"Come on," Chitose taunted, a smirk spreading across his face. "Don't hold back. Or are you scared, Yukimura?"
On the court, Chitose deliberately hit a high lob, unaware that he had just crossed a line by provoking Yukimura's taboo. His grin widened as he watched the ball soar.
*Swish!*
In the next moment, Yukimura moved.
He leaped into the air, raising his racket high and smashing it down with precision as the ball flew past him.
"This is it," Chitose thought, seizing the opportunity. To the astonishment of the onlookers, he abruptly turned his back to the net.
"What's this?!"
The Hyotei team, including Mukahi and Oshitari, looked stunned. "Is that... the *Bear Hunt*?!"
"No way!"
The Seigaku team was equally shocked.
"The *Bear Hunt*?" the first-year trio of Horio, Katsuo, and Kachiro exclaimed in unison. "Isn't that Fuji-senpai's move?!"
"Chitose!" Fuji's eyes narrowed.
From Chitose's smooth execution, it was clear he had practiced this move extensively. However, during last year's Tokyo Metropolitan Tournament, Chitose had faced Tezuka without using this technique. This suggested he had learned it recently—likely after seeing Yukimura's match against Hyotei.
Such adaptability was terrifying!
"In that case," Inui said, adjusting his glasses, "it seems Chitose has been planning this for a while. This match might be..."
*Crack!*
But just as everyone thought Chitose's *Bear Hunt* would effortlessly return Yukimura's smash, a sharp sound echoed through the court.
Yukimura's smash had struck the handle of Chitose's racket with pinpoint accuracy. The impact sent a violent tremor through the racket, forcing it out of Chitose's grip.
*Swish!*
Yukimura leaped again, smashing the ball down a second time.
*Bang!*
The ball landed at Chitose's feet, exploding in a flash of pale yellow light.
Chitose stood frozen, staring at the spot where the ball had landed. "The... *Destructive Waltz*?!"
"15-0!"
As Yukimura landed calmly, Ishikawa couldn't help but chuckle. "Looks like senpai has overcome his weakness."
At this, the Hyotei team—aside from Atobe—exchanged awkward glances. Wasn't it Ishikawa who had turned the *Bear Hunt* into a taboo in the first place?
The match had reached a critical turning point.
Yukimura, who had been using Chitose to refine his fast-paced playstyle, finally shifted into full gear. Meanwhile, Chitose, who had tried to exploit Yukimura's supposed weakness with the *Bear Hunt*, found himself thrown off rhythm.
*Bang!*
Finally, with one last smash from Yukimura, the referee announced, "Game over! Hyotei's Yukimura wins, 7-5!"
"Huff... huff..."
On Yamabuki's side, Chitose was breathing heavily. In contrast, Yukimura was only slightly sweaty, his composure unshaken.
It was clear that Yukimura hadn't just been working on his fast attacks and half-volleys—his fundamentals were as solid as ever.
*Tap.*
At the net, the two shook hands again.
Feeling the coolness of Yukimura's hand, Chitose raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? That match didn't even warm you up?"
"Not really," Yukimura replied, shaking his head. "Honestly, I don't know why... I guess it's just my personality."
"Really?" Chitose asked, skeptical.
The match had seemed evenly matched, but the moment Yukimura broke through the *Tiger Cannon*, the outcome had been decided. Yukimura's calmness was unshakable, as if it were ingrained in his very being.
The only time Chitose had managed to rattle him was with the *Destructive Waltz*, which had ultimately turned the tide of the match.
Even though Yukimura's execution wasn't as polished as Atobe's, Chitose's *Bear Hunt*—being a hastily learned technique—was completely outclassed.
"Alright then," Chitose said, releasing Yukimura's hand and turning away, visibly exhausted.
As he walked off, Yukimura's brow furrowed slightly.
He had been telling the truth. After his loss to Ishikawa, Yukimura had spent countless hours reflecting on his game. He realized that he had let his emotions get the better of him, losing the cool-headedness that was essential to his playstyle.
Since then, he had worked tirelessly to control his emotions, ensuring that even in the heat of battle, he could remain calm and make rational decisions.
Over time, this had become second nature to him.
But now, after winning the match, Yukimura felt an inexplicable sense of emptiness. Even securing a victory for Hyotei couldn't fill the void.
"Is this really the tennis I want to play?" he wondered.
With three matches concluded, Hyotei had two wins and one loss. They were just one victory away from advancing to the finals to face Seigaku.
Moreover, the remaining two singles matches featured Hyotei's strongest players. To the Hyotei team, their advancement seemed all but guaranteed.
On the other hand, the atmosphere on Yamabuki's side was heavy with tension.
Chitose's defeat had dashed Yamabuki's last hope of victory. Even the usually optimistic Munehiro wore a grim expression, and the rest of the team sighed in disappointment.
"Why is everyone so..."
Amidst the gloom, a young boy with a white short-sleeved shirt and a green headband spoke up. He was Yamabuki's first-year manager, Tani. "Isn't the next match Akutsu-senpai's? Shouldn't we be cheering for him?"
"It's no use, Tani," Kitamura, a player with a hairstyle similar to Atobe's, said with a bitter smile. "The Metropolitan Tournament is a team event. Even if Akutsu wins this match, we still can't win overall."
"That's right," added Shindou, another team member. "Their final player is Atobe. We don't have anyone who can stand up to him."
At this, Tani glanced at Munehiro, expecting the usually proud player to argue. Instead, Munehiro shrank back, his expression one of resignation.
"But... but..." Tani stammered, "this is still Akutsu-senpai's match. We're a team, aren't we? Shouldn't we support him?"
"This kid," Coach Banji thought, touched by Tani's naive yet earnest words.
