Must-Have Showdown

Bang...

Tezuka scores, score 5-3

Tezuka won another game, and the outcome of the match seemed to be decided.

"It looks like the match is over. Fuji is completely outmatched."

"Captain Tezuka is really too strong..."

"So, Horio, you've reached that level too, right? During the match against Rikkai Dai, the aura emanating from your arm was even more dangerous than Tezuka's."

Horio did not give a direct answer to Oishi's question.

"You all already know the answer in your hearts, so why ask me again?"

Bang...

"Tezuka scores, score 6-3, Tezuka wins."

With the final ball falling, Tezuka ended the match.

"In the end, I still lost to you, Tezuka. You are truly strong."

"You too, I hope we can have another match like today next time."

The two players shook hands in front of the net after their match.

"In this generation of tennis, Seigaku has managed to acquire two such geniuses; perhaps Seigaku is destined to rise to prominence."

Coach Ryuzaki, watching the two players on the court, smiled with satisfaction, then suddenly turned his head towards Horio.

"The future force that will shake up the world's cyberspace might just emerge from Seigaku."

Meanwhile, far away in the United States, Ryoma was also preparing to return to Japan.

"So you chose to go back to Japan for better competition results?"

"That's right. Although it's been a long time and I've successfully passed the preliminary rounds, I won't be able to concentrate on the rest of the competition if I can't resolve this issue."

Inside the airport, Ryoma and Kevin sat on chairs chatting.

"Although I don't know how strong Tezuka is, Horio is definitely a terrifying person."

Kevin couldn't help but recall the time he was terrified by Horio's ball, and he still felt a chill run down his spine.

"Whether it's Captain Tezuka or Horio, regardless of whether we have a chance to win or not, I have to go back."

"Just don't let it interfere with the match, the rest is up to you."

Two figures, one tall and one short, appeared under the train tracks in Tokyo.

I'm so sorry to have suddenly called you out.

"No, I happen to have time."

Seeing that Tezuka was already prepared, Ryoma didn't hesitate.

Horio appeared just as the two were about to start the match.

"Honestly, why did you call me out in such a hurry?"

Horio's first complaint was that Ryoma had only called after arriving in Tokyo to ask Tezuka and Horio to come out.

"Since you're all so prepared, then I'll be the referee."

Horio put his tennis bag aside and climbed onto the umpire's seat on his own.

"The match begins, Tezuka serves."

Without pausing, Tezuka tossed the ball up and fired a shot into the near corner.

Caught off guard, Ryoma was surprised by the weight of the tennis ball and gritted his teeth to retaliate.

The tennis ball flew back to Tezuka's half of the court, where Tezuka was already waiting at the net.

Bang...

"Tezuka scores, 15:0"

With a powerful spike, Ryoma had no chance to retaliate.

"Come on, Echizen!"

After scoring, Tezuka looked at Echizen, who was stunned by the blow, and said...

Bang...

Tezuka scores, score 6-2, Tezuka wins.

The sound of the tennis ball bouncing disappeared, Horio announced the final result.

You played very well, Echizen.

"Thank you, Captain. I'll leave the rest to you, Horio."

Horio had assumed Ryoma would rest before his match against Horio, and was somewhat puzzled by Ryoma's Horio.

"You were really exhausted from the match just now, aren't you going to rest for a bit before continuing?"

"No need, I'm feeling great right now."

"Alright, let's do it then."

Seeing that Ryoma insisted on his choice, Horio stopped pressuring him, jumped down from the referee's position, took out his racket, and went onto the court.

"You guys, honestly, why didn't you tell everyone about this?"

As soon as Horio stepped onto the court, he heard Coach Ryuzaki's voice from behind him.

"Coach, and everyone else, why are you all here..."

Turning around and seeing this group of figures, Horio somewhat embarrassed.

"If those two first-graders hadn't happened to see you, we'd all still be in the dark."

"Ryoma just got back too, and time was too short, so I was thinking of not telling you guys, otherwise..."

"Alright, enough nonsense. You want to have a competition? Then let's have one. I'll be the referee."

Without giving Horio a chance to continue speaking, Coach Ryuzaki took his seat as referee.

Tezuka, who had already finished the match, went over to explain to the Seigaku members, and after understanding the reason, they were no longer angry.

"Echizen, in that case, let's have a proper match."

"Yeah, don't leave any regrets, otherwise we won't let you off the hook if you make a mistake at the All-American Open."

Encouraged by the crowd, Ryoma gripped his racket tighter.

"The match begins, with Echizen serving."

Switching the racket to his right hand, Ryoma hits Outer Spin Serve.

Horio didn't care about this serve; he simply turned his body slightly to the side and swung his racket to return the ball.

Bang...

"Horio scores, 15:0"

"If you think the game is starting all over again just because someone else is playing, you'll lose miserably."

In response to Ryoma's request, Horio used the sweet spot technique from the very beginning.

The tennis ball was heavier than Tezuka's ball, and the returned Outer Spin Serve was knocked away when it touched Ryoma's racket.

"Was Horio like this from the beginning?"

"That's really ruthless."

"However, his actions can be seen as the greatest respect he could show to Ryoma."

I picked up my racket and straightened my hat.

Ryoma returned to the baseline and served with Outer Spin Serve.

Horio continued to use his sweet spot to return the ball, while Ryoma gripped his racket tightly with both hands.

With a loud shout, he successfully returned the tennis ball.

Seeing this, Horio smiled slightly and appeared at the net the next second, hitting a backhand smash from another angle.

Bang...

"Horio scores, 30:0"

"It's a completely different level of competition; it's even more intense than the match between Tezuka and Fuji."

"Echizen looks quite exhausted right now. He didn't have much of a chance to win to begin with, and now it's probably even more difficult for him than we thought."

Everyone saw Ryoma's reaction and didn't think he could win the match at all.

Bang...

"Horio scores, 40:0"

Bang...

Horio scores, score 1-0

Horio quickly won the first game, while Ryoma on the other side looked rather disheveled.

He was panting heavily, and beads of sweat were streaming down his face.

"From the very first day I joined the tennis club, you made me lose completely. From that moment on, there was one more person I had to defeat."

But despite my best efforts to practice, I can never keep up with your pace.

Even though sometimes I feel like giving up, I'm still unwilling to accept it. Even if I lose today, I'll still fight to the very end.