Match Against Higa Junior High
"Those people from Higa Junior High were really rude today, treating their opponents like that."
"Indeed, it doesn't matter what happens during the match, but saying such things after the match is really infuriating."
"But I have to say they are really strong. Think back to when we played against Rokkaku Middle School, we won all three games, but it wasn't as easy as it was against Higa Junior High."
On the train, the Seigaku students were still resentful of the rude behavior from Higa Junior High.
"Although we don't know what other tricks they have up their sleeves, that Ground Shrinking Technique useless against us now that they've used it tomorrow."
"Horio, do you mean you've really discovered the weakness of the Ground Shrinking Technique!?"
Hearing Horio's confident words, Kikumaru's curiosity was reignited, even though he hadn't finished speaking back at the court.
"That's right. Their 'Ground Shrinking Technique' is difficult to deal with, but it only allows them to move forward and backward. In today's five matches, as long as the six-corner players hit the ball to the left or right, they couldn't move at all."
"So tomorrow, we just need to avoid hitting back and forth shots, right?"
"It can't be that simple. They must have other tricks up their sleeves, but I think we can handle it. I'm just worried that those guys might cause some other trouble."
Horio thought back to the group of people from Higa Junior High today and felt that they weren't as honest as they seemed.
"Anyway, we'll definitely show those guys how powerful Seigaku is in tomorrow's match."
Momoshiro, who never liked to think about these things, interrupted everyone's thoughts on tomorrow's match, which also served as a reminder that as long as they won the match, that was all that mattered.
The next day, the Seigaku team arrived at the competition venue early.
To Seigaku's surprise, the students from Higa Junior High were there even earlier.
"Oh, it's the Seigaku team."
"Judging from their expressions, they've definitely come to admit defeat."
"If you ask me, they won't escape the same fate as those stray dogs from yesterday."
"A stray dog... a stray dog..."
Upon seeing the Seigaku group appear, the Higa Junior High cheerleaders started boasting again.
Horio frowned as he listened to the group shouting highly insulting slogans.
"I have to say, you guys never learn. Even a dog learns to behave after being beaten, but you're not even as good as a dog."
Having said that, Horio glared at her.
A terrifying aura pressed down on the Higa Junior High cheerleading squad, and the previously arrogant cheerleaders froze in place.
Then, one by one, they staggered and fell to the ground as if they were drunk.
"You guys can go now. What these people are doing has violated the competition rules. I'll report this to the competition committee on your behalf. You guys focus on the competition."
At that moment, Inoue appeared with Shiba Saori, and the discordant sound could be heard from afar.
Ignoring these people, the Seigaku members continued walking towards the competition venue.
"This is really interesting. It would be good to shut these guys up later."
"Yes, since they think they've got it all figured out, let's give them a good dose of despair."
"The match Higa Junior High's Higa Seigaku Academy will now begin."
Inside the stadium, the referee announced the start of the match.
"Third Singles: Momoshiro from Seishun Higa Junior High Seigaku Academy's Momoshiro Tadashi. The match begins now."
This is Momoshiro's first match in a long time since he replaced Oishi in the Kanto Tournament against Hyotei.
Because he failed to qualify for the school's internal ranking competition before the Kanto Tournament, he did not participate in the subsequent school team training.
Even so, he didn't slack off while the other regular players went out for special training.
He has consistently followed Horio's suggestions and the training plan devised by Miki, and has even added extra training sessions.
After such a long absence, Momoshiro was eager for victory in this match.
His opponent was the largest player in Higa Junior High, like a small mountain, clearly a power player.
"Who do you think you are, kid? You were so arrogant just now."
Looking at Momoshiro, which was full of fighting spirit, Tadashi spoke in the Okinawan dialect.
However, for Momoshiro, who lives in a metropolis like Tokyo, it's really difficult to truly understand.
"I'm sorry to say this, but can you speak Japanese?"
"What!?"
Tadashi, whose face was originally full of provocation, was taken aback by Momoshiro's words.
"Never mind, it doesn't really matter, but shouldn't you lose some weight?"
Momoshiro's words struck at Tadashi's sore spots, and Tadashi grabbed Momoshiro by the collar.
"You want to fight?!"
Momoshiro, who has been fighting with Kaitou since first grade, is not exactly known for his good temper. Being grabbed by the collar like this is unacceptable to him.
Momoshiro immediately grabbed Tadashi by the collar and glared at him.
"Come on if you dare, you fatso. I'm afraid you won't."
Upon hearing Momoshiro's provocation, Tadashi was about to swing his racket.
Seeing that things were not going well, Kite quickly coughed to stop him. In Kite's opinion, it would be too much of a loss to lose a victory over something like this.
"The match begins, with Seigaku from Momoshiro serving."
After a brief hiccup, the competition officially began.
Facing the powerful Tadashi, Momoshiro hit Bullet Serve.
The ball flew out like a bullet, pushing aside the air in its path.
The high-speed tennis ball bounced off the ground and flew directly towards Tadashi's weak hand. Just when everyone thought the ball was going to be served and score a point, Tadashi moved.
Tadashi crossed his legs and then kicked to the side.
His entire body flew out, and then he swung his racket with both hands to return Momoshiro's serve.
"Aron, you saw it too, didn't you?"
"Hmm, Carioca Shuffle..."
"Carioca Shuffle... what's that?"
Hearing Fuji and Kawamura's conversation, the Seigaku cheerleaders were completely bewildered.
"That is, the Samba Step, which allow for a faster reaction than sidestepping steps, but the feet must move alternately, so they require a high degree of balance."
"Although Tadashi is very large, he has a very good sense of balance."
No one expected that a power player like Tadashi, with such a stocky build, could have such good balance.
However, Momoshiro was not surprised when his serve was returned.
If a power player can't even return their own serve, then they don't deserve the title of "powerful."
After the tennis ball was returned, Momoshiro did just as Horio had predicted.
Aiming at the other side of Tadashi, he unleashed a powerful forehand smash.
Bang...
"Seigaku Momoshiro scores, 15:0"
Just as Horio had predicted, even with Tadashi's excellent balance, he couldn't use the Ground Shrinking Technique to return balls to either side.