"Was that... just now?"
Coach Ryuzaki, sitting in her seat, widened her eyes in shock.
"Yeah," said Inui, standing outside the chain-link fence with a grim expression. "That was Atobe's signature move—the *Dance of Destruction*."
"It's the same counter move that Oshitari used against Kaidoh in the match between Hyotei and Yamabuki earlier," Tezuka added, his tone equally serious. "This Ishikawa's insight and skill are nothing to underestimate."
Inui, Oishi, and the others nodded in agreement. Kaidoh's *Bear Hunt* had clearly been a last-minute addition to his arsenal, and its lack of polish made it an easy target for Oshitari's experience and strategy. But Fuji's *Bear Hunt* was a different story—it was as much a part of him as his own signature. His mastery and execution of the technique were on a completely different level compared to Kaidoh's.
And yet, Ishikawa had countered it in a similar fashion. This proved that Ishikawa wasn't just an offensive powerhouse—his understanding of technique was extraordinary.
*Thud.*
*Thud.*
*Thud.*
On the court, Fuji bounced the tennis ball, steadying his nerves after losing two consecutive points and having his signature move countered. His opponent was strong—so strong that Fuji hadn't found a single weakness yet. But Fuji wasn't the type to sit back and wait for defeat. If his opponent had no weaknesses, he would create his own opportunities to win.
*Thwack!*
With that thought, Fuji sent the ball flying across the court.
*Thwack!*
Ishikawa quickly countered with a sharp crosscourt shot. Despite Fuji having the advantage of serving, Ishikawa turned the tables with a fierce strike aimed at Fuji's backhand.
*Thud!*
The ball landed perfectly at the intersection of the outer corner, the baseline, and the singles sideline. Such precise control left the spectators in awe.
*Thwack!*
Fuji responded with a backhand slice. While the shot was sharp, it wasn't impossible for him to return. However, he sensed that Ishikawa was gradually speeding up the pace of the match.
"Is he trying to break Fuji's serve right after countering his *Bear Hunt*?" Inui muttered, his expression tense. He knew Ishikawa's style well—once he decided to strike, he wouldn't hold back. Fuji's mental state wasn't at its best either, and if he let his guard down, Ishikawa might just succeed.
*Thwack!*
But to the relief of the Seigaku team, Fuji handled Ishikawa's tricky shots with ease. Using a series of slice shots, he slowed down Ishikawa's aggressive pace while adjusting his position to look for an opening.
*Thwack!*
Finally, sensing an opportunity, Fuji seized the moment and unleashed a powerful sidespin shot.
"Oh?" The Hyotei players raised their eyebrows. "Is Fuji actually going on the offensive instead of defending?"
"Don't be ridiculous," one of them scoffed. "A sidespin shot like that won't even faze him."
*Thwack!*
Sure enough, Ishikawa tilted his racket slightly and used topspin to effortlessly neutralize Fuji's attack.
"Now's my chance!" Fuji thought, seizing the moment he'd been waiting for.
*Swish!*
Chasing down the ball, Fuji raised his racket and sliced it downward with precision. The ball shot forward at incredible speed.
"It's coming!" Ishida and Mori from Fudomine tensed up. "That terrifying move!"
*Whoosh!*
Under the stunned gazes of the crowd, the ball cleared the net and dipped sharply, skimming just an inch above the ground before bouncing erratically. It then shot forward, spinning rapidly and creating a loud, screeching sound as it dragged across the court, leaving a long mark on the surface.
"It's here!" The Seigaku trio jumped up in excitement, shouting, "Fuji-senpai's *Tsubame Gaeshi* (Swallow Return)!!!"
"This time, it's definitely going to score!"
"No doubt about it—it's the *Tsubame Gaeshi*!"
"No one can counter this move!"
Even the second-years and regulars like Oishi clenched their fists in anticipation.
"Is that so?" Inui, however, glanced at Ishikawa, who stood calmly at the baseline, and felt a pang of unease. "He's way too composed."
"So this is the *Tsubame Gaeshi*," Ishikawa murmured, watching the ball skim the ground at breakneck speed. A hint of admiration flickered in his eyes. "As expected of the genius, Fuji."
Seeing it in person was entirely different from watching it in the anime.
"Too bad," Ishikawa sighed softly. "But that's all there is to it."
*Swish!*
In a move that left everyone stunned, Ishikawa raised his racket and swung it downward in a motion reminiscent of casting a fishing line. To onlookers, it seemed like his racket was about to slam into the ground.
*Thwack!*
Instead, the racket grazed the surface and struck Fuji's *Tsubame Gaeshi* with pinpoint accuracy.
*Whoosh!*
The ball rocketed back like a cannonball, landing squarely on the baseline near Fuji.
"0-40!" the umpire announced.
The court fell silent. Even Fuji was in disbelief—his *Tsubame Gaeshi* had been countered so easily.
"This guy... is on a whole other level," Fuji thought, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple and hitting the ground.
"No way!" Outside the court, Shishido gaped in shock. "That move can actually be countered?"
"Of course," Nanjiroh said with a chuckle. "There's no such thing as an uncounterable move. If it seems that way, it just means you're not strong enough yet."
"Uh... okay," Shishido stammered, still processing what she'd just witnessed.
Inoue and Shiba exchanged glances, both seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes.
Only someone like him could say something like that.
