"Hmm..."
In the Seigaku camp, Inui glanced at the spot where Kabaji's shot had landed, his expression turning serious. "His Moon Volley... it's exactly the same as Oishi's?"
This was shocking!
After all, Oishi's Moon Volley was a baseline stroke he had developed through relentless practice and refinement. And now, Kabaji had just copied it effortlessly?
"Looking at it this way," Inui thought to himself, his gaze shifting to Ishikawa, "there's a deeper reason behind his decision to field Kabaji."
If Kabaji could fully master Oishi's techniques, then the weaknesses in Hyotei's backcourt would be completely covered. This would undoubtedly make it much harder for Seigaku to secure a victory.
*Thud!*
"30-0!"
*Thud!*
"40-0!"
*Thud!*
"Game!"
"Hyotei leads 2-1! Change sides!"
"Hyotei... they're so strong!" Outside the court, Saeki's hand trembled as she held her camera. "At this rate, does Seigaku even stand a chance?"
"Mr. Nanjiro," Inoue asked curiously, "you must know how that Kabaji managed to replicate Oishi's volley, right?"
"Mm," Nanjiro nodded without hesitation. "That Hyotei player can mimic Seigaku's techniques because of his unique ability... the 'Heart of a Child.'"
"The... Heart of a Child?" Saeki looked puzzled.
Nanjiro explained, "It means he has a pure, untainted mind, like a blank canvas. He isn't influenced by external factors, which allows him to fully absorb and replicate his opponents' playing styles."
"A blank canvas mentality?" Inoue nodded thoughtfully, then frowned. "So, does that mean he can copy any opponent's techniques, no matter how strong they are?"
"Not exactly," Nanjiro shook his head. "To mimic someone, he still needs the basic skills. For example, he can't replicate the red-haired player from Seigaku."
"I see," Inoue nodded gratefully.
Nanjiro's explanation gave him a clearer perspective. He turned his attention back to the court, thinking, "If that's the case, then Seigaku's pair should focus on Kikumaru as their main point of attack. That way, they can avoid having their techniques copied."
During the break, Coach Ryuzaki also devised a new strategy. She instructed Kikumaru and Oishi to play conservatively at first, securing their own service games. Once they identified Hyotei's weaknesses, they could then shift to an offensive approach.
With the advantage of serving, Seigaku quickly leveled the score at 2-2.
From there, both teams held their serves, with the score constantly fluctuating between ties and narrow leads. The match remained deadlocked until 5-5, when Oshitari stepped up to serve.
Seizing the opportunity, Seigaku finally launched their attack.
*Thud!*
Oshitari served.
Kikumaru, receiving the serve, returned the ball and quickly rushed to the net, while Oishi stayed back to cover the rear.
"Perfect," Inui thought to himself. "If they can keep Kabaji pinned and prevent him from retreating, Kikumaru has the upper hand in close-range exchanges."
Timing was crucial, and fortunately, Kikumaru executed it flawlessly.
"Trouble!" Seeing Kabaji unable to retreat and Oshitari stuck at the baseline, the Hyotei players began to feel the pressure.
*Thud!*
At that moment, Kikumaru launched an attack, sending the ball past Kabaji's defense toward the back of the court.
The Hyotei team held their breath.
*Tap tap!*
But just as everyone thought Seigaku would score, Oshitari suddenly appeared in the ball's trajectory.
"He caught up?!" The Seigaku team was startled.
However, Horio chuckled dismissively. "Even if he saves one point, it won't change the flow of the match."
The others nodded in agreement. Oshitari's effort might relieve Kabaji's predicament temporarily, but the overall momentum still favored Seigaku.
*Thud!*
Yet, to everyone's surprise, Oshitari managed to block Kikumaru's second attack as well.
"What?!" Inui's expression changed.
Once could be a coincidence, but twice? That was no accident.
*Thud!*
*Thud!*
*Thud!*
Sure enough, as Kikumaru continued his rapid assaults, Oshitari, anchored at the baseline, defended flawlessly. His impenetrable defense was like a fortress.
"H-how is this possible?" The Seigaku team was stunned.
Players from other schools, especially Yamabuki's Sengoku, also looked at Oshitari in amazement.
"Oshitari... you had this level of defense all along?" Sengoku thought back to their previous match, where he had managed to break through Oshitari's defenses several times. He had believed that with a bit more effort, he could have won.
But now, seeing Oshitari's ironclad defense, he couldn't help but laugh bitterly. It seemed he had never truly pushed Oshitari to his limits.
"This state..." Meanwhile, in the Hyotei camp, Atobe raised an eyebrow in surprise. "When did Oshitari master this technique?"
"What do you mean?" Mukahi and the others looked confused.
To them, Oshitari was just playing solid defense. His judgment and footwork were impressive, but it didn't seem like anything extraordinary.
"Look closely," Ishikawa interjected. "He starts moving almost simultaneously with his opponent's attacks. I suspect he's using precise calculations to predict their next move."
"Predicting in advance?" The others were baffled.
Even Ishikawa seemed to react based on his opponent's movements. How could Oshitari's insight surpass his?
"His crushing defeat last time forced him to grow," Coach Sakaki explained. "After the match, he analyzed his mistakes and came to me, seeking ways to control his emotions."
"Emotions?" Hiyoshi and the others were puzzled.
