Chapter 199: Oishi's Resolve, a Match Won by Luck

Hearing Sanada's words, Kite said, "Isn't that right! The opponents are two people, while we only have one person here."

"Wanting to take on two people alone and also putting psychological pressure on the opponents—for Oishi, the difficulty is a bit too high."

"When it comes down to it, it's still Oishi who hasn't played the role a doubles player should."

Takahashi carefully sensed the faint Spirit Power on the court, gave a light smile, and said, "Mental Assassination, it succeeded."

Kirihara asked in confusion, "Succeeded? But the opponent is still trading shots with him!"

Mouri said, "Oishi's Mental Assassination isn't aimed at the high schooler, but at the middle schooler on the side."

"After all, it's much harder to use Mental Assassination on a high schooler wrapped in that white light."

While speaking, Mouri glanced at Takahashi.

This keen spiritual insight was something even Mouri admired a little.

Because Mouri and Oishi have long been a doubles pair, they have a very tacit understanding, so Mouri can judge Oishi's thoughts through his subtle movements.

In fact, Mouri himself doesn't really dare to look directly at Oishi's Mental Assassination; although he has trained to successfully immunize himself, that is only as a teammate—if he were to face this Spirit Power directly, he would still be affected to some extent.

But he didn't expect that Takahashi could not only successfully immunize himself against Mental Assassination but even accurately sense the existence of this Spirit Power.

It seems that Takahashi's achievements in the Mental Domain are far higher than Oishi's!

What a terrifying guy!

……

Sure enough, just as Mouri said, the middle schooler Papadopoulos was hit by the Mental Assassination, and in the next game, he committed 4 double faults, successfully gifting a game to the Japan Team.

……

"Score 6-5!"

"Japan Team scores!"

The umpire announced loudly.

……

On the court.

"Bang!"

Accompanied by the crisp sound of the ball being hit, Oishi successfully completed his Serve and found an empty spot.

He stood to the side, closed his eyes, and trustingly left everything on the court to Oishi.

……

Oni said, "This doubles match is turning into a singles match again!"

"Just like the second match of the exhibition. Only that time it was Oishi who stepped back, while this time it's centered on Oishi, and Oishi has lost his purpose."

Tanegashima said, "As long as you can win in the end, the process isn't important."

Takahashi looked at the situation on the court, frowned, and said, "We want to turn this doubles match into a singles match."

"But the opponents don't seem to think so."

"Bang!"

The tennis ball, after being returned by Taranta, went straight toward Oishi's body, knocking Oishi to the ground.

……

"That Greece Team high schooler did it on purpose, deliberately aiming his shots at Oishi's body."

Fuji opened his eyes and said.

"Oishi is not easy to deal with, and Oishi, who has closed his eyes but hasn't completely left the court, is a very good target."

"In a match, it is normal behavior for the opponent to find and attack our weaknesses."

"After all, Oishi also used Mental Assassination to attack the opponent's middle schooler."

Oni said.

"But no matter what, you can't deliberately attack someone who has no power to fight back."

Fuji said.

"Takahashi's exhibition match was a special case; not every country's players are like the Germany Team, which focuses on defeating opponents head-on."

"And Oishi hasn't completely left the court like Oishi did, if..."

Irie's words were interrupted by Byodoin halfway through.

"Drop your naivety! This is a battle where you carry your country on your back!"

"Closing his eyes, not leaving the court, and not participating in the duel between them is Oishi's own choice."

"Since this is his choice, he must consider the consequences of doing so."

"Middle schoolers, welcome to the real, cruel world."

Byodoin's cold voice rang out.

……

Oishi on the court gritted his teeth and stood up, his gaze fixed firmly on his opponents.

Although his strength is far behind the other middle schoolers on the representative team, he also has his persistence.

Currently, only he and Fuji from Seigaku have been selected for the representative team; he represents not only the country on the court, but even more so, Seigaku.

Even if he is to be subjected to even more violent attacks from the opponent, he absolutely cannot shrink back, and he must never completely leave the court.

Oishi looked at the obvious external injuries on Oishi's body and said with some reluctance, "If the opponent serves again, you should hide off the court."

Oishi nodded, indicating his agreement.

However, when Taranta returned the ball again, Oishi still stood on the court and closed his eyes once more.

……

Seeing Oishi being continuously attacked by the opponent on the court, the atmosphere in the Japan Team's rest area also changed.

Sanada said solemnly: "Oishi, that guy, has already made his resolve."

"The resolve to persist even if injured."

"I admire this kind of persistence in him."

Kite said: "Fine! Although his strength is quite average, I admit I also quite appreciate this kind of courage of his."

……

"Bang!"

"15-0!"

"Japan Team scores!"

……

Kirihara said: "Why did the opponent hit an out ball? They didn't hit the ball directly toward Oishi."

Tanegashima said: "Look, everyone, at the look in that high schooler's eyes from the opposing side."

"Unlike Oishi's firmness, his eyes reveal confusion!"

"Perhaps the opponent hasn't reached the point of being heartless enough to attack someone who has closed their eyes again and again."

Takahashi smiled and said: "This is interesting. By a twist of fate, because of the opponent's reluctance, Oishi has also placed extraordinary pressure on him!"

"A difficult choice between conscience and victory."

"Undeniably, this is also a special kind of mental skill!"

……

"Bang!"

……

"Bang!"

……

"Match over! Score 7-5!"

"Japan Team wins!"

……

Coach Mifune took a sip of alcohol and said: "What a messy match, but fortunately we are the final victors."

"Although Oishi's strength is not great, I didn't misjudge him; the resolve he displayed in this match is the reason I selected him for the representative team."

……

"Next, the Doubles No. 1 match begins, with Yuanyudujing and Kirihara Akaya of the Japan Team facing off against Apollon Stephanopoulos and Orion Stephanopoulos of the Greece Team!"

……

30 minutes later.

"Match over! Score 6-4!"

"Japan Team wins!"

……

"The Singles No. 3 match begins now."

The broadcast voice rang out.

……

"We won the first two matches; if we win this one, we can steadily defeat the Greece Team."

Atobe was somewhat excited.

"Shiraishi is playing in this match, it's settled."

Kite was also very agitated.

After all, compared to Oishi and Kirihara, Shiraishi's strength is much greater; if both of them could win, Shiraishi is naturally a sure thing.

Takahashi glanced at the opposite side and said: "The one they are sending out is their team captain, Zeus!"

While speaking, Takahashi glanced at Tanegashima beside him.

Tanegashima looked at Shiraishi's back as he walked onto the court.

Beads of cold sweat slid down Shiraishi's face.

Although Zeus had an innocent-looking baby face, Shiraishi felt that his everything had been seen through by the opponent.

He clearly felt his inner self speaking: This is an invincible enemy.

He even had a premonition that his Bible Tennis would be torn to shreds by the person before him.

"Rock, paper, scissors!"

A voice with a hint of a smile sounded from behind Shiraishi.

Shiraishi blankly extended his hand.

Tanegashima said: "I played paper, you played rock."

"You lost, so I am the one going on court."

While speaking, Tanegashima snatched Shiraishi's tennis racket and went onto the court.

Kintaro said somewhat angrily: "Even if the captain of the Matsu team is Senior Tanegashima, he can't snatch Shiraishi's chance to play!"

Yanagi Renji, who was to the side, explained: "According to the tournament rules, as long as they are pre-registered players, emergency substitutions before the match are allowed."

"Besides, Shiraishi's state just now wasn't right; perhaps letting Tanegashima play is a good thing."