Chapter 26
"Always victorious, Rikkai University! Let's go, let's go, Rikkai University!"
The Rikkai University cheerleaders were shouting slogans, and the Fudomine rest area was silent.
Akira Kamio and Shinji Ibu are the two strongest players in the Fudomine Tennis Club besides captain Yoshihei Tachibana, but the two of them couldn't win the game together.
Tachibana Yoshihei stood up and reassured his teammates. "It's my turn to play the next match. Uchimura and Mori need to prepare for the next match."
After the reform of the Fudomine Tennis Club, there are only seven available regular players. If they are completely affected by this match of Rikkai University, the impact on their performance in subsequent matches will be significant.
Tachibana Yoshihei is the leader of the tennis club and holds a special place in the hearts of the club members. Rikkai University's two consecutive victories put a lot of pressure on him.
However, even when Rikkai University had the upper hand, the players of the Fudomine Tennis Club still believed in Captain Tachibana Yoshihei.
"If only I had practiced more and mastered the moves completely," Ishida Tetsu reflected dejectedly.
Kamio Akiya blamed himself again. If he had won a match, Captain Tachibana Yoshihei wouldn't be so stressed out. "I'll definitely practice doubles with Shinji when we get back."
Ibu Shinji didn't mutter anything and just stared at the racket in his hand.
"Come on, captain! I'll go warm up with Murauchi first." Mori Tatsunori knew that Captain Tachibana Yoshihei had placed his hopes of victory on the first three games, hoping to finish the match in the first three games just like the Hyotei match.
The result was not satisfactory, but the players of Fudomine believed that even if the team lost, Tachibana Yoshihei would not lose.
Kirihara Akaya grabbed the net on the racket, eager to start the game.
Tachibana Jiping stood up from the coach's chair and went on the court.
Yanagi Renji picked up the notebook and prepared to record Kirihara Akaya's performance.
"By the way, military advisor, are you really ready to go into battle? Haha." Niou Masaharu hid in a cool place.
Everyone at Rikkai University had seen the video of Tachibana Yoshihei's match with Shishido Ryo. Kirihara Akaya was still a match for Tachibana Yoshihei. But besides Kirihara Akaya, others had also seen Tachibana Yoshihei during the Kyushu Twin Heroes era.
Because the difference between the two periods of Tachibana Yoshihei is so huge, the Tachibana Yoshihei of the third year of junior high school is not as powerful as the one of the first year of junior high school. It is not sure whether Tachibana Yoshihei of Fudomine has regressed in the later period or is hiding his strength.
Yanagi Renji flipped through his file and replied calmly, "Not necessarily. It depends on the results of the competition."
While Yukimura was hospitalized, Rikkai University needed to maintain its record. However, the club's strongest players often played singles. A singles spot in a team competition proved equal, but how many teams could rival Rikkai University's two-time champion? Even if a team didn't have a singles spot, cooperation from other schools would be crucial.
Tachibana Yoshihei of Fudomine is a rare person who is suitable for Akaya to train. Otherwise, in order to have a perfect record, whether Yanagi Renji plays alone or arranges Sanada to play in the singles match, the chances of winning are greater than Kirihara Akaya.
Of course, this algorithm is based on the national strength of Ju Jiping. If it is just the strength shown by Ju Jiping in recent stages, another algorithm should be used.
"One set to decide the outcome, Rikkai Okirihara serves."
Kirihara Akaya touched his nose, threw the ball and jumped up to make an irregular serve.
Tachibana Yoshihei reacted quickly, leaned his body, flicked his wrist, and hit the ball back to Kirihara Akaya's backhand.
Kirihara Akaya quickly adjusted his pace and responded with a powerful backhand crosscourt shot.
Tachibana Yoshihei seemed to have anticipated the trajectory of Kirihara Akaya's ball and calmly countered Kirihara Akaya's attack.
The scores rose alternately, and Tachibana Jiping still had the advantage overall.
