"It's here!"
In the Seigaku camp, Akaya, who was usually napping at this time, was now more excited than anyone else. "Marui's *Tightrope Walk*!!!"
"Uh…"
Hiyoshi frowned, looking a bit confused. "Akaya-senpai, is there a need to get this excited?"
The current situation wasn't exactly favorable for Seigaku. If anything, a Seigaku member should be feeling the pressure right now, not celebrating.
But this was Akaya.
He completely ignored Hiyoshi's reaction and continued, gushing with excitement, "This is it! A year ago, during the rookie tournament, Marui pulled this move right in front of me. It's incredible! After a year, his skills have improved so much!"
"Sigh, whatever."
Hiyoshi rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. Meanwhile, Ishikawa, standing nearby, chuckled. "That's just how Akaya-senpai is. No need to overthink it. But the fact that he's so impressed speaks volumes about this Rikkai genius."
In the original storyline, Marui mostly appeared in doubles matches. His talent for doubles was undeniable, and his performance later on stood out even among the middle schoolers.
In Ishikawa's plan, Jackal, who was known for his defensive skills, was actually the weaker link in this pair.
But it was clear that neither Shishido nor Otori took Marui seriously at first. As a result, they were completely outplayed.
"This shot…"
On the court, the Seigaku duo exchanged glances. Otori frowned. "That couldn't have been a fluke, right?"
"No," Shishido shook his head. "Akaya's *Magic Volley* wasn't a fluke either. If Marui managed to beat him, there's no way this was just luck."
"Hmm."
Otori's eyes narrowed. "So, Ishikawa-kun was right. To beat this pair, we need to take down Marui-senpai first."
"Yeah."
Shishido nodded, glancing toward Ishikawa on the sidelines. He had to admit, he was thoroughly impressed.
He had thought that his experience facing Rikkai a year ago would give him the upper hand in understanding their playstyle. But he couldn't have been more wrong.
"In that case…"
Shishido's expression turned serious. "Let's stick to his plan for now."
*Thud!*
From the baseline, Shishido sent the ball back.
Marui, who was receiving, easily returned it. But this time, Shishido was ready. He aimed a deep shot toward the baseline, forcing Marui to retreat.
"Did Seigaku change their strategy?"
On Rikkai's side, Yanagi narrowed his eyes. "That topspin shot was well-executed, and the timing was perfect. It seems Shishido has been practicing this move diligently."
"You're saying…"
Coach Sanada raised an eyebrow, catching the implication in Yanagi's words. Clearly, Seigaku had someone behind the scenes analyzing their plays. Their doubles pair's strategies had likely been thoroughly dissected.
"A data tennis expert on par with Yanagi?"
Sanada glanced over at Ishikawa, who was standing next to Atobe. The kid didn't look like your average first-year.
*Thud! Thud!*
On the court, Shishido and Marui were locked in a baseline rally.
While it seemed similar to the first point, the dynamics had shifted. Seigaku was now dictating the pace, putting Rikkai on the back foot.
This change in tactics left Jackal, who was more comfortable at the net, feeling out of place.
"I need to find a way to switch positions with Marui."
Jackal focused intently on Shishido's movements. As an old rival, he was familiar with Seigaku's interception expert. Compared to a year ago, Shishido had become more composed. Trying to deceive him with feints would be difficult.
"In that case…"
Jackal's gaze shifted to Otori, who was covering the net for Seigaku. "Marui tested him earlier. This second-year seems a bit naive. Maybe I can exploit that."
Thinking quickly, Jackal increased his concentration. After predicting Shishido's shot, he used his powerful footwork to intercept and send the ball straight toward Otori.
*Thud!*
The ball flew toward Otori, who immediately countered.
"Rikkai's changing their approach!"
The spectators from various schools perked up.
Jackal's sudden interception shifted the focus to him and Otori. The latter didn't hesitate, quickly returning the shot.
"He took the bait!"
Jackal felt a surge of confidence.
He knew he wasn't Shishido's match at the net, but against a second-year, he felt more assured.
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
However, as the rally continued, Otori's responses were flawless. He didn't give Jackal any openings to exploit.
"This second-year… his reflexes are incredible!"
Jackal was stunned.
He had expected an easy win, but instead, he found himself stuck in a grueling exchange.
And to make matters worse, net play wasn't his forte. He was trapped, unable to advance or retreat.
"Hmph, did he really think Otori would be an easy target?"
Hiyoshi sneered from the sidelines. "Even I can't guarantee a win against him in net play now."
Since pairing up with Shishido, Otori had been working hard to improve his individual skills, especially in fast-paced rallies. He had even sought advice from Ishikawa, which had significantly boosted his abilities.
As a result, Jackal's plan had backfired spectacularly.
*Thud!*
Jackal sent another shot, but despite his stamina holding up, he could feel himself falling behind. In a few more exchanges, he would lose the point.
