Intra-Team Training Match

"We're finally here, but I was getting so anxious waiting."

"But are you sure you want to use that custom racket now? Even the strings are custom, and the tension isn't low at all."

"It's fine. My current racket is already feeling a bit off. I need to switch to something sturdier. Thanks. I won't be practicing today; I'll take a rest day."

"Ah, it's okay. Constant training isn't good either. Relax properly."

"Seigaku, everyone assemble for today's training schedule."

On the Seigaku courts, Oishi gathered everyone.

"Today, all regular players will spar amongst themselves. Non-regulars and first-years will undergo basic training. Start immediately after dismissal."

"Yes!"

The group dispersed, and several regulars found sparring partners.

Horio, meanwhile, sought out Fuji, who was also looking for him.

The two then found a court and prepared to start a practice match.

"Fuji-senpai, don't hold back, or you'll lose terribly," Horio said.

"Alright, I was planning on doing that anyway."

Even before the match began, the court was filled with a tense atmosphere. Ryoma and some of the regulars who hadn't started their practice matches yet watched the situation inside the court.

"Fuji-senpai, you serve first. I want to see your vanishing serve."

Hearing Horio's request, Fuji, who had been preparing to hit a normal serve, changed his stance.

His racket hung down naturally. He spun the ball in his hand before letting go. Just as it was about to hit the ground, he struck the ball.

Seeing a seemingly ordinary ball flying towards him, Horio swung his new racket.

The moment he saw the tennis ball pass through his racket without bouncing upon contact, Horio reacted instantly, taking an Inch Step backward again.

He swung his racket again, sending the ball back. The sound of the tennis ball hitting his new racket was somewhat dull, clearly indicating the immense force behind it.

Fuji's eyes widened in shock as his vanishing serve was immediately broken. Seeing the returned ball, he reacted quickly.

He swung his racket towards the ball, but the heavy force upon contact didn't give him time to react.

Feeling that his single-handed strength was insufficient, he gripped the racket with both hands and hit the ball back.

"Fuji-senpai, that's not enough. Let's see if you can handle this next one," Horio said.

With that, Horio tightened the muscles in his arm and swung again.

The ball's speed increased again. Seeing a ball even more terrifying than the last, Fuji gripped the racket with both hands.

His arm muscles tensed, and he swung towards the incoming ball, but the result was different.

Fuji's hands, gripping the racket, were directly sent flying, and his face showed an expression of disbelief.

"Fuji-senpai, I told you if you don't get serious, you'll lose terribly. Your vanishing serve doesn't work on me anymore. I've already seen through it."

As he spoke, Horio pointed to his eyes. Fuji's usual smile was gone from his face. The regulars watching from the sidelines were also startled by Horio.

"I didn't expect Horio to improve so much after that period of training. It looks like Fuji has met his match."

"But I feel like Fuji was struggling right from the start, while the kid looks so relaxed."

"Exactly. With Horio's current strength, perhaps only Tezuka, if he weren't injured, could match him..."

"Maybe we really can aim for the national championship this year."

Fuji, on the court, looked at the racket he had just picked up. He admitted Horio was strong, but he hadn't expected him to be stronger than he anticipated.

Looking at Horio again, Fuji felt that if he didn't go all out, he might indeed lose badly.

He then hit another vanishing serve with increased power, but for Horio, who had already seen through the key.

This time, he didn't even use an Inch Step and returned it directly.

Seeing his serve easily returned, Fuji was no longer surprised, merely concentrating on returning each shot.

Under Horio's absolute power, the first game was easily won by Horio.

"Fuji-senpai, I didn't see your three types of return shots last match. Let me see them now."

With that, he hit a Bullet Serve, which flew rapidly towards Fuji.

This time, Horio controlled the power, making it not too difficult to return.

When Fuji returned the ball again, Horio specifically hit a topspin shot.

As expected, when the tennis ball flew back as a topspin shot, Fuji assumed a special stance.

As the ball approached, Fuji swung his racket from top to bottom, hitting a Slice Shot.

He drew a semicircle forward, and then the ball, with intense spin, flew towards Horio's side of the court.

After landing, it didn't bounce at all, instead sliding directly along the ground.

Horio made no move, merely observing the ball.

To amplify the power of Swallow Returns to Nest, the topspin shot he had just returned had been infused with a great deal of spin.

"It's certainly an imaginative move. The stronger the topspin, the harder it is for the opponent to hit.

But if the shot hit isn't a topspin or has no spin at all, this move is useless. However... if I'm going to break it, I'll do it head-on."

"Fuji-senpai, here I come again."

Seeing that his Swallow Returns to Nest had no effect on Horio, Fuji felt a bad premonition, but he still calmed himself to deal with the next shot.

Horio once again unleashed a Bullet Serve, and after one rally, sent another strongly spun topspin shot to Fuji.

Seeing this, Fuji didn't hold back and prepared to execute Swallow Returns to Nest again.

The tennis ball flew towards Horio with intense spin once more. Horio used Inch Step, instantly appearing at the net.

As the ball crossed the net and began to descend, he immediately gripped his racket and hit an upward drive.

The spin on Swallow Returns to Nest weakens as it descends. That's the moment to use a drive to forcefully reverse the ball's spin. Not a single deviation in angle, power, or timing of the swing is allowed.

Horio precisely timed this moment and hit a drive.

The ball was returned, but it went out of bounds.

Looking at the ball that went out, Fuji felt a sense of numbness.

At this point, Fuji knew he couldn't win. The spectators off the court were astonished by the out-of-bounds ball.

Even though it went out, it was still returned.

"It seems I still need to get used to the new racket in advance."

"Fuji-senpai, the next shot won't go out. How about another round?"

Fuji looked at the relaxed Horio and made up his mind.

Since he couldn't win, he would let Horio achieve his goal.

As expected, the subsequent Swallow Returns to Nest was perfectly returned by Horio.

"Fuji-senpai, it's getting windy. Let's finish this quickly."

Hearing the implied meaning in Horio's words, Fuji no longer held back.

Taking advantage of the wind, Fuji unleashed White Whale.

However, before he could even complete one move, Horio rapidly moved to the net, adjusted his racket angle before the ball returned to his side, and easily countered it.