Chapter 199: The Prince of Tennis
"Ha? Are you attempting to spin a joke, make me burst into laughter until I'm breathless?" Yumiko retorted upon hearing Hachiman's audacious words, clearly dismissing him as a tennis expert. Not only her, but even Yukino and Yui were taken aback by Hachiman's proclamation.
Stating that he would lose if the opponent scored even one point seemed excessively arrogant. However, Yui recalled Hachiman expressing something similar back in the pre-finals interview of the Kendo Inter-High School Championship.
He had once said, "You can have countless opportunities, but I only need one."
Contemplating this, Yui felt a glimmer of hope.
Could Hachiman's tennis skills truly be impressive?
Even on the court, Yukino sensed a spark of hope, reflecting on Hachiman's recent words that sent ripples through the girl's heart.
"Try to trust others a bit..."
While everyone harbored their individual thoughts, the match pressed on, and it was Hachiman's turn to serve.
He opted not to capitalize on the wind, as in the original story; instead, he geared up for full-force mode.
Positioned at the service line, he rhythmically pounded the ball against the ground.
"Bang! Bang!" The percussive sound of the ball meeting the ground seemed to resonate in everyone's hearts.
Then, Hachiman tossed the bouncing ball high into the air, initiating the serve.
"Whoosh!"
The ball, spinning in the opposite direction, sailed toward the other half of the court.
"I got it!"
Although this serve didn't seem particularly fast, Hayama, confident in his abilities, swiftly dashed to the ball's landing point, anticipating a counterattack.
To his surprise, at the moment the ball landed, accompanied by a potent spin, it veered directly towards his face.
This startled Hayama, who swiftly twisted his body to avoid the ball. However, this maneuver caused the ball to soar out of bounds.
Point for Hachiman.
The unexpected turn of events left everyone stunned, and Hayama questioned uncertainly, "What was that?"
"A twist serve," Hachiman's mouth curved into a smirk.
"Twist serve..."
Hayama, not particularly well-versed in tennis, mumbled this name, evidently unaware of the origin of this serve.
However, Zaimokuza from the sidelines exclaimed, "A twist serve! Isn't that the technique used by the protagonist, Ryoma Echizen, in 'The Prince of Tennis'? Hachiman, you actually pulled it off; that's amazing!"
Not only him, even others familiar with 'The Prince of Tennis' manga expressed astonishment. A technique from the manga was being executed in real life.
"How is that possible..."
Hearing the surrounding reactions, Yumiko's heart started to feel uneasy.
"Caught off guard. Impressive, Hikigaya-kun." Returning the ball to Hachiman, Hayama smiled and said, "Let's continue; the match isn't over yet."
Hachiman advanced to the service line, gripping the tennis ball in hand.
Maintaining the twist serve, but this time, it was Yumiko positioned to receive. The ball once again hurtled toward her face, narrowly missing as an enraged Yumiko erupted into a string of curses.
"Hachiman, you jerk! This kind of ball is too dangerous. What if it hits my face?"
"Alright, then I won't use it," Hachiman replied, casually shrugging off Yumiko's complaint.
After all, he wasn't limited to just one move. The twist serve was a mere showcase, and he had no intention of endangering someone, especially a girl, with a real hit to the face.
Yumiko found solace in this assurance; as long as that rogue serve wasn't in play, she believed she still had a chance.
Now, it was Yumiko's turn to serve. She leaped high, striking the ball swiftly towards Hachiman's side, attempting to seize the initiative.
Unfortunately, the moment she connected with the ball, Hachiman anticipated its landing spot. He took a few calculated steps, positioning himself beneath the ball and using his racket to whip it horizontally.
The ball maneuvered around the referee chair, where Saika was seated, landed inbounds, and then bounced out.
"Ah, this is Kaoru Kaido Boomerang Snake," Zaimokuza on the sidelines provided commentary.
Witnessing a technique from the manga being executed, the audience beyond the court erupted in cheers. Even Saika couldn't contain his excitement. As a tennis club member, his fondness for "The Prince of Tennis" naturally amplified the thrill of watching Hachiman flawlessly replicate moves from the manga.
"Hachiman, you're truly amazing..."
