A First-Year Showdown

"Aki, for our service game, we'll do it the way I just said."

After saying that, Saeki went to the baseline and served.

Then Saeki kept his eyes fixed on Kikumaru, observing Kikumaru movements.

"Aki, to the left!"

Upon hearing Saeki's voice, Itsuki hit the ball to the left.

As expected, Fuji appeared on the left, Swallow Returns to Nest formation began.

After the sound of a racket hitting a tennis ball, Saeki immediately took his position, saw where the ball would land, and swung his racket.

Bang...

"Hexas score, 15:0"

"What!? The Swallow Returns to Nest has failed!"

Did Fuji make Fuji mistake?

"That shot was clearly the starting move of Swallow Returns to Nest."

After the Swallow Returns to Nest, it did not glide along the ground, but bounced like a regular tennis ball.

Saeki seized the opportunity and retaliated directly.

"Although that shot was executed using the Swallow Returns to Nest' technique, Swallow Returns to Nest- Senpai Fuji n't execute it."

Because... that ball didn't spin at all, let alone have the topspin required for the Swallow Returns to Nest " motion.

Upon hearing Horio's explanation, everyone suddenly understood.

"I see. You can't hit Swallow Returns to Nest' move with a ball that has no spin, so the Swallow Returns to Nest is blocked."

"Fuji can't unleash his ultimate move... Oh no, Fuji, you can't execute the 'Swallow Returns to Nest' move without spin."

As they were talking, Oishi suddenly saw Fuji on the field assume the Swallow Returns to Nest stance again and immediately stopped him.

But Fuji didn't stop; instead, he persisted in using the Swallow Returns to Nest.

The ball, as planned, slid close to the ground once more after it was launched.

The ball was different from usual; it floated a little higher.

Puff...

"Seigaku's score: 15:15"

"What happened... the Swallow Returns to Nest was driven back."

"I understand. Fuji now created spin on his racket face, so the spin wasn't enough."

That kind of spin force simply can't produce a perfect "Swallow Returns to Nest" shot, which is why Itsuki was able to hit the ball.

He closed his notebook, adjusted his glasses, and said...

Bang...

"Hexagon scores, 30:15"

"They've fought back! Fuji's Swallow Returns to Nest has been broken."

"As expected, the spin generated by the racket alone is not enough."

On the second ball, Fuji's Swallow Returns to Nest was broken, and at this point, Fuji began to think about how to add a little more spin.

So, on the third ball, after Aki returned Fuji's shot, Fuji once again adopted the starting stance of the Swallow Returns to Nest.

"Aki, they're coming!"

Seeing Fuji use Swallow Returns to Nest again, Saeki immediately reminded Itsuki to prepare to retaliate.

But this time it failed; a perfect Swallow Returns to Nest appeared.

"As expected of Fuji- Senpai, he's truly amazing."

Ryoma, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but sigh in admiration at the perfect Swallow Returns to Nest.

"Do you know what happened, Echizen -kun?"

Inoue, a reporter for Tennis Monthly, was also filled with curiosity and quickly asked.

Take a closer look at the net.

Inoue quickly looked over and saw the net swaying in the wind.

"That last shot was a net touch; Fuji Senpai the net and his racket to execute a perfect 'Swallow Returns to Nest' shot."

"As expected of Seigaku's genius player, he possesses such precise ball control."

After hearing Ryoma's explanation, Inoue was also impressed by Fuji's strength.

"Only Fuji could hit an amazing tennis ball with a touch measured in centimeters... No! There must be someone else."

Gan originally thought that only Fuji possessed such amazing ball control, but then he suddenly remembered that there was someone even more terrifying, and couldn't help but look at Horio beside him.

"Don't look down on me. If you practice hard, you can do it too."

Horio suddenly felt that everyone around him was looking at him, and he became a little uncomfortable.

"And if you think that's Fuji- Senpai's goal, then you've been fooled, just like Rokkaku and the other two."

Those who had initially been interested in Horio because of his ball control were immediately puzzled when they heard that they had been tricked.

"Are there only three people playing on the court? Have you guys overlooked the other person?"

Horio's words instantly awakened everyone, including Fuji and Kikumaru.

From the fifth inning onwards, it was basically Fuji who was receiving the ball.

Kikumaru didn't participate at all, causing everyone to almost forget that Kikumaru existed.

As expected, with Fuji's Fuji persistence, the score was brought to 5-1, and it was match point.

The two players from Rokkaku Middle School still didn't give up, thinking that even if there was only one ball left, there was still hope.

So, during his match against Fuji, he finally found an opening and hit the ball towards that spot.

Fuji saw the two men's actions but did not move. Saeki and Itsuki saw that Fuji did not move.

Thinking that Fuji had reached his physical limit, I immediately relaxed.

Before they could even relax for a moment, a figure Fuji, making their hearts jump again.

Kikumaru jumped into the air and Kikumaru Smash the ball back, scoring a point.

"Seigaku scores, score 6-1, Seigaku wins."

"Great! Two wins in a row, Echizen, the next one is all up to you."

"The Senpai all won; it'll be embarrassing if you lose."

"Yeah, the other person is also a first-year student."

If Seigaku wins both Second Doubles and Seigaku, and if they Third Singles, then Seigaku will advance to the Kanto Tournament finals ahead of schedule.

Therefore, everyone in Seigaku hoped that Ryoma would also win the match directly. Despite being entrusted with such a heavy responsibility, Ryoma maintained his aloof expression.

"They're both first-year students, but the first-year student at Rokkaku Middle School is worlds apart from Ryoma."

Horio turned to look at the buzz-cut boy who was warming up at Rokkaku Middle School, then turned back to look at Ryoma.

One is passionate as fire, the other is unbelievably cold.

"Yeah, yeah, we're both first graders, but you act like you're so much better off."

Upon hearing Horio's sarcastic remark, the Seigaku members, who had initially intended to agree with Horio, immediately turned around and began criticizing Horio.

"Next up is the Third Singles match between Rokkaku Middle School and Seigaku Academy, players, please prepare."

"Alright, Echizen, go ahead. I'm counting on you for this match."

Upon hearing the referee's voice, Oishi asked Ryoma for a favor and then let him go on the field.

On the court, on the Coach's bench, Aoi Kentaro, Third Singles, was very excited.

"Old Man, I'm so happy! I even brought that with me."

After saying that, Aoi took a racket out of her tennis bag.

"Ah! What kind of racket is that? It's hexagonal!"

"No, look closely, not only the racket, but even the net is hexagonal!"

Kikumaru, with his exceptional eyesight, saw it even more clearly; the unusual racket surprised the Seigaku regulars, who had never seen one before.

"That kind of guy is really annoying."

Aoi was very excited about competing against Ryoma, while Ryoma was not used to someone so exaggeratedly excited.

"The match begins, with Seigaku's Echizen serving."