It’s normal to have skills in Wangwang, right?

Chapter 411 Visiting the Youth Selection Training Camp and Making Speculations

The tree-lined paths of the training base were designed with a winding, secluded feel. Liu Lingyin carried a large bag of pastry boxes, strolling leisurely along the stone path. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows that danced on her beige top. The cakes in the bag weren't particularly heavy, but they were quite large, forcing her to lean slightly to the side to maintain her balance.

"You should have thought of this when you gave your name..."

She muttered to herself, adjusting the position of her bag. Indeed, at the registration desk, when the staff asked about the purpose of her visit, she naturally gave the name Sakaki Taro.

As one of the main coaches for this selection training camp, her name was enough to get her into the temporarily closed training area. However, she didn't expect that this would also directly determine that she would be guided to the training ground under Coach Sakaki's supervision.

Neatly trimmed bushes lined both sides of the road, and the green netting of a tennis court was faintly visible in the distance. The sounds of hitting the ball, footsteps, and occasional shouts grew clearer as she approached, like some kind of rhythmic background music. Liu Lingyin walked along, observing her surroundings—the training base was quite well-equipped; besides the standard hard court tennis courts, a physical training area and a white multi-functional building could be seen in the distance.

Her mind was still preoccupied with Kirihara Akaya. That perpetually energetic, sometimes recklessly clumsy, curly-haired boy—his encounter in the stairwell in the original story… Although she couldn't recall the specific details, the word "injured" was enough to make her heart tighten. An athlete's body is too precious; any accident could cause irreversible damage.

“But speaking of which,” Liu Lingyin suddenly stopped, seemingly lost in thought, “Rikkai University is the champion of the Kanto Tournament… According to the usual practice for this type of selection, does the champion school have special quotas?”

She tried hard to recall the original setting. Yes, these kinds of inter-school selections usually give the champion school more spots, and perhaps even all students have the opportunity to participate. After all, winning the team competition already proves the school's outstanding overall strength.

“So that means…” Liu Lingyin’s eyes widened slightly, “Not only Sanada and Yukimura, but they are probably also in this training camp. Kirihara is not alone; he has a ‘patriarch’ protecting him.”

This realization eased her tension a little. With those reliable senior students from Rikkai University around, the chances of being assigned to the same group were much higher. As long as there were "parents" around, Kirihara wouldn't be in a completely disadvantaged position like in the original story.

“I’m just overthinking it.” She shook her head and continued walking forward, a self-deprecating smile playing on her lips. The “prophetic” perspective brought by time travel could sometimes become a burden, causing her to focus excessively on the negative events that might occur in her memories, while ignoring the subtle differences in the current situation.

Just as her thoughts were drifting, she heard footsteps behind her—not one person, but two, accompanied by footsteps that were sometimes light and sometimes heavy.

Liu Lingyin subconsciously moved aside and continued walking at her leisurely pace. She didn't have anything urgent to do today; she just wanted to check on the training and bring some snacks as a token of her concern—of course, the worry for Kirihara deep in her heart was still there, but it wasn't as sharp anymore.

However, the footsteps behind her grew closer. Liu Lingyin glanced sideways and caught sight of two girls in pink and blue tennis dresses, each carrying a plastic basket full of tennis balls. The baskets didn't look heavy, and the two girls weren't walking unsteadily.

A three-way intersection appeared ahead. Following the direction of the tennis ball's sound, Liu Lingyin naturally chose the right-hand path. She didn't notice that the two girls behind her, who had initially been walking straight, seemed to hesitate for a moment after seeing her turn and then changed direction as well.

So, at the next turn, the three of them were almost side by side.

Liu Lingyin walked slowly carrying a large bag, while the two girls carrying ball baskets, though burdened, walked quickly and soon caught up from behind.

When the distance between them shortened to the point where they could see each other's faces clearly, the atmosphere seemed to freeze for a moment. Or rather, the short-haired girl carrying the basket froze on her own.

