Chapter 71: Takahashi VS Atobe

Seeing Atobe agree without the slightest hesitation, a cunning smile appeared on Takahashi's face.

The match just now against Oshitari and Mukahi had really made Takahashi feel somewhat bored.

The gap in strength was too large; Takahashi had won easily without even needing to use any of his decent techniques.

This kind of victory gave Takahashi no sense of accomplishment at all.

It was simply a waste of his own time.

A waste of his own life!

Therefore, Takahashi was also lacking in interest for the upcoming match against Atobe.

He couldn't muster any spirit for it.

A flash of inspiration struck his mind, and he thought of this wager.

Although it had no direct benefit to him, he still held another identity: he was the Captain of the Rikkaidai Tennis Club.

If Rikkai were to encounter Hyotei at the Kanto Tournament or the National Tournament.

The existence of this wager would directly lock in a victory for one match.

Although Takahashi felt that Rikkai could probably win without needing to field a player for Singles 1.

But with this wager in place, it could be considered an extra layer of insurance for Rikkai's victory.

Suffering a little bit of hardship to reluctantly play a match against Atobe.

That was acceptable.

How could there be such a responsible Captain?

Takahashi was almost moved by himself.

He was truly too responsible.

Even when out playing, he did not forget the honor and future of the entire Tennis Club.

He wondered if Sanada and Yukimura, far away in Kanagawa, would be moved to tears if they knew.

……

Watching the smile on Takahashi's face, Oshitari felt uneasy again.

He always felt there was a trap in it!

However, as long as Atobe won this match, there would be no consequences.

Didn't he know Atobe's strength?

That was the Captain of Hyotei, a famous tennis school with over 200 members, standing at the very top of everyone.

He was the true number one of Hyotei!

Even in the Kanto Tournament and the National Tournament, he rarely had opponents!

Not to mention, in a mere Street Tennis Court.

Takahashi being able to defeat them meant he did have some strength.

But this bit of strength was still not enough to look at in front of Atobe.

……

On the court.

After the toss, it was Atobe's Serve.

Oshitari Yuushi served as the referee.

Atobe stood on the court and brushed his short hair with his hand.

Afterwards, he raised his left hand high and snapped his fingers loudly in the air.

"The one who wins will be me!"

A voice full of momentum rang out.

Takahashi, on the opposite side of the court, yawned and said, "Hurry up and Serve!"

"I'm already sleepy!"

Seeing that Takahashi was not only not intimidated by his momentum but had instead yawned, the smile on Atobe's face vanished instantly.

Atobe bounced the tennis ball on the ground a few times, then tossed the tennis ball high into the air.

When the tennis ball fell from the air, Atobe pushed off the ground hard with both feet, leaped high, and swung his racket fiercely.

"Bang!"

The tennis ball drew a straight line in the air and charged straight toward Takahashi.

Takahashi moved his feet slightly, received the tennis ball at the baseline on the right side, and successfully returned it.

"Bang!"

……

"Bang!"

Takahashi twisted his wrist, feeling the force coming from the tennis ball.

As expected of the Captain of Hyotei; just from one ball, one could see that his strength was far above those two people from just before.

"Going all out from the start, firing on all cylinders, huh!"

Takahashi said while swinging his tennis racket.

Atobe leaped high, aimed his racket at the tennis ball, and swung with force.

"This is my strength."

"Immerse yourself well under my magnificent technique!"

The tennis ball headed straight toward Takahashi's left side.

Takahashi tapped his toes lightly, his figure flashed rapidly to where the tennis ball would land, and he raised his hand gently.

"Bang!"

A successful return.

It was a cross-court shot.

The tennis ball shot out rapidly, leaving a yellow shadow in the air as it headed straight toward the baseline on Atobe's left side.

"Tap-tap!"

Atobe refused to be outdone; he quickened his pace, reached the baseline, and swung his racket with force.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

Mukahi, who was watching the match, stared at the tennis ball flying rapidly through the air, completely stunned.

To think that someone could trade shots back and forth with their Hyotei Captain Atobe Keigo without falling behind in the slightest.

Just by looking at the intense spin on the ball and hearing the violent friction sound as it made contact with the racket, one could tell the speed and power of the ball were immense.

The tennis ball Takahashi was hitting now was on an entirely different level from the one he had hit during their match just moments ago.

Whether it was the speed, force, angle, or spin of the ball, everything had improved significantly.

Then, recalling how Takahashi had remained calm and composed, not even panting, after their match.

A thought Mukahi found very difficult to accept formed in his mind.

That was, in the match just now, Takahashi hadn't even used his full level of skill.

Was he just playing around with them?

Is that even possible?

The doubles pair he and Oshitari formed was no ordinary doubles team.

Even in the Kanto Tournament, their doubles play would be highly competitive and not something to be underestimated.

Takahashi had taken on two people at once, and he still hadn't used his full strength?

Especially when Mukahi thought about the Tightrope Walking Takahashi had used earlier.

The ball control required for that technique was incredibly high.

Mukahi knew that he himself could not reach that level.

Could such powerful ball control also be just a small fraction of his full strength?

Mukahi was very unwilling to believe this fact.

But the match between Takahashi and his Captain currently unfolding before his eyes—

The strength and level displayed far exceeded that of the previous match.

He couldn't help but believe it!

The match on the court continued.

This was still the first point, and it had yet to be decided.

"Bang!"

Atobe kept his eyes fixed on Takahashi's left foot and swung his arm with force.

The range of motion of his entire body was so large that his clothes fluttered along with him.

Watching the tennis ball flying toward him, Takahashi remained unhurried and moved two steps laterally.

He swung his arm lightly, executing a perfect forehand return.

"Bang!"

The tennis ball shot toward Atobe with even greater speed.

Atobe held his racket in his right hand, knees slightly bent, staring at the incoming ball with full concentration, attempting to predict its trajectory.

After the ball landed, it bounced toward Atobe's left foot at an exceptionally tricky angle.

"Thud!"

It was the backhand side.

It was the left foot again.

Before Atobe, who held his racket in his right hand, could react, the ball landed once more.

"0-15!"

"Takahashi scores!"

Oshitari, acting as the referee, quickly announced the score.

He really hadn't expected Takahashi to take the first point.

After the two had been rallying for so long, the one to make a mistake first was actually their own Captain, Atobe.

However, Oshitari didn't pay much mind to it.

Atobe's strength had not yet been fully unleashed.

As Atobe's close friend, Oshitari knew this well.

It was just that Takahashi's strength seemed even more formidable than what he had shown during his match against him and Mukahi.

To think that a Street Tennis Court could have such a figure, capable of playing against the Captain of the Kanto powerhouse Hyotei without falling behind; it seemed he would have to change his previous perspective.

The Street Tennis Court was also a presence not to be underestimated!