Split Technique

Bang...

"Higa Junior High School's Kai scores, 15:0"

"I finally saw your movements clearly, Kikumaru."

"Completely opposite to the direction I jumped."

That's right, Kikumaru's movements were seen through once again.

Kikumaru was also very frustrated by this, as his opponents always seemed to read his mind, whether he was fighting Rokkaku or Rikkai Dai.

"What was that just now...? Was that the Okinawa style?"

"He only makes his move at the very end of his swing, delaying the timing of the hit, which allows him to hit the ball in the opposite direction after his opponent has already made his move."

"That backhand shot is still something we need to be wary of."

Fuji explained it, everyone understood why Kai waited until the ball reached that position before swinging his racket.

At the same time, Kai is different from that of a normal person, which can easily cause confusion.

"The Pirate's Horn!"

Bang...

"Higa Junior High Kai scores, score 1:4"

On the field, Kai once again sounded the Pirate's Horn.

However, this time the ball was hit in the same way as above, and it was also hit in the opposite direction of Kikumaru.

Kai scored consecutive points using his extreme shot technique, successfully pulling back one point and then three more, bringing the score to 4-4.

"Damn it, if this continues... we'll lose."

Having been repeatedly targeted by the Pirate's Horn, Kikumaru also expended a lot of energy in his attempts to retaliate.

By this time, the muscles in his legs were starting to tire, and he had knelt down on one knee to rest.

"After each move, when faced with the Pirate's Horn fired by the opponent, do your best to defend."

However, the body has already moved in one direction, and the person's center of gravity has shifted.

At this point, trying to make an emergency change of direction to catch up with that fast and wide-angled ball is not even worth mentioning; just changing direction alone would be extremely exhausting.

Kikumaru expended almost twice the stamina of the first four games in the last four, but Kikumaru clone technique was already well under development, so he should have no trouble dealing with those kinds of balls.

However, Horio understood that it wasn't that Kikumaru couldn't use it, but rather that he had no way to use it.

Kai's counterattacks always came after Kikumaru's center of gravity had already begun to shift, by which time the athletically gifted Kikumaru had almost reached the other half of the court.

However, if you want someone sprinting at top speed to immediately brake and then sprint at top speed again in another direction, that's possible, but it can't match the speed of Kai's ball.

Kikumaru probably thought of this as well, which is why he didn't force himself to use the clone technique.

Otherwise, the energy expenditure would be even greater, and there's no guarantee of successfully returning the ball.

Sweat dripped down, soaking the ground beneath Kikumaru.

"Looks like I need to slow down my movements a bit more, otherwise I'll still be seen through."

"It seems that one-on-one play isn't really suited for you after all."

Kikumaru was still reflecting on his shortcomings in the last few rounds, but Kai thought that Kikumaru had lost confidence after being beaten.

So he quickly stepped forward and launched into a tirade of mockery, attempting to break down her psychological defenses.

"I'm not playing anymore. Having to keep that serious expression all the time makes my body feel stiff."

Suddenly, Kikumaru was half-squatting on the ground, changed his tone, and his previous calm demeanor disappeared.

"This is the usual Kikumaru."

Looks like he's had enough fun.

"Get serious, Kikumaru- Senpai!"

The Seigaku cheerleaders on the sidelines saw the real Kikumaru return, and their morale, which had sank after being tied, rose again.

"Perhaps you're right, I might really not be suited for singles."

Kikumaru shook his arm, his tone relaxed.

"Since singles isn't for me, let's go with doubles."

Kai found Kikumaru's words rather puzzling.

After regaining his senses, Kai looked at Kikumaru again, and his eyes widened instantly.

"Wh... what!?"

In Seigaku's half of the court, Kikumaru appeared simultaneously on the left side of the frontcourt and the right side of the baseline.

When Kikumaru got serious, he actually activated his Shadow Clone Technique, which made the Seigaku members burst into laughter, while the Higa Junior High students on the other side were still in shock.

At the start of the ninth inning, Kikumaru served from the baseline.

Despite being somewhat stunned by Kikumaru's clone technique, Kai still mustered his strength to return Kikumaru's serve.

Just after retaliating, Kai saw Kikumaru moving back and forth between the front and back courts Kikumaru Seigaku.

"It's the Australian Formation!?"

Kikumaru and his clones surprisingly formed Australian Formation, leaving Kai stunned. Kikumaru, positioned at the net, immediately volleyed the ball.

Bang...

"Seigaku Kikumaru scores, 15:0"

Kai was completely bewildered, staring at the two identical people in front of him, who were actually celebrating and encouraging each other.

"Am I... am I dreaming!?"

"Wait a minute! Two people are going in for a singles match? Seigaku is so despicable!"

At this moment, the cheerleaders from Higa Junior High outside the stadium started to protest, and even the referee was a little confused by Kikumaru's clone technique.

Ignoring the legitimacy of the protests from the Higa Junior High, the referee went straight up to Kikumaru and reminded him. Kikumaru heard the referee's reminder.

He simply pouted and stopped using the clone technique.

"There are no two people, it's always just me."

The referee then realized what had happened and quickly turned to look at the spot where the clone had been standing.

The referee and the Higa Junior High the sidelines were stunned and rubbed their eyes.

"It's quite hot today, are you feeling a little dizzy?"

Kikumaru didn't dwell on the referee's wrong call and even tried to defend the referee, but then he activated his clone technique again.

Hearing Kikumaru's voice from both his left and right sides, the referee initially just slowly turned his head left and right.

However, as his reactions became more and more obvious, he turned his head faster and faster.

Seeing that a second Kikumaru had suddenly appeared beside him, he finally couldn't help but faint.

"A referee has fainted in the first arena! Quickly, bring a stretcher!"

The staff on the sidelines didn't expect that the first order of the day wouldn't go to the player who was competing hard, but to the referee who was sitting there.

After a new referee was appointed, the match continued.

Using his clone technique, Kikumaru completely blocked the area in front of the net.

Kai wanted to break out of this predicament, but to no avail.

Since neither of the two Kikumaru is fake, there's no question of one being an illusion. The solution lies in identifying the illusion.

No matter which way Kai hits the ball, Kikumaru can always catch it and score.

Bang...

"Ao... Seigaku Kikumaru scores, 30:0"

"Seriously, what an amazing guy."

Coach Ryuzaki was also shocked by Kikumaru's clone technique, but he was more proud of him, after all, Kikumaru was his student.

"Kikumaru Beam!"

Bang...

"Seigaku Kikumaru scored, score 5:4"

Kikumaru Beam hit, and Kikumaru won the ninth game.