Hyotei, tennis courts.
Two figures stood at the net, facing each other.
They were none other than Oshitari Yuushi and Atobe Keigo.
Earlier, when Oshitari challenged him, Atobe had accepted without hesitation.
Now, the two stood on the court, causing a stir among the tennis club members who had been practicing. They all stopped their drills and gathered outside the court.
Kannagi Shinichi and the other Hyotei regulars also heard the commotion and hurried over.
The two should have faced off at the start of the school year, but Kannagi Shinichi's unexpected arrival had delayed the match by a whole month compared with the original timeline.
On the court, Oshitari gazed at Atobe, his eyes burning with anticipation. He had wanted to play against Atobe for a long time, but had never had the chance.
It wasn't until Kannagi Shinichi told him to play a match against Atobe and search for his own path in tennis that Oshitari made up his mind and challenged Atobe.
Feeling the fighting spirit radiating from Oshitari, Atobe smiled faintly and taunted him. "Yuushi, you've got some nerve challenging me. Fine, I'll give you a chance to experience true elegance."
Watching Atobe's chuunibyou-like declaration, Kannagi Shinichi couldn't help covering his forehead.
But nobody else thought there was anything strange about Atobe's words. They seemed perfectly reasonable to everyone, and quite a few people were already gazing at him with shining eyes.
On the court, Oshitari paid no heed to Atobe's taunt. Instead, he placed his racket on the ground and spoke to Atobe.
"Odd or even..."
"No need. I'll let you serve first."
After saying that, Atobe walked straight to the baseline.
Oshitari didn't refuse. He turned and returned to the service line.
Akutagawa Jirou, who had been dozing off, perked right up when he saw the two about to play. In the blink of an eye, he darted past Kannagi and the others and sat straight down in the umpire's chair.
Then, grinning like a three-year-old, he addressed them. "Hehe... I'll be the umpire for this match!"
Seeing this, Shishido and Mukahi hurried to pull Jirou down. It wasn't for any other reason—they were just afraid he'd fall from the chair if he nodded off.
But Atobe stopped them. Flicking his forelock, he said with utter self-satisfaction, "Let Jirou sit there. That way, one more person can admire my elegant figure up close."
Hearing Atobe's words, Kannagi Shinichi's mouth twitched.
On the court, Akutagawa Jirou made a fairly convincing umpire. Once both players were in position, he wasted no time and excitedly announced the start of the match.
"Match begins. One set, Oshitari Yuushi to serve."
Tap... tap...
Oshitari bounced the ball twice, then looked at Atobe, who stood calmly across from him. The fighting spirit in his eyes burned even hotter than before.
He breathed out softly, then tossed the ball high. Leaning far back, he swung his racket with all his strength...
Bang...
The racket struck the ball with a loud crack. The yellow ball shot off the strings like a bullet from a loaded gun.
A streak of yellow seemed guided as it landed perfectly in the corner on the baseline, then flew out of the court.
It was a perfect serve. Against most opponents, it would have scored outright.
But Oshitari's opponent was Atobe. That shot posed no challenge to him.
Atobe lowered his center of gravity and sprinted forward. In an instant, he was at the ball.
Bang...
Atobe struck it with a powerful swing. The ball flew like a cannonball, straight toward the opposite corner of Oshitari's court.
Oshitari wasn't at all flustered by the incoming ball. He quickened his steps and swung with both hands before it hit the ground.
Atobe showed no disappointment when Oshitari returned it. Instead, he smiled excitedly. Looking at Oshitari across the court, he felt a thrill he hadn't experienced in a long time.
"Hahaha... not bad, Yuushi! Show me what you can really do!"
Thud... thud...
Atobe sped up and reached the ball in the blink of an eye. He gripped his racket with both hands, leaped high, and called out:
"Jack knife..."
Thud...
A loud bang rang across the court as the ball roared straight toward Oshitari's side.
Seeing the shot, Oshitari gripped his racket tightly. When the ball bounced, he put all his strength into swinging at it.
Smack...
The ball remained on Oshitari's side of the court. What flew away was Oshitari's racket.
Looking at his empty hands, Oshitari couldn't help sighing inwardly. What terrifying power.
On the other side of the court, Atobe landed and flicked his forelock again, smiling as he spoke. "Surrender to my elegant skills!"
"So amazing! That was incredible..."
Akutagawa Jirou had already forgotten to call the score. His eyes shone as he stared at Atobe.
Atobe clearly enjoyed Jirou's admiring gaze. He smiled faintly. "That was only one of my elegant techniques. I'll show off even more dazzling moves later."
"Really? That's great..."
Before Jirou could finish, Shishido and Mukahi shouted from outside the court, "Idiot, don't forget you're the umpire!"
Hearing them, Jirou remembered that he was the umpire after all. He chuckled awkwardly and hurriedly announced the score.
"15–0, Atobe scores."
Watching Atobe's shot from outside the court, Kannagi Shinichi murmured, "Atobe's gotten a lot stronger than he was at first."
Kannagi Shinichi didn't know that he had a great deal to do with Atobe's increased strength.
After playing against Kannagi Shinichi and experiencing his inhuman strength, Atobe had learned for the first time just how terrifying strength could be.
From that day on, Atobe had quietly intensified his strength training, hoping that one day he would be able to defeat Kannagi Shinichi.
That was simply Atobe's nature. He could accept losing, but one day, he would always win back a match he'd lost.
On the court, Atobe kept scoring with his Jack knife and soon broke Oshitari's serve.
"Game. The score is 1–0, Atobe leads."
Now it was Atobe's turn to serve.
He tossed the ball high into the air, then swung his racket. The ball streaked toward the corner along Oshitari's baseline.
"What oppressive pressure..."
The ball came so fast that even though Oshitari quickened his steps, he could only just return it. That shot gave Atobe an opening.
"Jack knife..."
Bang...
The ball exploded at Oshitari's feet, then shot straight toward the fence behind him.
"15–0, Atobe scores."
"Jack knife..."
Bang...
"30–0, Atobe scores."
"Jack knife..."
Bang...
"40–0, Atobe scores."
On the court, Atobe scored point after point. He was just one point away from winning his service game.
Across the court, Oshitari's eyes had dimmed. He hadn't expected to lose the first two games without taking a single point from Atobe.
So this is why Kannagi said I don't have a true special move.
Was he willing to give up?
No. I, Oshitari Yuushi, would never give up so easily.
Atobe served again, and the ball flew across the court. Oshitari quickened his steps and returned it with both hands.
"It's no use, Yuushi." Atobe gripped his racket with both hands and leaped again.
"Jack knife..."
Looking at the powerful shot, Oshitari closed his eyes.
"Have you given up? Hm, Yuushi..."
Seeing this, Atobe looked faintly displeased.
But when Atobe finished speaking, Oshitari opened his eyes. A cold glint flashed across his prescriptionless glasses. "Give up? Of course not. This time, I'm going to hit your ball back..."
"Special move: Fleeting Mandala..."
Before you continue