Outside the court.
Touji, the first-year manager of Yamabuki's tennis club, looked anxious as he saw Akutsu's condition. "You're hurt! Let me get you some bandages to stop the bleeding."
"No need."
Akutsu stood up from the ground, wiping the blood off his face with his hand, revealing a thin, sliced wound.
"That last shot!!!"
Seeing this, the spectators outside the court were visibly shocked.
"Hmm."
Inui adjusted his glasses, his eyes narrowing. "Using an ultra-fast shot, he hit Akutsu's racket in an instant. The ball then ricocheted and grazed his face?"
For now, he couldn't quite figure out what Ishikawa had done. The only thing he was certain of was that this shot was different from the one Ishikawa had used against Tachibana in the quarterfinals, which resembled a sword draw.
"This feeling..."
Beside him, Fuji's eyes slowly opened. "Such a sharp, cutting wind!"
"Fuji-senpai."
Momoshiro, Kaidoh, and Horio turned to him curiously. "Did you notice something?"
"Ah, not really."
Fuji shook his head. It was just a subtle change he had sensed with his keen perception. But explaining it in detail would be difficult for others to understand.
"As expected!"
On the other side, among the Fudomine members who had arrived during the heated match between Ishikawa and Akutsu, their captain, Tachibana, had a glint in his eyes. "He was holding back during our match... hiding his true strength!"
As for Hyotei.
Atobe and Oshitari's gazes toward Ishikawa deepened. Even the usually lazy Kabaji, who was often seen napping, was now watching the match intently.
No one felt more conflicted about Ishikawa's strength than them.
Especially Shishido and Hiyoshi, who had lost to Ishikawa before.
Initially, they thought it might have been a matter of playstyle mismatch, and that they could still catch up. But as Ishikawa continued to surpass everyone's expectations match after match, all they felt now was a deep sense of helplessness.
And now, even Oshitari was starting to feel the same way.
*Thud!*
At that moment, Akutsu served again.
Humiliated in front of everyone, Akutsu's rage fueled his serve, making it even more terrifying than before.
*Boom!*
The ball landed.
The heavy sound of the shot echoed across the court.
"This power...?"
Fudomine's Ishida, Seigaku's Kawamura, and even the usually stoic Kabaji standing behind Atobe had their expressions change.
*Swish!*
But then, a flash of silver light cut through the air.
Ishikawa's racket intercepted the ball from the side, catching it firmly. Contrary to everyone's expectations of a struggle, he returned it with ease.
"His technique is exceptional."
Inui stared intently at Ishikawa's right hand, his expression serious. "Facing Akutsu's powerful serve, his arm remained completely steady when returning the shot. Given his build, he must have absorbed at least 60% of the force!"
"Mm."
Fuji nodded in agreement.
He had seen Ishikawa's match against Tachibana, but back then, it was a fast-paced exchange, testing their judgment, explosiveness, and stamina. Now, facing Akutsu's violent offense, Ishikawa was showcasing his superior technique.
*Tap tap!*
Meanwhile, Akutsu dashed forward like a cheetah.
"Am I imagining things?"
Seeing Akutsu closing in on the ball and swinging his racket, Oshitari's eyes flickered with surprise. "It feels like his speed is increasing?"
"It's not your imagination."
Atobe shook his head. "His speed is indeed increasing, and not just that—his power and explosiveness are too!"
"Such talent!!"
Shishido, Mukahi, and the others paled.
When someone had mentioned earlier that Akutsu had exceptional talent, they hadn't paid much attention. After all, the level of tennis Akutsu had shown was only on par with theirs.
But now.
Akutsu's strength was visibly improving.
*Bang!*
A loud crack echoed as Akutsu caught up to the ball and smashed it back.
*Swoosh!*
His feet left a long trail of dust as he skidded to a halt. But then, still decelerating, he suddenly pivoted and sprinted in the opposite direction.
*Bang!*
*Bang!*
*Bang!*
Shot after shot.
Akutsu's unconventional playstyle left the spectators in awe. It completely redefined their understanding of tennis—who knew you could play like this?
*Hum...*
At the same time.
As Akutsu grew more and more fired up, his body temperature rose rapidly from the intense movement. To the point where those with sharp eyes could see waves of heat radiating off him.
"Brat!"
Despite his relentless attacks, Akutsu still hadn't gained the upper hand. The veins in his eyes became more pronounced as his anger peaked, and he resumed his dangerous playstyle.
*Bang!*
Another loud crack.
This time, the ball was aimed straight at Ishikawa's right thigh.
"Is this all you've got?"
Ishikawa shook his head inwardly. Although Akutsu's talent was remarkable, the adrenaline coursing through his body was now controlling his mind.