"Game Fudomine Tachibana, 1-0!"
Marui Bunta put away his racket and leaned against the net. "Akaye, that guy, looks so focused."
Yagyu Hiroshi pushed his glasses up, suppressing his doubts. "National-level strength?"
The match between the Big Three of Rikkai University and Akaya Kirihara was much easier than this. It shouldn't have been so back and forth. Tachibana Yoshihei is not a tennis player who focuses on statistics.
"Pfft~ Are you planning to save your strength for a big win in the national competition? Or are you changing your playing style?" Niou Masaharu glanced at Tachibana Yoshihei.
Jackal Sanghara was somewhat relieved that Kirihara Aka didn't see Tachibana Yoshihei's performance, otherwise he would have entered red-eye mode now.
"Too lax!" It's unclear whether Sanada's words were directed at Tachibana Yoshihei, who was used to suppressing himself, or Kirihara Akaya, who had not yet forced Tachibana Yoshihei to use his full strength.
Yanagi Renji made two notes in his data book and then stopped, without using the moves that Tachibana usually used.
The rampaging lion whose skills are good enough to stand in the national competition.
Although many people are opposed to Kirihara Akasaya's playing style, in fact, in the national tennis competition, it was Tachibana Yoshihei who became the national newcomer representative with his violent tennis style. Otherwise, how could the two heroes of Kyushu have made it.
Just like the Big Three of Rikkai University, they all accumulated their victories by defeating their predecessors one after another.
Tachibana Yoshihei's breathing gradually became heavy, sweat trickled down his forehead, but his eyes became more determined. He knew that facing an opponent like Kirihara Akaya, any slackness could lead to failure.
During a baseline sprint, Kirihara Akaya made a precise through ball.
Tachibana Yoshihei wanted to chase the corner kick, but twisted his right foot when he started running.
"Uh." Feeling the condition of his foot injury, Tachibana Jiping quickly stood up, adjusted his posture, and placed his focus on his left foot.
Kirihara Akaya glanced at Tachibana Yoshihei's feet. "What? You're not going to give up!"
Niou Masaharu tilted his head. "It's time for the show to begin~ Phew."
"Watch the game carefully." Yagyu Hiroshi shook Niou Masaharu, who was putting all his weight on the side and couldn't stand straight.
Marui Bunta stopped chewing his bubble gum, looking forward to Tachibana Yoshihei's counterattack.
Despite the excruciating pain, Jiping did not give up the game. Looking at his teammates standing behind him, Jiping tried to focus on the game instead of the pain in his foot.
"I can still go on." Ju Jiping said to himself.
Kirihara Akaya stood up straight. "Do you have any backup plan?"
With unknown expectations, Kirihara Akaya looked at the ball again, but this time he did not serve it irregularly.
After all, this serve itself is dangerous enough, and coupled with the fact that Tachibana Yoshihei is injured, he will be laughed at by Niou-senpai and others in interviews and reports.
"Game Rikkai Ohkihara, 1-1!" The referee's voice echoed in the court.
In the rest area of Fudomine, Akira Kamio and Shinji Ibu looked at each other. They were worried about their captain, but they had no way to stop him from continuing the game.
After captain Tachibana Yoshihei chose to continue the game instead of giving up, Mori Tatsunori and Uchimura's attention was completely drawn to the captain.
Kikuko's face darkened. "Brother hasn't gotten over the past, and this kind of return kick..."
"Game Rikkai Daikirihara, 2-1!" Kirihara Akaya took the lead.
Kirihara Akaya glanced over to see Vice Minister Sanada, his arms folded across his chest. Next to him was Yanagi-san, his notebook closed. "You're not going to contribute anything? What's the point of just trying to hold on? It's a waste of time, and yet Yanagi-san specifically instructed me to pay attention to this..."
Kirihara Akaya's aggression is still controllable when he does not enter red-eye mode.
"Game Tatekai Ogirihara, 3-1!"