On the opposing side, Yumiko's expression soured. She was on the brink of defeat, and the proud girl found it hard to accept.
Not only her, even Yukino, recuperating her stamina on the sideline, wore a somewhat peculiar expression.
The girls had come to the realization that they had been completely fooled by Hachiman. If this level of skill was merely "slightly knowledgeable," then they felt as if they were worse than babies.
Contemplating this, Yukino couldn't help but feel a bit discontent.
Regardless of their thoughts, the match pressed on, and Yumiko resumed her serves.
After a few exchanges, Hachiman seized an opportunity, swung his racket almost horizontally, and executed a slice shot.
"I'll take it!"
Observing what seemed like an ordinary slice shot, Yumiko swiftly stepped forward, preparing for a counterattack.
However, just as she anticipated the ball's bounce to execute her return, something peculiar occurred.
The ball, upon hitting the ground, refused to bounce. Instead, it clung to the surface, spinning, and smoothly slid forward.
This left Yumiko's hand frozen mid-swing, poised to strike the ball.
"This... this is Tsubame Gaeshi, the famous slice that doesn't bounce," Zaimokuza once again proclaimed the name of this move.
The spectators outside the court were practically numb. Witnessing these seemingly impossible maneuvers unfold before their eyes rendered them utterly speechless.
"He's like the real Prince of Tennis."
"Well, if they ever make a live-action version of Prince of Tennis, they better cast him. We won't watch otherwise."
At this point, Hayama wore a wry smile; in his eyes, today's defeat seemed inevitable.
Yet, Yumiko found it hard to accept this reality. Despite Hachiman being practically her best friend's prospective boyfriend, her prideful nature wouldn't permit her to concede so easily.
Then, she recalled Hachiman's earlier words — as long as they could score one point, it would be considered a win.
This reignited hope within the girl's heart.
Just one point, she needed only one point.
Exchanging a determined glance with Hayama, Yumiko made up her mind. Regardless of the odds, she was determined to secure that one crucial point.
Regrettably, in the ensuing match, they failed to score another point. Even attempting to adopt a stamina-based strategy, akin to dealing with Yukino, proved futile against the formidable opponent that was Hachiman.
Soon, the overall score reached 4-0, marking the beginning of the fifth round.
Simultaneously, this served as the last opportunity for Yumiko's team.
Chapter 200: Hachiman's Original Technique
The final round unfolded, tension thick in the air as Yumiko and Hayama geared up for their last push. Their singular objective: secure a point from Hachiman.
With a determined serve, Yumiko sent the ball soaring towards the court's dead corner.
Hachiman, however, anticipated the trajectory, executing a precise backhand Tsubame Gaeshi before the ball landed. Unfazed, Hayama swiftly moved forward, revealing a well-thought-out countermeasure.
Exploiting the fact that Tsubame Gaeshi doesn't bounce upon landing, he intercepted it with a net approach, redirecting the ball to another corner.
Caught off guard, Hachiman failed to react, and the ball headed straight for the opposite dead corner. If it went out of bounds, victory would belong to Yumiko.
Apologies, Hikigaya-kun, you shouldn't have been so overconfident.
A wry smile appeared on Hayama's face, signaling his satisfaction. Even onlookers like Tobe and the others couldn't help but express admiration.
"Hayato, cracking the Tsubame Gaeshi – impressive."
"Indeed, it looks like we've secured the win. Perhaps some sparring practice later?"
In Hayama's eyes, victory today seemed inevitable.
Their triumph momentarily halted, a figure with flowing hair dashed forward, effortlessly returning the ball.
The court fell silent as the ball bounced out, and Saika, the referee, declared, "15-0!"
Hachiman, unable to contain his smile, reminded them, "Did you forget this is a doubles match?"
The culprit behind the swift return was Yukino, who had quietly restored her stamina during the two rounds of rest, fully recovering her combat capabilities.
"Recovered your stamina?" Hachiman inquired as Yukino approached.
"Thanks to you holding out, my stamina is fully restored now," she acknowledged.
"But even without me, you should have been able to win easily."
Hachiman replied with a smile,"Don't say that. This is a doubles match. It's more meaningful for both of us to win together."
