The Injury-for-Injury Tactic

Kabaji's face finally showed another expression, somewhere between surprise and fear.

Even so, Kabaji still obeyed Atobe's orders and managed to return the ball.

Coach Ryuzaki, watching from the sidelines as the two players traded injuries, sprang to her feet.

"Kawamura, stop right now!"

Thwack...

"Hyotei scores. The score is 40–0."

"Honestly, you can't keep hitting Wave Balls one after another. If you're going to do that, you should hold the racket with both hands. Otherwise, it won't work. Do you hear me?"

"Ah, I'm sorry, Coach. I didn't mean to worry you."

Kawamura felt guilty after hearing the coach's scolding, but his determination to win still burned fiercely inside him.

He thought of Seigaku's national championship, of how this might be his last time playing tennis, and of all the teammates who had supported him.

Kawamura no longer hesitated. His gaze grew exceptionally resolute.

"That's some spirit. To have improved this much in such a short time is truly worth praising."

Horio noticed the change in Kawamura's eyes and realized he was probably about to do something, so he hesitated over whether to stop him.

But if he stopped someone with such firm resolve and such strong conviction now,

it might have the opposite effect. So he decided to let Kawamura do what he was about to do.

Besides, Kawamura wasn't the only one having trouble with his arm.

On Hyotei's side of the court, even Kabaji, standing there with a blank expression, had a slight tremor in his racket hand.

The movement was tiny, but nothing escaped Horio's Eye of Shattering Delusions, no matter how slight.

Kabaji held back the trembling in his arm and hit a powerful serve. Kawamura, now resolved to win at any cost,

hit another Wave Ball at full power. Coach Ryuzaki saw Kawamura disobey her again just after she had reprimanded him.

Her brows knitted tighter than ever, while Kabaji returned the shot with an identical Wave Ball, like a machine.

After three rallies, the tennis ball, having already endured six blows of tremendous force, flew back into Seigaku's side of the court.

Kawamura could feel that his arm had only one Wave Ball left in it, so he resolved to turn the match around with his final shot.

The people outside the court saw Kawamura take a low stance—not the posture for a Wave Ball, but a sprinter's starting position.

Everyone else was simply puzzled by Kawamura's stance, but Horio was horrified.

"The Charging Wave Ball... Senpai, stop!"

The others didn't know what Kawamura was planning, but Horio did.

He hadn't expected Kawamura to learn the move so quickly. He knew the Charging Wave Ball was nothing like an ordinary Wave Ball.

An ordinary Wave Ball only injured the wrist at the moment of the swing, but the Charging Wave Ball would injure the arm again when the player lunged forward, on top of the damage from the swing itself.

It was far more powerful than an ordinary Wave Ball, but it also caused far more damage.

It might have been all right if Kawamura had used it at the start of the match, but his arm was already done for.

"What... the Charging Wave Ball? What's that Seigaku guy talking about? Is there really a shot like that?"

"Yeah, with that stance, there's no way he can hit a Wave Ball."

The spectators were skeptical when they heard Horio, but the Seigaku and Hyotei players held their breath.

They could sense that this shot was no ordinary one. Even the coaches in both teams' chairs watched Kawamura with furrowed brows.

Kawamura ignored Horio's warning and kept his eyes fixed on the ball.

Then, as if he'd heard the starting gun at a track meet, Kawamura suddenly charged forward.

In an instant, a gust burst from his racket. Gritting his teeth in pain, he struck the ball, pouring all his resolve into it.

Thwack...

On Hyotei's side of the court, the tennis ball lay on the ground, still smoking.

Beside it lay a racket whose handle was stained with blood. Kabaji stood frozen in place, his right arm trembling uncontrollably, his right hand covered in blood.

His expression remained blank, but in a tired, helpless voice, he said,

"I... can't play anymore."

"Th-that was the Charging Wave Ball?"

"That was... terrifying. That incredible power."

Hyotei's players were stunned by Kawamura. To them, Kabaji was one of Hyotei's true powerhouses, and even they weren't confident they could beat him.

But now Kawamura had forced him to withdraw from the match. Fear immediately weighed down the atmosphere around Hyotei.

"Awesome! Kabaji forfeited! We won!"

Katsuro and Katsuo cheered for Kawamura, oblivious to what had happened, but Seigaku's regulars all wore furrowed brows.

"Katsuro, Katsuo, get the first-aid kit ready. This match is over."

Horio was serious now, watching Kawamura's hand on the court with a frown.

Kawamura, who had also been standing frozen in place, finally couldn't hold on any longer. His racket slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.

"Since neither player can continue, the Third Singles match is declared invalid."

"Katsuro, Katsuo, ice Kawamura's arm immediately, then take him straight to the hospital."

Looking at the injury to Kawamura's arm, Horio knew that if it wasn't treated immediately, it could cause lasting problems.

On the court, Fuji picked up the racket Kawamura had dropped.

Looking at the bloodstain on the racket, Fuji felt encouraged by that flash of red.

"Aron, could I borrow your racket?"

"Sure, Fuji. Take it if you want to use it."

Holding the racket, Fuji turned and walked onto the court.

"Next is the Second Singles match between Seigaku and Hyotei. Will both players please get ready?"

Fuji, looking serious, faced Akutagawa Jiro, who seemed to have just woken up and was still as carefree as ever.

"The match begins. Seigaku's Fuji to serve."

Fuji went straight into his Disappearing Serve, striking the spinning ball as it dropped.

After bouncing on Hyotei's side of the court, the ball moved rapidly. Just as Akutagawa Jiro focused and swung his racket, the ball passed straight through it.

"So the spin's stronger now. This is more like a slice serve!"

Thwack...

"Seigaku scores. 15–0."

"You're focused now. Here comes another one."

As soon as he finished speaking, Fuji sent another Disappearing Serve across. After bouncing, the ball again passed right through the racket.

Thwack...

"Seigaku scores. 30–0."

"Wow, what an amazing serve! Atobe, did you see that? The ball disappeared!"

Akutagawa, who had been dozing, had finally been woken up by the shot. Seeing a technique he'd never encountered before, he looked thrilled.

"That's why I told you Fuji Syusuke was no ordinary player. I told you to pay attention."

Atobe looked helplessly at the naturally airheaded guy in front of him. Akutagawa wasn't angry at being scolded; he just felt a little embarrassed that he'd missed Atobe's words because he'd been asleep.

Thwack...

"Seigaku scores. 40–0."

Thwack...

"Seigaku scores. The score is 1–0."

Fuji quickly won a game with his Disappearing Serve. Akutagawa, who hadn't managed to return even a single ball, wasn't discouraged at all by losing the game. Instead, he looked excited.