Shrinking Technique
"The first round of the match will now begin, between Chiba representing Rokkaku Middle School and Okinawa representing Higa Junior High."
Inside a certain stadium, the match between Rokkaku Middle School and Higa Junior High officially began.
"Singles Match 3: Rokkaku Junior High's Aoi versus Higa Junior High's Chinen. The match begins."
"The National Tournament will actually use a rule that alternates between singles and doubles matches."
"This is also a faster way to assess a school's strength."
The cheerful Aoi and Higa Junior High with a tuft of white bangs, drew everyone's Chinen.
Hello, nice to meet you.
On the field, Aoi walked towards Chinen and extended her hand in a friendly manner.
But Chinen seemed not to hear, shaking his head left and right, searching for something.
"Um... I'm here. Nice to meet you."
Seeing that Chinen seemed to be doing it on purpose, Aoi raised her voice.
"Is it here? I'm too small to see."
Chinen lowered his head at this moment, but then immediately turned and left.
"The match begins, with Rokkaku Middle School's Aoi serving."
As soon as the referee's voice fell, Kui tossed the ball up and swung his racket to hit it.
Chinen served a normal serve, aiming for the bottom corner of Aoi's net and returned the ball.
Bang...
"Higa Junior High School's Chinen scores, 15:0"
The match started with a fierce offensive, which surprised Aoi.
Chinen's shots are fast, accurate, and powerful, with no unnecessary movements.
Because of the issue of the "Aoi-style" wind (a type of knightly style), pressure is needed to generate motivation.
Therefore, Kui's serve and return were both quite ordinary.
Bang...
"Higa Junior High School's Chinen scores, 30:0"
Chinen quickly scored another goal, and the cheerleaders from Higa Junior High gained momentum.
"The opponents aren't that great either. They say they're some amazing first-year students, but can someone like that even be the Captain?"
Kai from Higa Junior High also chimed in with a sarcastic remark. Hearing their Captain being spoken to like that, the other members of Rokkaku also looked rather displeased.
"Don't get excited, Aki. Under this kind of pressure, Kentaro's tennis skills should be on the horizon."
Kuroba held down the excited Aki, his gaze fixed intently on Aoi.
As Kuroba said, the third ball was played after several rounds.
Aoi kept Chinen tied at the baseline, and then hit a Net Cord Shot on her return.
Looking at Chinen, who was so far away from the tennis ball, the Rokkaku members showed expressions of satisfaction.
Judging a person solely by their appearance can lead to serious problems.
Aoi felt incredibly relieved, having gotten revenge on Chinen saying she was short.
But as soon as he finished speaking, he saw Chinen appear in front of the net.
"That's one of my lines, you get it."
He then swung his racket and hit the tennis ball, which landed in the bottom corner of the court.
Bang...
"Higa Junior High School's Chinen scores, 40:0"
"That move just now... that guy... teleported!"
Chinen, who had been in the Chinen the whole time, suddenly appeared in front of the net the next second, and Aoi couldn't help but swallow hard.
"Horio, was that your usual footwork?"
"How could that be? That's my exclusive technique. That person was able to move to the frontcourt so quickly simply because he used his perfect balance."
Chinen's teleportation reminded Fuji of Horio's Inch Step, but Horio completely denied it.
Bang...
"Higa Junior High's Chinen scores, the score is 6-0, Higa Junior High wins."
Aoi's Net Cord Shot had no effect on Chinen's teleportation ability, and the match ended with Chinen completely dominating the game.
In the following matches, the Rokkaku Middle School students were disrupted by Higa Junior High's teleportation-like footwork, and were defeated by a large margin in the first four matches.
By this time, it was already the fifth match, and Saeki, as the First Singles, was also having a tough time.
"Is it Okinawan martial arts? I remember there's a Ground Shrinking Technique,' which is a method of approaching an opponent before they notice you."
By taking a single step, one can traverse a long distance, appearing from the backcourt to the net as if it happens in an instant, creating an illusion for the opponent.
It seems that these students from Higa Junior High have been practicing Okinawan martial arts since they were young.
After watching these matches, Horio finally remembered what it was.
Something related to Okinawa that also fits the current situation.
"However, while this method is effective, its drawbacks are also quite obvious."
"The weaknesses are obvious, kid. What are you talking about? That technique called 'Ground Shrinking Technique' is practically flawless. Otherwise, why hasn't Rokkaku Middle School won a single game?"
When Kikumaru heard Horio say that the Ground Shrinking Technique had drawbacks, he was momentarily skeptical.
"If the Ground Shrinking Technique is considered comprehensive, then the Ground Shrinking Technique they just demonstrated was only half-baked."
Horio's words were overheard by the Higa Junior High, and the Captain Kite Eishiro, had a change in expression.
The other team members were somewhat angry, gritting their teeth and glaring at Horio.
Bang...
"Higa Junior High School's Kai scores, making the score 6-3; Higa Junior High wins."
No sooner had Horio finished speaking than Kai scored again with Ground Shrinking Technique, ending the game.
Higa Junior High ultimately won the first round with a score of 5-0, successfully advancing to face Seigaku.
Because of their perfect record of five wins, the cheerleading squad of Higa Junior High became incredibly arrogant, behaving like complete thugs.
Regardless of the consequences, he spoke recklessly and mocked the members of the Hexagonal Society.
Seeing that Rokkaku Middle School had finished packing up and left, the Seigaku members prepared to go up and comfort them.
As soon as everyone turned around, they heard the voices from Higa Junior High coming from behind them again, but this time they were no longer directed at Rokkaku Middle School, but at them.
"What kind of school is this? Rokkaku Middle School is too weak."
"It's just like hitting a child."
"Next up is Seigaku, I bet they're another weak school."
"Hey Seigaku, get ready to get yourselves beaten up when you get back."
"We might as well just admit defeat to avoid a humiliating loss."
The Seigaku members already had objections when they mocked the Rokkaku group earlier.
Now that they've started talking so recklessly about me, how can I possibly tolerate it?
So Kaitou turned away with a fierce expression, adding to his even more arrogant demeanor.
Even the cheerleaders were stunned; their arrogant demeanor immediately subsided.
"It's ridiculous that a whole group of people were scared by just one person. Is the quality of all of you at Higa Junior High this low? Or are you just a bunch of cowardly bullies who prey on the weak?"
Horio stepped forward, looked at the group of somewhat hesitant non-mainstream teenagers in front of him, and retorted with a sarcastic remark.
Horio then turned his gaze to Kito Eishiro, the captain of the Higa Kingdom's platoon leader, glanced at him, and then turned and left.
Seeing that the students from Higa Junior High had lost their momentum, the rest of the Seigaku also gave up the idea of continuing the fight.
He cast a disdainful look at them, then left the stadium with them.