Oshitari's Swallow's Return!

Seigaku was different, though. Even Tezuka wore a serious expression as he watched the match about to begin!

Mukahi Gakuto and Kikumaru stood at the net, while Oshitari and Oishi took their places at the baseline!

Gakuto and Kikumaru faced each other across the net. In each other's eyes, they saw the determination to win.

At the baseline, Oshitari dropped the tennis ball in his hand to the ground, then caught it again.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

He repeated this several times.

Then Oshitari tossed the ball into the air, sending it soaring high above him!

He pushed off with both feet and rose with the ball, rotating his arm. As the ball reached its peak, he swung his racket at it.

Thwack!

Outer Spin Serve!

The ball spun fiercely and shot toward Oishi's feet in the blink of an eye. It spun on the ground a few times before bouncing up and heading straight for Oishi's face!

"An Outer Spin Serve! Hyotei opens with an Outer Spin Serve!"

"That ball's so fast!"

"I can't believe he used an Outer Spin Serve!"

But Oishi had clearly been ready. The moment the ball flew toward him, he stepped back and moved his arm.

He swung his racket at the ball.

Thwack!

The crack of the racket rang out. Oishi had returned the shot!

"Too easy!" Gakuto suddenly appeared in front of the ball and volleyed it at the net!

Thwack!

The ball shot past Oishi and landed inside the baseline behind him, then bounced out of the court!

"Point, Hyotei! The score is 15–0!"

"What? How could he be that fast? He suddenly disappeared, then appeared in front of the ball!"

"And what was that return just now?"

"He's so fast!"

Gakuto's volley won the first point outright!

"Nice one, Gakuto!" Oshitari called out in celebration.

"Tezuka, that was a net volley, right? The way to counter an Outer Spin Serve—you taught Oishi that, if I'm not mistaken?" Inui stood beside Tezuka, writing something in his notebook.

"Yes. But the frightening part wasn't the volley. It was his speed! Kikumaru, Oishi's in trouble." Tezuka didn't elaborate, but he did confirm that he'd taught Oishi how to counter the Outer Spin Serve.

"That doubles team looks pretty strong! What are we going to do?" Kawamura looked worried.

On the Hyotei side,

After seeing Oshitari and Gakuto win the first point, Ootori Choutarou clapped happily. "All right! Oshitari-senpai and the others took the first point. That was pretty easy!"

"Their opponents are no pushovers. They countered Oshitari's Outer Spin Serve right from the start!

Chotaro, it'll be our turn soon. Come warm up with me!" Shishido Ryo said, then headed off.

Taro answered and followed him.

Atobe watched the two of them walk away, then silently shook his head.

On the court,

"Eiji." Oishi, standing in front of Kikumaru, gave him a meaningful look.

"Got it, Oishi!" Kikumaru blinked and quickly answered.

Oshitari served again.

Thwack!

The crisp sound of the serve rang out once more.

Another Outer Spin Serve!

The ball spun fiercely as it flew toward Oishi again!

But this time, Oishi changed the direction of his return and forced the ball toward the front of the court.

"Gakuto!"

"Got it!"

Mukahi Gakuto dashed toward the ball, reaching it in no time.

Then he swung his racket with all his strength and slammed it into the ball!

Thwack!

The ball flew straight back!

A gap had opened up to the left of Kikumaru and Oishi.

Gakuto picked his moment and aimed for the baseline in that gap.

"Sorry, but this point is ours!" Gakuto said with a smile.

But just as the ball crossed the net, a racket reached out and intercepted it!

It was Kikumaru!

"You fell for it!" he said, sending the ball toward the far-right corner!

Gakuto could only watch as the ball flew past him.

Oshitari and Gakuto were both on the left.

The ball sped toward the baseline on the right!

"That was great! Nice one, Kikumaru! Keep it up!" Momoshiro immediately shouted when he saw the shot!

"You're too naive!"

As the ball flew toward the baseline,

Oshitari planted his foot and pushed off hard. He seemed to vanish, then instantly appeared at the baseline on the right side of the court.

His arm traced a strange arc through the air!

"What was that move?"

"How did he get there in time?"

"He disappeared again!"

Fuji had opened his eyes. He knew Oshitari Yuushi's move very well!

Fuji's Swallow's Return!

"Interesting. Oshitari's getting serious, isn't he, Chiba? Ahem—I mean, Kabaji?" Atobe said slowly, a smile tugging at his lips.

He'd called the wrong person!

"Yes."

Kabaji, standing beside him, answered obediently.

Chiba Yun Chuan wasn't watching the match. He was looking toward the stands, where he'd spotted a familiar petite figure tucked into a corner on the left, slightly ahead of him!

Tachibana An, Tachibana Kippei's younger sister!

But as soon as she noticed Chiba Yun Chuan looking her way, she hurriedly hid.

Like a mouse spotting a cat.

Seeing Tachibana An's reaction, Chiba Yun Chuan turned his gaze away. He chuckled to himself. What an interesting girl!

Back on the court,

Oshitari spun around and swung his racket quickly, cutting down at the incoming ball!

Whoosh!

A streak of light shot across the court and landed on the ground near the center.

To Oishi and Kikumaru's shock, it skimmed along the ground and flew out of the court!

"Point, Hyotei! The score is 30–0!"

The referee's call rang out.

"How is that possible? Isn't that Fuji's Swallow's Return? How can he do it?" Kikumaru said incredulously.

"Swallow's Return!" Tezuka looked toward Chiba Yun Chuan in the coaches' area and saw that he wasn't even watching the match closely!

Did you really think so little of Seigaku? Tezuka's gaze hardened, anger burning in his heart.

Oshitari's Swallow's Return left the court in stunned silence!

Then a wave of discussion broke out.

"The ball didn't bounce at all? That move was called Swallow's Return, right?"

"Did it fly out of the court, or roll out?"

"That was amazing. What was that move called?"

The crowd buzzed with discussion.

"Impressive! Hyotei really has a deep pool of talent! At Seigaku, only Fuji can hit a shot like that!" Ryuzaki Sumire exclaimed.

But Chiba Yun Chuan didn't reply. He kept watching the court.

Though Fuji went to the same school as Oishi and Kikumaru, he had never discussed how to counter the Swallow's Return with them!

So now, Oishi and Kikumaru had no way to counter it.

"Just like Fuji, he can use the Swallow's Return—and he can serve an Outer Spin Serve, too." Inui continued taking notes in his notebook.