I am the Strongest Man - CH002 - High School Boxing Tourney Announcement

While walking out of the police station, Perseus said his goodbye to his new acquaintances.

Perseus: "Ahh, guys, I'll head this way. You guys take care."

Ceres: "Ahh, okay, Perseus. Let's meet up again sometime, I hope."

Jin: "Yeah, man, take care! Can I have your number so we can hang out together sometime."

Perseus: "Yeah, that's cool. Here it is."

They said goodbyes after. Then night passby.

-- Next two morning --

Inside the crop field. An elder with good physique is tending to his plants while listening to the radio.

*Current events broadcasting

Elder: "Perseus, can you hand me the pesticide? My tomato has some worms on it. It's really bad."

Perseus: "Alright, gramps!"

Perseus hands over the pesticide.

Elder: "How's the school treating you?", the elder asks.

Perseus: "It's fine, I guess. Being homeschooled surely is different. I met so many people in such a short span of time. Now that I think about it, I'm actually thrilled!", he exclaimed.

Elder: "That's great to hear. We'll have you continue our farm, I will let you inherit it."

Perseus: "Well, no one will do besides me, right gramps?"

Elder: "Yeah, you don't have any competition."

Perseus: "Hahahaha!"

As he laughs, he suddenly remembers something that's carved into his heart deeply.

Perseus: "I miss them."

Elder: "Who?"

Perseus: "Mama, Papa and Claude."

Elder: "Yeah, me too."

*Radio plays flash news tune

Radio Broadcaster: "Sorry for interrupting our regular programming. This is flash news, the City 3 will be holding an intercity school fighting tournament, in accordance with the new ordinance made by lower congress to promote physical improvement of the students."

Elder: "Ohh, I envy you guys, if you want, you can participate in this tournament as easy as you can. Back in the old days, CHR will certainly trash this new ordinance quickly."

Radio Broadcaster: "This is only for students from middle to high school, if interested, you can register at a designated booth inside your school gym."

Elder: "You are quiet, are you not interested?"

Perseus: "Naaah… I mean, there's a lot of things to do in the house and on the farm. I'd rather train and farm at the same time, no noise and the beauty of the field is mine to see."

Elder: "Why, you're young, I can take care of the crops when you're not here. You go enjoy your youth!"

Perseus: "Is fighting pursuing youth?"

Elder: "No, that's not what I meant. You really enjoy being physical with mountain bears and running with our horses. Plus, you always watch me do training and sometimes spar with me."

Perseus: "Yeah, that's why I don't need to join the tournament. Playing with them and training with you gramps!"

Elder: "That seem pretty cringy, righhht?" *gramps cringing violently.

Perseus: "Ahhh! Whatever?!" he shyly whined.

Radio broadcast: "We are not ending this news flash and we'll continue our regular programming."

-- Near lunch time --

Perseus: "Gramps, I'm going to school now. We have basketball practice this afternoon with the team and some guys from nearby school."

Elder: "Okay, go ahead! Don't be reckless so you won't get injured!"

Perseus: "Yes, thank you! I'm off!"

Perseus rides his bike to the nearest bus station. After about 10 minutes the bus finally arrives.

-- At the school --

He walks to their locker room, finds out that there are people already inside.

Varsity1 (yellow hair and muscular looking dude): "Hey, Perseus! We've been waiting for you! Do you have any idea on what school we are going to play against?"

Perseus: "No idea, man. Why would I know? The coach is always super secretive on what team we're going to play anyway."

Varsity2 (blue hair alpha handsome looking tall male): "Yeah, but the coach always reminds us that this is for our sake, so that we don't rely on data of our opponents and we can improvise on the fly whenever needed and this is just training anyways."

Varsity1: "Blah… blah… feels like we're not playing organized basketball for me. John (Varsity2), that's just an excuse from the coach."

John: "Yeah, I know, but still pretty useful when we need it. We actually thrive because of it when it comes to actual games."

Perseus: "I agree to some point. He's doing his job by getting us new opponents every time; we're doing ours and improving so that we win. Each and every play with our unknown opponent becomes a crucial part of how we play. We improve as the game progresses. And you Nathan (Varsity1), you are the team captain, if you want to know, scout the coach yourself so you know!"

Nathan: "Yeah, I should've but that takes a lot of work!"

John: "But you're the captain, tho…"

While the boys are talking, the locker room door opens. Nathan looks to the door. A skinny tall guy with shades comes in.

Skinny Tall guy: "Yo!!! Wazzup my people?!!"

Nathan: "Hey, Clint! You're here!!! Come here, give me a five up, give me five down!"

John: "You're not with Shay?"

Clint: "Yeah, he said I can go here first because he went up all night playing Springtime Saga."

Nathan: "That fatass virgo! We need him to start today!"

John: "Come on, now. Let's just go to the court. So that we can see our opponents."

The four varsity students go out of the locker room.

-- 10 MINUTES LATER --

While the whole team is stretching, a fat and tall guy with stubble hair runs to the bench.

Fat guy: "Hey, guys, sorry I'm late!", clearly exhausted asf, he apologizes.

Nathan: "Nothing we can do about it. Just sit for a bit and stretch your goddamn body, Shay!"

Shay: "Yeah, but it's hard!", whining like a baby.

Perseus: "Man, you need it. So you don't always get strained muscles and get tired easily."

Shay: "Hai-hai…", sighs deeply.

Now that the students are warming up, a student from the other school comes to Perseus' team side of the court. Clearly showing off his dribbling skill. Bystanders from the stands are amazed.

As the student approaches the end of his dribbling routine, Perseus can see that "That student" is planning to follow it up with something.

Perseus prepares his lead foot as the student looks at him and smiles. The student darts off from the corner three-point line to the paint, but Perseus follows him.

Student: (What is this dude doing? Is he planning to block me?)

Perseus manages to catch up the 4 steps difference and covers the student.

Student: (Hmmm. He's faster than me. Well, take a look at this!)

The student looks at Perseus and smiles again, he then prepares to jump. He takes off by jumping using his left foot, he bends his right leg and stretches his right arm; a tomahawk jam!

As the student in mid-air, Perseus jumps using his knees for more vertical and power, clearly attempting to block this dunk.

Student: "Not today, bro!"

Perseus: "Not today, what?"

*Ball being slammed from the board can be heard in the gym.

The student manages his hand to reach the rim but not the ball in the hand.

Perseus blocked his dunk, smacked out of his hand to bounce off from the board.