Chapter 23: Seigaku VS Fudomine

Facing the Hadoukyuu hit by Shitian with all his might, Fuji was hesitating whether to go and return it.

Kawamura stepped forward from the side, holding his racket with both hands, and intercepted the tennis ball before Fuji.

Kawamura's face was fierce, and he used all his strength to barely return the tennis ball.

He had not expected his own Hadoukyuu to be returned.

Shitian's eyes were bloodshot, thinking of the hardships his entire team had endured to get this far.

Even if it meant risking his arm, he had to hit it back.

Holding this firm belief, he resolutely poured all his strength into his right arm once again.

However, the little yellow ball dropped straight down, grazing the frame of the racket.

Shitian was horrified to discover that a hole had appeared in the middle of his tennis racket.

The strings had snapped!

The power was actually this immense!

Seeing that Shitian failed to hit this ball, the captain watching from the side, Tachibana Kippei, also breathed a sigh of relief.

He knew too well how much damage the Hadoukyuu could do to an arm!

He did not want his teammate to risk his future tennis career just for the victory of this match.

Although the current situation was clearly favorable to Seigaku.

Yet Fuji noticed that Kawamura's wrist was red and swollen, clearly injured, and he told the umpire without hesitation that they would forfeit.

The first game went to Fudomine!

The following Doubles No. 2 match was Seigaku's Kikumaru Eiji and Oishi Shuichiro against Fudomine's Mori Tatsunori and Uchimura Kyosuke.

As Seigaku's Golden Pair, Kikumaru and Oishi won this game without any suspense.

The second game went to Seigaku!

The two defeated players from Fudomine walked dejectedly in front of Tachibana Kippei.

"You have already done very well; being able to take two games from Seigaku's Golden Pair is already quite impressive."

"In the next match, you must win back double what you lost this time."

Tachibana Kippei did not blame them, but instead comforted the two.

Takahashi watched this scene and thought to himself.

Compared to skill, Tachibana Kippei seemed even more outstanding as a captain!

He could make his team members trust him unconditionally.

Each team member also viewed the honor of the entire team as very important.

As a captain, he was not only strict but also provided appropriate comfort when they failed.

The team's cohesion and willpower were both extremely strong!

What a pity!

……

The weather was not kind, and it suddenly began to drizzle.

The subsequent singles matches were also delayed.

Taking advantage of this time, Takahashi went to a nearby convenience store and bought an umbrella.

Just as he was walking back with his umbrella open.

He spotted someone wearing blue and white clothes running in the rain.

That person had a signature green bandana tied around their head.

It was none other than Kaidoh Kaoru, who was set to play in the upcoming Singles 3.

Is there something wrong with them?

Running in the rain!

No umbrella, no raincoat?

Do they think their body is too healthy? Or that they have too long to live?

Takahashi could not understand this behavior at all.

I don't understand, but I respect it!

……

The rain finally stopped, and the sky cleared up!

The Singles 3 match also began!

Singles 3 was Seigaku's Kaidoh Kaoru vs. Fudomine's Kamio Akira.

……

"Bang!"

Kaidoh stretched his arm forward with force, and the tennis ball landed precariously on his racket.

The tennis ball traced a semi-circular trajectory around the side of the Court at an incredible angle before landing behind Kamio.

Having returned this ball, Kaidoh also fell to the ground due to unstable footing.

Everyone else was extremely shocked.

It actually passed by the side of the Court and then returned to the Court.

Although they were surprised by the trajectory of this ball.

They also had doubts in their hearts.

Can a ball like this score points?

Is it against the rules?

"40-30!"

"Point to Kaidoh!"

The umpire gave the judgment.

Kamio of Fudomine is extremely fast.

Plus, the Boomerang Snake that Kaidoh hit just now was a stroke of luck.

He had not fully mastered the force and angle.

The Boomerang Snake he hit again always went out of bounds.

Kaidoh is losing points frequently!

"This game, Fudomine wins!" the umpire announced.

Mid-game break.

Kaidoh Kaoru walked to the bench dejectedly, his body covered in mud from falling down.

Coach Ryuzaki was very dissatisfied with Kaidoh's performance and shouted in a stern tone:

"Don't think about using some boring tricks in the match; they don't work at all!"

Takahashi:......

There really is no harm without comparison!

Look at others, then look at Coach Ryuzaki!

During the match break, she is still criticizing the team members.

The pressure of the match is already high, especially when the opponent's score exceeds one's own.

Harsh criticism and blame are of no use other than increasing the psychological burden on the contestants.

Moreover, Takahashi thinks this shot is very good.

Continue to develop this shot, keep it from going out of bounds, and hit it as one wishes.

This will become a specialty of Kaidoh Kaoru.

And this shot is not easy to return.

The strange trajectory of the tennis ball is the first thing to impact the opponent's psychology.

The opponent has to muster twelve times the spirit to face it, with their mind highly tense.

In a match, once one panics and loses their original rhythm, the trend of defeat appears.

Just like Kamio Akira right now.

Covered in sweat, gasping for breath.

Everything indicates that his physical stamina is being consumed too quickly!

When watching the anime in the past, Takahashi felt that the coach of Seigaku was a bit too rigid and stuck to old ways; he didn't expect that seeing it today would only deepen this impression.

Sure enough, in the following match.

Due to excessive consumption, Kamio's Serve speed began to slow down.

Kaidoh slowly caught up with the score!

"Match over, Seigaku wins!"

The entire match eventually evolved into a contest of physical stamina between the two sides.

Unfortunately, Kamio could not keep up.

His endurance is not enough.

After all, that is Kaidoh Kaoru, who insists on running even when it is pouring rain!

Although Takahashi also admires Kaidoh's persistence, he would never learn such behavior!

Next is Singles Two.

I wonder if Tachibana Kippei listened to his advice from yesterday.

Seigaku is sending out Echizen Ryoma.

If Tachibana Kippei played, the chances of winning would be high.

Although Echizen Ryoma is powerful, he is still far from having the strength he has at the National Tournament.

In the original work, even for Tachibana Kippei, it would be quite difficult to beat Echizen Ryoma at the National Tournament.

Echizen is a growth-type player; his current strength is far from as strong as it will be later, so if Tachibana Kippei went out himself, there would still be a chance.

Currently, Seigaku has won two matches, and Fudomine has won one.

Even if Tachibana Kippei went out himself and took this game.

Dragging the match to Singles One and facing Tezuka Kunimitsu, I am afraid the inevitable outcome of losing cannot be changed.

The overall level of the Fudomine team is still a bit lacking.

However, at least this would have allowed Tachibana Kippei, as the captain, to play.

However, Tachibana Kippei did not take Takahashi's advice.

The one playing is Ibu Shinji!

What a pity!

He still wanted to see Tachibana Kippei's strength with his own eyes.

This wish is destined to fall through today!

Takahashi shook the empty cola bottle and threw it accurately into the trash can.