One Nil to You (A Prince of Tennis Fanfiction)

Chapter 11

August 16, 2012

Junior Japanese Selection Team Training Camp — Ariake, Koto-ku,Tokyo

Morning

"The camp will be drawing to a close tomorrow." Coach Sakaki said before taking a sip of his cup of coffee. "We should begin sorting the members for the Eastern Junior Japanese Selected Team."

Tezuka nodded. "Indeed we should. I have considered some members of Ryuzaki-sensei's group."

The door suddenly opened as Coach Hanamura came into the meeting room.

"Pardon me for being late, Coach Sakaki, Tezuka-kun," she said.

"Not at all, Hanamura-sensei." Tezuka told her.

"Hanamura-sensei, have you began making nominations for players of your group for the team?" Coach Sakaki asked.

"I have." Coach Hanamura replied. Then she held out the letter she was holding in her right hand. "But it seems we'll have to make a special appointment considering this year's East-West Goodwill Games is different."

"Different?" Tezuka asked, honestly puzzled.

"How so?" Coach Sakaki inquired, raising a skeptical brow.

"And we have to do it fast." Coach Hanamura added, as she handed them the letter.

Legacy International Inc. Japanese Headquarters — Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo

Morning

Towards the end of the sumptuous luncheon every esteemed member of Legacy's Japanese board attended, Artur stood up and raised his glass of champagne and spoke, "Ladies and gentlemen, before we go, I would like to say my deepest gratitude for giving your most humble support for the beneficial cause of the East-West Goodwill Games. And I hope that you will enjoy your time this Sunday to see the gifts of promising athletes of the future."

Everyone gave a round of applause to their chairman before they raised their glasses for a closing toast.

Later that noon right after the luncheon, Artur had busied himself with the financial reports from the company's main branch in Australia along with the ones coming from their French, British and Brazil offices. He had set aside the folder for plans of the plans of the U.S. branch in New York yet again which had been proposed two years ago and moved on to the proposals for the Italian and German branches of Legacy.

A knock from outside interrupted him as Eustace came with a parcel in his hands.

"This came in for you just now, Master Artur." Eustace said, as he handed his master the package.

"From Monthly Tennis Pro..." Artur read the address of the sender. Unwrapping the package, he took out the long awaited Monthly Tennis Pro Summer Special Edition.

"According to what I've heard, they're giving away free copies to the former pros they've interviewed." Eustace informed.

"I see..." Artur said while flipping through some of the pages until he reached the page with a title that read Samurai Echizen Nanjiro—Legendary Player of Japan!. Just seeing how outstanding this page in the magazine was, he could really tell that Mr. Inoue tripled his efforts should his all-time favorite player read this issue. Looking at the picture of the great Japanese player, he mumbled, "Perhaps if he hadn't retired straightaway, I would've finally met my match."