"In that case."
A cold glint flashed in Ishikawa's eyes as he raised his racket and sliced diagonally just as the ball passed by.
*Boom!*
In an instant, a faint yellow streak shot out at an unimaginable speed.
The ball came too fast.
Akutsu could only rely on instinct to counter, but to his surprise, the ball changed angle after bouncing, slipping right between his legs.
*Sss!*
A bright red mark appeared on the inside of his thigh.
"Tch!"
The sharp pain made Akutsu suck in a sharp breath, and the madness in his eyes faded slightly.
However.
The intense pain also ignited his ferocity. The brief moment of clarity in his eyes was quickly replaced by a renewed frenzy.
"No effect, huh?"
Seeing Akutsu's reaction, Ishikawa frowned slightly.
Originally, he had planned to defend against Akutsu's attacks, gradually wearing down his aggression. At the same time, after defeating Akutsu, he hoped to spark a competitive drive in him and, combined with their earlier bet, guide him to join Hyotei.
But now.
Akutsu's ferocity was too overwhelming. If left unchecked, bringing him into Hyotei would only cause unnecessary trouble.
Therefore.
Ishikawa changed his strategy, shifting from defense to offense.
When Akutsu aimed for his body, Ishikawa's returns were like sharp blades, cutting through Akutsu's clothes.
When Akutsu targeted his arm, Ishikawa countered, leaving a bloody mark on Akutsu's left hand.
And so.
Under the stunned gazes of the crowd.
In just two minutes, Akutsu's arms, legs, and torso were covered in wounds.
On the scoreboard, Ishikawa had completely dominated, not only preventing Akutsu from scoring a single point but also widening the gap to 3-0.
*Huff... huff...*
During the court switch.
Akutsu, who usually scoffed at rules, now instinctively sat down in the coach's seat to rest.
He covered his head with a towel, breathing heavily. To those around him, it sounded like the exhausted panting of a wild beast.
"Akutsu-senpai..."
Touji, who had just handed him water, looked worried. He wanted to say something, but was stopped by Sengoku beside him.
"It's fine."
Sengoku patted his shoulder reassuringly. "Coach Banji will handle it."
"Mm."
Touji nodded, his gaze shifting to Banji, who was walking toward Akutsu.
"Akutsu."
Standing in front of the battered Akutsu, Banji smiled as usual. "Your talent is remarkable, but if you rely solely on your body and don't use your brain to think, you'll never defeat your opponent."
*Whoosh!*
Suddenly.
Akutsu, who had been sitting, abruptly stood up. To everyone's shock, he grabbed Banji by the collar and lifted him into the air. "Old man, you're asking for death!"
"Akutsu!"
"Have you lost your mind?!"
"Put the coach down!"
The Yamabuki team members were horrified. Minami, Higashikata, and the others shouted loudly.
Many of them even stepped forward, ready to rescue Banji.
"It's fine."
Surprisingly, Banji waved his hand, his smile unchanged.
He turned his head.
He looked at Akutsu, whose face was filled with madness, and smiled. "I don't think you're the type to give up so easily, are you?"
"Hmph!"
Akutsu snorted coldly at the remark. "Old man, this is my final warning—stop bossing me around!"
With that, he set Banji down, grabbed his racket from the side, and walked onto the court.
"Akutsu-senpai..."
Taira watched his retreating figure with concern, but Banji just chuckled. "Don't worry. His competitive drive has been awakened. If he doesn't want to lose, he'll definitely change his approach to the game."
Sure enough, as if to prove Banji's words, Akutsu's playing style shifted dramatically. Gone was his reckless, all-out aggression. While the power behind his shots remained unchanged, his attacks became more calculated and purposeful.
After a series of cross-court drives, he even began mimicking Ishikawa's moves, incorporating half-volleys into his game.
*Boom!*
Thanks to his explosive strength, speed, and power, his half-volley was lightning-fast.
"So strong!"
Outside the court, players like Yuuta from St. Rudolph, Kamio from Fudomine, and Shishido from Hyotei were all stunned by Akutsu's rapid improvement. Whether they specialized in fast attacks or half-volleys themselves, they couldn't help but feel the pressure radiating from Akutsu. Though his technique still had room for refinement, he already exuded the aura of a top-tier player. If they were in his opponent's shoes, they'd likely be scrambling to keep up.
*Boom!*
Yet, on Hyotei's side, Ishikawa stood firm at the baseline, calm and composed. His unshakable demeanor reminded Seigaku's team of their own stoic captain.
"This first-year from Hyotei is incredible!"
