"Take the match seriously."
Tezuka turned and walked to the other side of the service box.
In tennis rules, the server starts each game from behind the right baseline. After the first point, they switch to the left, alternating until their service game ends.
Likewise, the receiver must stand diagonally opposite until the serve lands and bounces before returning.
"Hmph. You got lucky with that point."
Sanada pushed aside his scattered thoughts and focused squarely on the match as he moved to the receiving position.
Whoosh—!
Tezuka tossed the ball into the air.
Bending his knees, he leaped, body fully extended. The moment the ball reached its peak and began descending, his racket snapped forward.
Thwack!
The ball shot across the court in a straight, low trajectory, skimming the net before sharply landing near the sideline.
Damn—!
Sanada's instincts flared. He sprinted forward, but the angle was too sharp.
He hadn't expected Tezuka to pull off a near-ace serve—a precision shot hugging the service box's corner. By the time he reacted, the ball was already out of reach.
His racket barely grazed it, sending the ball flying wide into the fence.
"Tezuka Kunimitsu scores, 30-0!"
"Incredible ball control..."
At the sidelines, Yukimura's eyes flickered with surprise.
The near-ace drive—a staple in pro matches—was just as lethal when used as a serve. Whether as a return or serve, it demanded flawless precision: too high, it'd sail out; too low, it'd catch the net.
No flashy visuals, just ruthless efficiency.
"A near-ace serve, huh?"
Sanada watched the ball roll away, then glared at Tezuka, brow furrowed.
No more underestimating him.
Thwack!
Another serve ripped through the air—this time, an inside serve.
Moderate angle, average speed, but the spin made the ball dip sharply on the bounce.
"Trying to mock me?!"
Sanada's expression darkened as he sidestepped and swung.
Thud!
"—What?!"
The moment the ball left his racket, Sanada's eyes widened.
Tezuka had already rushed the net, seizing total initiative.
"Trouble. He's falling into Tezuka's rhythm."
Yukimura's frown deepened.
Three points in, and every shot felt like part of Tezuka's script. Sanada was trapped in reactive mode.
This was what happened when Sanada underestimated his opponent. Had he warmed up properly, his reflexes might've kept pace.
Thwack!
Before the ball could even clear the net, Tezuka volleyed it deep to the farthest corner.
Most players would struggle with control mid-sprint, but Tezuka—with his absolute precision—had no such weakness.
"Damn it!"
Sanada took half a step, then stopped.
No point chasing this one...
"Tezuka Kunimitsu scores, 40-0!"
Clap clap clap—
Light applause rippled through the crowd.
Though the points weren't flashy, the clinical efficiency was a masterclass in tennis fundamentals.
"I've watched this kid play three matches now. He wins every one flawlessly."
"Clear-headed, always in control. He anticipates and counters before the opponent even reacts."
The murmurs were in German—confirming Yoru's suspicion that these scouts were here specifically for Tezuka.
Thwack!
Amid the chatter, Tezuka served again: another near-ace.
This time, Sanada was ready—but Tezuka had already predicted the return.
Rushing the net, he intercepted with a sharp volley, placing it at an unreachable angle.
1-0!
Tezuka cruised through his service game.
"This kid..."
Kirihara chuckled, shaking his head.
Tezuka's strategy bore his influence.
Unlike typical serve-and-volley players—who relied on raw speed and gambled on reflexes—Tezuka's approach was built on spin manipulation.
By controlling the ball's rotation, he forced weak returns and funneled them into his strike zone.
For someone who'd mastered Tezuka Zone, subtle shot guidance was child's play—as long as the opponent didn't overpower him.
In short:
Sanada was being puppeteered.
"Looks like this'll be over fast. The other guy's helpless."
Yamato nodded in admiration.
Even with just basic rallies, Tezuka's dominance was clear. Given his arsenal of advanced techniques, the outcome seemed inevitable.
"It will end quickly—but not because he's helpless."
"That kid in the black cap isn't weak. Pure fundamentals won't win this. It's up to Tezuka to unveil his next move."
Yoru's words made Kirihara and Yamato pause.
After weeks together, they'd learned to trust Yoru's judgment. Now, they watched Sanada with renewed interest.
Nearby, Yukimura also caught Yoru's remark.
His gaze locked onto Tezuka. "Sanada..."
His friend was in deeper trouble than he realized.
Game 2: Sanada Genichirou's Serve
"Stay calm."
Sanada tightened his grip.
The worse the situation, the steadier you must be. Yukimura's words echoed in his mind.
Though Tezuka hadn't shown any extraordinary techniques yet, Sanada now treated him as an equal.
"Only one way forward."
Thud. Thud. Thud.
He bounced the ball, eyes sharpening. Once his rhythm settled, he launched it skyward with a fierce toss.
His jump wasn't high, but his racket grip was unorthodox.
Yukimura's breath hitched. "He's using that now?!"
An unfinished technique.
On the court, as the ball descended, Sanada's arm blurred.
Yukimura's eyes narrowed. "Here it comes—!"
"Fūrin Kazan (Wind Forest Volcano) Serve!"
A modified version of his signature "Speed Like Wind" strike—repurposed for a serve!
Bang! Crack!
The impact and rebound were nearly simultaneous.
The ball streaked across the net like a bullet, landing dead-center in Tezuka's court.
"No misfire... but the placement—!"
Sanada exhaled.
This was a high-risk move. His success rate was shaky, and controlling the landing spot was still a struggle.
"Good speed."
Tezuka's assessment was instant.
After enduring Kirihara's relentless speed drills the day before, he'd grown accustomed to fastballs.
And since Sanada's serve came straight at him, he barely needed to move—just a slight shift of his stance.
Thwack!
His racket flashed.
"Impossible—!"
Sanada froze as the ball rocketed past him, landing cleanly out of bounds.
read more inpatr***
belamy20 only for 5$ an month