"Today is the ranking match. Please refer to this board to see which court and who will you be playing against. Yudan seizu ni ikou! (Please play without any carelessness) With that, everyone is dismissed!"
Immediately after the announcement was made, the entire club was buzzing with energy. The non-regulars could finally measure their progress against the regulars and win a spot to represent Seigaku. It's been something that they have been waiting for a long time.
"Echizen Ryoma-kun" a year 2 senior approached the young tensai.
"My name is Umaru, your senior. I am looking forward to our match." He grinned widely.
Echizen re-adjusted his cap and walked away to take his racket.
Umaru gritted his teeth tightly. "If you have the balls to come, at least."
Echizen zipped open his racket bag, only to find a wrecked racket inside.
He took it out and examined the racket closely. The strings are already coming off and the grip is totally worn out. The frame of the racket is slightly deformed, totally unusable for any form of tennis.
"Ah." He smirked.
Without any sense of shame, he strutted confidently, swinging the racket along for all to see.
"Gasp, what is that?"
"What happened, why is freshman carrying that?"
Almost all members noticed Echizen within a few seconds.
Without giving a second look, Echizen reached his court and faced his opponent with sharp eagle eyes.
The referee looked rather confused. What is he supposed to do in such a circumstances?
"Urm Echizen, would you like to loan a racket from some of us here?" The referee asked.
"There's no need. At least for now." Echizen replied coolly with a smirk on his face.
Umaru looked very agitated at this point of time. "Let's start the match then!"
"Urm… okay… Umaru to serve."
With a triumphant smile, Umaru threw the ball up and proceed to smack the ball away from Echizen.
Echizen, without breaking a sweat, moved gracefully to the ball and attempt to return the ball. The racket could not hold the force of the ball well and the ball rebounded at a weird angle.
"Out! 15-Love, Umaru leading!"
"Ehh… this racket is interesting." Echizen scratched the racket surface again before returning back to his receiving position. "I am ready anytime, senpai." He continues smirking.
Meanwhile at the sidelines, several regulars and some free year ones that are not participating in the ranking match were looking.
"What on earth is Echizen thinking of? Going to face a senior with such a shabby racket? With my 2 years of tennis experience, no matter how experienced Echizen could be, there is no way one could play with such a racket!" Horio exclaimed.
Katsuo bit his lips nervously as he watched the match unfolds before him. It's obvious that Echizen was being bullied by the vengeful year twos because he stood up for them last time. It's not his first time being protected by Echizen, the first time was when Echizen had taught an Sasabe, an uncivilised customer at his father's tennis court a lesson. Why did Echizen stand up for them again, despite the risk that he will take? No one will go offend a senpai unnecessarily, unless they are looking for a difficult life.
"Ganbatte, Ryoma-sama! Don't lose to the likes like them!" Tomo-chan waved her hand-made banner frantically. Ryoma-sama is not going to lose the very first match and miss the opportunity as a regular right from the outset! Especially to those guys who play dirty!
"3-0, Umaru lead! Change Court!"
Echizen smiles as he walked passed Umaru.
Umaru was seething with anger. How could that bastard still remain so calm! Unless he sees that bastard writhing in agony, his thirst for vengeance shall remained unfilled! There must be something more he can do, something more hateful, something more – ah, he can help Arai finished what he could not managed to do. Screw the boy's arm. Yes, that's it!
A renewed vigour entered into Umaru's eyes. That Echizen will not smile any much longer. Yes, he will completely wiped off the smile from his face.
"Are you ready, senpai? I am coming!"
Echizen bounced up on his toe and arch his back backwards, before snapping forward to create a full-force momentum to create a spin on his ball.
The spinning ball whizzed across the court in mere seconds, before spinning on the ground and hit Umaru right in his face.
"There is it, the twist serve!" The freshman trio exclaimed in excitement!
"How did he do that with such a broken racket?" Momoshiro asked out loud.
"He must have spent the first match trying to understand how his racket works. He is surprisingly a fast learner, a very talented tennis player indeed." Fuji replied.
"It's so rare to hear Fuji-senpai praise someone to such a high extent. This freshman is really amazing!" Momoshiro exclaimed.
"Yes, he does have lots of potential." Fuji opened both his eyes a little to take a closer look at the young tensai's face.
'Echizen Ryoma uh…' somehow he cant helped but feel very insecure.
"3-1, Umaru leads! Umaru to serve!"
Covered with bruises on his face, Umaru looked like a red volcano that is about to explode any moment. He rolls up his sleeves and stare at Echizen like a prey.
'This will be the last match you will ever play in your life, you cocky bastard!'
Fuji picked up the hostile intent immediately. "Echizen, look out!"
Umaru unleashed a secret technique that he has been honing on his own. A violent variant of twist serve, the Pincer is meant for damaging the opponent severely, at the cost of a mildly broken wrist on the part of the executor. A small price to pay compared to the damage it cost. The moment the racket hits the ball, the ball disappeared for a moment and teleported to Echizen's arms. The vibration of the ball was so strong that it created an afterimage, as if it's a pincer ready to grasp and destroy the prey.
"Ryoma!" "Echizen!"
A chorus of frantic wails could be heard.
Umaru collapsed on the other side of the court, sweating profusely, after performing the high risk move.
"Serve you right bastard, for ruining our chances of being a regular. You got Arai and the rest of my friends kicked out, I will never forgive you!"
He stared hatefully at the ground, voice dripping with murderous intent.
"It's too early to celebrate, senpai."
A sharp clear voice interjected.
Echizen was flying up in the air before landing back on the ground with a loud thud. Meanwhile, behind him, the ball had broke the fencing surrounding the court and flew to the next court with continued vigour and send the basket of balls toppling down.
"So, are we still continuing with the match?" He brushed his arms to swipe away imaginary dust, showing no fear nor shocked at the previous move.
"You…you!" Umaru was too angry to speak.
"Tsk... mada mada dane"
"Would you like to forfeit the match, Umaru?" The referee asked.
"He is no longer part of Seigaku Tennis team anymore." Tezuka stepped into the court. "Bring Umaru to the infirmary. This match has been rightfully won by Echizen. We will continue with the next match!"
Without moving any unnecessary muscles, Tezuka and Echizen walked out of the court to make way for the next contestant, without giving a hoot about the human trash still lying helplessly on the ground.
The spectators were deadly silent as they watch the scene unfold in front of them.
"I just made an observation!" Kikumaru exclaimed, clearly unaware of the tense atmosphere.
The tennis members around him looked at him, puzzled.
"Buchou and Ochibi walks in the same way! If not for the obvious height difference, one might mistake both of them as the same person when viewed from the back!"
"Oh…" Inui adjusted his specs and take a closer look.
"Now that you mentioned it. The angle which they swing their arms and their gait is really almost identical. As expected of Kikumaru to make such observations. You really have sharp eyes for movement."
"Teehee!"
"Kikumaru senpai, if you are not coming into the court and play with me, I will de facto win this match!" Momoshiro cried out from another court.
"Ohno! I would better make a run for it. Zannen, munen, mata raishuu! (Too bad, no regrets, see you next week)"
"This year's ranking match is really interesting isn't it." Oishii commented.
"Yea, in more than just one way uh." Fuji added on, with a smiling mask.
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