The Ideal Doubles Team?

Thump...

"Junior high school student scores, score 3-0"

With the help of Marui and Kite, the junior high school students scored another point.

"Looks like we have no choice but to concede. They really are an ideal doubles pair."

After Marui broke the First String's serve again using Tightrope Walk, Kimijima Ikuto struck up a conversation with Marui once more.

"Hey Bunta, could you try that amazing spinning technique on the net a few more times?"

"Of course, since you want to see it, I don't mind playing it a few more times."

Kimijima Ikuto's negotiations resumed, Marui once again fell into a trap without warning.

Seeing that Marui readily agreed, Kimijima Ikuto's lips curled into a triumphant smile.

"Can such a trick really be used in the World Championships? I think it's not even as good as Mitsuya Akuto's Information Tennis."

"Kimijima's negotiation tennis certainly has its merits, otherwise he wouldn't have been selected for the Expeditionary Force."

Off the field, whether it was because of Tono Atsukyo or something else, Horio couldn't develop any good feelings towards Kimijima Ikuto either.

Especially after seeing the same sinister smile on his face as Tono Atsukyo, he added him to his blacklist in his mind.

"Hmph, you think you can influence the game with just words? Well, I'll shatter your illusions then."

Kimijima Ikuto and Marui's conversation was overheard Kite Kimijima Ikuto, and Kite instinctively became wary of him.

Whether it was the intuition between strong individuals or his instinctive reaction as an "assassin," Kite didn't want Marui to have too much contact with the other party.

So he changed his mind, originally intending to slowly probe the opponent's intentions by hitting the serve. He threw the ball into the air, and with a push of his Kite, he jumped into the air.

"They're here!"

"Big Bang!"

"Go, Eishiro, teach those two a lesson."

"Let them see the spirit of Okinawan men!"

The students from Higa Junior High standing outside the court were so excited to see this familiar serve that they stood up.

As the ball reaches its highest point, the Kite swings out with the racket.

Bang!

"Junior high school students score, 15:0"

Big Bang than during the National Tournament occurred. Tono Atsukyo tried to retaliate, but the explosive force knocked his racket away.

Kite serve scores, forcing Marui to fall flat once again.

However, this can be considered an advantage, and Marui, who is loyal to doubles, did not have any negative reactions.

Bang!

"Junior high school students score, 30:0"

Bang!

"Junior high school students score, 40:0"

"It's really a bit of a shame, Bunta-kun. I was really looking forward to you using that amazing technique again."

But your partner managed to knock my partner's racket off with just a serve. Looks like I won't get a chance to see that."

With three Big Bang serves completed by Kite, and just one point away from winning the point, Kimijima Ikuto and Marui started chatting again at the net.

"Marui, don't have too much interaction with him."

Seeing this, Kite also spoke up to remind Marui.

However, Marui didn't seem to care about Kite's opinion, and instead took over Kimijima Ikuto's words with practiced ease.

"Good things don't always come around. If you want to see more of my amazing skills, you'll have to wait patiently."

"Oh? Really? I'm really looking forward to it. How about the next round?"

"Let's play the next game then."

Marui was completely drawn into Kimijima Ikuto's rhetoric, unaware that he had fallen into his opponent's trap.

On the bottom line, seeing that Marui completely ignored his reminder, Kite was somewhat angry.

His expression turned somewhat grim, but so far Marui's strength was not enough to make him turn against him.

Frustrated and helpless, he could only turn his attention to Tono Atsukyo.

Bang!

"Junior high school student scores, score 4-0"

"Marui, this is my last reminder to you, and a warning: don't have too much interaction with your opponent."

"Oh? You think that high school student is up to something?"

But I don't think so. I think that person is pretty nice.

Also, in the upcoming matches, please create more offensive opportunities for me.

After all, they've said several times that they want to see my amazing skills again, so I can't let them down.

During the break between the two sides, Kite gave Marui a final reminder and warning.

However, Marui didn't seem to care, and Kite already had some thoughts about it.

Because Kimijima Ikuto had already contacted Kite before the match even started.

"As someone from the First String, you shouldn't be contacting me at this time. Speak your mind quickly."

"Kite, I know your nickname is 'Killer'."

So I wanted to ask you, would you like to try playing doubles with me?

"So you had investigated me beforehand. But as a member of the First String, you should have your own partner, right?"

"That's right, but I've wanted to disband my doubles partnership with Tono for a long time."

If you can beat him in tomorrow's match, I will recommend you as my new partner.

How about that? Isn't that a tempting offer?

"It is indeed tempting, but that doesn't mean I have to agree to it."

