Chapter 175

Because there was one time before when Atobe Keigo didn't come to practice.

As captain, Atobe Keigo's absence from practice piqued Kamishiro Aki's curiosity.

Later, he used a stomachache as an excuse to slip away to Rikkai via the bathroom escape, leaving Hyotei behind.

Not coming to practice was absolutely impossible if something had happened.

Atobe Keigo's private car was bulletproof.

Moreover, bodyguards were always following him in the shadows.

The odds of something happening to him were slim.

Then there was only one possibility — he had gone to Rikkai.

That was the time when Atobe Keigo went straight into Rikkai alone to challenge the Emperor, Sanada Genichiro.

The result was exactly as Kamishiro Aki had guessed.

When he arrived, Atobe Keigo was just walking out of Rikkai's school gate.

Kamishiro Aki remembered that the completion of Ice World was something that happened after going to Rikkai.

But then again, it wasn't certain.

Maybe it hadn't been completed.

After all, in the anime, the showdown between Atobe Keigo and Tezuka Kunimitsu was at the Kantou Tournament.

And at that time, he hadn't used Ice World.

But to be on the safe side, Kamishiro Aki would carefully observe every single move Atobe Keigo made.

Then, Atobe Keigo returned to the baseline and got ready to return the shot!

Seeing this, Kamishiro Aki prepared to serve!

This time, he wouldn't use the Thunder Speed serve.

At the same time, he couldn't use the Finger Pistol serve either.

Because of the paid practice sessions, all of Hyotei's regular players could already receive his Finger Pistol serve.

And Atobe Keigo could even receive the Finger Pistol serve at full power.

Therefore, the Finger Pistol serve was ineffective against Atobe Keigo.

With that, there was only one option left.

That was the Iron Block serve!

An ultra-heavy serve struck by channeling the energy of the Iron Block from the Navy's Six Powers into the tennis ball.

The ball doesn't bounce — even Atobe Keigo wouldn't be able to do anything about it, right?

Thinking of this, Kamishiro Aki tossed the tennis ball into the air.

When the ball fell to the right position, he swung the racket fiercely!

"Boom!"

"Iron Block serve!"

The tennis ball shot quickly over the net!

Then it landed heavily on the ground.

The next instant, the tennis ball sat steadily on the ground just like an iron ball.

Just as the referee was about to call the score.

Atobe Keigo interrupted his announcement.

"Hold on a moment, this tennis ball is a fault ball."

"According to tennis rules, if a tennis ball cannot bounce, it is a dead ball and needs to be replaced for a re-serve!"

Hearing these words, the referee was stunned for a moment.

After all, he was only a second-string player and didn't know this rule.

To be precise, no one would study this rule as seriously as Atobe Keigo did.

Just when everyone didn't know how to judge it, Sakaki Tarou walked over with his little notebook of tennis rules and said.

"Atobe is right. If a tennis ball cannot bounce, then the ball is dead and needs to be replaced for a re-serve."

"And it doesn't count within the scope of a double fault."

Hearing this explanation, Kamishiro Aki was briefly stunned.

Good lord!

In previous tournaments, he had used the Iron Block serve.

And no one had said anything.

Then, Atobe Keigo said to Kamishiro Aki.

"Kamishiro, this lord has told you before — I've already seen right through you."

"Then please serve one more time."

Hearing these words, Kamishiro Aki nodded.

There was nothing to be done about it — it was indeed a legitimate use of the tennis rules.

A ball that can't bounce — how is anyone supposed to return it?

Even an extreme lob like the Brown Bear Net Drop bounces ever so slightly.

Before Kamishiro Aki's Iron Block serve.

There had never been a technique where the tennis ball couldn't bounce.

If that's the case, then the Iron Block drive couldn't be used either.

But Kamishiro Aki didn't feel it was a pity.

If all he needed was for the Iron Block Serve's tennis ball to bounce, that was far too easy.

Kamishiro Aki had already thought of a way.

He tossed the tennis ball into the air once more.

As the ball fell, Kamishiro Aki swung his racket violently!

"Boom!"

"Iron Block Serve · Modified!"

Immediately after, the tennis ball shot quickly over the net!

The next instant, the tennis ball slammed heavily onto the ground.

"Boom!"

The powerful rebound force made the tennis ball bounce up slightly by half a ball's length!

Atobe Keigo, who had been about to swing and return it, froze on the spot!

The referee promptly called the score.

"30:15!"

Seeing this, Atobe Keigo frowned.

He hadn't expected Kamishiro Aki to possess such tremendous ball control!

He was thoroughly impressed.

Afterwards, Kamishiro Aki used the modified Iron Block Serve to smoothly take the first game.

"Boom!"

The tennis ball hit the ground.

The referee hurriedly called the score.

"1:0!"

"Both sides, switch sides!"

"Second game, Atobe Keigo to serve!"

The two took a brief rest and quickly began the second game.

Before serving, Atobe Keigo said to Kamishiro Aki.

"Kamishiro, this lord shall let you see the serve I've just researched!"