Thud!
The Oni (demon) threw the two "wild" wolves he had "hunted" in front of Mitsuru.
"Huh?"
Irie was stunned. "You actually ran into these guys on your way here?"
At that moment, he was utterly shocked. So much so that when he saw Ishikawa, he wasn't as surprised anymore.
"Long time no see, Irie-senpai," Ishikawa stepped forward, greeting Irie with a smile. Then, he turned to the scruffy old man with a red nose beside him. "This must be the head coach of U17, Mitsuru Nyudo, right? It's a pleasure to meet you. Here's a small gift as a token of my respect."
"You know me?" Mitsuru didn't acknowledge Ishikawa's subtle challenge. Instead, he looked at him with interest. "Did those three tell you about me, or did you find out somewhere else?"
Since becoming the U17 coach, Mitsuru had kept a low profile. Aside from leading the team to the high school tennis world cup, he rarely left this place. Logically, not only would a young boy like Ishikawa not know him, but even those who had met him before might not recognize him now.
Ishikawa smiled. "I did some research before coming here."
"Quite cautious," Mitsuru nodded in approval.
He wasn't angry that the two had easily seen through his little test and brought the "trophies" to him. On the contrary, he was even more impressed by their abilities.
The Oni, of course, was a given.
Two years ago, Mitsuru had already identified him as a core member of U17. Even though the Oni hadn't participated in the overseas tournaments, in Mitsuru's eyes, he still possessed top-tier high school-level strength.
What truly caught his attention was the black-haired boy in front of him.
After all, Mitsuru knew his real age.
That's why, when he saw Ishikawa, even this seasoned U17 head coach, who had long mastered the art of staying calm, couldn't help but feel his heart race.
A first-year middle schooler defeating a third-year high schooler like the Oni?
In the past, Mitsuru would never have believed it. But now, the reality was right in front of him.
For a moment, Mitsuru wasn't even sure how to train someone like Ishikawa.
"Perhaps…" Suddenly, Mitsuru thought of a training method he had seen long ago when he was following his own mentor. An idea began to form in his mind.
"Have you eaten yet?" Mitsuru turned to the two.
Seeing Ishikawa and the Oni shake their heads, he took out two portions of grilled meat from the fridge.
"Eat up and get some rest. Training starts early tomorrow, so make sure you're up on time."
With that, he yawned and headed back to the cabin.
"That's just how the head coach is," Irie said, watching Mitsuru's retreating figure. "He goes to bed on time every day. If it weren't for your arrival, he'd probably be asleep by now."
"Yeah," the Oni nodded.
He knew Mitsuru's personality well. While he appeared strict, he was deeply emotional. He gave special attention to players with talent. Although Mitsuru hadn't said much, the Oni could tell that he held Ishikawa in high regard.
"How have you been these past few days?" the Oni asked Irie as he skewered the raw meat and placed it over the campfire to roast. "How does the training here compare to the base?"
"It's very different," Irie shook his head, a smile appearing on his round face. "I won't go into details. You'll find out for yourselves when training starts tomorrow."
Hearing this, the Oni frowned slightly.
Ishikawa, however, chuckled. "I think I can guess. This place probably uses the mountainous terrain to strengthen the body, like climbing hills or trees to build muscle."
"Right," the Oni nodded. "But the head coach's methods are definitely more than that. If you let your guard down, you'll probably regret it."
After all, if Irie was speaking like this, Mitsuru's training must have its unique aspects.
The three of them chatted for a while longer about their journey. Once the meat was cooked, they ate, washed up, and then settled down to sleep on the large shared bed next to Mitsuru's room.
The next day, just as the sky began to lighten, Irie woke up.
Feeling the movement, Ishikawa and the Oni also got up. After exchanging a glance, they quickly changed and followed Irie outside.
Mitsuru was already standing at the door.
"The first task of today's training is to fetch water," Mitsuru pointed to a large water vat not far away. "Fill that vat."
"Yes," the three replied.
They then took wooden buckets and, in the misty morning, made their way down the steep cliff to the stream below.
After about twenty trips, they finally filled the vat.
By then, the sun had fully risen.
The repeated trips had left the three drenched in sweat. Even the physically strong Oni felt the strain.
"Breakfast is ready," Mitsuru, lying on a chair, pointed to the eggs and milk on the table in the distance. "One portion each. If it's not enough, figure it out yourselves. Also, let me remind you, if you don't complete the day's training, there's no dinner."
This…
Neither the Oni nor Ishikawa had expected their training to feel like a survival challenge.
"Understood," they replied.
Since they had chosen to come here for training, they had to follow the rules. If they couldn't accept it, they could leave. But clearly, neither of them had any intention of doing so.
After breakfast, the morning sun shone on Mitsuru's spot. He whistled, and a dark shadow flew down from the sky.
"That's…" Ishikawa and the Oni focused their gaze.
The shadow descended like lightning but slowed down as it approached Mitsuru, landing gently on his arm.
It was a fully grown bald eagle.
With a wingspan of over two meters, the eagle exuded an overwhelming presence.
"The training is simple," Mitsuru said, holding the eagle with one arm and looking at the three. "You'll have to avoid the eagle's pursuit within a set time. If the balloon tied to your back remains intact, you pass."
"Irie," Mitsuru turned to him, "you demonstrate."
"Sure," Irie nodded.
With plenty of experience, he walked to the cabin, tied a balloon to his back, and stood ready.
Whoosh!
The moment the eagle saw the balloon, it took off, diving straight for Irie.
But Irie reacted quickly, spinning around to dodge.
He then ran into the woods, using the trees as cover. With agile movements, he continuously evaded the eagle's attacks.
Ten minutes later, Mitsuru whistled, and the eagle returned to his arm.
Irie, now panting heavily, emerged from the woods. He looked even more exhausted than after the repeated trips to fetch water.
"As you can see," Mitsuru turned to Ishikawa and the Oni, "this training is meant to enhance your reflexes."
"Right," Ishikawa and the Oni nodded.
The eagle's speed was incredible, and the balloon tied to their backs made it hard to control their movements. To successfully dodge, they needed not only agility but also sharp observation and anticipation skills.
However, both Ishikawa and the Oni were confident in their speed and reflexes. They exchanged a glance, each seeing the determination in the other's eyes.
"What, you think you'll pass this easily?" Mitsuru chuckled at their expressions. "Don't kid yourselves. Did you really think I'd let you take on this challenge in your current state?"
Thud!
As he spoke, Mitsuru grabbed a pile of items from behind and threw them in front of the two.
Ishikawa and the Oni looked down and saw weighted ankle straps, wristbands, and two long, belt-like strength binders.
"Put these on," Mitsuru's cold voice rang out. "Here, even professional players start from zero."
He glanced at them sharply. "From now on, forget your past. I'm going to train you like beasts!"
"Hmm…"
Hearing this, both Ishikawa and the Oni felt a weight in their hearts.
Now, they truly understood the overwhelming pressure emanating from this scruffy old man who looked like a farmer or a mountain hunter.
But there was no turning back.
Since they had chosen to undergo this intense training, they wouldn't give up halfway.
However, once they put on the equipment, their expressions turned serious.
It was too heavy.
Mitsuru's weighted gear was clearly custom-made. Even the physically strong Oni felt like he was wearing a thick suit of armor.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
At the same time, several eagles of different colors appeared in the sky, circling above. Their sharp eyes gleamed with intensity.
"Kids," Mitsuru laughed as he saw the expressions on Ishikawa and the Oni's faces. "Don't be nervous. The training has only just begun."