readytorunbook #144 - Ralph Reinhart
#144 - Ralph Reinhart
"Coach, I am, after all, a member of the first string. If I don't go to the away games—isn't that a bit unreasonable?"
Yukimura said, "Besides, I'm going with the team, and the seniors will be watching."
As he spoke, Yukimura glanced at Hōō Byōdōin and Jūjirō Oni and others.
"Head Coach, I think Yukimura is right."
Saitō Itaru suddenly said, "Yukimura is the God of Tennis in the world. If he doesn't go to this away game against the American U-17 team, it might be a bit inappropriate."
"Inappropriate is inappropriate. It's just an away game; there's no need to care so much."
Mifune Nyūdō said indifferently.
Yukimura shrugged helplessly. He had already expected Mifune Nyūdō to say that.
"Head Coach, don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him."
At this moment, Hōō Byōdōin spoke.
Mifune Nyūdō frowned.
"Head Coach, although Yukimura is known as the God of Tennis, he is still too weak, especially lacking experience on the world stage."
Jūjirō Oni said, "The away game is a good opportunity for him to see the world."
Yukimura looked at Mifune Nyūdō.
"Why do you suddenly want to go on an overseas expedition, kid?"
Mifune Nyūdō looked at Yukimura, his eyes slightly narrowed.
He always felt that Yukimura wanted to do something.
Yukimura was stunned, not expecting Mifune Nyūdō to ask that suddenly. Then he said, "Coach, I am a member of the first string, right?"
Mifune Nyūdō glanced at him.
"America—"
Immediately afterward, Mifune Nyūdō's eyes showed a thoughtful expression.
"It's not impossible for you to go."
Then, Mifune Nyūdō said, "But you need to meet someone."
"Who is it?"
Yukimura asked curiously.
"I won't say for now. I'll tell you when you get there."
Mifune Nyūdō said, "Once you get to America, listen to Byōdōin."
In fact, how could Mifune Nyūdō not know the issues that Hōō Byōdōin and Jūjirō Oni had mentioned?
The only thing Mifune Nyūdō was worried about was Yukimura's safety.
Medano More's injury was an example!
The world is not that simple!
You must know that Mifune Nyūdō was cultivating Yukimura as the next No.1. If something happened to Yukimura, then the future of Japan's U-17 team would be—
World-class middle school students are rare, perhaps nonexistent.
"Coach, when will we go to America?"
Shūji Tanegashima looked at Mifune Nyūdō.
"In the next few days. Once the International Tennis Federation approves it, we can prepare."
Mifune Nyūdō said in a deep voice, "At that time, it's likely that not only America but also other countries will go together."
Hearing this, Yukimura and the others nodded slightly.
They naturally understood what Mifune Nyūdō meant.
"According to the information we have received from around the world..."
At this time, Saitō Itaru said, "The American U-17 team is currently in chaos and completely disobedient."
Duke Watanabe continued, "He is one of the main players on the current American U-17 team."
Yukimura's eyes flickered, "Seniors, is there someone on the American team named Ralph Rhinehart?"
Ralph Rhinehart?
Hearing Yukimura's words, the first-string members present frowned slightly.
Why did Yukimura suddenly bring up this name?
"Ralph Rhinehart."
Duke Watanabe pondered for a moment, and finally said, "I didn't see this name at the World Cup, and I'm not sure, but since you mentioned it, Yukimura, then this Ralph Rhinehart should have become a first-string player."
"Seiichi, who is Ralph Rhinehart?"
Chloe looked at Yukimura with some curiosity.
She wouldn't say she understood Yukimura very well, but Chloe knew that Yukimura wouldn't easily say other people's names.
Unless that person had something special about them.
"I just heard a friend mention his name."
Yukimura said with a smile, "I heard that this person is very strong."
Hōō Byōdōin and Jūjirō Oni exchanged glances, a glint of light appearing in their eyes.
Friend?
Someone who can be called a friend by Yukimura must be extraordinary.
"What's the name of your friend?"
Mifune Nyūdō's eyes flashed as he looked at Yukimura and asked.
"Ryōma Echizen."
Yukimura naturally expected Mifune Nyūdō to ask him, so Yukimura had already prepared his answer.
Therefore, Ryōma Echizen was naturally a good answer!
Sure enough, just as Yukimura had thought, Mifune Nyūdō's expression changed slightly after hearing the name Ryōma Echizen.
Not only Mifune Nyūdō, but also Hōō Byōdōin and Jūjirō Oni, Shūji Tanegashima, Kazuya Irie, and others.
To be precise, they were surprised by the surname Echizen.
The first-string members present only felt that the surname Echizen was very familiar, but they couldn't remember the specifics.
Ryōma Echizen...
"It seems that Yukimura's friend is really not simple."
Kazuya Irie said, squinting his eyes.
Yukimura shrugged his shoulders. If Ryōma Echizen knew, he would definitely challenge him to a match, right?
Unfortunately, Ryōma Echizen wouldn't know. He couldn't possibly ask Hōō Byōdōin and the others himself, right?
So Yukimura wasn't afraid of being exposed.
"Echizen!"
Mifune Nyūdō murmured, looking deeply at Yukimura.
He really didn't expect that Yukimura would know that guy's son.
There are many people in this world with the surname Echizen, but Mifune Nyūdō was certain that the name Ryōma Echizen must be that guy's son!
And Mifune Nyūdō's judgment was based on Yukimura saying that Ryōma Echizen was his friend!
It was precisely because of this that Mifune Nyūdō believed that Ryōma Echizen was that guy's son.
"Echizen!"
Hōō Byōdōin's eyes showed surprise.
"I really didn't expect it."
Jūjirō Oni was very surprised.
Shūji Tanegashima nodded lightly.
Immediately afterward, Mifune Nyūdō spoke to Yukimura and the others about some other matters.
Ten minutes later.
Yukimura and the others left the conference room.
"Overseas away game, huh—"
A sharp glint flashed in Yukimura's purple eyes.
And this time, the opponent for the away game was America.
Ralph Rhinehart doesn't seem to be on the American U-17 team?
"It seems—the current American team is really chaotic."
Yukimura thought to himself.
Yukimura didn't know much about Ralph Rhinehart, only that this person was very strong.
He vaguely remembered that when Ralph Rhinehart participated in the next U-17 World Cup, his strength had definitely reached the professional level.
It's just that there wasn't much information about Ralph Rhinehart in the American team, which really surprised Yukimura.
"Seiichi, is that Ralph Rhinehart very strong?'
Chloe asked, following behind Yukimura.