Chapter 68: Technique vs. Technique

As if he had long since predicted the tennis ball's landing spot, Takahashi moved slightly, successfully returned the ball, and hit it into the back corner on Mukahi's right side.

Mukahi was momentarily stunned, not expecting Takahashi to return his Moon Return so easily.

By the time he reacted, the tennis ball was already outside his defensive range.

"Don't worry, I've got it!"

A low voice rang out behind Mukahi.

Oshitari moved quickly to the baseline and swung his racket to return the ball.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

The tennis ball trailed streaks of yellow light in the air, shooting straight toward Oshitari.

Oshitari stretched his arm out forcefully.

"Snap!"

The tennis ball landed less than 0.5m away from Oshitari's tennis racket.

"0-15!"

"Point to Takahashi!"

Oshitari said regretfully, "That last shot was just a hair off."

But he didn't expect the expression of Mukahi Gakuto, standing to the side, to have already turned gloomy.

What Mukahi Gakuto was most proud of was his jumping ability.

Jumping in the air, light as a swallow, he would hit balls from unexpected directions and tricky angles.

Facing such Acrobatic Play, because the direction is hard to grasp, the difficulty of successfully returning it is not small.

Moreover, in terms of Acrobatic Play, he was far stronger than Seigaku's Kikumaru Eiji.

He was confident that in the entire Kanto Region, his Acrobatic Play was second to none.

However, just a moment ago.

Takahashi had always returned his Acrobatic Play with ease; even his signature move, "Moon Return," was successfully returned by Takahashi on the first try.

It was as if the tennis ball's trajectory was completely under Takahashi's control.

No matter how Mukahi jumped in the air or changed his posture in the air, the balls he hit could be seen through by his opponent.

To Takahashi, Mukahi's jumping posed no threat at all!

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

Takahashi shifted his feet slightly, swung his right hand upward with force, and once again successfully hit Mukahi's ball back.

"I say, don't you get tired from jumping around in the air all the time?"

"My eyes are about to get dizzy!"

While returning the ball, Takahashi said.

"What?"

Mukahi didn't expect Takahashi to say something like that.

He was actually complaining about him jumping constantly.

He wasn't marveling at his swallow-like jumping ability!

This was the first time Mukahi had heard such words.

Which of his past opponents or the spectators on the sidelines hadn't marveled at his gorgeous aerial dancing ability and his dazzling Acrobatic Play?

Could it be, just as Mukahi thought, that these shots posed no threat to Takahashi at all?

"Boom!"

The tennis ball headed toward the area below Mukahi's left foot at an exceptionally tricky angle.

Mukahi was flying high in the air and had no time to change his posture.

"Snap!"

The tennis ball landed and then bounced up.

Oshitari, behind him, also hadn't expected the angle of this shot to be so tricky, hitting exactly into Mukahi's blind spot.

It took perfect advantage of the fact that Mukahi was in the air and could not change his position in time.

"0-30!"

"Point to Takahashi!"

Atobe, sitting in the umpire's chair, opened his eyes wide and stared intently at Takahashi's movements.

He could judge that Takahashi was an out-and-out National Level expert.

Regarding Mukahi's Acrobatic Play, Takahashi's focus was not on Mukahi's gorgeous jumping movements at all, but rather fixed on the angle at which the racket contacted the ball.

He judged the ball's landing spot based on this angle.

The range of his own movement was also quite limited.

He successfully returned the ball with minimal movement.

It seemed he was unwilling to make an extra move or waste a single bit of energy.

Takahashi is actually at a disadvantage by taking on two opponents alone.

After all, a doubles court is larger than a singles court.

The area that Oshitari and Mukahi need to defend is just as large as the area Takahashi needs to defend alone.

It was assumed that this match would make Takahashi run all over the court.

However, the result is the exact opposite.

Takahashi's position has hardly moved at all, while Mukahi is constantly jumping and changing positions, consuming a huge amount of energy.

Oshitari is also running all over the court to cover for Mukahi.

Takahashi has seized the initiative of the entire match in one go.

One must know that Oshitari and Mukahi are players who specialize in doubles, possessing a tacit understanding that others can hardly match.

However, not long after the match began, Takahashi broke this tacit understanding between the two of them.

It was indeed correct not to underestimate Takahashi.

……

On the court.

……

"Is this your Acrobatic Play?"

"Flashy but useless, all style and no substance!"

"Let me teach you what a real Acrobatic Play is."

As he spoke, Takahashi swung his racket lightly.

A Short Ball.

Mukahi immediately rushed to the net, preparing to volley.

However.

The yellow tennis ball hit the top of the net perfectly.

It rolled straight along the top of the net.

"Plop!"

It dropped down lightly.

"0-40!"

"Takahashi scores!"

Mukahi was suddenly stunned, his pupils dilating.

He could not believe the scene he had just witnessed.

"Tightrope Walking."

"How is this move?"

"This is a ball that possesses both acrobatics and strength."

Takahashi said indifferently, the corners of his lips curling up slightly.

Atobe, on the sidelines, also widened his eyes.

Compared to Mukahi's various jumps just now, this ball is the true Acrobatic Play.

Mukahi's acrobatics are all for show, and his ball trajectory is completely seen through by Takahashi.

But as for this Tightrope Walking move by Takahashi, even if one sees through his ball trajectory, it is very difficult for Mukahi to return it with his strength.

Wanting to return this ball tests a player's grasp and control of timing immensely.

Mukahi's level is not enough!

……

"Bang!"

……

"Plop!"

The tennis ball rolled along the top of the net for a distance and fell.

Another Tightrope Walking.

"0-1!"

"Takahashi scores!"

Oshitari's expression also turned Shadow.

He and Mukahi are doubles players with a tacit understanding, and in this game, the two of them are playing against Takahashi alone.

The advantage in the match should have been in their hands.

Yet he did not expect that Takahashi would score in the first game, and the two of them did not score a single point.

Moreover, the tacit understanding the two previously had is now completely gone.

Oshitari turned his gaze toward Mukahi.

He saw Mukahi with wide eyes, glaring fiercely at Takahashi, his lips tightly pursed, his expression ferocious.

It seems Takahashi's Tightrope Walking move has completely and thoroughly enraged Mukahi.

In fact, it is not hard to understand; Mukahi is inherently a person with an extremely strong competitive spirit.

Hearing that Seigaku's Kikumaru Eiji is an acrobatic player like himself, Mukahi was already eager to try and wanted to defeat Kikumaru.

Not to mention that Takahashi openly mocked Mukahi's jumping as flashy but useless on the court and even showed off his own acrobatics in front of Mukahi.

Seeing Mukahi's emotions gradually spiraling out of control, Oshitari stepped forward to soothe him, saying: "Don't worry, I'm still here; we are a doubles team!"

"Since he likes Tightrope Walking so much, let's not give him the chance to hit Short Balls."

"We still have a chance to win."

The second game is Takahashi's Serve game.

Takahashi was seen gently tossing the tennis ball upward, his arm swinging lightly.

The tennis ball glided through the air at a fairly average speed.

When it flew to the net, it dropped right down and rolled straight over the top of the net.

Mukahi rushed to the net, stretching out his arm.

"Snap!"

The tennis ball landed less than 0.1m away from Mukahi's tennis racket.