Chapter 10: Takahashi VS Kirihara

Yamamoto Taro's dissatisfaction with Kimura Kojiro had been bottled up for a long time, and it suddenly erupted just now.

Just as he felt refreshed, he discovered that the gazes of everyone around him were fixed on him, leaving him feeling a bit at a loss.

Niou Masaharu said, "Don't look at Kirihara Akaya as just a second-year; his strength cannot be simply categorized by grade level."

"Although he is the ace of the second years, he participated in the National Tournament last year, and his strength is even greater than many third years."

"If we simply divide strength into Regional Level, Kanto Level, and National Level."

"If Regional Level corresponds to the level of the Kanagawa prefectural tournament, Kanto Level corresponds to the level of the Kanto Tournament, and National Level is the necessary ticket to participate in the National Tournament."

"Kirihara Akaya is a half-step National Level expert, only one step away from the National Level."

"And our Rikkai first years, after a year of training, generally only barely reach the Regional Level by the end of the school year."

"But he just joined and hasn't even undergone strict training yet."

Listening to Niou's detailed explanation, Yamamoto Taro's face flushed red, and he hurriedly tried to make up for it:

"Although he can't compare to the seniors, Takahashi is the strongest among us."

At the same time, he secretly worried for Takahashi in his heart.

Inside the Court.

Takahashi Yanichi had a faint smile on his face, his movements were leisurely and carefree, and he appeared completely confident, showing no signs of nervousness at all.

He tossed the tennis ball high into the air and swung his tennis racket.

"Bang!"

The tennis ball drew a beautiful arc in the air.

"Bang!"

Kirihara Akaya stood at the ball's landing spot, swinging his racket while saying, "Your strength isn't much to speak of!"

Takahashi Yanichi moved his body rapidly, returned the ball at the left baseline, and said:

"That angle is truly tricky!"

"Hey, hey, hey, this is too boring!"

"Next, I'm going to make my move."

Kirihara Akaya watched the incoming tennis ball without a care, preparing to take the point with the next shot.

However.

A terrifying force transmitted from the racket.

It felt as if he wasn't hitting a tennis ball, but a shot put.

His wrist couldn't quite hold up.

"Damn it!"

The tennis ball spun rapidly on the racket and then flew out.

"15-0!"

"Takahashi scores!"

Sanada announced the score, very surprised.

He didn't expect the first point to actually be taken by Takahashi.

"Is it very strong power?"

Yukimura Seiichi muttered to himself.

Marui Bunta and the others watching the match were also shocked.

The situation did not trend toward a one-sided rout as they had imagined; instead, the first year they didn't think highly of had taken the first point.

"I didn't expect Kirihara to lose a point on the very first ball; he was too careless!" Marui Bunta discussed with Niou Masaharu.

"The power contained in this shot is great, exceeding Kirihara's estimation."

"But with Kirihara's strength, once he is on guard, he won't lose points."

Niou responded.

On the court.

"I was indeed careless; from now on, you will never take another point from me."

Kirihara said viciously.

"Senior, you've been chattering non-stop since just now."

"This is a tennis match, not a debate tournament."

Takahashi Yanichi was speechless.

"Damn it!" Kirihara said viciously.

"Bang!"

The tennis ball shot out with intense spin.

"Another Power Ball? I'm prepared."

Kirihara gripped his racket with both hands, standing ready.

"Bang!"

"Screech!"

Just by listening to the friction between the racket and the tennis ball, one could feel how great the power contained in this shot was.

Having successfully returned it, Kirihara was full of smugness.

"Don't think you can succeed with the same move twice against me."

"Bang!"

Takahashi Hikoichi began to run, using the momentum from his sprint to swing his arm and easily return the ball.

Kirihara's expression gradually turned gloomy.

The weight of that last ball had left his wrist feeling sore and numb even now.

He hadn't expected it to be returned again.

"Bang!"

"Clatter!"

The two sounds rang out almost simultaneously.

The first sound was the tennis ball making contact with the racket.

The second sound was the racket being knocked to the ground.

The entire Court was silent!

A complete stillness!

"30-0!"

Takahashi Hikoichi called out the score, his gaze shifting toward Sanada.

Sanada was truly surprised.

To actually knock Kirihara's racket to the ground.

And on the second ball, no less!

"He doesn't look sturdy, yet he has such great power!"

On the other side, Yanagi Renji said to Yukimura.

