out.
But Ishikawa, who had emptied his mind, remained unaffected.
"Hmm?"
At that moment, Akutsu, who had been growing increasingly irritated by the noisy surroundings, finally opened his eyes.
Whoosh!
The birds perched on Ishikawa's shoulders immediately flew away, startled by the intimidating aura emanating from Akutsu.
"What a shame."
Ishikawa opened his eyes and sighed. "Akutsu-senpai, your mental state still needs more training."
"Hmph!"
Akutsu grunted in displeasure but didn't argue. He glanced around, his brow furrowing. "Where's that old man?"
"Probably left."
Ishikawa checked the time and realized that their brief mental training session had lasted 20 minutes. He shook his head. "Senpai, it's best to show some respect to that old man. Besides, the training method he taught us—if we stick with it—will definitely bring unexpected benefits in the future!"
"Tch, stop nagging."
Akutsu stood up, clearly annoyed, and walked off toward the court.
Watching his retreating figure, Ishikawa couldn't help but smile.
Since joining Hyotei, Akutsu's temper had mellowed significantly. If he could seriously practice the yoga techniques taught by Rokkaku's old man, his future potential would undoubtedly surpass even his original strength in the story.
Ishikawa stood up.
As he walked toward the court, he also took a moment to examine the new secondary profession he had just unlocked.
**[Yoga:
- Level 3: +1 Stamina
- Level 6: +1 Stamina
- Level 9: +1 Stamina
Additional Ability 1: Unknown
Additional Ability 2: Unknown
Current Level: Lv0]**
Unlike the secondary professions he had gained through matches, this self-learned profession was only at the lowest level, meaning he had only just begun to grasp its basics.
However, with the brain-enhancing effects of his max-level **[Go]** skill, Ishikawa's natural talent was on par with anyone in the original story. Combined with his max-level **[Kendo]** and **[Ancient Martial Arts]**, Ishikawa was confident that he could quickly raise this skill to Level 3 through dedicated practice.
Once that happened, Ishikawa's only remaining weakness—his stamina—would be completely eliminated, leaving him with no flaws whatsoever!
A short while later, the two arrived at the tournament court, which was shaped like a square.
By now, both Hyotei and Rokkaku's teams had gathered.
The appearance of Ishikawa and Akutsu immediately drew countless eyes.
"Is that Ishikawa Shin?"
Kurobe Harukaze, the broom-haired player from Rokkaku, exclaimed in surprise. "I heard he's only 12 but has already defeated a bunch of top players?"
"That's right."
Saeki Kojirou, the handsome vice-captain of Rokkaku with light blue hair, nodded. "When I went to Rikkai Dai for the draw with Kentarou, I heard he completely humiliated Rikkai Dai's second-year ace, Kirihara Akaya!"
"That's insane!"
Amane Hikaru marveled. "To dare to mess with a second-year player at the school that's won two consecutive national championships... this guy's got guts."
"A super rookie in his first year?"
Tree Hirohiko, the brown-haired player with a large nose, chuckled. "Funny, we've got one of those too."
"Exactly."
Kisarazu Akira, the long-haired player wearing a cap, teased. "He's just the vice-captain, though. Our super first-year is the captain!"
"Ishikawa Shin, huh?"
In the middle of the group, Rokkaku's captain, Aoi Kentarou, a bald boy with a receding hairline, narrowed his eyes. "Playing against someone like that is bound to put a lot of pressure on me, right?"
"Kentarou."
At that moment, a hoarse voice called out.
The playful atmosphere immediately vanished as the Rokkaku players turned serious. They looked over to see the old man from earlier walking toward them, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Old man, where did you go?"
"I was resting over there."
The old man rubbed his shoulders and then looked at the group. "Don't let your guard down. The opponent you're facing this time might be the strongest one yet. Especially that rookie from Hyotei—his strength might even surpass the national level."
What?!
Hearing their coach say this, the Rokkaku players' expressions changed.
"Surpass the national level?"
Saeki, Aoi, and the others exchanged glances, their faces filled with tension.
If anyone else had said this, they might have doubted it. But this was the old man who had taught them tennis since they were kids. To them, he was more than just a coach—he was a mentor and a guide.
If he said it, then the most dangerous player on Hyotei's team might not be Atobe, but their first-year vice-captain!
"Now, the second round of the Kanto Tournament will begin."
"Chiba Rokkaku Middle School versus Tokyo Hyotei Academy."
"Both teams, please prepare!"
As the announcement ended, the noisy court fell silent.
(End of chapter)