Chapter 104: Takahashi VS Tokugawa

Inside the Monitoring Room.

Kurobe said: "I just don't quite understand why you had Takahashi Yanichi and Tokugawa Kazuya play each other right from the start. Could it be that Takahashi is as arrogant as Tokugawa was back then, looking down on everyone in our Training Camp, and you want to deal him a heavy mental blow?"

One year ago, Tokugawa Kazuya received an invitation to come to this Training Camp.

Because Tokugawa had received elite tennis education abroad since he was a child and studied at a famous tennis club, he had been striving hard with the goal of becoming a professional tennis player.

Therefore, when he first entered the Training Camp, because he had some ability, he looked down on everyone else in the Training Camp, and his attitude was very arrogant and conceited.

As the strongest in the Training Camp, Byodoin Houou took action to defeat him, not only defeating him in tennis but also shattering his pride and self-esteem.

After failing, he later entered the Back Mountain and only gradually grew up under the training of Mifune General Coach.

Now, as a powerhouse of Court 1, Tokugawa Kazuya's strength is also constantly improving.

Thus, Kurobe naturally assumed that Takahashi might be like the Tokugawa of the past, young and frivolous, looking down on everyone because he had a little bit of ability.

As the mental Coach, Saito wanted to have Takahashi play against a strong opponent, with the goal of dampening his arrogance.

Hearing Kurobe's words, Saito's brow twitched uncontrollably, and he said: "Takahashi Yanichi is not arrogant; he is too lazy, he is lying down too flat!"

"Without the stimulation of a strong opponent and without a crushing defeat, I am afraid he will lie here for a month."

Thus, Saito told Kurobe what happened yesterday, and Kurobe was also speechless for a moment.

Where did such a strange person come from!

To actually want to lie flat and slack off in the U17!

Beside the Court.

"I heard that recently, the Training Camp invited a middle school student to join; that must be the one playing against you today, right! Tokugawa."

A person with golden hair and gold-rimmed glasses spoke toward a person with a cold and stern expression.

These two were the high school students in the Training Camp, Irie Kanata and Tokugawa Kazuya.

"A middle school student? Playing directly against Tokugawa, the coaches are doing things more and more impressively."

A person with dark skin and gray-white hair said.

It was none other than Tanegashima Shuji.

Standing next to the three was a person with a weathered face, who was none other than Oni Jujiro.

These four people were among the best in terms of strength in the current Training Camp, so they usually stayed close to each other.

Tokugawa nodded and replied: "Mm."

As he spoke, he picked up his tennis racket, preparing to go onto the court.

"Tokugawa's fighting spirit is really strong today; it looks like the middle school student is in for some bad luck!"

Irie said.

On the court.

After the toss, it was Tokugawa's Serve.

Takahashi was a bit puzzled as to why the gaze Tokugawa cast toward him held some hostility.

This should be their first time meeting; as a high school senior, shouldn't he treat his junior in a friendly way?

Takahashi was still thinking.

Tokugawa had already begun his Serve.

He tossed the tennis ball in his hand, pulled his arm back with force, and then swung his racket fiercely.

"Boom!"

Accompanied by the sound of a powerful strike, a brilliant, seven-colored light appeared around the tennis ball.

That brilliant, colorful light bounced irregularly in the air, trailing afterimages of changing colors.

In the blink of an eye, the tennis ball crossed the net and arrived at Takahashi's half of the court.

"Thud!"

The tennis ball landed heavily and bounced up.

Takahashi was still standing in place, without making any move.

"15-0!"

"Tokugawa scores!"

Irie pushed up his glasses and said: "It seems my intuition was right; Tokugawa's fighting spirit is very high, he actually brought out his special move—the Phantom Color Serve—right from the start."

"I wonder what kind of stimulation he received."

Oni said with some dissatisfaction: "To deal with a middle school student, he still needs the Phantom Color Serve?"

"Am I the only one who thinks this middle school student is miserable? Entering the Training Camp only to encounter a full-firepower Tokugawa and get shut out; will this cause indelible damage to his young heart?"

Tanegashima Shuji spoke up.

"Perhaps this is what the coaches hope to see!"

Irie said.

Indeed, as the three watching the match guessed, Tokugawa Kazuya was full of fighting spirit today, firing on all cylinders.

This was because the mental Coach, Saito, had specifically sought him out last night.

He had embellished the story to him about how Takahashi could use the Light Strike, and praised Takahashi as being just like Byodoin back in the day—talented, with great growth potential and destructive power, as if he would grow into another Byodoin.

This made Tokugawa very dissatisfied, especially hearing the coach say that he would become a person like Byodoin in the future, which he found very grating.

Because, back then, Tokugawa had been defeated by Byodoin's Light Strike, and his self-esteem and pride had been shattered by Byodoin.

Tokugawa, who had always wanted to battle Byodoin, now heard Saito's words and essentially treated Takahashi, who could use the Light Strike, as the opponent he ultimately had to defeat: Byodoin.

Tokugawa brought out his best state, unleashing his signature move, treating this match as a rehearsal before his match against Byodoin.

This was the reason Takahashi felt Tokugawa's hostility.

At this moment, Takahashi stood on the court, staring blankly at the tennis ball rolling continuously within his half of the court.

Is this what is called the Phantom Color Serve?

Utilizing special spin techniques to make the tennis ball move irregularly in the air.

Utilizing light refraction to make the irregular trajectory of the tennis ball form brilliant colors.

This move is not only extremely fast, but with the trajectory of the tennis ball refracted by light, it is even harder to determine the ball's path.

As expected of a player from Court 1 of the U17 Training Camp, his strength is completely incomparable to that of a middle school student.

"Bang!"

For the second ball, Tokugawa still chose the Phantom Color Serve.

Takahashi also continued his posture from the previous ball, standing in place without moving at all.

"30-0!"

"Tokugawa scores!"

The umpire announced the score loudly.

In the Monitoring Room.

"Facing Tokugawa's serve, Takahashi isn't moving at all? Can he not see the ball's trajectory at all?"

"It seems I evaluated this middle school student's strength too highly."

"If he cannot score a single point, send him to the Back Mountain for proper training to correct his habit of liking to lie flat."

Kurobe said while drinking coffee.

"No!"

Saito spoke up, feeling somewhat strange.

As a mental Coach, he not only paid attention to the situation on the court but also focused on the players' expressions, through which he could read the players' states and thoughts.

If Takahashi were truly helpless against Tokugawa's serve, his complexion should be very poor, his lips should be tightly pursed, his brows should be deeply furrowed, and his entire face should look desperate.

However, apart from a look of surprise at the very beginning, Takahashi's brows were relaxed, a confident smile remained on his face, and his expression was relaxed and composed.

It seemed as if he did not think this serve posed much of a threat at all.

But since there is no threat, why is he standing in place, not moving at all?

Just as Saito was puzzled, the situation on the court changed.

"Bang!"

Takahashi moved his feet to the right, slightly changed his position, swung his arm with force, and successfully returned the tennis ball.