If it were anyone else, it would probably come off as arrogant.
"However," Nanjiro chimed in, his tone curious as he studied Ishikawa, "that kid's insight is truly extraordinary."
He even suspected that what Ishikawa was showing now wasn't even his full potential.
"No wonder," Nanjiro thought to himself, "that old woman is so wary of him. There's a good reason for it!"
*Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!*
At the baseline, Fuji expressionlessly bounced the tennis ball.
His "Disappearing Serve," "Bear Hunt," and even his "Swallow Return" had all been countered. What's more, all three techniques had been effortlessly read and returned the first time he used them.
Even with Fuji's naturally optimistic demeanor, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of defeat.
"Brother..." Outside the court, Fuji Yuta watched his older brother's stiff, mechanical movements with growing concern.
"Fuji," Mizuki narrowed his eyes, still convinced that Fuji hadn't shown his full strength. Fuji's eyes hadn't changed—they lacked the cold, focused intensity he'd shown the previous week when he'd been angered over Yuta.
"Has he not been provoked?" Mizuki wondered, his expression turning slightly uneasy. If that were the case, his strategy to anger Fuji might have backfired.
*Whoosh!*
A gentle breeze swept across the court, rustling the nearby leaves.
Fuji's clothes and shorts fluttered slightly in the wind.
"Hmm." Feeling the cool air, Fuji's defeated expression suddenly cleared, his eyes regaining their sharpness.
"Again!" he called out, sending the ball back with renewed determination.
"He's back to normal?" Atobe remarked, sounding surprised. "This Seigaku prodigy really has a strong mindset."
"By the way," Ryoma chimed in, "I've heard that Seigaku's Fuji has three incredible return shots."
"Three shots?" someone else piped up. "The Disappearing Serve, the Bear Hunt, and that Swallow Return from earlier—that makes three, right?"
"Idiot!" Shishido shot the second-year a glare. "The Disappearing Serve is a serve, not a return shot!"
"So..." Oshitari stroked his chin, intrigued. "Besides the Bear Hunt and Swallow Return, Fuji has another hidden technique?"
As someone who had also mastered the Bear Hunt and trained it to a high level, Oshitari knew how smooth and skilled Fuji's movements were. If it weren't for Ishikawa, there was no way those techniques would have been countered.
And the Swallow Return—when Oshitari first saw it, he was genuinely shocked. He hadn't expected anyone to develop such a stunning technique.
Unfortunately for Fuji, his opponent was Ishikawa. No matter how brilliant the technique, it only served to highlight Ishikawa's overwhelming strength.
"So..." Oshitari looked up at the brown-haired boy on the court, who had regained his confidence and was now radiating determination. "Fuji, what's your third return shot?"
*Thwack!*
Ishikawa quickly struck the ball, sending it to Fuji's backhand side.
"Oh no!" The Seigaku team collectively tensed up.
If they lost this point, Fuji's serve would be broken. For Seigaku, already in a dire situation, this was the last thing they needed.
*Swish!*
But Fuji remained calm. Feeling the breeze against his face and the gentle wind around him, his eyes lit up with a bright, determined gleam.
*Thwack!*
With a swift motion, Fuji sent the ball soaring high into the air.
"What?!" The Seigaku team gasped in shock, their last glimmer of hope fading.
"A mistake?" The Hyotei players looked equally surprised. "Even Seigaku's tennis prodigy can make such a basic error?"
"No," Atobe murmured, his eyes narrowing as he noticed the unusual speed of the ball's ascent. "This isn't a mistake."
*Whoosh!*
Sure enough, the ball, which should have gone out of bounds, suddenly accelerated its spin at the peak of its arc and plummeted straight down.
*Thud!*
The ball slammed into the ground.
"Finally showing it, huh?" Ishikawa, standing with his back to the ball, smiled as he looked at Fuji, whose bangs covered one eye while the other gleamed with intensity. "Your third return shot."
*Swish!*
Suddenly, the ball that had landed behind Ishikawa began spinning rapidly. Then, to the astonishment of everyone watching, it shot back toward Fuji's side of the court.
"What?!" The crowd erupted in shock.
The Seigaku team, meanwhile, was both stunned and elated.
This was incredible! No one had expected Fuji's third return shot to be so breathtakingly brilliant!
Even Coach Sakaki was impressed by Fuji's talent. He thought to himself that even if Fuji lost this point, it would still be a remarkable display.
*Swish!*
But just as everyone thought Fuji was sure to win the point, Ishikawa casually flicked his racket, adjusting the angle of the face as if he were just playing around.
*Thwack!*
With a crisp sound, Fuji's third return shot, the "White Whale," which should have flown back into his hands, instead collided with Ishikawa's racket.
And the return landed perfectly on the singles sideline.
"Whoa!" The entire court collectively gasped.
"Fuji's third return shot... was countered too?" The Seigaku trio's smiles froze on their faces. Others, like Inui and Oishi, wore expressions of deep concern.
All three of Fuji's signature return shots had been countered. His opponent was simply too strong.
"This Hyotei first-year..." Coach Ryuzaki, sitting in her chair, felt an unprecedented sense of unease.
She had never once worried about Fuji in a singles match before.
But now, she found herself thinking about how to comfort and guide him during the upcoming break.
As for tactical advice... Ryuzaki glanced at the calm, black-haired boy across the court and let out a helpless sigh.
(End of Chapter)