Preemptive Strike
Bang...
"Representative of Kanto..."
Bang...
Bang...
"Kanto team scores, score 2-0"
The second game ended quickly, with Sanada and Atobe taking another point.
Coach Baker remained calm on the bench, explaining tactics to Billy and Mike with a smile on his face.
"Although the score has remained in favor of the winner, in terms of overall strength, the two sides are now evenly matched."
"It looks like they're about to retaliate."
The competition continued, but as the tournament progressed, Billy and Mike had demonstrated the same level of skill as Sanada Atobe.
The match on the court gradually became a stalemate, and finally, after several rounds, Sanada decided to end the point.
So after Mike's return, Sanada unleashed a powerful, unseen swing.
Bang...
"Kanto team scores, score 3-0"
"The West Coast team, I didn't expect them to be this weak, did I, Sanada?"
The Coach staff scored three consecutive points.
Atobe's arrogant personality resurfaced, but Sanada ignored Atobe.
"Look at your opponents. From the start of the game until now, their training intensity is the same as yours."
But you've already started wiping your sweat with towels, while they're just drinking water.
From the initial suppression to the current evenly matched strength, and even just now Sanada activated the wind.
You haven't guaranteed victory in this match, so it's not time to relax yet.
Horio actually admired Atobe's pride, after all, it was Atobe who had that pride.
Therefore, both failure and success can motivate him to improve.
However, since this competition is international, Horio still needs to offer some reminders.
Upon hearing Horio's reminder, the two realized the difference between themselves and their opponent, and thus became even more vigilant.
"Hey Mike, did you see that guy in the hat make the last shot?"
"I saw it! I didn't expect the Kanto team to be so amazing."
"It's about time we showed off our best skills."
While replenishing their fluids, Billy and Mike discussed Sanada's unseen swings, feeling that after losing three games, they could finally fight back.
But Coach Baker, sitting on the bench, stopped the two once again.
"No, it's not time yet. I don't think they've used all their trump cards yet. Let's wait and see for another round."
Hearing their boss say this, the two players had no choice but to agree.
After the fourth inning began, Mike switched to the backcourt.
After testing Sanada's three shots, Billy and Mike decided to change their choice.
Bounce on the ball in his hand, Mike's gaze fell on Atobe.
"This time, I'm going to really see your secret weapon."
He then tossed the tennis ball up and swung his racket to hit it.
After several more rounds of play, Mike hit a lob.
Atobe's lips curled into a smile, and he jumped up confidently.
The Waltz of the Butterfly begins; the first ball knocks Billy's racket away, and a second smash scores the point.
Bang...
"Kanto team scores, score 4-0"
"They're about to fight back. Let's get our spirits up and see what they're made of."
Seeing the two people in front of him replenishing their water, Horio reminded them again.
Meanwhile, Coach Baker gave Billy and Mike the order they most wanted to hear.
"Now you can perform with peace of mind. Go, my best actors."
Upon hearing Coach Baker's words, the corners of their mouths began to turn up.
At the start of the fifth game, although it was Sanada and Atobe's serve, Billy on the other side smiled.
Atobe served the tennis ball as before.
Billy anticipated the trajectory and returned the ball, Atobe, seeing his opponent's lack of change, thought another opportunity had arisen.
So he retaliated in the same way, but this time it was different from before.
After a muffled thud, a cloud of dust was kicked up between Sanada and Atobe, who were standing together.
The rebounded tennis ball was blocked by the wall behind it, but it continued to spin on the wall for a long time.
The tennis ball didn't fall back to the ground until it left a deep mark on the wall.
"West Coast team scores, 15-0"
"What kind of shot was that...?"
"Wow, that's amazing..."
The crowd outside the field was also taken aback by the ball, and Sanada and Atobe, who had the most direct experience of it, had an unprecedentedly solemn expression on their faces.
Bang...
"West Coast team scores, 30:0"
"That last shot was just a coincidence, wasn't it..."
"Echizen, you think that goal was a coincidence, right?"
"I don't think it's that much of a coincidence."
On the players' bench, Fuji and others were also surprised by Billy's two consecutive explosive shots.
"I've pretty much got a grasp of their capabilities. Keep it up, Billy."
"Okay, I understand."
On the court, after observing for four innings, Mike had a general understanding of Sanada and Atobe's abilities.
After testing each other for four rounds, the two officially began their counterattack.
"It seems they're really serious now."
"Hmph, the game wouldn't be fun if it weren't like this."
Sanada and Atobe also felt the pressure at this point, and the two returned to their initial state.
Back on the baseline, Atobe serves again.
This time, Billy didn't hit that explosive shot again; instead, Mike got moving.
Mike's eyes narrowed instantly after Atobe returned the tennis ball.
Increase foot speed, then unleash a powerful forehand flat drive.
The tennis ball returned with lightning speed, and by the time Atobe reacted and prepared to save it, it had already passed Atobe.
"West Coast team scores, 40:0"
"That's not enough. This level of pressure is simply insufficient to unleash their full potential."
On the Coach's bench, Horio watched Billy and Mike, whose movements had become more agile, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
"While I don't mind occasionally playing half-heartedly, I really hate it when people don't take the game seriously when they play against me."
On the baseline, Atobe somewhat annoyed because Billy and Mike only started to fight back after falling behind by four points.
Frustrated, Atobe hit a powerful shot, luring Billy into a Lob Shot.
The Waltz of the Butterfly has begun again, but this time Billy does not give Atobe what he wants.
When Atobe hit the first spike, Billy jumped up to meet it.
Using a swing similar to that of Sengoku's Boxing Style, he hit a volley in mid-air.
Billy easily returned what should have been a powerful Smash Shot.
"West Coast team scores, score 1:4"
"That's called Shotgun Intercept."
Like a cowboy spinning his revolver, Billy twirled his racket.
The big screen in the stadium was replaying the ball that had just been played.
Atobe jumped up and delivered a powerful smash, which Billy also jumped up and hit a volley in return.