Almighty Coach

"Pengfei, your opponent for the Top Eight Promotion Event is that "Gifted Boy" Harimoto Hisashi," Zhizhong Gu smiled.

Pengfei Cui curled his lip with scorn. "I know him. Japanese media has been puffing him up as being a bright young star, and they give him titles like The Youngest Men’s Singles Champion, The Youngest Youth World Championships Champion, The Youngest Open Top Eight Player, etc. Was his mother a National Ping-Pong Team player?"

Zhizhong Gu nodded. "Harimoto Hisashi’s parents changed their family name from Zhang to Harimoto after they immigrated to Japan. His mother and I used to be teammates, but at that time, his mother was not outstanding in our team. After she retired, she went back her hometown, and we lost contact since then. Later, I heard she immigrated to a foreign country. It was not until years ago, when the media reported Harimoto Hisashi’s news, that I discovered that my previous teammate went to Japan."

"Don’t look down upon your opponent simply because of his young age. His playing style and yours are alike, both fierce. Moreover, Japan focuses on cultivating him, and these years he has participated in many international events, and has gained much experience," Zhizhong Gu said, then took out a file and browsed it, before continuing, "Not long ago, Harimoto Hisashi defeated Japanese Big Brother Hasegawa Xiuyoshi with a 4:2 score. Current him is in a nice condition. Although he is only fifteen, and is not a threat to us now, in four or five years, he might become our vigorous opponent."

Pausing here, cruelty flashed in Zhizhong Gu’s eyes, and he lowered his voice, "Therefore, in tomorrow’s contest, I want you to win, and I want you to win big. Smash him, destroy his confidence. Bring him fear and horror, and make us national team players a terrifying threat in his eyes! I want you to be his nightmare!

"Don’t worry, I’m quite good at this!" Pengfei Cui also smiled. He was a player with a distinct personality, and apparently, he felt no guilt about whacking a kid.

"In addition, change your old slow-start weakness," said Zhizhong Gu. "I have instructed Dai Li to warm you up in advance tomorrow, so that you can get into status quickly."

...

Athlete Lounge.

Harimoto Hisashi’s hands began to tremble involuntarily, his heart was beating with extreme excitement. Although Harimoto Hisashi gained much fame, most of it was puffed up by the media. It was like an unknown star, if he appeared on media coverage everyday, then one day he must be well-known by the public.

Another example was, when some actors didn’t have any presentable movie, nor did they have any valuable awards, or might even have a "box office flop". But after they walked the red carpet in a bizarre outfit several times while at foreign film festivals, foreigners who knew nothing about this guy before, would then label him an international movie star.

Harimoto Hisashi was in such a situation. He attended some international competitions with the title "The Youngest Participant", although he was always whacked by those adult players, until finally, he gained fame for himself. Of course, Harimoto Hisashi did have some competence. He was born in a sport family, both his parents played sports, especially his mother, who used to be a Chinese National Ping-Pong Team player. Hence, among foreign peers, Harimoto Hisashi was indeed the most outstanding one.

Harimoto Hisashi was famous when he was young, but he had never fought with the world’s best players. Here, the "world’s best players" didn’t mean "Japan’s No.1", "Germany’s No.1", "Korea’s No.1", nor ordinary international tour champions, but champions in World Championships, World Cup, Olympics, and other heavyweight tournaments. Championships of these important tournaments were always undertaken by China National Ping-Pong Team.

In other words, Harimoto Hisashi had not fought against any major force in the national team. But today, Harimoto Hisashi was going to face his first ever Hell-Difficulty copy in his career, in which his opponent was the Dark Lord Pengfei Cui.

Harimoto Hisashi was aware of the fact that, even though Pengfie Cui was affected by his injury and was not was competitive as he used to be, he was still undefeated. He would surely fail in the Hell-Difficulty challenge.

I must win Pengfei Cui at least one round1! Harimoto Hisashi told himself.

Winning a round was not only the goal that Coach Kimura Juichi set for Harimoto Hisashi, but was also Harimoto’s own goal for himself. Kimura Juichi considered that winning a round could inspire Harimoto Hisashi’s growth, and thus, would enhance his confidence. But Harimoto Hisashi hoped that he could rectify his name by this victory.

Comparing with the other athletes, in regards to youth and fame, Harimoto Hisashi did receive much doubt, scorn, and even unprovoked abuse. There were too many people who thought that Harimoto Hisashi was just a flash in the pan. But all those unfair treatments became his driving force.

Thinking about Pengfei Cui, a sense of complex feeling raised in Haimoto Hisashi’s heart. He had already heard about Pengfei Cui at the time when he had just entered into primary school.

Later, when Pengfei Cui became the World No.1, he regarded Pengfei Cui as his idol, even mimicking Pengfei Cui’s playing style on purpose. Now at this moment, Harimoto Hisashi finally got the chance to challenge Pengfei Cui face to face.

I have observed all the records of Pengfei Cui’s competitions, I know that his slow-start weakness is my chance, and I must catch it!I will win at least one round, or even two rounds! Harimoto Hisashi thought confidently.

Pengfei Cui always started slow in competitions, which was well-known around the world. When he was fighting top ping-pong players, a 3:1 score often occurred, and he usually failed the first round in the game, while rallying to come back and whack his opponents in the rest three rounds.

Harimoto Hisashi felt that, if he did fail in a 3:1 situation, then it at least proved that he did have something, and that he had reached the world top level, rather than being boosted by the media without merit. While Harimoto Hisashi was full of bright hope, in another lounge, Pengfei Cui was doing Warming Up Square Dance, with background music...

...

As the Austria Open went into the Top Eight Promotion session, the amount of people in the audience had obviously increased, now filling the auditorium. Pengfei Cui walked onto the field, and from his appearance, he looked just the same as in previous games, eyelids drooped as usual, as if he was still asleep.

Harimoto Hisashi observed this, and smelled the odor of "hope". The game started, Pengfei Cui serving a ball first.

For the first ball, I should utilize Pengfei Cui’s slow-start characteristic to grab one point! Harimoto Hisashi had already made his strategy in his mind.