"I need to do something!"
Desperation set in. Suddenly, an idea struck him. He aimed for Otori's right side while deliberately leaving his left side open.
"Come on."
Jackal kept his eyes locked on Otori. "I've given you the perfect opening. You won't ignore it, will you?"
He was sure Otori would take the bait and attack.
"Heh."
But Otori simply chuckled.
He had seen through Jackal's plan. It was the same strategy he had used in the previous point—creating a fake opening to lure the opponent in and then switching positions with his partner.
Sure enough, Otori's peripheral vision caught Marui rushing toward the net.
"In that case…"
Otori's eyes gleamed as he made his move. With a swift motion, he sent the ball high into the air.
"A lob?!"
Jackal's face fell.
He turned to Otori, only to see a faint smile on the second-year's face.
"Crap, he saw through me!"
Realizing his mistake, Jackal instinctively tried to retreat. Meanwhile, Shishido seized the opportunity to move forward, ready to attack.
*Swish!*
But at that moment, a figure leaped into the air.
It was Marui!
While moving toward the net, he had been keeping an eye on Otori's movements. As expected, Otori had exploited Jackal's tactical error. But Marui was ready. He soared into the air, preparing for a smash.
"Oh no!"
Shishido and Otori's expressions changed simultaneously.
Otori, in particular, was caught off guard. He hadn't expected Marui to be so quick to adapt. His seemingly clever lob had instead set up the perfect opportunity for Marui to strike.
Immediately, Otori retreated, while Shishido halted his advance, bracing himself for a defensive stance.
Both knew that Marui's smash would likely target their weak spots or blind angles. They couldn't afford to be careless.
*Swish!*
But then, something unexpected happened.
Marui, who had appeared ready to smash, twisted his racket at the last moment, missing the ball entirely.
At the same time, the bubblegum he was chewing expanded to its limit. As he leaned forward, his racket flipped behind him.
"*Time Difference Hell*!"
*Thud!*
The sudden change in motion resulted in a smash that completely caught Shishido and Otori off guard.
They could only watch as the ball landed squarely in their court.
"0-30!"
*Tap!*
Marui landed gracefully, blowing a bubble and flashing a peace sign. "Told you I'm a genius, didn't I?"
"Tch."
Shishido and Otori's expressions turned grim.
As Marui had said, their opponent was indeed a bona fide genius. His ability to seize opportunities and his versatile techniques made him a formidable foe.
"Phew…"
On the other side, Jackal let out a sigh of relief, thanking Marui profusely.
"Otori's strategy wasn't wrong."
On Seigaku's side, Oshitari analyzed the situation. "It's clear that Jackal isn't comfortable at the net. Otori's already disrupted his rhythm. But…"
He glanced warily at Marui.
"This guy's individual skills are on another level."
Atobe nodded in agreement. "With him on the court, Rikkai can launch an attack from anywhere. It's up to Otori and Shishido to handle the pressure now."
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
The match continued.
Despite it being Seigaku's serve, Rikkai clearly held the upper hand.
Jackal held his ground at the baseline, his defense impenetrable. Meanwhile, Marui showcased his exceptional skills, keeping Shishido and Otori on their toes.
*Swish!*
Near the net, Marui suddenly swung his racket.
"Here it comes!"
Shishido's expression turned serious. "Is it the *Tightrope Walk* again?"
He was on high alert.
That move was notoriously difficult to counter. He had to ensure he could intercept the ball the moment it dropped from the net and return it.
Even for someone as skilled at interceptions as Shishido, this was a daunting task.
*Thud!*
Marui struck.
*Clang!*
But to Shishido's surprise, the ball didn't go toward the net. Instead, it hit the metal pole supporting the net and rebounded, landing at Shishido's feet.
"*Iron Pole Strike*!"
With a confident smile, Marui bent slightly, blowing another bubble.
"Game!"
"Rikkai leads, 1-0! Change sides!"
The match had just begun, and Rikkai had already broken Seigaku's serve.
Such a dominant performance showcased the strength of the reigning champions. Marui's genius plays quickly became the talk of the match.
"*Tightrope Walk*, *Time Difference Hell*, *Iron Pole Strike*…"
As they switched sides, Shishido glanced at Otori. "That guy was right. Marui's techniques aren't easy to crack."
"Yeah."
Otori nodded.
Before the match, Ishikawa had explained Marui's various techniques in detail. Shishido and Otori had been skeptical at first, but now they saw the truth.
This Rikkai genius was indeed a force to be reckoned with.
"But…"
Shishido's eyes gleamed as he looked at their opponents. "Doubles isn't just about individual talent. The real battle is just beginning!"
While they might not match Marui's sheer skill, when it came to teamwork and understanding doubles, Shishido and Otori were no slouches.
This was far from over!
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**pat-reon: belamy20**
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*(End of Chapter)*