"Kid!"
Before Banji could speak, a cold voice cut through the air. "Stop spouting nonsense. Teamwork means nothing to me."
*Thud.*
The voice belonged to Akutsu, who stepped forward from the shadows. Tall and imposing, he wore Yamabuki's green short-sleeved uniform. With one hand in his pocket and the other holding his racket, he scanned his teammates with disdain before pointing the racket toward the Hyotei side.
"Hey, brat! Stop playing dead. It's our turn now!"
*Swish!*
The atmosphere tensed as Akutsu's challenge echoed across the court.
Everyone's eyes turned toward the black-haired boy who was calmly stepping forward from the Hyōtei camp.
Ishikawa Shin.
A first-year newcomer at Hyōtei.
In last week's match, he had decisively defeated the Kyushu powerhouse, Tachibana Kippei.
In all of Tokyo, Ishikawa's reputation and standing were now second only to Seigaku's Tezuka and Hyōtei's Atobe, making him a true national-level player!
But.
No one expected.
The player from Yamabuki would dare to directly challenge Ishikawa by name.
"Akutsu!!"
On Seigaku's side, when Kawamura saw Akutsu step onto the court, his eyes filled with apprehension. "I can't believe he's actually playing tennis now."
"Kawamura-senpai."
Horio and the others, hearing this, couldn't help but ask, "Do you know this Yamabuki player?"
Due to Ishikawa's intervention, Akutsu hadn't encountered Ryoma at Ginkan. Without that confrontation, there was no subsequent incident of Akutsu causing trouble at Seigaku.
Plus, earlier, aside from his initial appearance, Akutsu had been lurking in the corner, completely unnoticed.
"Yeah."
Hearing their questions, Kawamura nodded. "Akutsu… he's a terrifying person. His athletic talent is the most incredible I've ever seen!"
What?!
Hearing this, not only the others but even Inui was shocked.
But they all knew Kawamura well enough to understand he wouldn't exaggerate.
"Akutsu's family situation is complicated. He grew up without a father, so from a young age, he hung out with troublemakers."
Kawamura slowly recounted Akutsu's past.
He explained how Akutsu's violent personality had formed, his impressive record at the karate dojo, and how he had defeated a famous tennis player at just nine years old.
"Wait."
Horio couldn't help but interject, "Senpai, are you saying Akutsu hasn't played tennis in years?"
"Yeah."
Kawamura nodded. "As far as I know, that's the case."
"Whoa!"
The trio collectively gasped.
Meanwhile, the rest of the team looked skeptically toward Yamabuki's coach. "Coach Banji, why would he put someone who hasn't touched a racket in years as the singles 2?"
"Isn't that too reckless?"
"Reckless?"
Hearing her team's doubts, Ryūzaki, dressed in her pink tracksuit, shook her head silently.
No one present understood Banji better than she did. To call him a cunning fox wouldn't be an exaggeration.
He was always the one scheming, never the one making mistakes. So, in Ryūzaki's eyes, this Akutsu player couldn't possibly be as simple as he seemed!
At the net.
The two players, with a height difference of over ten centimeters, locked eyes.
"Brat!"
Akutsu's pale, almost sickly face broke into a wild grin. "This time, you're not getting away!"
"Senpai."
Ishikawa looked at Akutsu, whose ash-white hair stood on end and whose intense, wild aura was unmistakable. He shook his head. "I think you've got the wrong idea."
A few days ago.
If Akutsu's mother hadn't intervened and stopped their confrontation, things would have ended very differently. Had Akutsu dared to lay a hand on him, Ishikawa would have made sure he understood just how cruel the world could be!
Level 8 ancient martial arts. Swordsmanship mastery.
Combined, there was likely no one on this planet who could last ten seconds against Ishikawa.
"Hmph!"
Sensing the cold indifference in Ishikawa's eyes, Akutsu's brow twitched. It reminded him of that overwhelming sense of danger he'd felt before!
And so.
To the astonishment of the Yamabuki team, Akutsu—who would normally retaliate with brutal violence at the slightest provocation—let the matter drop.
"Huh?"
Muroji and the others stared in disbelief.
Was this really the same Akutsu they knew?
"Akutsu…"
Kawamura from Seigaku was equally stunned.
Even the street tennis players watching from outside the court felt a wave of relief.
"Senpai, I've heard you're a once-in-a-decade athletic prodigy."
Seeing Akutsu's silence, Ishikawa smiled. "But no matter how great your talent, if you don't make use of it, it's just a waste… don't you think?"
"Brat!"
Akutsu's anger flared, but he suppressed the murderous glint in his eyes. "What are you trying to say?"
"Let's make a bet."
As if oblivious to Akutsu's darkening expression, Ishikawa continued to smile. "If you win, I'll do something for you. If I win, you'll do something for me. How about that?"
"Huh?"
Akutsu hadn't expected the conversation to take this turn.
"What?"
Seeing Akutsu's reaction, Ishikawa's smile deepened. "Senpai… you're not scared, are you?"
"Scared?"
Akutsu sneered. "If you're offering to pay a higher price, I'll gladly take you up on it!"
If he couldn't settle this with force, then tennis would have to do.
And as for tennis, with his top-tier athletic talent, Akutsu had never taken the sport seriously.
To him.
Playing tennis was as simple as having hands, right?
"Hmm."
Meanwhile.
Seeing Akutsu agree to Ishikawa's bet without hesitation, Coach Banji, sitting in Yamabuki's coaching seat, suddenly felt a sense of unease.
"This kid… he couldn't possibly be what I'm thinking, could he?"
He eyed Ishikawa suspiciously. The boy seemed harmless, almost innocent. Surely, he wasn't as cunning as he appeared!
(End of chapter.)