Because Tachibana An recognized Rin.

That profile, that slightly puffy bob, and that leisurely strolling posture despite being in a tennis training base—Ju An almost immediately recalled the girl who spoke sharp words in a calm tone on the day of the Rikkai vs. Fudomine match.

Her brows furrowed involuntarily, a mixture of displeasure and wariness welling up inside her.

When the two were almost side by side, Tachibana An finally couldn't help but speak, her voice filled with obvious doubt: "What are you doing here?"

Liu Lingyin turned around at the sound and saw Tachibana An and the gentle-looking girl with pigtails next to her. She recognized Tachibana An and also Ryuzaki Sakuno—the quiet girl from Seigaku who always followed behind Echizen Ryoma.

“I came in through the main gate,” Liu Lingyin replied matter-of-factly, her tone as calm as if she were simply stating that the weather was nice today.

This answer made Ju Xing even more displeased. She stopped, put one end of the basket on the ground, and looked directly at Liu Lingyin: "I didn't see you at the opening ceremony of the training camp. You're not part of the training camp and can't just come in like that."

Liu Lingyin also stopped and switched the snack bag to her other hand. She looked at Ju Xing—the girl was wearing a volunteer uniform, and there were fine beads of sweat on her forehead, indicating that she had been busy for some time.

"How do you know I'm not part of the training camp?" Liu Lingyin retorted, her voice still calm. "Besides, you're not a coach for the training camp, are you? Why are you so nosy?"

These words struck a nerve with Ju Xing. Her cheeks flushed slightly, partly from anger and partly from the exhaustion of carrying heavy objects. The memory of being rendered speechless by Liu Lingyin's retort that day resurfaced, and she knew she couldn't win an argument.

“Anna…” Ryuzaki Sakuno spoke softly from the side, she had been carefully observing the atmosphere between the two, “Let’s move the tennis ball to Coach Sakaki’s place, it’s getting late.”

Ju Xing took a deep breath and nodded, using this opportunity to her advantage. She lifted the tennis basket again, deliberately avoiding Liu Lingyin's gaze, and turned to quicken her pace. Her movements were somewhat hurried, almost causing the tennis balls in the basket to roll out.

Ryuzaki Sakuno bowed slightly to Liu Lingyin, her voice soft and polite: "Senior, we'll be going now."

Liu Lingyin nodded to her. Although this first-year student from Seigaku was shy, she was always very polite.

Ryuzaki Sakuno, carrying the other end of the basket, jogged to catch up with Tachibana An. The two girls quickly disappeared around the corner.

Liu Lingyin stood there, watching the direction they left in, and clicked her tongue softly.

She wasn't unaware of Tachibana An's hostility, but it didn't matter to her.

The purpose of my visit today is clear: to confirm Kirihara's safety, to deliver some snacks, and to observe the progress of this selection training camp.

She picked up the bag again and continued walking at her unhurried pace. This time, however, her gaze swept more carefully over her surroundings, and her ears focused more intently on distinguishing the sounds coming from different directions. In which area would the Rikkai members be practicing this time?

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled patterns of light on her path.

The sounds of balls hitting the shuttlecock grew increasingly frequent in the distance; it was the world of tennis prodigies, a world where sweat and dreams intertwined.

As Liu Lingyin turned the last corner with her bag of snacks, the entire training ground under Coach Sakaki's supervision came into view.

There were three standard hard courts side by side, their dark green surfaces reflecting a soft sheen in the afternoon sun. On each court, figures were fiercely battling it out—the yellow ball traced sharp straight lines through the air, the sounds of the shots crisp and clean, each stroke carrying the power of all-out effort.

On the sidelines, Taro Sakaki sat upright in a simple folding chair, his back straight as a pine tree, his hands folded on his knees. Even on such a hot afternoon, he was still wearing a well-pressed brown suit, his tie perfectly tied. His posture was as upright as ever, and even as a mere observer, he exuded an undeniable presence.