Yukino, initially silent, looked at him and then smiled faintly. "In that case, let's win this game together!"
"Yes."
In this moment, she had learned to trust others, and Hayama, seeing Yukino fully recover her stamina, wore a wry smile.
Dealing with just Hachiman was challenging enough, and now, with Yukino back at full strength, the chances of scoring a point seemed almost negligible.
Refusing to concede defeat, Hayama, known for his good temper, couldn't accept their scoreless outcome. Just one point— that's all they needed.
Taking the ball from Yumiko, it was now Hayama's turn to serve. Opting for a high toss and a jump serve, he aimed to maximize their chances, but Hachiman effortlessly returned the ball.
With Yukino joining the game, Hachiman chose not to continue solo and instead coordinated with the girl, covering unreachable balls and allowing her to take swings. Though their communication was minimal, their understanding was evident.
Observing the seamless collaboration, Yui couldn't help but mumble, "Why... Hikki... Yukino-chan... they seem so in sync."
But the game continued on the court, and despite Hachiman and Yukino's synchronized efforts, Hayama and Yumiko still couldn't score.
Yukino served, Yumiko returned, and Hachiman forcefully hit the ball towards the dead corner. "It's not over yet!" Hayama swung his racket forcefully to return it.
"Such power," he marveled, directing the ball into the sky. "A perfect opportunity!"
Seeing this, Hachiman smiled, approached the net, leaped, and executed a smash in one fluid motion.
"Thud!"
The tennis ball slammed onto the ground, bouncing out of bounds. "40-0," Saika announced as the match reached match point.
Now it's Hachiman's turn to serve.
Standing at the service line, he began striking the tennis ball against the ground.
"Thud—Thud—Thud—!"
The continuous sound of the ball hitting the ground echoed in the hearts of Hayama and Yumiko.
After picking up the ball, Hachiman was about to serve when he suddenly stopped.
"Hey, Yumiko."
"What now!"
Hearing him call her name, Yumiko couldn't help but feel puzzled.
"For the next ball, don't try to return it, okay? You might get hurt," Hachiman kindly advised.
However, this statement sounded somewhat perplexing to Yumiko.
"Huh? What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Because, you see, this ball will end the match!"
Gripping the tennis ball, Hachiman closed his eyes and tossed it high into the air.
Suddenly opening his eyes, he exerted full force, leaped high into the air, and swung his racket fiercely towards the centerline on Yumiko's side.
"Tora-Raketsu!"
With a serve speed exceeding 300 km/h, in the gaze of Hayama and Yumiko, this ball seemed to transform into a vibrant tiger pouncing towards them.
The king of all beasts exuded an imposing aura, chilling both of them, rendering them unable to make a single move.
Boom!
The tennis ball forcefully landed on the centerline, creating a not-too-deep but significant crater in the sturdy ground, showcasing the substantial force even in Hachiman's restrained shot.
"Wha... what is this..."
The tennis racket dropped from Yumiko's hand, and she muttered with an incredulous expression on her face.
"Well, this move is called 'Tora-Raketsu,' a technique I developed myself," Hachiman explained with a smile.
As his words echoed, Saika, who was also stunned, regained composure and announced the match result.
"5-0, the match is over! Team Yukinoshita-Hikigaya wins!"
"Oohhh!"
"Is he even human?"
"Did you see that 'One Strike Shura' moment? His 'Tora-Raketsu' was insane! I wish I had my camera; that move needs to be shared. He's not just good; he's on a whole different level in tennis. So glad I didn't miss this match – it's pure excitement from start to finish!"
"Yeah, I feel like I'm seeing him dominate again, just like in the kendo tournament."
"Absolutely mesmerizing! The elegance of that final serve was akin to poetry in motion. 'One Strike Shura,' a fitting descriptor for his incredible display. His tennis prowess seems almost otherworldly, reminiscent of the skills he emulated from the 'Prince of Tennis' manga. Should we dub him the Shura Tennis Prince? Hahahaha."
"And I'm still in disbelief that I almost passed up on watching this match. Thankfully, I stayed – experiencing this caliber of play is a rare and delightful treat, a decision I won't regret."
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