One Ball, One Spirit!

"One Ball, One Spirit!"

Bang!

After a tremendous crack, the tennis ball seemed to vanish, instantly appearing on Seigaku's side of the court!

Before Inui and Kawamura could react, it bounced off the ground and flew out of the court!

"Did the tennis ball just disappear?"

"A disappearing serve!"

"Yeah, you can't see it at all!"

"Hyotei scores. The score is 15–0."

The umpire's voice rang out.

Only then did they come to their senses.

"What?" Inui exclaimed in disbelief!

"What happened? I couldn't react at all!" Kawamura was in the same situation!

"The ball must have reached at least 190 kilometers per hour. His serve is incredibly fast—well beyond the level of an ordinary middle schooler!" Inui pushed up his glasses as he looked at Ootori Choutarou across the court.

Seeing Choutarou score with his serve, the Hyotei players started excitedly chatting again.

"Choutarou's serve has gotten faster. It must be around 190 kilometers per hour now, right?" Oshitari said as he watched the match.

"Yeah. Aside from Captain Chiba and Atobe, nobody at Hyotei can return Choutarou's serve easily, right? Seigaku definitely can't either," Gakuto said firmly.

After seeing Ootori Choutarou's serve, Chiba Yun Chuan's eyes flashed with satisfaction. For a first-year like Choutarou, that serve was already top-tier!

That was the result of his special training, too. Could Inui still find a weakness?

Chiba Yun Chuan was looking forward to finding out.

"The guy on the other side is Inui, who plays Data Tennis, and Kawamura has his Wave Ball. Choutarou and Shishido aren't guaranteed to win," Atobe said, pouring cold water on their excitement.

"Atobe, you seem to know a lot about Seigaku. Did you investigate them?" the others asked, looking at him.

"It's all basic information. Nothing secret," Atobe replied casually.

Meanwhile, the spectators who had seen Ootori Choutarou's serve were still whispering among themselves.

"What kind of serve is that? Are all the players at Hyotei monsters?"

"It's so fast you can't even see it!"

"What kind of serve is that? I can't see it!"

Choutarou's serve won them the point outright.

"Looks like I'm in good form today! Off to a great start, don't you think, Shishido-senpai?" Choutarou said, taking out another tennis ball and tossing it into the air.

When the ball reached its highest point—

"One Ball, One Spirit!"

Bang!

The tennis ball vanished again! It landed near the middle of the court, bounced, and flew out of bounds!

"Hyotei scores. The score is 30–0."

Inui and Kawamura hadn't reacted at all.

"Looks like Choutarou's got a good feel for it today! Two serves, two points! Right, Kabaji?" Atobe said, watching Choutarou win another point.

"Yes."

"You're so noisy, Atobe. Can't you let me rest in peace?" Akutsu shouted, voicing his annoyance.

Atobe frowned, his attempt to keep showing off interrupted, but quickly relaxed again.

At the coaches' seats—

"Well, Coach Ryuzaki, what do you think of this first-year's serve?" Chiba Yun Chuan asked with a smile.

"A first-year? That's certainly impressive. But first-years should focus on building a solid foundation. That goes for you too, Chiba. Training like this can seriously affect your fundamentals!"

Although Ryuzaki Sumire was amazed by the serve from Ootori Choutarou, a first-year, she still stressed her point of view!

On the court, Inui didn't panic, even though he couldn't see his opponent's serve.

"Takashi, don't panic. Let me observe it a little longer!"

"But, Inui, his serve is really fast! I can't return it at all!" Takashi shouted.

Choutarou tossed the tennis ball into the air again.

"One Ball, One Spirit!"

But this time the ball skimmed over the net in the middle, slowing it down!

Still, Inui couldn't see it. He could only rely on his instincts.

Inui swung his racket hard at the empty space in front of him, but didn't hit the ball!

Thump!

The tennis ball slammed into the ground and flew out near the sideline again.

"Hyotei scores. The score is 40–0."

As soon as the umpire finished speaking—

The latest point brought a chorus of Hyotei cheers from the crowd!

"Go, Hyotei!"

"Hyotei's definitely taking this doubles match!"

"Choutarou's serve is incredible!"

"That serve really is powerful. Inui and Kawamura can't see the ball at all," Fuji said worriedly as he watched the match.

"We have to trust Inui and Kawamura! They can do it!" Tezuka said, watching the court.

Hyotei needed only one more point to take the game.

Ootori Choutarou tossed the tennis ball into the air, ready to deliver the final blow to Seigaku!

One Ball, One Spirit!

The ball was even faster this time!

Inui still couldn't see its path! But he tried to return it by feel anyway!

Inui swung his racket at empty air again, but still failed to connect.

Thump!

The ball flew past Inui, blowing his clothes up as it passed!

"Hyotei scores. The score is 1–0.

The first match is over. The teams will switch courts!"

At the umpire's call, the first game ended!

Seigaku hadn't scored a single point, and they hadn't even touched the tennis ball!

"So this is Hyotei's second doubles team? They're so strong!"

"Even their doubles team, which has always kept a low profile, is this good. Just how strong is Hyotei's captain, Chiba Yun Chuan?"

"That guy Taro's serve is incredible!"

"It's really that simple. Taro's serve alone has already won them a game. Once they break Seigaku's service game, this match will be a foregone conclusion!" Atobe said to the Hyotei players.

"Yeah, Choutarou's serve is incredible!"

"Shishido and Choutarou make a strong team!"

Gakuto and Oshitari chimed in.

"But it's too early to draw conclusions. You see that bespectacled guy, Inui? He's a tough opponent!

"I hope Shishido and Choutarou know how to hold back. But even if they lose, victory will still belong to us in the end, right, Kabaji?"

"Yes."

After speaking, Atobe folded his arms and looked toward Chiba Yun Chuan at the coaches' seats.

To his surprise, Chiba Yun Chuan was looking toward a corner. Following his gaze, Atobe saw the back of a girl!

He was astonished!

"Chiba, I didn't know you were that kind of person!"

Atobe decided to use this as a condition for challenging Chiba.

"Aren't you bored?" Akutsu said, looking at Oshitari and Atobe with scorn.

His gaze also turned toward Kawamura Takashi on the court, though nobody knew what he was thinking.

"What did you say?" Atobe's haughty voice rang out from the Hyotei team.

By then, the players had finished switching courts and were getting ready to start the match.

"The match begins. Seigaku to serve!"

The umpire's voice rang out.

"Takashi, stick to my plan!" Inui said to Kawamura from the back corner.

"Got it, Inui."

Kawamura's gaze sharpened as he spoke with determination.

Shishido, standing at the net, heard what they said but paid no attention to it.