Outer Spin Rotation Ball

"Seigaku Academy versus St. Rudolph, third singles. Players, please take the court."

At the referee's announcement, Ryoma and Fuji Yuta came to the net and shook hands. Chatter rose from the sidelines.

"Who do you think will win this match?"

"I'm not sure. It's one of Seigaku's new first-years versus the genius Fuji's younger brother."

"The genius Fuji's younger brother? Really?"

... ...

Hearing people call him the genius Fuji's younger brother again, Fuji Yuta's mood immediately changed.

"What do you mean, the younger brother of Seigaku's genius Fuji? I'm my own person. I'm Fuji Yuta. Just you wait and see."

After saying that, he turned to look at Fuji Syusuke, then headed for the baseline.

As soon as Fuji Yuta turned around, he heard Ryoma's voice.

"Hey, Fuji-senpai's younger brother. I wonder if you're as strong as you say. I can't wait to find out."

Clearly, Ryoma's provocation had worked. Fuji Yuta's furrowed brows gave away his anger.

Everyone from Seigaku and St. Rudolph on the sidelines was startled by Ryoma's behavior.

"Hey, he did that on purpose, didn't he? That first-year's unbelievable."

"He even went out of his way to provoke him. Could he really not be afraid of Yuta...?"

"Seigaku first-year, let's see if you're still this cocky in a minute."

Watching Ryoma stretch at the baseline, Fuji Yuta's left hand trembled slightly around his racket.

"Fuji Yuta's record against left-handed players is supposedly sixteen wins and no losses."

"Really, Inui-senpai? Undefeated? Then doesn't that mean Ryoma...?"

"I told you not to worry. What's so special about left-handers? They're just rare, that's all. If you're used to playing right-handers and suddenly face a left-hander, of course you won't be used to the direction of his serves or the spin on the ball."

"Besides, Fuji Yuta isn't even that good a left-hander. Didn't I tell you he was just a machine someone had trained? One broken part and he's useless. What were you doing while I was talking...?"

"Ah, Horio... Even so... we're still worried about Ryoma..."

Seeing Katsuro and Katsuo cower, Horio felt his teeth itch with frustration.

"Does Ryoma look like he needs you to worry about him?"

"A machine... Did I miss something?"

Hearing Horio's words, Inui Sadaharu started thinking again, wondering if there was something he hadn't considered.

"Play begins. St. Rudolph's Fuji to serve."

The match officially began. Fuji Yuta hit a powerful serve toward Ryoma.

Ryoma returned it with ease, but after a few rallies, Fuji Yuta's advantage began to show.

The opposite spin made Ryoma, who was used to playing right-handed opponents, uncomfortable, and Fuji Yuta scored after a few rallies.

Seeing that he had Ryoma on the back foot from the start, Fuji Yuta didn't let up. While maintaining his advantage, he used his specialty, the Half Volley.

Ryoma had never faced either a left-hander or a Half Volley before. Under Fuji Yuta's pressure, he lost point after point.

Thwack...

"St. Rudolph scores. 1–0."

On the sidelines, Fuji Syusuke watched Fuji Yuta and remembered when Yuta had transferred to St. Rudolph in his first year because of him.

He glanced at Mizuki in the coach's seat. His open eyes held a complicated expression.

Losing the point hadn't affected Ryoma. He simply returned to the baseline, ready to serve in the second game.

Ryoma held his racket in his left hand and took the stance for an Outer Spin Serve. He intended to use his left-handed serve against Fuji Yuta.

The ball flew toward Fuji Yuta, who watched it approach.

As soon as the ball bounced, he quickly returned it with a Half Volley.

After serving, Ryoma went straight to the net, not expecting Fuji Yuta to return the ball so perfectly.

The Half Volley sent the ball back especially fast, and Ryoma couldn't react in time. Fuji Yuta scored.

"St. Rudolph scores. 15–0."

Ryoma on the court wasn't the only one surprised; Fuji Syusuke on the sidelines was astonished by his younger brother's progress, too.

"That first-year was trying to test me? Then I'll show him the power of my Half Volley. As long as I keep him from reaching the net, he won't be able to handle it."

Mizuki watched Fuji Yuta with a smile from the coach's seat. Everything was going according to his plan.

Back at the baseline, Ryoma took the stance for an Outer Spin Serve again. He tossed the ball up and swung.

Seeing another Outer Spin Serve, Fuji Yuta returned it with a Half Volley again.

He expected it to be just like the previous one, but Ryoma had sped up. He rushed to the net, returned the ball, and scored.

"Seigaku scores. 15–15."

Seeing that he'd figured out Fuji Yuta's Half Volley, Ryoma decided to provoke him again.

"What? That was all it took to figure you out? Is that really all you've got?"

The next few points played out almost exactly the same way, and Ryoma quickly caught up. The score was now 1–1.

Seeing his Half Volley figured out, Fuji Yuta was clearly reminded of how people had always called him the genius Fuji's younger brother.

All his hard work had been to prove he could be as good as his older brother. There was no way he would lose now.

When the third game began, Ryoma continued feeding the ball to Fuji Yuta, trying to get him to use his Half Volley.

Fuji Yuta grew impatient with Ryoma's play. His gaze sharpened, and his feet crossed from side to side.

He raised his racket-holding left arm and swept it down in a semicircle.

He returned the ball just as it bounced. Ryoma saw it flying toward him at high speed.

After bouncing, it suddenly changed direction and curved inward. Ryoma quickly dodged to the side.

Seeing that shot, Fuji Syusuke's face grew tense.

"How about that? This is my Outer Spin Rotation Ball. If you can, try hitting it back!"

Ryoma had no answer for it, and Fuji Yuta won two points in a row.

"Learning a shot like that so early will wreck his arm sooner or later. If he isn't a machine, what is he?"

Hearing Horio's words, Mizuki was surprised.

"You're more perceptive than I thought. You actually noticed."

Horio looked at Mizuki from the sidelines and frowned.

"You should be glad you didn't run into me. Making a joke out of tennis like this—you deserve to have me wreck you."

"Horio, it's all right. I'll repay him for you, too. He's been taking such good care of my younger brother. I should thank him properly."

Horio heard Fuji Syusuke's words and turned to look at him. Fuji Syusuke was staring at the court with a grave expression.

On the court, Fuji Yuta was still basking in pride over his Outer Spin Rotation Ball. Ryoma, who had yet to return it, seemed to have realized something.

"Hey, that Outer Spin Rotation Ball of yours—I'd advise you not to use it too much."

"Ah... Seigaku really is something. Both first-years have such sharp eyes..."