Weaknesses and Blind Spots, The Embryonic Form of Evolution

(Chapter 3 delivered~ Finally got a day off, looks like I won't be able to go out on my days off anymore o(╯□╰)o)

"Good timing!"

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"Atobe!"

"I'll settle this with you head-on!"

Screeeech~~~

The yellow and white soles of his shoes continuously scraped against the ground, making a noise.

Watching Atobe's smash come down, Muneyoshi's expression didn't change in the slightest. He still calmly calculated the tennis ball's landing spot.

Just as Atobe was about to score.

Muneyoshi, with precise pursuit of the landing spot, quickened his steps slightly. Then, with a sideways twist, he returned the ball with a lift.

After returning the shot, Muneyoshi didn't stop. Instead, his eyes burning with intensity, he continued to charge towards the net.

That charging momentum.

It had been displayed in previous matches, so Atobe wasn't surprised.

However, Atobe, who should have also been charging towards the net, stopped at this moment.

"Hahahaha, finally... I've got you!"

Atobe, leaning on his knees, suddenly burst into laughter before standing up straight, his eyes narrowing.

His eyes, like the calm surface of a deep lake without a ripple, fixed on the tennis ball Muneyoshi had returned.

With a calm and composed demeanor that showed no change.

He stopped, sidestepped.

Tensed his racket, swung.

Thwack!

With a crisp sound, the speeding tennis ball was caught by Atobe using a drag-shot to absorb the force. Atobe then added a slice spin with an under-cut motion, returning it.

"Saeki, you're the one who's pushed me to improve, so let me show you my new technique!"

Atobe was exceptionally unrestrained at this moment.

"Atobe, I'm watching..."

Tap~tap~tap~

Muneyoshi ignored Atobe's arrogant words, and his footsteps showed no sign of panic.

Muneyoshi took two or three more steps, directly running towards the tennis ball's landing spot.

At this moment, seeing Muneyoshi chasing the ball, a strange smile bloomed on Atobe's lips.

Ping!

Pong!

Their figures constantly crisscrossed, scoring points against each other, and the situation on the court became increasingly intense.

Atobe was still very wary of Muneyoshi's stunning baseline drive from last time.

Therefore, he mostly engaged in a back-and-forth rally with Saeki Muneyoshi from the baseline.

Returning another backhand baseline shot from Atobe, Muneyoshi's brow furrowed slightly.

He sensed something was off. Atobe, who had been in a constant state of attack and aggressive offense, had suddenly quieted down.

Abandoning his previous net-attacking style, he had switched to sending low, long balls from the baseline, exchanging shots with Muneyoshi, seemingly preparing for something.

Muneyoshi thought for a moment, still unsure what Atobe was up to. He decided to wait and see.

Ping!

Another baseline long ball.

"Hmm?!"

Just as Muneyoshi was about to make his move, his right knee suddenly felt a slight ache and stiffness, causing his body to falter.

Muneyoshi was slightly startled, but quickly calmed down, forcefully suppressing this feeling of disharmony.

But in that brief moment, Atobe scored directly.

"30-0."

"What was that just now!?"

Muneyoshi retracted the step he had just taken. This sudden lack of coordination had made it too late for him to save the ball.

Moreover, this was the only shot in this match that had exceeded his calculations.

Muneyoshi's gaze sharpened, and he quietly watched Atobe's solemn face, as if trying to decipher the mystery of that shot.

After giving Atobe a deep look, Muneyoshi returned to the service line.

Because he had been trained scientifically since childhood, his control over his own body far surpassed that of ordinary people.

In his opinion, the sudden wrongness he felt in his knee was definitely not accidental.

"I suppose it must be Atobe's doing."

"What could it be?"

"Has he already started to evolve ahead of time?"

Saeki Muneyoshi's gaze shifted, meticulously scanning Atobe's every movement.

BANG!

Another low-flying drop shot, and then, the two were locked in a baseline rally once more.

One ball, two balls... after ten balls...

"It's happening again."

Muneyoshi frowned. Feeling that wrongness in his knee once more, he seemed to freeze, watching helplessly as the tennis ball slipped past the sweet spot of his racket.

A few seconds later, everything returned to normal. Muneyoshi stood up straight, his smile gone. He gave Atobe another deep stare.

"It seems I was right, this is Atobe's doing."

Atobe's lips curled into a slight smile: "Saeki, it seems you've already noticed?"

Muneyoshi was, of course, well aware of Atobe's strength and abilities.

But many of those were techniques that wouldn't emerge until the third year, or even the U17 stage. Atobe was only in his first year now.

At his age, while his strength was not weak and he could be considered a top player at the Kanto level.

However, for Muneyoshi, who had already fully entered the national level and was pushing forward, it was nothing.

Yet, this Atobe, whom he hadn't particularly paid attention to, had actually caused him to lose two consecutive points.

"And without even realizing it, I've fallen into Atobe's rhythm," Muneyoshi mused, somewhat impressed by Atobe's court intelligence.

"It seems one truly cannot be careless with these geniuses!"

THWACK, another exquisite drop shot. Muneyoshi retrieved it with no effort.

But Atobe, who had been prepared, was already at the ball. His body remained still as he extended his right hand.

Take-back! Swing! A seamless motion!

BANG!

The tennis ball flew out with an unusual muffled sound, at extreme speed.

The moment he saw the ball flying towards him, Muneyoshi, who had been staring intently at Atobe's movements, froze.

"What is this!?"

Seeing Muneyoshi's astonished expression, Atobe laughed wildly: "Ahahahahahahaha..."

Atobe's laughter grew louder, more unrestrained, more insane, his body trembling uncontrollably.

"Hahahaha... I did it... I finally... finally... completed it!"

"Saeki! Your weaknesses and blind spots are completely exposed in these eyes of mine! Are you prepared to lose?"

"Weaknesses and blind spots completely exposed..." Muneyoshi's heart settled. It seemed Atobe had truly evolved.

His "X-ray" like super-insightful eyes, which would be equivalent to that in the future, had now shown their initial results.

And it wasn't just that. The current level of Atobe's eyesight evolution wasn't simply about seeing weaknesses: "Let me see your blind spot, Saeki!"

An icicle emanating a bone-chilling cold shot from Atobe's side of the court into Muneyoshi's.

The cold instantly slowed his movements. The icicle pierced into Muneyoshi's court, landing in a spot that, with his current displayed strength, he absolutely could not reach.

Although the cold condensed, his body felt fixed, unable to move an inch.

"Crack!"

Crystal-like ice shards scattered, glittering brilliantly under the sunlight.

Thump... thump... thump...

Only when the tennis ball slowly rolled to his feet did Muneyoshi realize that he had been completely unable to react to his opponent's return.

"Is this my blind spot?"

Muneyoshi didn't panic. Instead, he closed his eyes and sensed the strange feeling he had just experienced, contemplating Atobe's unique application of mental power.

"What a marvelous use of mental power!"

Looking at Atobe's unrestrained smile, Muneyoshi said calmly.

"Different people have different ways of using mental power, but generally speaking, mental power can be said to be the integration of one's will, one's disposition, strong determination, and the belief in victory – things that are difficult to describe concretely but truly exist."

Seeing Atobe gradually cease his laughter and listen intently to Muneyoshi's words, though without full comprehension, Muneyoshi continued:

"Mental power is the key to whether one can enter the national level."

"And now, you already hold this key, Atobe!"