Chapter 94: Takahashi VS Echizen

Kanto Tournament Finals.

"The Singles No. 3 match will now begin, between Takahashi Yanichi of Rikkai and Echizen Ryoma of Seigaku."

A voice came over the broadcast.

Upon hearing these two names, Hiyoshi Wakashi in the spectator stands perked up and said, "Echizen Ryoma is going on court, and is Takahashi Yanichi the newly appointed Captain of Rikkai?"

Hiyoshi Wakashi had once lost to Echizen Ryoma in the first round of the Kanto Tournament.

Since then, he had always held complex feelings toward Echizen.

On one hand, he was very unwilling to accept it; he was unwilling to accept that he, a second-year, had been beaten by a first-year without any power to fight back.

"Overthrowing the superior" was his goal.

Unexpectedly, he was the one who had been overthrown.

On the other hand, when he saw Echizen shining brightly in other matches, defeating one strong opponent after another.

He secretly hoped that Echizen could go even further.

That way, he, who had once lost to Echizen, he who had lost to such a formidable Echizen, would also have his own strength recognized by everyone.

It wasn't that he was too weak, but that Echizen was too strong.

Therefore, hearing on the broadcast that Echizen was about to take the court, Hiyoshi couldn't help but pray.

It would be best if Echizen defeated this new Rikkai Captain as well, so that he could also feel a sense of vindication.

Beside him, Oshitari spoke up: "I had underestimated Coach Ryuzaki before; I didn't expect her to be quite clever, placing Echizen in the Singles No. 3 position. With Echizen's strength, he might be able to recover from the disadvantage of the first two matches."

"However, his opponent just happens to be Takahashi; Coach Ryuzaki's rare good move will be useless."

Hiyoshi asked doubtfully, "Is this Takahashi very strong? How come I have never heard his name?"

Mukahi said affirmatively, "Extremely strong, strong to a degree you cannot imagine!"

Besides Hyotei, other schools also began to discuss it one after another.

"Is this the newly appointed first-year Captain of Rikkai?"

"I've never seen him before, I wonder how his strength is?"

"To be able to become the Captain of Rikkai, his strength must be nothing to sneeze at."

"A few days ago, I even saw a report on Echizen Ryoma in the newspaper, saying he is the strongest first-year."

"Strongest first-year? Not necessarily! Both sides in this match are first-years; only after the match ends can it be determined who is truly the strongest first-year."

"Interesting, a battle of the strongest first-years!"

At the side of the court.

Takahashi took off the watch on his hand and handed it to Kirihara, saying, "There is still 1 hour until Yukimura's surgery begins. Excluding the half hour it takes for us to rush to the hospital, I have 30 minutes."

"Kirihara, remind me when there are 5 minutes left."

Kirihara took the watch Takahashi handed over and promised, "Okay!"

Sanada stood to the side, watching as Takahashi draped his jacket over his shoulders in a leisurely manner.

He only draped it on, without putting his arms through the sleeves, and without zipping it up.

"What is he doing?"

Sanada asked curiously.

"This jacket is Yukimura's. Although he cannot take the court due to illness, I promised him that I would take his share and compete on the court together."

Takahashi replied.

Marui, Yagyu, and the others nearby couldn't help but lift their heads upon hearing Takahashi's words.

As third-years who entered the school with Yukimura, they all felt very regretful that Yukimura could not participate in this tournament.

Having fought side-by-side for two years, they were already very accustomed to Yukimura's presence.

Although Yukimura's illness had already had no impact on Rikkai.

Because long before Yukimura fell ill, Rikkai had already completed the change of Captain, with Takahashi serving as Captain.

But from a personal emotional standpoint, they still felt very regretful and sorry.

Now that the new Captain had taken the initiative to bring Yukimura's jacket onto the court, they were deeply moved.

In the Kanto Tournament, Yukimura was always with them!

Having experienced the events with Seigaku these days, coupled with Takahashi's actions today, a sense of love and respect for Takahashi rose in the hearts of all the third-years.

Originally, they had felt more awe toward Takahashi.

They admired Takahashi's unfathomable strength.

And they feared Takahashi's strength and his even more elusive personality.

But today they understood that although Takahashi appeared carefree and laid-back on the surface.

When it came to important matters, Takahashi was a very responsible and compassionate Captain.

The match began.

Takahashi Yanichi and Echizen Ryoma walked slowly to the middle of the net.

The umpire announced, "A one-set match, we will now begin the toss."

Echizen Ryoma looked up at the person on the other side of the net, reached out to press down on the brim of his hat, and said, "Back."

If one listened carefully to Echizen's voice, one would find that he was very annoyed.

It was not only annoyance at Seigaku failing to score a single point in the first two doubles matches, but even more so, annoyance that Takahashi, who was also a first-year, was actually so tall.

Clearly, they were both first-years.

He actually had to look up!

To be able to see the other person.

Looking at the cool demeanor of Echizen, who was a head shorter than him, Takahashi spoke up: "Heads."

"Clang!"

Accompanied by a crisp sound, the tennis racket that had already landed on the ground revealed the result.

Tails.

Echizen Ryoma to Serve.

Takahashi stood where he was, looking down, and saw a barely perceptible smile appear on the face beneath the cap.

It flashed by in an instant.

Takahashi raised an eyebrow, turned around, and walked to the baseline of his own half of the court.

"Hey! Aren't you going to take off your jacket?"

Echizen Ryoma, holding his tennis racket, shouted toward Takahashi's back.

"To deal with you, keeping my jacket on is enough!"

Takahashi did not turn his head, spoke indifferently, and walked straight ahead.

"Damn it!"

Echizen's emotions were stirred up all at once.

It was always him who took the initiative to provoke others!

To actually be provoked by this person again and again.

First issuing a challenge, and now wearing a jacket to play against him.

Arrogant, extremely conceited!

"I heard you are the Captain of Wangzhe Rikai Da, your strength should be pretty good!"

"I hope this match won't disappoint me."

When it came to trash-talking, Echizen Ryoma was not inferior in the slightest.

At this moment, Takahashi was already standing at the baseline, turning to face Echizen head-on.

"Enough talk, Serve!"

Echizen Ryoma stood at the baseline, took a tennis ball out of his pocket with his left hand, and bounced it a few times.

He tossed the tennis ball upward, and when the ball reached the desired position, Echizen leaped up fiercely and swung his racket with force with his right hand.

"Bang!"

This was a tennis ball with powerful spin.

The tennis ball drew a yellow arc in the air, heading toward the open space beside Takahashi.

This was Echizen's signature move, the Twist Serve.

Different from an ordinary side-out spin serve.

The Twist Serve is a type of side-in spin serve; after the tennis ball lands, it generates violent rotation.

Then it heads straight toward the opponent's body.

For a tennis ball coming toward the body, most people instinctively feel a bit nervous.

Because if one is not careful, the body will get injured.

Echizen, who was very satisfied with the speed, power, and spin of this ball, looked up to see Takahashi's reaction on the other side.

He was surprised to find that Takahashi was actually standing in place, not moving at all.

His body was standing normally, and he was holding the racket very casually.

He did not, like an average player, arch his body or bend his knees in preparation to receive the ball.

A look of contempt immediately appeared on Echizen's face.