Chapter 47: It

Marui continued rubbing Kirihara's seaweed-like hair and said, "Look. Normally, the person who loses a point is bound to be frustrated, but observe Takahashi's expression."

Kirihara said, "His mouth is pursed, he's very frustrated!"

"Idiot!"

Marui said, sounding disappointed that he couldn't live up to expectations.

"But on the previous ball, Takahashi's expression had turned completely Shadow, and although his mouth is still pursed now, it's much better."

"And the Captain, who successfully took two points, doesn't seem to be in a very good mood."

Yanagi Renji said.

Kirihara said, "Isn't the Captain always like that? Indifferent, with no particular mood."

"How can you tell he's in a bad mood?"

Sanada interjected, "Because Yukimura is strong enough, he has always been steady and doesn't have major emotional fluctuations; it seems everything is under his control."

"However, as he is now, it is clear he feels things are somewhat out of control."

As someone who grew up with Yukimura, Sanada was extremely sensitive to Yukimura's subtle changes.

Although, Sanada also couldn't tell exactly what had happened.

But he felt that this match was being played very intensely!

Marui continued, "So don't just look at the surface. Although the Captain scored two points, one can tell from the expressions of both that things are not that simple."

……

It must be said that the Regular Members have quite powerful discernment.

They judged the situation currently on the Court very well.

Yukimura continued to lower the power and speed of the tennis ball, almost feeding the ball onto Takahashi's tennis racket.

However, Takahashi turned his body slightly and successfully dodged the ball.

"40-0!"

This aroused the dissatisfaction of many ordinary members.

"Is Takahashi crazy?"

"Does he want to go to heaven? The ball is coming, and he actually wants to dodge?"

"Since you're dodging, why even play tennis? Withdraw early! Don't make a fool of yourself!"

"What a disgrace to the tennis world! It's despicable!"

"This isn't playing tennis! This is playing the game of social connections! You just don't understand!"

"I even praised him before the match for having the courage to face the challenge directly; I must have been blind!"

"I didn't expect Takahashi to be this kind of person. If such a person really becomes the Captain, I'll be the first to quit the Tennis Club!"

"Me too!"

"Disgrace! Utterly shameless!"

……

"Bang!"

"Yukimura scores, score 1-0!"

"Change of serve!"

……

Except for the first ball, Takahashi practically gave away the remaining points.

The insults from the sidelines of the Court were already very harsh.

Even if his strength was inferior to the Captain's, as long as he tried, even if he lost.

They wouldn't blame Takahashi.

Instead, they would admire him.

Because he had the courage to challenge the Captain.

And they, however, lacked that courage.

Having courage is worthy of praise!

Being less skilled than others is nothing to be ashamed of!

But they never expected that Takahashi would actually deliberately not return the ball and give points to his opponent.

Just to curry favor with the Captain.

To suck up to such a degree.

He simply treated them all as blind!

This is simply a disgrace to the tennis world!

Unlike the intense emotions of the crowd on the sidelines, Takahashi felt relieved.

Although he was already down by one game, Takahashi's expression turned from Shadow to clear, and actually improved.

He said with a relaxed expression, "Captain, you definitely won't be able to return this next ball."

"Bang!"

The tennis ball, carrying a complex spin, headed toward the opponent at a fairly average speed.

Just as Yukimura extended his tennis racket, preparing to return it.

After the tennis ball landed.

It headed in the opposite direction.

It rolled toward the direction of the net.

It rolled straight, hugging the ground.

Silence!

The entire Court, a dead silence!

Those who had been cursing Takahashi with such vigor all fell silent.

"15-0!"

"Takahashi scores!"

Sanada stared fixedly at the direction the tennis ball was rolling, exclaiming in astonishment: "This is..."

"The tennis ball didn't bounce, it's rolling toward the net; how is this possible? This ball is impossible to return!"

Kirihara shouted loudly.

The expressions of the other Regular Members also changed.

During the last match against Sanada, Takahashi had been able to make the tennis ball change direction in mid-air, and by 90 degrees at that, which had already left them shocked.

They never expected that, in a mere half-month, he would actually be able to make the tennis ball not bounce at all after landing.

The trajectory was also truly astonishing.

Rolling toward the direction of the net.

Which meant, facing Yukimura, it was rolling backward!

This kind of ball control.

This speed of improvement.

Left them far behind!

Is this a level a human can reach?

Yukimura looked at the tennis ball rolling on the ground in surprise.

"In less than half a month, you've actually improved again!"

This was a heartfelt exclamation from him.

At the same time, he also began to feel a deep wariness toward Takahashi in his heart.

This speed of improvement was truly hair-raising!

"Bang!"

Another Zero-Style Serve!

"30-0!"

"This ball is simply impossible to return; it's completely hugging the ground, without a single bounce!"

Marui stared at the trajectory of the tennis ball after it landed and spoke up.

"This is Takahashi's service game; is he really going to rely on this move to take the game?"

Yanagi Renji muttered to himself, yet the words he spoke startled even him.

This was their Captain, Yukimura Seiichi!

Yukimura Seiichi, hailed as the "Child of God"!

He had led the Rikkaidai Tennis Club to win first place in the nation for two consecutive years.

No matter the match, he had never lost a single point.

Now, facing this nearly unsolvable serve.

Was he going to lose a game?

Before this, Yanagi Renji would never have believed that anyone could take a game from Yukimura.

But now, this unbelievable fact was happening right before his eyes.

"Bang!"

"40-0!"

"Bang!"

"The score is 1-1!"

The ordinary members beside the tennis court were already stunned into speechlessness.

They had thought Takahashi was a despicable, hypocritical villain who, for the sake of the future Captain position, would go so far as to intentionally throw matches to curry favor with the current Captain!

Even balls he could return, he intentionally didn't.

When the ball came, he even dodged it!

The inferiority of his character was simply appalling!

But.

This game had refreshed their understanding once again.

Just by relying on his serve.

He successfully took a game.

And from the hands of their invincible, ever-victorious Captain, no less.

He took the game with the speed of a thunderbolt.

The match lasted less than 3 minutes before it ended.

This level of strength.

It is terrifying!

Most importantly.

He didn't hold back at all, nor did he show any regard for Captain Yukimura's face.

This Takahashi.

And the Takahashi from the previous game.

Are they the same person?

Have they gone mad, or has the world gone mad?

The Takahashi of this game not only shattered their understanding.

He even shattered their worldview and values!

To think there is actually someone who dares to dodge a tennis ball in a match!

Easily throwing away a game, then easily taking back a game.

He is simply playing around!

How could such a free-spirited and powerful person be the sycophantic villain they thought he was!

If Takahashi really wanted to suck up or put on an act, then he shouldn't have been able to score a single point in this game either.

But now.

He made his opponent unable to score a single point!

This fact made them completely overturn their previous guesses.

Although they don't know why Takahashi would do this!

However, they understand now.

Takahashi is not a villain who only knows how to flatter!

He is not the scum of the tennis world!

Looking at things only on the surface.

The ones who fail to look past the surface of things to see the essence are them!

So.

The clowns were actually themselves!