The two players didn't linger long on the court. After bowing and calling the toss, Fuji Syusuke won the right to serve. The referee immediately announced the start of the match.
"Match begins. First game, serve by Fuji Syusuke of Yamabuki Middle School."
Taking a tennis ball from his pocket, Fuji Syusuke slowly walked to the service line.
Thwack... Thwack...
He lightly bounced the ball twice in his hand, then his gaze sharpened, a cold glint returning to his eyes. Though he felt some gratitude toward Yamato Yudai, he wouldn't go easy on him in this match.
He still remembered what Seigaku had done after Tezuka was injured. He was going to crush Seigaku completely.
Fuji didn't toss the ball into the air. Instead, he held it in his left hand, gave it a slight spin, then served underhand.
"What's with the Yamabuki player? He's serving underhand..."
"That serve was so ordinary. The Seigaku player on the other side should be able to return it easily..."
"That's not how my big brother usually serves..."
The ball wasn't moving very fast, nor did it have much power. Everyone watching from outside the court thought it was just an ordinary underhand serve.
Only Kannagi Shinichi knew what Fuji had done when he saw the serve.
"The Disappearing Serve? How does Fuji Syusuke already know that move?"
If he remembered correctly, Fuji Syusuke hadn't come up with that move until his third year. Now he'd developed it a full two years early.
On the court, Yamato Yudai narrowed his eyes. This was the first time he'd faced an underhand serve, the sort used by beginners, in a match. He murmured, "Is he trying to catch me off guard?"
As he spoke, Yamato Yudai raced toward where the ball was going