Kawamura, however, saw more. Having known Akutsu since childhood, he understood his personality. Akutsu wasn't the type to calm down and play by the rules so easily. Besides Banji's influence, Ishikawa's intimidating presence played a role. Akutsu's violent style of tennis had no effect on the Hyotei first-year. It was as if Ishikawa was communicating through his racket and the ball, making it clear that if Akutsu wanted to play rough, he'd respond in kind. Every time Akutsu lost control or launched a frenzied attack, Ishikawa countered with even sharper returns.
"But..."
Watching Akutsu relentlessly attack yet fail to score, Kawamura's eyes filled with worry. "He's not going to let this go easily."
*Boom!*
"Game! Hyotei Ishikawa, 4-0!"
*Boom!*
"Game! Hyotei Ishikawa, 5-0!"
In the blink of an eye, Ishikawa secured two more games, widening the gap. Kawamura's earlier concern became a reality. Under the immense pressure from his opponent, Akutsu's eyes grew bloodshot, his expression increasingly terrifying.
At the same time, players like Oshitari and Inui noticed that Akutsu's speed and strength were steadily increasing as his eyes reddened. However, it seemed Banji's words had truly gotten through to him—Akutsu no longer resorted to violent play. Still, even with his enhanced abilities, he was no match for Ishikawa.
The sixth game progressed, and the score continued to tilt in Ishikawa's favor. Before anyone realized it, the match had reached match point. Akutsu, whom Banji had called a "once-in-a-decade tennis prodigy," had yet to score a single point.
By now, the tension in the air was palpable. Yet, neither Ishikawa nor Akutsu exchanged words. Ishikawa served the ball, and Akutsu threw himself into the rally once more.
*Boom!*
*Boom!*
*Boom!*
As if refusing to accept defeat, Akutsu fought desperately, pouring everything he had into the final point.
*Tap!*
Suddenly, as if struck by inspiration, he altered his approach, executing a delicate drop shot.
"A drop shot?!"
The crowd was stunned. No one expected Akutsu to change tactics so abruptly. Though the shot wasn't particularly refined, its timing was perfect, forcing Ishikawa to rush to the net.
"Oh no!"
Seeing Ishikawa's movement, the Yamabuki team's expressions turned to shock. "He's going to reach it!"
After witnessing Akutsu's relentless determination, they couldn't help but root for him, hoping he'd at least secure one point to salvage some dignity. But now, it seemed his opponent wasn't willing to concede even that.
"Tch."
Unnoticed by the crowd, a faint smirk appeared on Akutsu's lips as he saw Ishikawa approach the net.
*Tap!*
Ishikawa reached the ball and lobbed it back.
"That was close."
"He made it just in time."
"As expected of Ishikawa—he can even return that."
"Now's the time to finish this match!"
The Hyotei team was fired up.
*Whoosh!*
But at that moment, a figure leaped into the air on the opposite side of the court—Akutsu, who had been lying in wait.
"Kid."
Looking down at Ishikawa from above, Akutsu's bloodshot eyes gleamed with mockery. "You fell right into my trap."
"Oh no!"
The Hyotei team's expressions darkened.
"Oshitari!" Otobe exclaimed. "He planned this—that drop shot was a setup to lure Ishikawa to the net!"
But it was too late. From his elevated position, Akutsu was less than two meters away from Ishikawa, poised to deliver a devastating smash. Everyone could imagine the brutal scene about to unfold.
"Now you'll bleed too!"
With a menacing glare, Akutsu swung his racket down with full force, aiming straight for Ishikawa's face. This was his revenge for the earlier injury Ishikawa had inflicted on him.
*Bang!*
The sound of the impact echoed through the court. Some of the more timid Hyotei members shut their eyes, while the rest held their breath, hearts pounding for Ishikawa.
Yes, Ishikawa was strong—he'd even defeated Kyushu's top player, Kippei Tachibana. But at such close range, even a national-level player would struggle to defend against Akutsu's smash. It seemed inevitable that Ishikawa would be sent flying.
"It seems... you still don't understand."
Facing Akutsu's violent smash, Ishikawa remained calm. His composure only deepened Akutsu's unease, wiping the triumphant grin off his face.
*Hum!*
In the next instant, a blinding white light flashed before Akutsu's eyes.
*Boom!*
Then, as if hit by a truck, Akutsu felt a searing pain in his abdomen. His tank top was shredded to pieces.
*Whoosh!*
His body was flung backward like a ragdoll, crashing into the chain-link fence with a deafening *thud*. The crowd watched in stunned silence as the 6-foot-tall Akutsu was embedded in the fence, unconscious and hanging limply.
"G-game over!"
The umpire swallowed hard before announcing, "Hyotei Ishikawa wins, 6-0!"
(End of Chapter)