Chapter 120: Long Wait, Battle of the Two Heroes

"Match over, Fudomine Middle School Kamio Akira, Shitian Tie win, score 6-3."

After the referee announced the score, both sides retreated from the court; Coach Sakaki frowned slightly, thinking about the shortcomings in this match, and conducted a post-match summary for Kabaji and Jirou.

"We took it!"

Adjusting their slightly panting breathing, Kamio Akira and Shitian Tie high-fived to celebrate.

"Well played, Ishida, Kamio."

Looking at the two who returned to the team, Yuuki Satoru didn't skimp on praise, raising his thumb.

Nowadays, they had already become indispensable existences for Fudomine, and their reliable strength gave Fudomine enough confidence in the doubles field.

"It's just that, I hope Ice Emperor's lineup can really be as you predicted."

Tachibana Jipei stood beside him, looking into the distance with spirit, full of anticipation in his gaze.

"Don't worry, Atobe that guy should also really want to see such a scene."

"This time, let's have a good fight."

"... Don't worry."

Because he knew very well that Chitose's current behavior was already completely serious, and there was no need for him to say anything more.

Chitose showed a smile on his face, his tone still carrying a hint of teasing.

"I think... your lion aura won't become withered because of this."

"Forget those unpleasant memories; now I just want to have a good outcome with you."

Seeing the bright and cheerful appearance of the other party, the smile on Chitose's face appeared again.

Then, his tiger eyes opened wide.

Soon, the ownership of the first game's service right was decided.

"No, I'm just glad."

"I can't guarantee this kind of thing, after all, that's Tachibana~"

"But don't worry, I definitely won't show mercy."

Hearing the desired result, Yuuki Satoru smiled.

Who is stronger between

"Will both players please enter the court!"

Chitose pinched the handle of his racket with three fingers, applied a little force, and the racket stood straight up on the ground, spinning; the two men's gazes also tacitly focused upon it.

"Back at Shishigaku, I probably never imagined we would decide a winner in an occasion like this."

"Kippei, indecisiveness doesn't really suit your personality."

After all, having the opportunity to bring about a battle between the two heroes of Kyushu, there shouldn't be anyone willing to miss it.

Listening to this spiritless declaration, Atobe gave a mocking smile, yet he was not annoyed.

Yuuki Satoru gently stroked his chin, feeling seventy or eighty percent certain about what Ju Juping was looking forward to.

"Heads."

Chitose crossed his arms, his body turning left and right with his arms to stretch his muscles.

"You guy..."

The loud broadcast voice soon rang out in the venue, and the two sides competing were exactly as expected.

"Mm."

Ten minutes passed in a flash.

"No need for small talk, heads or tails?"

"Sometimes, I cannot help but lament the impermanence of worldly affairs."

Responding softly, Ju Juping took off his black outer jacket, his gaze looking far away, "Chitose, kept you waiting."

"Chitose... even if the opponent is a former partner, one must still win the victory gorgeously."

"Next, the Single Match No. 3 is about to begin, between Ju Juping of Budongfeng Middle School and Chitose Senri of Bing Di Xue Yuan."

After Ju Juping chose his half of the court, the referee sat down on the high chair and waved his hand to announce it.

"Tachibana, let's play to our hearts' content in this match."

Ju Juping's gaze focused on Chitose's right eye, and that place was still radiating light.

Finishing his warm-up, Chitose's face was filled with a joyful smile, yet a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

Hearing the broadcast, Atobe opened his eyes.

Ju Juping slowly closed his eyes, as if to suppress all those negative emotions within his heart.

"Oshitari, watch the following match carefully."

In front of the net.

Chitose squinted; he understood the guilt Ju Juping felt toward him, but this was not what he wanted.

"The match begins, Chitose Senri of Bing Di Xue Yuan to serve first, one game decides the winner!"

After the serve was decided, the two had no further exchange, turning their backs to each other and retreating to the baseline.

Pop. Pop. Pop.

Tightening his grip on the racket slightly, Chitose stood sideways, his palm rhythmically pressing the tennis ball against the ground.

"Kippei, the match that couldn't be decided due to an accident, let's settle it here."

His brown pupils turned, his gaze glancing at the black figure on the opposite side.

Swish!

The next second, the tennis ball was lightly tossed upward, and at the same time, his toes tapped the ground, his gray-white short-sleeved collar fluttering.

Hah!

A muffled grunt came from his nasal cavity, Chitose's arm slammed down toward the tennis ball, and the moment the ball touched the strings, his arm rotated inward.

Boom!

A biting gust of wind passed through the net, landing with extreme precision in the inner corner of Ju Juping's service area.

Sss, sss, sss...

The tennis ball bounced off the ground, then suddenly disappeared the next instant; by the time everyone recovered, the ball was already lying on the ground behind Ju Juping.

"Bing Di scores, 15-0."

The referee watched the replay twice, confirmed the ball had indeed landed in bounds, and only then waved his hand to give the verdict; this ball was even faster than a heavy cannon serve.