"He used leverage; the momentum from his running sprint greatly increased his power."

"His power is good, and his technique is also quite impressive."

Yukimura could not help but praise him as well.

"Kirihara is going to have a hard time now."

"He shouldn't go head-to-head with him in terms of power."

Yanagi Renji continued.

On the other side of the Court.

"Is Takahashi really this amazing? He's taken two points in a row."

"And he even knocked the senior's racket out of his hand."

The first-years exclaimed one after another.

Marui and Niou also widened their eyes in disbelief.

"This Takahashi seems to have some real skill, but if this continues, I worry Kirihara will trigger Demonization."

On the Court.

Takahashi Hikoichi looked relaxed and composed, his gaze fixed directly on Kirihara as he said, "Didn't you say you wouldn't let me score another point?"

"The accuracy of your predictions, senior, is truly low."

"Since that's the case, let me make a prediction too: on the next ball, you won't even touch it."

"Bang!"

The tennis ball shot out like an arrow released from a bow.

Kirihara stood in place, his expression serious, preparing to return it.

However.

He only heard one thing by his ear.

"Thwack!"

The sound of the tennis ball hitting the ground and bouncing.

"40-0!"

"Takahashi scores!"

Hearing the referee's voice, Kirihara turned around to look at the tennis ball, his pupils shrinking, his face full of shock.

He hadn't even been able to track the trajectory of the ball!

"What a fast Serve!"

Yukimura's expression was no longer calm; a trace of shock appeared on his face.

"Looking at this speed, it's 190km/h."

"Is this really a ball hit by a first-year?"

A Serve speed of 190km/h is not to be underestimated, even in the Kanto Tournament.

Thinking back to the application form he had processed, where the tennis experience column had clearly stated 0.

Yanagi Renji was also filled with astonishment.

Outside the tennis court.

The group that had been eliminated was completely stunned.

From the very first ball.

Their eyes were about to pop out of their sockets.

"What just happened?"

"Did you see that ball?"

"Nothing, I only heard two 'bang' sounds."

"Right now, all I know is that Senior Kirihara has already lost a game!"

"Sigh, is it possible that even a senior can't do it?"

"Could his talent and strength really be that high?"

"I really don't want to admit it!"

Inside the Court.

"I didn't expect my prediction to succeed; thank you for your cooperation, Senior."

Takahashi held his racket, his face full of smiles.

……

"1-0!"

"The first game, Takahashi wins!"

Losing the first game, and to a newcomer in the Tennis Club at that.

Kirihara's eyes gradually turned red, his gaze ferocious.

His entire person exuded an eerie, terrifying aura.

"Senior, turning hostile just because you lost—your sportsmanship, tsk tsk tsk!"

Takahashi Yanichi said.

……

Yanagi Renji asked Yukimura: "Should we stop it? A Demonized Kirihara will hurt people."

Ever since Kirihara Akaya awakened Demonization, no one in the Rikkai Tennis Club except for the Regular Members would play matches against him anymore.

Playing tennis with him really leads to injuries!

And the Regular Members also tacitly agreed to this behavior: once Kirihara Demonizes, they immediately call a halt to the match.

In truth, they were all unwilling to play against a Demonized Kirihara; even if they won in the end, it was inevitable that they would sustain injuries.

Therefore, at this moment, Yanagi Renji proposed to Yukimura to stop the match.

After all, he was a newcomer who had just joined the club; although he had displayed very strong ability, Yanagi did not believe he could remain completely uninjured under the hands of a Demonized Kirihara.

"Wait a moment, let's see how the situation develops. My intuition tells me his ability isn't just this." Yukimura thought for a moment and replied.

Back to the match court.

"I will let you witness my true strength, you brat!"

"Friendly reminder, for this ball, no one knows the direction it will bounce!"

"Except for me!"

Kirihara squeezed the tennis ball hard with his knuckles, the ball compressed into an irregular shape.

Then he tossed it into the air.

……

On the other side of the court.

"Knuckle Serve!"

Marui popped the green bubble gum in his mouth and said seriously.

"The Captain actually still isn't calling a halt to the match?"

Niou also felt it was inconceivable.

After all, even he had difficulty dealing with the Knuckle Serve hit by a Demonized Kirihara.

Even if Takahashi had successfully taken one game and displayed his exceptional power and speed.

Returning this ball would also be very difficult.