Chapter 25: A Tennis Ball Changing Direction?

Beside the tennis Court.

The members of Fudomine were all filled with righteous indignation, not only because of the frustration of losing to Seigaku today and taking second place, but even more so because someone had actually dared to reject their Captain twice.

This made all the Fudomine members feel extremely angry and ashamed.

Angry at Takahashi's ingratitude.

Ashamed that they had dragged their Captain down, forcing a Captain whose image in their hearts was incomparably tall and glorious to rely on his own strength to recruit members.

As members, they had not relieved their Captain of his worries, but instead had made their Captain worry himself sick for them.

And at this moment, the ungrateful Takahashi had become their outlet for these emotions.

Every one of their gazes toward Takahashi was sharp, filled with grief and indignation!

They could not understand at all why anyone would actually refuse an invitation from their such great Captain.

And twice, at that!

This was simply a great humiliation to them as members!

It was precisely because they lost to Seigaku today that Takahashi looked down on the entire Fudomine Tennis Club, and by extension, the Captain's strength was also looked down upon.

However, the Captain's strength was not something these members could compare to.

Takahashi would soon pay a painful price for his arrogance and his disregard for others.

Although they firmly believed that after the match ended, Takahashi would definitely kneel on the ground and beg to join voluntarily.

But that was the Captain's strength, the result of the Captain's hard work!

As members, they had held the Captain back far too much.

From today on, they must practice twice as hard and work twice as hard!

……

Takahashi, standing in the middle of the match Court, did not know that the onlookers from Fudomine had such complex emotions and thoughts.

He only felt many piercing gazes cast toward him.

Soon, he turned his attention back to the match.

"Since I was the one who initiated the challenge, I will let you Serve first."

Tachibana Kippei said to him.

Takahashi smiled slightly.

"You're letting me Serve voluntarily, so don't regret it!"

Takahashi took a tennis ball out of his pants pocket.

He tossed the ball into the air, and when it reached the desired height, he pulled his arm back with force and then swung forward violently.

"Boom!"

Immediately after.

"Crack!"

Tachibana Kippei only heard two sounds ring out by his ears, and his eyes saw the yellow tennis ball had already arrived in his half of the Court.

It landed.

It bounced.

The interval between these two sounds was very short, ringing out almost simultaneously.

The first sound was the noise made when Takahashi swung his racket.

The second sound was the noise of the tennis ball landing on the empty ground beside Tachibana Kippei.

The entire Court suddenly went quiet.

Everyone on the sidelines was shocked.

What had just happened?

That ball just now!

It had actually scored directly!

Scoring a point directly against their Captain with a Serve.

Unbelievable!

Kamio, who took speed as his advantage, was even more dumbfounded; this speed!

It was actually faster than his!

……

Outside the match Court.

Inoue Mamoru and Shiba Saori had also followed along.

Seeing that scene just now, their eyes also widened, their pupils shaking!

"What a fast Serve!"

"It crossed the net in almost an instant!"

Shiba Saori couldn't help but shout out.

Inoue Mamoru silently recalled the several matches he had seen today.

He discovered that no ball's speed could compare to this one!

This ball was simply like a bullet!

"Quick, get the camera!"

After Inoue came to his senses, he hurriedly urged his assistant.

This match had to be recorded!

He had a premonition that this person playing against Tachibana Kippei would one day cause a sensation throughout the entire middle school tennis world.

As a reporter, he could not waste such good material!

……

On the court.

Tachibana Kippei turned around, silently watching the yellow ball rolling.

He was extremely astonished inside!

This speed……

Even he, having experienced the National Tournament, was shocked!

Even in the National Tournament, those who can hit a ball with such speed are very few.

And they are all famous figures in their respective schools!

This Takahashi, his own assessment of his strength was still too low!

This is a National Level expert!

The real deal!

He really didn't know where such a strong person had popped up from; he had never discovered him before.

But this also further strengthened his resolve to recruit the other party!

"The speed of this ball must be approaching 200km/h!"

Tachibana Kippei asked aloud.

"Hmm!"

Takahashi answered indifferently.

A Serve of this speed, for Tachibana Kippei who possesses National Level strength, actually counts for nothing!

This ball won mainly due to its suddenness, completely catching him off guard.

But once he reacts.

The next ball or the one after that, if it is still the same speed, then he will be able to successfully return it.

However, this is also not Takahashi's true strength.

It is merely an appetizer before the meal!

The purpose is to let Tachibana Kippei understand that, facing him, Takahashi.

Holding back and not unleashing his true strength will not work!

"Bang!"

The same speed.

It shot out rapidly like a bullet leaving the chamber.

"Bang!"

Tachibana Kippei's figure moved quickly, successfully returning the ball after it landed.

"Bang!"

Takahashi swung his tennis racket, feeling the weight brought by the tennis ball, his wrist twisting slightly to make the angle of the racket tilt a little.

"Bang!"

……

After rallying for several rounds in a row.

Suddenly, Tachibana Kippei came to the net and released a Short Ball.

"Bang!"

Takahashi followed the momentum and lobbed the tennis ball high.

Only to see Tachibana Kippei had already jumped high, his body in mid-air, his arm swinging with force—a smash!

"Great! The Captain is going to score."

"Takahashi fell for the trap; the Captain intentionally lured him into hitting a lob."

"Even if his strength is passable, it's still not enough in front of the Captain."

"That goes without saying! This is the Captain, after all!"

The crowd from Fudomine were all very happy, watching the yellow ball head straight for Takahashi's backcourt.

Yet Takahashi was still standing in place, without any movement, merely raising his arm.

But, the next moment.

An anomaly occurred!

The tennis ball that was originally heading straight for Takahashi's backcourt now changed direction in the air, forcefully heading toward Takahashi's tennis racket.

It was as if it were being attracted by something.

And an absolute attraction at that!

Just like the south and north poles of a strong magnet attracting each other.

The tennis ball was also attracted to Takahashi's tennis racket.

It crashed straight into it, then flew toward the other side.

"Plop!"

The tennis ball landed lightly.

Silence!

A deathly silence!

Silence!

A deafening silence!

……

"30-0!"

Takahashi announced the score himself.

As the person involved, Tachibana Kippei looked at the tennis ball that had landed in his court in disbelief.

He could not believe what had just happened.

The ball he had smashed with great force had actually changed direction in mid-air!

If he hadn't experienced it himself, he would have thought anyone telling him about this was crazy.

This was simply a fantasy.

But this scene had happened, truly and realistically, right before his eyes!

Beside the court.

"How is this possible!"

Tachibana An shouted.

Clearly, her brother's smash had been successful.

A point was imminent!

How could a tennis ball change its trajectory halfway?

Was she crazy?

Or was this world crazy!

"That Takahashi, what on earth did he do!"

"Does he have superpowers?"

The others from Fudomine were also discussing it heatedly.