6:0, a Complete Rout

Atobe served again, and Horio returned the ball to the left corner.

Atobe quickly moved into position and hit it back. Horio sent the ball to the right corner again.

"That's more like it. Tennis should be like this. Moving around more is what makes it a sport."

"Damn it, first-year! Are you deliberately messing with me? Right there!"

Atobe realized that Horio was making him run from side to side. Irritated, he fixed his gaze on a spot behind Horio to the right and hit the ball hard.

Thwack...

"Hyotei scores. 15–15."

"Don't underestimate me, first-year. I've seen through your blind spot."

After scoring, Atobe realized he had found his opponent's blind spot, and his confidence returned.

Horio heard Atobe but said nothing, simply turning and walking back to the baseline.

"Good eye. You spotted the blind spot as soon as it appeared. But if that's all you've got, it won't be enough."

Watching Atobe prepare to serve again, Horio continued testing him. He didn't think Atobe had yet used his full strength.

Atobe stared across at Horio and hit a serve at a tricky angle.

Horio responded calmly, while Atobe ran from side to side under his direction.

Whenever Horio thought Atobe had almost had enough, he would leave an opening for Atobe to score.

Then Horio would win the point back on the next shot. Only when the game reached match point would he take it outright.

The match went on in a dull cycle of Atobe clawing back points, only for Horio to win the game.

Thwack...

"Seigaku scores. The score is 2–0."

"Atobe... is actually being toyed with by that kid."

"I don't know if it's a coincidence, but it really is suspicious."

"Every time he catches up, that first-year overtakes him on the very next point. That kid is terrifying."

The Hyotei players watched their captain being toyed with on court by a first-year. They were astonished not only because their captain was being suppressed, but also because the one suppressing him was a first-year.

"Come on, come on. It's your serve again. I'll make you use that smash this game."

Horio looked at Atobe, who was drenched in sweat, and gave him a meaningful smile.

"Damn it, what's going on? Is that guy deliberately leaving openings for me?"

Watching Horio smile, Atobe gritted his teeth and hit the ball.

The ball had been headed toward Horio's forehand, but Horio didn't choose to return it with a forehand.

Instead, Horio swung his racket with a backhand, sending the fast-flying ball high into the air.

"A lob shot! What a chance! Atobe's got an opening!"

"Show him that move of yours, Atobe!"

Atobe sprinted forward, leaped, and hit a smash.

But he wasn't aiming at the court. He was aiming at the racket in Horio's hand.

"Heh heh. Don't be silly. You think I'd let you do that?"

When Horio saw Atobe smash, he shifted position the instant the shot flew, then sent back another incredibly high lob.

Thud...

"Seigaku scores. 15–0."

"Your intention was too obvious. I won't let you get your way."

Seeing that his first smash hadn't achieved its purpose, Atobe was completely at a loss.

Looking at Atobe, who seemed nearly helpless, Horio no longer felt like testing him.

"That's enough. Now it's time to end the match. I'll make you lose to yourself."

At Horio's words, Atobe turned sharply toward him. Only then did he realize that the person standing before him had never played him seriously.

"You've been looking down on me from the start? I won't lose!"

Stubbornly refusing to believe Horio, Atobe insisted he could still win and swung his racket to serve again.

Seeing that Atobe still wouldn't give up, Horio returned the ball.

As he watched the ball fly back, Atobe raised his left hand to his brow again, and a look of fear crossed his face.

Atobe had tried to spot his opponent's weakness once more. This time, he did find one—but they were all his own weaknesses.

He could only return the ball in a panic, and Horio immediately hit it back for a point.

"Seigaku scores. 30–0."

"Come on, then. The match isn't over yet."

Thwack...

"Seigaku scores. 40–0."

Thwack...

"Seigaku scores. The score is 3–0."

"It feels awful, doesn't it? The worst is just beginning."

In the fourth game, with the serve in hand, Horio used Complete Imprisonment.

Atobe felt the ball was right before his eyes, yet impossibly far away.

"What is going on? That serve looks simple. Why is Atobe just standing there?"

"Could Atobe be so exhausted he can't even return the ball?"

The Hyotei players had never experienced the misery of Complete Imprisonment, so they couldn't understand what Atobe was going through.

"Seigaku scores. The score is 4–0."

"Next... it's your serve again."

The fifth game began, and it was Atobe's turn to serve. By now, Horio had mentally worn him down.

Relying on what little strength his body had left, Atobe managed to serve despite his dazed state.

Horio showed no mercy and hit a Shatter.

Atobe forced himself to run to where the ball would land and swung his racket, but the mental sluggishness did nothing to dull the pain.

He felt a tearing pain travel from the ball up through his racket, and, just as expected, his racket was knocked away.

"What happened to Atobe? That shot shouldn't have been so powerful he couldn't return it."

"That first-year is really strange. How does he know so many weird techniques?"

"Atobe looks like he's in pain. He should still be able to hold on, right?"

The Hyotei cheer squad had fallen silent. Their tennis club's leader was being crushed like this, and they no longer had the confidence to cheer.

"What was that tearing sensation...? The ball didn't look like anything special..."

Feeling the pain in his arm that still hadn't faded, Atobe felt that same helplessness welling up inside him again.

"Hurry up and serve. Three more points."

Horio's voice rang out again. Atobe could hear something terrifying in it.

But as Hyotei's leader, he held back his emotions, returned to the baseline, and served again.

Thwack...

"Seigaku scores. 30–0."

Thwack...

"Seigaku scores. 40–0."

Thwack...

"Seigaku scores. 5–0."

Just as expected, Horio quickly took the fifth game with his overwhelming play.

The sixth game was Horio's serve again, as though victory had already been decided.

Atobe knew Horio would use Complete Imprisonment against him again. Though he still assumed a ready stance, deep down he already felt he knew how this would end.

Sure enough, Horio cleanly hit a Complete Imprisonment.

On Hyotei's side of the court, Atobe stood rooted to the spot like a nail, watching the ball land at his feet.

"Seigaku scores. The score is 6–0. Seigaku wins."

As the referee announced Seigaku's victory, everyone on the sidelines, who had been ready to cheer for some time, finally erupted in celebration.