As Kirihara Akaya's score increased, the players in the Fudomine rest area stared at the field, wishing they could go up and play in place of Captain Tachibana Yoshihei.
The rest area of Rikkai University switched to relaxation mode. Tachibana Yoshihei wanted to persist despite his injury, but he did not take any deterrent action. He fought a tug-of-war with Kirihara Akaya using his injured leg. Even if he reached match point, it would not be easy to catch up.
The third-year students of Rikkai University were well aware that Tachibana Yoshihei's strength was reserved, but Kirihara Akaya's demonization had never been exposed in the official competition.
Kirihara Akaya was completely out of control and had no other skills left but to attack. By then, it would not be easy to make up for the huge score difference caused by his injury.
"The time of the final coincides with Yukimura's surgery. When the time comes, Niou, you guys should play faster and finish the game early." Marui Bunta's attention has been shifted elsewhere.
Niou Masaharu looked up at the sun and shifted his direction. "I think we'll have to consider who our opponent is. Rokkaku Junior High School might be a little easier to deal with, but if we were to face the golden duo of Seigaku, we wouldn't be able to speed up just because we wanted to. Even a national-level doubles match would be a hassle."
"Wait for the military advisor to arrange the battle schedule. Doesn't the championship match say that the entry list will be adjusted according to the teams?" Yagyu Hiroshi calmly pointed out the loophole in Marui Bunta's request.
Jackal Kuwahara Tadashi's statement: "No matter how it's scheduled, there should be enough time for doubles. We're busy with singles."
"Pfft~ Then the finale must be Sanada." Niou Masaharu looked at Sanada who was watching the game as focused as a piece of wood. The military advisors put away their notebooks, and the probability of Tachibana Yoshihei's explosion was not high.
When Kirihara Akaya's score reached 5 to 1, Yanagi Renji prepared to go to another stadium to collect information.
Kirihara Akaya hit the ball to the corner of the court where Tachibana Yoshihei had to take big strides to reach it, waiting for a counterattack.
Jiping Ju fought back reluctantly, thinking about Chitose Chihiro's injury, and also thinking about not putting pressure on his teammates. The tingling sensation from his foot injury distracted Jiping Ju from time to time.
Kirihara Akaya moved into position in advance and hit the ball back with a precise volley.
"Game Tatekai Ogirihara, 40-0!"
On match point, Kirihara Akaya won the point with a tricky little ball at the net. Tachibana Yoshihei subconsciously chased the ball, not wanting to lose the game. He exerted force with his right foot, and the foot injury that he had been holding on for the entire game broke out, and he fell to the ground.
"Game Rikkai Okirihara, 6-1! The game is over."
Fudomine's Tachibana Yoshihei was carried away on a stretcher for treatment. The players of Fudomine were all concerned about Tachibana Yoshihei's injury. The pressure left over from the Rikkai tournament and the impact on his strength were all behind Tachibana Yoshihei's injury.
Kirihara Akari put away his tennis bag unhappily. He had no real strength at all, and he was considered a national-level fighter alongside the three giants of Rikkai University. "Tsk~"
As expected, Rikkai University was one of the teams that qualified for the next round. On the way back, Yanagi Renji returned to the team on time.
"Who will be my next opponent, Senior Liu? I want to fight three of them in a single match." Kirihara Akaya's goal was clear.
Yanagi Renji recalled the match he had witnessed. "As expected, it was Seigakuen vs. Rokkaku Junior High School, with the score being 0-2. The singles match took a long time, so they'll be suspended and resuming tomorrow."
"What? It can last that long." Kirihara Akaya was surprised. The matches between Tezuka and Atobe didn't last that long. Is overtime popular now?
Sanada used his eyes to suppress Kirihara Akaya, who was still full of energy after the match. "Prepare for the finals later, Yanagi."
"Then I'll make a schedule of matches as soon as possible." Yanagi Renji opened his notebook and began to write, his former doubles partner flashing through his mind. "This time, I'm going to put the past to rest."
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