He was intently watching the match unfold.

Right beside him, Ryuzaki Sakuno and Tachibana An, who had just put down their tennis baskets, stood somewhat reservedly.

The two girls seemed to have some awe of the serious coach. They said a few words quickly and then turned and left as if they had been granted a pardon—but they went in another direction, towards another training area in the distance.

Liu Lingyin watched them disappear from sight before carrying a large bag of snacks and tiptoing towards Sakaki Taro. Her gaze would occasionally return to the court, carefully observing the players on the field.

Intermediate venue...

Liu Lingyin paused slightly in her steps.

She saw Genichiro Sanada and Renji Yanagi. Sanada's black hat stood out in the sunlight, and every swing of his racket was swift and sharp; while Renji Yanagi maintained the calm demeanor unique to data tennis players, and every return of his ball seemed to be precisely calculated.

But there were only the two of them.

There were no other Rikkai University members.

Were they all assigned to other groups? What a coincidence!

She took a deep breath, composed herself, and walked towards the sidelines with her bag of snacks. Without disturbing the ongoing training, she tiptoed to Sakaki Taro's side.

"Dad Sakaki, I'm here."

Sakaki Taro turned his head at the sound of her voice, and a barely perceptible tenderness flashed in his eyes when he saw her. "Hmm," he responded, his gaze falling on the large bag in her hand and the fine beads of sweat on her forehead, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

“I want to go inside,” he stood up and pointed to the folding chair he had just been sitting in. “You can sit here for a while.”

Liu Lingyin looked at the chair—clearly the coach's reserved seat, Sakaki Taro's only resting spot outside the entire training field. And now, he had given it to her.

A warm feeling welled up inside her. She knew this was Sakaki Taro's kind of care: not saying anything sentimental, but expressing it through actions. Beneath his serious exterior, his care for his family was always so direct and genuine.

Her almond-shaped eyes, which had been wide open, suddenly curved into crescents, and a warm and radiant smile appeared on her lips. There was not a trace of gloom in that smile; it was as pure as the summer sun.

“Okay! Thank you, Papa Sakaki!” Her voice was light and bright.

Looking at the smile on her face, Sakaki Taro's serious expression softened a bit. He simply hummed in agreement and turned to walk towards the entrance of the stadium.

After he left, Liu Lingyin didn't stand on ceremony and sat down on the chair—standing is never as comfortable as sitting, especially after carrying such a bag of things for quite a distance. She carefully placed the bag of snacks at her feet and turned her gaze back to the basketball court.

Almost at the same time she sat down, Taro Sakaki had already passed through the metal gate and entered the court. He clapped his hands, the crisp sound of his applause standing out clearly amidst the sound of the ball being struck.

"gather."

The simple command carried an unquestionable authority. The fights in the arena gradually ceased, and the boys wiped their sweat, gathering around Sakaki Taro. Sanada, Yanagi Renji, Fuji... and a few other fighters whose names Yanagi Suzune recognized or didn't.

Just then, Liu Lingyin raised her hand at the perfect moment and waved with a smile to the people she knew.

In fact, Sanada and Renji Yanagi noticed her the moment she appeared on the sidelines. With their keen observation skills as top athletes, it was impossible for them to miss a figure carrying a large bag on the sidelines. However, they needed to concentrate during training, so they tacitly refrained from reacting immediately.

Seeing Liu Lingyin's actions, Sanada nodded seriously and raised his hand to adjust his hat; a very faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on Liu Renji's lips; Fuji smiled with narrowed eyes and raised his hand to shake it back.

Sakaki Taro began with a brief review of the training and the arrangements for the next phase. Yanagi Rinne couldn't quite hear the specifics, but judging from the boys' focused expressions, Sakaki Taro's words clearly carried weight.