I can't trust someone who makes such a request on our first meeting. If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now.

"Tono has an old injury to his left knee, and he gets extremely excited every time he uses the Execution Method, at which point his knee is in a blind spot."

If you aim for his knee after he uses the Execution Method, you know what the result will be.

All you need to do is pretend to betray your partner to put Tono at ease.

Then I'll look for an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow to his knee, and then you'll definitely be my partner."

Remembering what Kimijima Ikuto had said to Kite in private before the match, Kite had never believed him from the start.

"If you've really been fooled by his words, then I wouldn't mind playing along and hitting you awake."

Given that Marui might be tricked by Kimijima Ikuto and lose the match, Kite prefers to fight alone.

The opponent can be very strong, but teammates cannot be a liability.

Having made up his mind, Tono Atsukyo began his serve.

The ball was hit towards Kite, Kite deliberately avoided Kimijima Ikuto and hit the ball back towards Tono Atsukyo.

"Let me see you again, Bunta-kun."

However, Kimijima Ikuto deliberately stepped forward and hit a ball with his forehand, creating an opportunity for Marui.

"Got it! Brilliant technique... What!?"

The tennis ball flew towards him, Marui immediately got into position.

But the tennis ball suddenly accelerated after lightly crossing the net, breaking through his defense.

"It's a decoy ball, get your act together, Marui."

The tennis ball flew to the left corner, and the Kite used Ground Shrinking Technique to cover in time.

Kimijima Ikuto smiled and aimed at the other bottom corner again, but his shots were all deflected by Kite.

"That footwork is really troublesome. Looks like I'll have to target you, Bunta-kun."

Because the Ground Shrinking Technique is effective against distance-based attacks, Kimijima Ikuto had no choice but to target Marui again.

Bang...

"First String scores, 15:0"

Kimijima Ikuto delivered a Half Volley, and Marui, whose rhythm had been disrupted, was caught off guard and unable to react in time.

Bang...

Bang...

Bang...

"First String scores, score 1:4"

Marui's loss of rhythm had a domino effect, causing him to lose points repeatedly under Kimijima Ikuto's relentless targeting.

"You're too hasty. I told you before, don't communicate so much with your opponent."

I'm so sorry.

"Just wait patiently for your opportunity to attack, and don't let the opponent influence you."

Although Kite had previously stated that this was the last time he would remind Marui, Kite still did nothing after Marui made a mistake and lost the point.

Marui thought that Kite was just talking, but he didn't expect that what followed would be the most painful moment for him.

"Kite is right. It was because of that ball that I was led by the nose by him from then on."

All I need to do now is calm down and focus on doing my job well.

On the bottom line, Marui tried his best to adjust his state.

After calming himself down, he finally hit the ball.

Kimijima Ikuto, meanwhile, continued to target Marui, hitting the ball towards him.

"Haha, get ready, you little gum devil!"

At this moment, Tono Atsukyo at the net began his attack, hitting various balls aimed at Marui's body.

Faced with such a tricky and dangerous ball, Marui made good use of his agility.

He shifted his body from side to side, constantly dodging the balls flying towards him.

Meanwhile, the defender, Kite, used the Ground Shrinking Technique to return every ball that Marui missed.

After repeated unsuccessful attacks, Tono Atsukyo was getting annoyed.

The player swung the racket faster, but it still didn't have much of an effect on Marui.

"I already told you, why don't you just hit me?"

You can dodge attacks from the front... but can you handle attacks from both sides?

Upon hearing Marui's smug tone, Kimijima Ikuto's eyes flashed.

Just as he finished speaking, the Kite behind Marui swung his racket.

However, the direction of the counterattack was no longer the opposite half of the court, but Marui in front of him.

"Damn it... Kite..."

"Eishiro, what are you doing?"

The tennis ball struck Marui's wrist with pinpoint accuracy, a shot that not only surprised Marui but also left the students from Higa Junior High in disbelief.

"You did this on purpose, you bastard!"

As longtime partners, Wolf, seeing Marui being attacked by Kite, made a move to rush onto the court.

Seeing the Wolf becoming somewhat irrational, the people nearby quickly pulled him back.

"I was just praising them as the ideal doubles team, and they really can't take praise so easily..."

"As expected, a singles player like Kite is not suited for doubles."

"Shut your mouths, your preaching is meaningless."

The junior high school students on the sidelines, who had initially been very optimistic about this doubles pair, have now had their opinions changed. When they heard others commenting on them like that, Kite retorted without hesitation.

"I only have one piece of advice for you all: follow the strong, that is my Kite."