"Exactly," Sakaki nodded. "A player's emotions affect their performance. Calm players can maintain composure and make rational decisions, while fiery players can channel their adrenaline to boost their aggression and explosiveness."
"Oshitari identified his own issues and learned to control himself, allowing him to switch between these two states at will. The state he's in now is what he calls... the 'Shadow Moon Mode.'"
"Shadow Moon?" The team turned their attention back to Oshitari.
Indeed, they could sense a subtle energy emanating from him, like the serene glow of moonlight, enhancing his already calm and composed demeanor.
*Tap tap!*
Oshitari chased after the ball.
In this state, his vision was razor-sharp, allowing him to detect even the slightest changes in his opponent's movements. As Kikumaru's attacks continued to falter, Oshitari seized the moment when Kikumaru briefly let his guard down.
*Thud!*
With a crisp sound, the ball shot into Kikumaru's blind spot, slipping past Oishi's defense and scoring the point!
"15-0!"
"Alright!"
"Way to go, Oshitari-senpai! Keep it up and finish the match in one go!"
"That's right, don't give them any chance to catch their breath!"
"Hyotei!"
"Hyotei!"
"Hyotei!"
Oshitari scoring points and dismantling Seigaku's strategy ignited the enthusiasm of the Hyotei team.
"Phew..."
On the other side.
Kikumaru, unable to break through, had exhausted a lot of his stamina. Oshitari, of course, wasn't about to let this opportunity slip by.
At this moment, just as Coach Sakaki had said, he was as calm as could be. There was no trace of the intense battle he had with Sengoku earlier in the day.
"Switching emotional states at will?"
Outside the court.
Nanjiro was surprised. "I never expected to see a player like this among middle schoolers. If he keeps developing, his control over his emotions could open up a whole new realm!"
No wonder he was so amazed.
Even in the world of professional tennis, very few players choose this path. And those who manage to awaken and master it are even rarer.
*Thud!*
"30-0!"
*Thud!*
"40-0!"
*Thud!*
"Game!"
"Hyotei leads 6-5, switch sides!"
Securing the service game, Hyotei gained a crucial match point, boosting the team's morale.
On the other hand, Seigaku.
After the failed surprise attack, Kikumaru's stamina had dropped even further. This critical service game put them at an even greater disadvantage.
However.
Both players, fully aware of the importance of this match, didn't give up any chance to turn the tide.
Twelfth game.
Seigaku launched an even fiercer offensive than before.
Unfortunately.
Every move they made was anticipated by Oshitari. His keen observation allowed him to predict their next steps with precision.
*Thud!*
Just as Oishi was about to shift position, Oshitari's shot landed right at his backhand side. The perfectly calculated placement left him in an awkward spot.
"Oh no."
Inui's expression changed. "Ishikawa must have told Oshitari about Oishi and Kikumaru's weaknesses."
In last week's match.
The Golden Pair had been thoroughly analyzed by St. Rudolph's Mizuki, leaving them completely stifled during the game.
And now.
Hyotei had also uncovered their weaknesses.
"What a terrifying player!"
Fuji glanced at Oshitari, a hint of strong apprehension in his eyes. "He's known their weaknesses all along but held back until now. He's just... too calm, isn't he?"
Facing such an opponent.
Oishi and Kikumaru were pushed further and further back.
0-15!
0-30!
0-40!
In the blink of an eye.
They were backed into a corner.
*Thud!*
Seeing through Kikumaru's weakness, Oshitari aimed for his blind spot. In his judgment, there was no way the opponent could return it.
This match was as good as over.
"Haah!"
But then.
Pushed to the brink, Kikumaru let out a shout, using every ounce of his strength to leap forward.
*Smack!*
Oshitari's surefire winning shot was blocked and sent back.
"What?"
Seeing this, Oshitari's pupils subtly contracted.
The possibility he had predicted had taken an unexpected turn. So much so that he forgot to react, letting the ball fly past him.
"Great!"
The Seigaku team erupted in cheers.
Though they were still on the defensive, managing to score against Hyotei meant there was still hope.
*Whoosh!*
But at that moment.
A figure suddenly lunged forward.
Despite his bulky build, which gave off a clumsy impression, his leap carried a surprising agility.
*Smack!*
Kikumaru's desperate counter was intercepted by this figure.
*Thud!*
Kabaji, with his heavy frame, landed on the ground, but the ball also dropped onto Seigaku's side of the court.
"Game over!"
"Hyotei's Oshitari and Kabaji win, 7-5!"
"Ka... Kabaji?"
Everyone stared in shock at the dust-covered boy, never expecting him to pull off such a precise save.
"Right."
Coach Sakaki nodded with a smile. "Just because he can't replicate it doesn't mean he can't learn it. Every detail and nuance of Kikumaru's movements had been memorized by him."
Kikumaru probably never imagined that the final blow to Seigaku would come from this big guy.
"As for Oshitari..."
Turning his gaze.
Coach Sakaki looked toward Oshitari.
Despite winning, his expression wasn't exactly cheerful. A faint trace of shock still lingered on his face.
It was clear.
He was probably struggling to accept that his judgment had been wrong.
However.
Coach Sakaki, Atobe, and Ishikawa all wore faint smiles.
For Oshitari, Kikumaru's breakthrough shot at the end might just be the key to taking his understanding to the next level.
When that happens.
His skills will naturally rise to the national level!
---
(End of chapter)