Chapter 79: Watching the Match, the Four's Discussion

At the Kanto Tournament court.

The match between Tezuka and Atobe is becoming increasingly intense, with both sides evenly matched.

At Takahashi's prompt, Kirihara stares intently at Tezuka's feet.

After a while, Kirihara asks in confusion: "Tezuka's feet?"

"What's the problem? I don't see anything."

Yanagi Renji speaks up: "Tezuka has been standing in the same spot; his feet haven't moved a single step."

Sanada says: "This is the Tezuka Zone, capable of drawing the tennis ball into a range within one step of himself."

Then Sanada turns to Takahashi and asks:

"Just now, how did you see that?"

This is also the question in Yanagi Renji's heart.

Their strength is not weak, and they can all see Tezuka's counterattacks.

But just now, in a situation where everyone else had completely failed to notice, and while Tezuka was still at a disadvantage, Takahashi had keenly discovered it.

What astonishing insight this is.

"The spin on the tennis ball had already begun to change."

"It's just that at the beginning, Tezuka had his racket knocked away by Atobe, so the spin Tezuka imparted to the tennis ball wasn't that obvious."

Takahashi replies.

"Moreover, this technique of Tezuka's has some issues; I'm afraid it cannot be used for long."

Takahashi continues, his gaze fixed tightly on Tezuka's arm.

So that's how it is.

Tezuka's Domain is very similar to the Domain Takahashi has used before; both can make the tennis ball come to a place within one step of himself.

Without needing to move, one can successfully receive the tennis ball.

However, watching from close range, Takahashi discovered the difference.

Tezuka is merely imparting spin to the tennis ball; he is not changing the power on the tennis ball.

The power of the tennis ball hit by Atobe is not weak.

Tezuka's arm not only has to apply subtle spin to the tennis ball, but it also has to withstand the power on the tennis ball, and on top of that, that arm has an old injury.

How could the arm bear it?

The brilliance of Takahashi's Domain lies in this.

While he applies spin to the tennis ball, he can also control the power on the tennis ball, preventing it from harming himself.

Moreover, at a certain moment, he can also skillfully convert the power of the tennis ball hit by the opponent into spin.

Using it for his own purposes, it becomes the driving force for the tennis ball to change direction.

Therefore, even when facing Sanada's powerful Smash of "Aggressive as Fire," Takahashi can easily neutralize it.

Borrowing force to strike with force.

The greater the power of the tennis ball hit by the opponent, the greater the power Takahashi's Domain exerts.

It simultaneously possesses control over both spin and power.

This is the essential difference between Takahashi's and Tezuka's Domain.

Yanagi and Sanada are both very surprised.

Did Tezuka actually use the Domain from the very beginning?

Neither of them had discovered a single trace.

And what did Takahashi's last sentence mean?

Cannot be used for long?

Then, they hear Atobe on the court say: "Tezuka, your arm is injured."

Yanagi Renji looks at Takahashi in shock and says: "You saw it? Tezuka's arm is injured? How did you see that?"

Takahashi says: "Tezuka's swing posture isn't natural enough; it's as if he is deliberately protecting something."

Sanada raises his voice, surprised: "This, you can see this too?"

Takahashi shrugs and says: "Practice more, and you'll naturally be able to see it."

Listening to Takahashi's words, Sanada falls silent all of a sudden.

Inside the court.

"Bang!"

After the tennis ball lands, it spins in place for a few turns.

Immediately after, it rolls toward the direction of the net.

"This is..."

"It's actually the same technique Master used when playing against Yukimura."

Kirihara exclaims.

"Yes!"

Takahashi answers.

"Master, did Yukimura have no power to return this ball?"

"Is this ball truly unsolvable?"

Kirihara asked with confusion.

"Not exactly, you just need to return the tennis ball before it touches the ground."

Takahashi replied.

"But if it's a Serve, you must wait for the tennis ball to touch the ground before you can return it, so is the Zero-Style Serve unsolvable?"

Yanagi Renji joined the conversation between Takahashi and Kirihara.

"Theoretically yes, but this ball of Tezuka's did not completely touch the ground; it might be because of his arm injury."

"Look closely, the tennis ball still leaves the ground for an instant; if you grasp that timing, a return is also possible."

Takahashi replied while recalling the ball that Tezuka had hit.

"But the ball hit by Master is completely touching the ground."

Kirihara said.

"There is still a chance to break it."

Takahashi smiled slightly.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

The two on the court were fighting like Fire and water, and Tezuka had already taken a one-point lead.

"I didn't expect the Seigaku Captain to be so formidable, even Atobe of Hyotei is being suppressed."

Kirihara felt somewhat emotional.

He had originally thought Hyotei's strength could completely crush Seigaku.

After all, last year's Seigaku didn't even make it into the National Tournament.

And Hyotei was one of the top eight in the nation.

He didn't expect Seigaku to have such a formidable Captain.

"Not necessarily!"

"Atobe has a better chance of winning this match."

Takahashi said.

"Why?" Kirihara asked.

"Tezuka's rhythm is off," Takahashi said.

"How is it off?" Kirihara continued.

"He's too anxious!" Takahashi said.

"Master, how did you see that?" Kirihara said.

Takahashi was speechless and said, "Kirihara, you must learn to think; your brain is not just for show."

"Pfft!"

Yanagi Renji couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"But I really didn't see it. And isn't a quick victory a good thing? Why is being anxious bad?"

Kirihara scratched his hair, feeling very aggrieved.

"The Captain means that Tezuka cannot maintain his composure; a change in mindset will affect his performance."

Yanagi Renji explained.

"But how can you tell?" Kirihara was still puzzled.

"The match has just begun, yet Tezuka has used all of his special moves, while Atobe is using some of the most basic tactics."

"Although Tezuka scored, he exposed his trump cards too early."

"Exposing one's trump cards too early in a match will only make one's situation more passive."

"Furthermore, the strength of Tezuka and Atobe is about the same, so the strategy and tactics of the match become even more important."

Sanada explained for Kirihara.

"Atobe's insight is excellent, and he must have also seen Tezuka's anxiety."

"Atobe, whose strength is on par with Tezuka's, will definitely use this point to deliberately drag out the rhythm of the match."

Yanagi Renji said.

"So that's why Master said Atobe has a better chance of winning?" Kirihara said.

He seemed to understand a little.

At the same time, his admiration for Takahashi in his heart rose to another level.

Facing such a brilliant match, he, Kirihara, could only exclaim how formidable it was.

But Master was actually able to cut in from a small point, analyze the situation on the entire match court so accurately and thoroughly, and even predict the future development trend.

Too formidable!

Yanagi Renji even said Atobe's observation skills were excellent.

Compared to Master, it was simply the difference between a firefly and the sun.