She sat in the chair, her gaze sweeping over the young, focused faces. Sweat streamed down their cheeks, soaking the backs of their team uniforms, but each person's eyes shone with an astonishing light—a light unique to their age and their sport.

Is it really just such a coincidence?

Genichiro Sanada and Renji Yanagi are still in the Sakaki team, while the others have been assigned to other teams.

But her sixth sense refuted her idea.

Did Yukimura Seiichi not come?

Given Rikkai University's status as the Kanto Tournament champion, they should be eligible to participate in all selections. Considering Yukimura's skill and sense of responsibility, he wouldn't miss such an important training camp unless there were special circumstances.

Liu Lingyin's fingers unconsciously rubbed the edge of the chair.

Liu Lingyin took out three bronze coins, threw them three times on the grass, and then retrieved them.

As Liu Lingyin had predicted, not all members of Rikkai University were present at this year's youth selection.

Among the trainees, not only was Yukimura Seiichi absent, but just like in the story, there were only Sanada Genichiro, Yanagi Renji, and Kirihara Akaya.

She didn't know the reason, but she could make a rough guess.

Yukimura Seiichi's physical condition still needs recuperation. Like Tezuka, although he can train and play, he still needs rest and cannot engage in prolonged high-intensity training in the short term.

The youth selection is a training camp, and the intensity of the training might not even be as high as Rikkai's training volume, but the training camp requires living together. Given Yukimura's physique, the diet wouldn't be suitable.

Given Yukimura's personality and his trust in his teammates' abilities, even without his participation, it would have been sufficient for Rikkai to send their two top figures and the outstanding junior, Kirihara Akaya, to represent Rikkai.

Due to his physical condition, in order to give his all in the national tournament, and to conceal Rikkai's doubles strength, Rikkai only sent three players to participate in this year's youth selection.

This speculation left her with mixed feelings. If it were true, then Yukimura's decision not to participate in this training camp was a wise one—although the AoE was a selection process, the training intensity was definitely not low, and the need to live in a shared dormitory would indeed be a considerable burden on his body, which was still in the recovery period.

She couldn't help but admire Yukimura's strategic thinking; he was so thoughtful at such a young age.

However, considering that this is the illogical world of The Prince of Tennis, and her skills are also illogical, it all seems to make sense.

Liu Lingyin's thoughts drifted far away until Sakaki Taro finished speaking and the boys dispersed to prepare for the next round of training, at which point she came back to her senses.

Through the iron fence, Sanada and Yanagi Renji walked over together with steady steps.

Liu Lingyin stood up, walked to the iron fence, and smiled as she held up the bag at her feet: "I brought you some snacks. You've worked hard during training."

"Thank you!" Liu said gently, her eyes narrowed.

Sanada frowned slightly when he saw the weight of the large bag, thinking it was too sloppy, but in the end he could only say, "Thank you."

"It's alright. I thought there were a lot of you, and it would be better not to bring any if I brought too few. So I brought more, but this is only for this one time," Liu Lingyin said with a smile.

His gaze swept over Sanada and Yanagi's faces. Although he already had the answer in his heart, he still asked, "Um... Yukimura-kun didn't come, did he?"

The air was quiet for a moment.

Renji Yanagi calmly replied, "The minister needs more time to recuperate. For this youth election, Rikkai University will be represented by us and Akaya."

His tone was calm and confident.

Sure enough.

She nodded, not pressing for details, and simply raised the bag in her hand slightly: "You can share these snacks after you finish training."

Sanada glanced at her, and finally nodded slightly: "Mm."

Liu Lian'er: "Thank you!"

In the distance, Sakaki Taro clapped his hands; a new round of training was about to begin. The two nodded to Liu Lingyin and turned to run back to the court.

Liu Lingyin sat back down in her chair, watching their backs as they immersed themselves in training. Sunlight streamed onto the court, and the boys ran, swung their rackets, and sweated—every frame brimming with youthful energy.