Chapter 11: Knuckle Serve? It Can Be Returned Too

On the court.

The tennis ball flew rapidly through the air, wobbling irregularly, with intense spin leaving behind streaks of afterimages.

Takahashi's expression also began to turn serious, the smile at the corners of his mouth gradually disappearing.

After landing, the tennis ball spun rapidly on the ground; the speed was so great it kicked up bursts of dust, and after rolling a few times, it headed toward Takahashi's body at a strange angle.

Everyone's gaze was tightly fixed on it.

Their hearts were in their throats.

Tap, tap.

As the sound rang out, Takahashi's position also changed.

Like lightning, he moved from the front of the tennis ball to the side.

He swung his arm with force.

"Bang!"

The entire process took less than a second; it was completed in the blink of an eye.

As if seeing the wonderful scene of Takahashi about to be knocked to the ground by the ball, a ferocious smile appeared on Kirihara's face, and with his blood-red eyes, he looked like a devil from hell.

"I'm going to crush you!"

The words had just left his lips.

"Bang!"

A yellow shadow fell and bounced from beside him.

He stood rooted to the spot, motionless.

He looked at his side in disbelief.

The tennis ball was rolling on the ground.

Rolling on his own side of the court.

What just happened?

The moment the tennis ball bounced, it was clearly heading toward Takahashi's body.

The entire arena.

Was in total silence!

Only some hurried breathing could be heard.

The onlookers were all incredibly shocked.

Just a moment ago, the tennis ball had been heading toward Takahashi's body with strange spin and powerful force.

Just as they were feeling sorry for the miserable state Takahashi was about to be in.

A heaven-shaking reversal occurred.

The tennis ball had been successfully returned.

"Such fast footwork; one can almost only see a streak of an afterimage moving."

Marui rubbed his eyes; even he, with his excellent dynamic vision, could not keep up with the speed of Takahashi's movement.

"He actually returned it directly!" Niou was also shocked, his mouth hanging open, unable to believe what was happening before his eyes.

"Did you see it clearly?"

Yukimura's expression also changed slightly, a flash of shock passing over his usually calm and composed face.

"Yes, the movement speed was extremely fast, and the angle was grasped cleverly, just enough to return it," Yanagi Renji said.

"Not only was the movement speed fast, but I fear that while the tennis ball was flying over, he had already completely seen through the ball's trajectory, moving just a small step to successfully receive it."

Yukimura continued.

"There might also be an element of luck," Yanagi Renji was silent for a few seconds, then continued.

"The most powerful aspect of the Knuckle Serve is its irregular spin, making it impossible for people to fathom its subsequent trajectory."

"And he actually saw through it!"

"This shouldn't be a coincidence."

"To be able to successfully return it on just the first ball."

"It seems my judgment of him was still too conservative."

"Whether it is power, speed, or technique, he seems to have no weaknesses."

Yukimura said slowly, his heart also very shocked.

He hadn't expected a first-year freshman this year to have such strength!

On the court.

"Senior, you're wrong again. Aside from you, I! Also know the direction the tennis ball will bounce."

Takahashi Yanichi rested his racket on his shoulder, looking carefree and composed.

Kirihara Akaya looked at the other party in surprise, not expecting his pride and joy, the Knuckle Serve, to be broken on the very first ball.

In the past, he had relied on this serve to win countless victories, and had also successfully sent many of those people to the hospital.

Facing this ball, opponents would be injured to varying degrees, ranging from scraped skin and bleeding to internal injuries requiring hospitalization.

He hadn't expected to take such a big tumble here!

Feelings of shock and fear occupied his heart.

Even his signature move had been easily broken, and every ball he hit could be returned.

With such thoughts in his mind.

Even in the state of Demonization, he could not exert his original strength.

So much so that he became restless afterward, losing points in succession.

……

"Takahashi scores!"

"2-0!"

……

"3-0!"

The situation was becoming one-sided.

And Kirihara's stamina was also nearing exhaustion.

"Kirihara has lost, there is no need to continue the match."

Yukimura stepped out and stopped the match from continuing.

Anyone who saw Kirihara's state knew that he had no chance of a comeback.

……

Sanada frowned, observing Takahashi.

He could hardly believe that the Takahashi before his eyes was the same person as the Takahashi from a month ago.

In just one month, there had been such a huge improvement!

A month ago, Sanada had seen the match between Takahashi and Kimura Kojiro on the training court.

At that time, his impression of Takahashi was:

Ordinary strength.

Capable of successfully entering the Tennis Club.

But, limited to that.

After all, as one of the best tennis clubs in the country, it was full of experts.

Today, one month later.

He was shocked to discover that even an elite of the Tennis Club, Kirihara, in whom he and Yukimura had placed high hopes, had lost.

Lost without any power to fight back.

Whether it was power, speed, technique, or endurance, Takahashi was far stronger than Kirihara.

It was like a match between a middle school student and an elementary school student.

The win was without suspense.

In one month, is this really possible?

Sanada did not dare to continue thinking.

Because if his guess was correct, then Takahashi was a super genius, and even he, the "Emperor" of Rikkai, would have to rank below him.

Outside the court.

Spring is the season of all things recovering and metabolism, with leaves occasionally drifting down with the Wind.

The group of people who had been eliminated felt their moods as desolate as the fallen leaves at this moment.

"I really don't want to admit it, but Takahashi is probably a genius!"

"Yes."

Occasionally there were a few fragmented sentences, but very few people echoed them.

They were all like eggplants beaten by frost, wilted!

After a long while, a faint voice sounded.

"Actually, we don't have to be so distressed; even Senior Kirihara lost. It shows his strength is truly very strong."

"Losing to someone with weak strength, we are embarrassed. But losing to someone with strong strength, that is normal."

"Compared to us, the senior is more embarrassed, right!"

"Losing to a newcomer of the Tennis Club!"

Once these words were out, everyone suddenly regained their spirit, and one by one they were revived with full health.

As if enlightened, they started talking one after another.

"That makes sense!"

"The senior is more embarrassed than us!"

"We are just ordinary people; it is normal that we cannot compare to those with innate talent."

"That's right, an ordinary person, why compare with a genius? Isn't that just asking for abuse?"

"Takahashi is a genius who even beat the second-year ace; he is not someone us small fry can attempt to surpass."

"The goals we set for ourselves are problematic; the reference point is too high."

"Right, we need to lower the standards!"

"I have reached Mu! We just need to compare ourselves with ourselves; as long as we have improved compared to the self of a month ago, that is enough."

"Then I have improved a lot!"

"Me too!"

"Me too!"

"Hahaha!"

"We are still very hardworking."

"Brothers, to celebrate our progress, let's go for a group meal!"

"Let's relax and reward ourselves!"

"Good!"

"Let's go."

"Go!"