The second game began, and Akutagawa bounced the ball excitedly.
Fuji's dazzling skills had fired him up. Now, all he wanted was to have a good match against Fuji.
On Seigaku's side of the court, Fuji focused on Akutagawa as he prepared to serve.
Akutagawa struck a powerful serve, then rushed to the net. Seeing him play this way,
Fuji reacted quickly and sent the ball toward Akutagawa's feet.
Caught off guard by Fuji's sudden attack at his feet as he rushed to the net, Akutagawa hastily blocked the ball with his racket.
To his surprise, he managed to hit it by sheer chance—and even sent it back over.
"Hyotei scores, 15–0."
Fuji was surprised that his carefully placed shot had been returned by sheer chance. He wondered if Akutagawa had done it on purpose.
Akutagawa had fallen while hurriedly reaching for the ball, but he didn't seem embarrassed. He got up and returned to the baseline, ready to serve again.
The same serve, followed by the same rush to the net. Fuji read it and once again sent the ball toward Akutagawa's feet.
The result was the same again. Akutagawa was caught off balance by the sudden attack.
But the racket in his hand still connected with the ball, and the tennis ball landed on Seigaku's side once more.
"Hyotei scores, 30–0."
"So he really was doing it on purpose."
Fuji finally confirmed that Akutagawa Jiro had been playing dumb while hiding his true ability. Some of the spectators had figured it out, too.
"His flexibility's decent, but nowhere near enough."
Horio had seen through Akutagawa's game. He just had a flexible wrist, which wasn't enough to trouble Fuji.
Thwack...
"Hyotei scores. The score is 1–1."
Akutagawa used his exceptional wrist flexibility to win a game and hold his serve.
In the third game, Fuji cleanly won another game with his Disappearing Serve, bringing the score to 2–1.
In the fourth game, Akutagawa planned to use his old trick against Fuji, but this time Fuji saw through him.
Whenever Akutagawa tried to rush the net, Fuji forced him back to the baseline. He pinned Akutagawa there, leaving him no chance to advance.
Thwack...
"Seigaku scores, 15–0."
"Damn it. If I'm even a little slow to react, I end up on the defensive. Looks like I'll have to get to the net faster."
Akutagawa hit the tossed ball, then immediately sprinted toward the net.
This time, he had reached his position at the net before Fuji could even return the ball.
Seeing Akutagawa already at the net, Fuji didn't panic. He sent the ball back as usual.
Akutagawa saw it coming and leaped, slamming it down.
The smash from the net had plenty of power, but Fuji could still return it.
Fuji turned around and hit a Brown Bear Drop. He returned the smash, sending the ball back onto Hyotei's side.
"Seigaku scores, 30–0."
"He managed to hit a Brown Bear Drop in that situation? No wonder Fuji Syusuke is called a genius."
Oshitari of Hyotei, who could also hit a Brown Bear Drop, couldn't help marveling at Fuji's reputation as a genius.
"Oh... The wind's picked up. The match should be over for good now."
Horio felt the breeze and looked toward Fuji, who had returned to the baseline.
Akutagawa was excited, but he didn't dare let his guard down.
After Fuji had seen through his net play, he was even more focused.
He tossed the ball, swung his racket, and sent it over, then rushed to the net again.
Seeing Akutagawa repeat his old trick, Fuji calmly returned the ball with a backhand. It was an ordinary shot that flew toward Akutagawa.
Akutagawa was ready to return it, but just as the tennis ball drew close, it suddenly shot up into the sky. Everyone watching thought Fuji had made a mistake.
The ball seemed certain to go out, but then it suddenly plunged downward and landed on the baseline.
The people from Hyotei, on and off the court, hadn't expected that. As soon as it hit the ground, the ball spun violently, then bounced back toward Fuji on Seigaku's side.
"Ah... The ball... bounced back on its own..."
Seeing the tennis ball in Fuji's hand, Akutagawa was utterly stunned. The Hyotei spectators were just as shocked.
"Come on. Let's keep going while this wind is still blowing."
With the wind still up, Fuji went on to win the fourth game.
The fifth game brought Fuji back to serve, and his Disappearing Serve won him the game outright.
After that, Fuji used his three types of returns and his Disappearing Serve to win the Second Singles match, 6–1.
"Next... Hyotei's about to lose for good."
Horio watched Fuji win Second Singles. Seigaku now had two wins and one loss; the final result would depend on Horio and Atobe in First Singles.
"Great! We only need one more win!"
"That's right. Now it all comes down to First Singles."
"Hey, kid. Why are you still sitting around so casually? It's your turn."
Everyone from Seigaku was clearly excited. And since Horio was playing First Singles, they no longer felt nervous.
"I heard you. The result's already decided, so what's the rush?"
After everyone urged him on, Horio finally got up to head onto the court, still looking lazy.
"Honestly, that kid's always so sluggish."
Watching Horio walk onto the court, the Seigaku team joked around, finally able to relax.
"Heh. You're all smiling so happily. I think you're celebrating too soon."
Atobe looked at the cheerful players on Seigaku's bench and grew irritated.
"Seigaku's first-year, don't make me laugh."
Atobe turned to look at Horio, who was already standing on the court, and furrowed his brow.
"The match begins. Atobe of Hyotei to serve."
"Hey, don't hold back. Serve as hard as you can. Give it everything you've got."
To stop Atobe from holding back to test him, Horio deliberately said this to provoke him.
Atobe felt challenged by Horio's words and decided to teach the presumptuous first-year a lesson.
Then came the toss, the crouch, the jump, and the swing.
With one fluid serving motion, he aimed for the corner of Horio's baseline.
Horio watched Atobe get serious and smiled.
He used Inch Step to appear at the corner and returned the ball with a flat shot.
"You're the Captain, after all. You're clearly a lot better than those other players."
The tennis ball flew back to Hyotei's side. Atobe read where it would land, moved quickly, and returned it with a powerful forehand.
With Atobe at the baseline, Horio moved to the net and hit a short lob.
Atobe quickly appeared at the net, swung at the ball, and smashed it into the open space behind Horio.
Pleased with his smash, Atobe smiled smugly.
Horio calmly watched him smash the ball, then pushed off with his left foot.
He spun in midair and swung his right hand in a smooth motion, returning the close-range smash with a backhand.
The ball flew straight to Atobe's backcourt. Atobe clearly hadn't expected Horio to reach a shot that should have been impossible to return.
"Seigaku scores, 15–0."
"Looks like you'll have to get more serious. Otherwise, you might lose your serve."
Horio looked at the stunned Atobe and taunted him again.
"Hmph. No one can escape the scrutiny of my eyes. Just you wait, Seigaku first-year."
"Heh. I hope so."
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