Outer Spin Rotation Ball

"Seigaku Academy versus St. Rudolph, Singles 3 match begins. Players, please take the court."

As the referee announced, Ryoma and Fuji Yuta met at the net for a handshake, while discussions buzzed from the sidelines.

"Who do you think will win this match?"

"I don't know. It's one of Seigaku's first-year students against the genius Fuji's brother."

"The genius Fuji's brother? Really?"

Hearing himself referred to as "the genius Fuji's brother" yet again, Fuji Yuta's mood immediately shifted.

"What do you mean, 'Seigaku's genius Fuji's brother'? I am me. I am Fuji Yuta. Just you wait and see."

With that, he glanced at Fuji Syusuke before turning and walking towards the baseline.

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

"Hey, Fuji-senpai's brother, I wonder if you're as strong as you say you are? I'm really looking forward to it."

Clearly, Ryoma's provocation had succeeded. Fuji Yuta's furrowed brow betrayed his anger.

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

"Hey, he's doing that on purpose, isn't he? This first-year is way too much."

"He's actually provoking him. Is he really not afraid of Yuta...?"

"Seigaku's first-year, I wonder if you'll still be able to be so arrogant later."

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

"Fuji Yuta, it's said his record against left-handed players is sixteen wins and zero losses."

"Really, Inui-senpai? All wins? Then Ryoma is in for it..."

"I told you all not to worry. Left-handed players are just rare, that's all. If you're used to playing right-handed and suddenly encounter a lefty, you'll be unaccustomed to the serve direction and spin."

"Besides, Fuji Yuta isn't some amazing left-handed player. Didn't I tell you he's just a trained machine? If a part breaks, he's done for. What were you guys doing when I was talking...?"

"Ah, Horio... you say that... but we're still worried about Ryoma..."

Seeing the timid Katsuro and Katsuo, Horio felt a bit of a headache coming on.

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

"A machine... Is there something I'm missing?"

Hearing Horio's words, Inui Sadaharu began to rethink, wondering if there was something he hadn't considered.

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

On the court, the match officially started. Fuji Yuta unleashed a powerful serve towards Ryoma.

Ryoma received the ball with ease, but after a few rallies, Fuji Yuta's advantage began to show.

The spin in the opposite direction made Ryoma, accustomed to playing against right-handers, uncomfortable, and he lost points quickly.

Seeing Ryoma suppressed from the start, Fuji Yuta didn't let up. While maintaining his advantage, he employed his signature half-volley.

Both the left-handedness and the half-volley were things Ryoma hadn't encountered before. Under Fuji Yuta's pressure, he continued to lose points.

Bang...

"St. Rudolph scores, 1:0."

Fuji Syusuke, watching from the sidelines, looked at Fuji Yuta and recalled the time Yuta transferred to St. Rudolph in his first year because of him.

He then glanced at Mizuki, sitting in the coach's seat, his eyes complex as they opened.

Ryoma, having lost the first point, was unfazed. He simply returned to the baseline to prepare for the second serve.

Ryoma, holding his racket in his left hand, adopted the stance for an Outer Spin Serve. He intended to use his left-handed Outer Spin Serve against Fuji Yuta.

The tennis ball flew towards Fuji Yuta. Fuji Yuta watched the approaching ball.

As the ball landed and bounced, he swiftly returned it with a half-volley.

Ryoma, who had moved to the net after serving, hadn't expected Fuji Yuta to return the ball perfectly.

Coupled with the speed of the half-volley, he couldn't react in time and Fuji Yuta scored another point.

"St. Rudolph scores, 15:0."

Not only Ryoma on the court but also Fuji Syusuke on the sidelines was surprised by his brother's progress.

"That first-year, he actually wants to test me. Fine, I'll show you the power of my half-volley. As long as you can't reach the net, you won't be able to do anything about my half-volley."

Mizuki in the coach's seat also smiled as he watched Fuji Yuta. Everything was proceeding according to his plan.

Ryoma, back at the baseline again, adopted the stance for an Outer Spin Serve once more, tossing the ball up and swinging his racket.

Seeing another Outer Spin Serve, Fuji Yuta once again executed a half-volley.

He expected it to be like the previous shot, but this time Ryoma increased his speed, quickly rushing to the net and hitting the ball back, scoring directly.

"Seigaku scores, 15:15."

Seeing that he had already deciphered Fuji Yuta's half-volley, Ryoma wanted to provoke him further.

"What, you've already figured it out? Is that all you've got?"

The next few serves were like a copy-paste, and Ryoma quickly caught up, bringing the score to 1:1.

Seeing his half-volley deciphered, Fuji Yuta clearly remembered the time he was often called "Genius Fuji's younger brother."

All his efforts for so long were just to prove that he could be as good as his older brother, so he absolutely could not lose now.

When the third game began, Ryoma continued to feed Fuji Yuta balls, wanting him to hit a half-volley.

Fuji Yuta was getting annoyed by Ryoma's play. His eyes sharpened, and his feet crossed left and right.

His left arm, holding the racket, lifted upwards and drew a semicircle from top to bottom.

The ball, which had just bounced, was hit back. Seeing the rapidly approaching ball.

After landing, its direction suddenly changed, flying inward. Ryoma quickly sidestepped to dodge it.

Seeing Fuji Syusuke hit this shot, a tense expression appeared on his face.

"How about that? This is my Outer Spin Rotation Ball. If you have the skill, try to hit it back."

Ryoma on the other side had no immediate way to deal with it, and thus lost two consecutive points.

"Learning this kind of shot so early will ruin him sooner or later. What else could he be if not a machine?"

Hearing Horio's words, Mizuki was also surprised.

"You're indeed not simple, to have seen through it."

Horio, off the court, looked at Mizuki and frowned.

"You should be glad you didn't face me. Playing such a joke with a tennis ball, you deserve to be ruined."

"Horio, it's alright. I'll get him back for you too. He took such good care of my brother, I should thank him properly."

Hearing Fuji Syusuke's words, Horio turned his head but saw him looking at the court with a serious expression.

Meanwhile, Fuji Yuta on the court was still proud of his Outer Spin Rotation Ball. Ryoma, who couldn't receive the ball, seemed to understand something.

"I say, that Outer Spin Rotation Ball of yours, I advise you to use it less."

"Ah... Seigaku is indeed not simple. Both first-years have such sharp eyes..."