"Chitose actually used God Concealment right from the start!"

Straightening the frames sliding down his nose, Oshitari Yuushi's face showed a hint of astonishment; he had never seen Chitose like this.

"What a formidable serve."

Ibu Shinji's pupils contracted slightly, his expression solemn.

This "formidable" did not just refer to the serving technique, but also the opponent's terrifying control over the timing of the serve.

During the preparation stage of the serve, Chitose Senri constantly observed the opponent's condition, seizing any possible opportunity to launch an attack immediately.

Just now, he had seized the gap created when Vice-Captain Tachibana was breathing, and in an instant, hit such a high-level serving move as God Concealment, so even Vice-Captain Tachibana could not react in time to return it.

"As expected of being the two heroes of Kyushu."

Boom!

Another ball was served, and this time, the speed of Chitose's serve was even faster.

"30-0."

Boom!

"40-0."

"Bing Di! Bing Di!"

Three consecutive ace balls made the Bing Di legion boil over instantly, and the gray-white tide surged over overwhelmingly.

Pop!

Chitose held his left hand high and snapped his fingers.

The entire venue went quiet in an instant.

In Bing Di, besides Atobe, only Chitose possessed such strength and status to make everyone follow his instructions.

"Kippei, it shouldn't take you a full game, right?"

"Huh?!"

Hearing their own ace's statement, the people of Bing Di showed expressions of disbelief.

Not needing a full game to crack the mystery of God Concealment? Impossible!

Swish!

Regarding the shock behind him, Chitose only smiled slightly, then his palm tossed the tennis ball straight above him, his body tensing into a fully drawn bow in an instant.

Boom!

The tennis ball sped across the net again, the direction it pointed was exactly on the boundary line of the service area.

"Chitose, you really think highly of me."

A sharp glint flashed in Ju Juping's eyes; he captured the angle of rotation as the tennis ball flew over the net.

Tap, tap, tap.

"Facing God Concealment, Ju Juping has charged to the net!"

Ju Juping's soles stomped hard on the ground, his black crew cut looking exceptionally fierce on the court, and a chilling sense of oppression instantly spread out.

For a moment, many people's legs trembled, their backs feeling cold.

Sss, sss, sss...

The tennis ball landed with a thud, emitting a friction sound.

And Ju Juping had already appeared at the landing spot, taking a stride and crouching sideways, his black racket pressed almost against the ground.

The moment the tennis ball bounced up and was about to disappear, he whipped his arm from bottom to top.

Boom!

The tennis ball that was about to disappear appeared clearly in the middle of the racket.

Whoosh—

The tennis ball reversed at high speed, drawing a straight yellow streak of light.

"As expected of Tachibana."

Seeing Ju Juping return God Concealment head-on using only a Super Half-Intercept, a smile that should have been there appeared on Chitose's face; he did not feel surprised.

Perhaps, this was the tacit understanding between them.

Swish!

The racket in Chitose's hand turned, cutting toward the tennis ball at a clever angle.

With a ripping sound.

The tennis ball was pulled into a winding curve, the complex rotation making the people outside the court feel a shock in their hearts.

Boom!

However, Ju Juping was not to be outdone, swinging his racket fiercely, violently hitting the tennis ball toward corners that were difficult to return.

Boom!

Boom!

"What is going on with these two people's tennis!?"

"What an astonishing reaction, neither side is giving an inch—"

"Your skills are still as sharp as in the past, it really makes one feel joyful!"

Charging to the net at high speed, the familiar clash at this moment made Chitose feel incomparably satisfied.

"Hah!"

His footsteps stomped on the ground, and he whipped his racket toward the bouncing tennis ball.

And the next second.

The black collar fluttered as he ran, Ju Juping's figure appeared at the net in an instant, his hands hanging down, neither avoiding nor retreating.

At this moment, the tennis ball had just left Chitose's racket, and according to its flight trajectory, the place it was about to hit next—

Ju Juping's right eye!

"Chitose, your eye injury...

I must take responsibility!"

Ju Juping held a resolution in his heart, his expression firm and resolute; let this ball settle the grudge of that accident.

Swish, swish, swish...

The tennis ball flew over the net while spinning, becoming larger and larger before his eyes.

Then.

"Pop."

The tennis ball hit Ju Juping's eye, emitting a very slight sound.

Plop...

The tennis ball slowly fell from his face, Ju Juping opened his eyes, just like being hit by cotton, completely devoid of the expected pain.

He touched his right eye, completely unharmed.

"Chitose, you..."

Ju Juping stared blankly at the opposite side.

"Kippei, I said it before, you have to properly decide the winner with me."

The milky-white aura mixed with colorful light spots receded from Chitose's eyes; just now, not only did he not hit a powerful return, he had also neutralized all the original momentum of the tennis ball.

"Game, Bing Di Xue Yuan Chitose Senri, score 1-0."

"Change sides."