PS: In tennis, only serves need to be returned after bouncing. Returns do not; they can be hit directly or after one bounce. Failing to return a ball after more than one bounce results in losing the point.
...
On the Court.
The moment the Zero-Shiki Drop Shot came rushing over, Shishido Ryo completely froze.
Anyone who hasn't truly faced a Zero-Shiki Ball cannot understand the bewilderment and helplessness of encountering a tennis ball that doesn't bounce.
At this moment, Shishido Ryo was extremely bewildered.
“This... what kind of tennis ball is this?”
After he murmured to himself, a voice answered his question, “This ball is called the Zero-Shiki Drop Shot.”
“Zero-Shiki Drop Shot?”
Shishido Ryo repeated, “A drop shot that doesn't bounce? That's terrifying.”
As he spoke, Shishido Ryo quickly thought of a countermeasure.
There was actually a way to deal with this kind of non-bouncing drop shot.
That was—
—to hit the drop shot back before it landed!
But the problem was whether he could catch Songgang's tennis ball!
“Unlike receiving a serve, now it's my serve...”
Shishido Ryo's thoughts raced, his hand still patting the tennis ball.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The rhythmic sound seemed to accompany his heartbeat.
“Now it's my serve, so... I have a chance!”
Shishido Ryo's eyes grew brighter and brighter; this was his current advantage.
If he served, he could control the direction of the tennis ball, every move of the tennis ball, thereby influencing Songgang’s final return.
“Bang—!”
Amidst his thoughts, Shishido Ryo quickly raised the tennis ball, then swung down heavily at it.
The tennis ball made a crisp striking sound and quickly flew towards Songgang.
Shishido Ryo also began to move at this moment.
“Good idea, but... it's useless.”
But, on the other side.
Songgang's face showed a hint of a smile.
He already knew Shishido Ryo's idea.
However, it really didn't mean anything.
“Thud!”
The tennis ball landed and bounced.
But at the moment the tennis ball bounced, Songgang's arm had already swung his racket at an empty spot without any doubt.
This was destined to be a miss.
However, the next moment.
Everyone's pupils contracted sharply.
“Bang—!”
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!”
The familiar striking sound, accompanied by powerful spin, pulled the tennis ball forward together.
And then!
The same scene reappeared.
“Thud!”
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh!”
The tennis ball landed, then spun, becoming silent again.
It was still a Zero-Shiki Drop Shot.
Shishido Ryo still... couldn't return it!
He had already started moving in advance, but it was meaningless!
“My God... did you see that just now?”
Mukahi Gakuto exclaimed in disbelief, “What is going on!?”
“The tennis ball hadn't even bounced, and Vice Captain already knew where it would appear!”
Akutagawa Jiro's gaze was solemn; they also had this ability.
However, they relied on their own experience and judgment.
It wasn't absolutely certain that it would be in that exact position.
But Songgang was not like that at all; he was very calm, and very... certain!!
This certainty was the most incredible thing.
Because even the server couldn't be one hundred percent certain that his tennis ball would appear in a certain place.
After all, after the tennis ball leaves the racket, it will change according to the force, angle, wind strength, and various other factors at the time.
Everyone has to adjust and judge based on these changes.
In such judgments, there will inevitably be mistakes.
“Could it be that... Vice Captain knew from the beginning how Ryo's tennis ball would be served, how it would travel, how it would arrive, and how it would bounce? But how is that possible?!”
Jiro Akutagawa only felt his scalp tingle; the more he thought about it, the more terrifying it seemed.
“That's why I said... I don't want to face him again!”
Oshitari Yushi finally spoke in a deep voice, “When I faced him, I didn't even know whether my tennis ball was mine or his!”
Not knowing whether his own tennis ball belonged to the opponent or himself!
Everyone's pupils contracted sharply.
“That time, in my match against him, I just felt that Vice Captain knew everything about my tennis ball, from the serve, to the movement, to the landing, to the bounce, to the return... everything!!”
“Anyone who hasn't truly played against him can't experience this fear!”
Even his own tennis ball, he began to doubt if it was still his own tennis ball!!
“How is that possible!?”
Mukahi Gakuto murmured to himself, still unable to believe it.
...
On the Court.
Shishido Ryo was dumbfounded.
He likewise couldn't believe it.
“This... how is this possible?!”
His serve, how did it feel like Songgang understood it even better than him, and was even more confident!
“Nothing is impossible.”
Songgang chuckled, his smile bright and extremely infectious: “As long as you can perceive the tennis ball, you can control the tennis ball, control its every move. Isn't that a very normal thing?”
“Just like breathing, you can control your breath.”
“That's impossible!”
Shishido Ryo blurted out, what did he mean by perceiving the tennis ball?
Admittedly, they also developed something called 'ball sense' with training.
But that kind of ball sense was more a result of experience.
How could there be a ball sense like breathing!
But at this moment, looking at Songgang opposite him, he inexplicably couldn't continue to question it.
But what exactly was going on!?
...
And from here, or rather, from the very beginning.
Shishido Ryo was destined to lose this match against Songgang.
“Game, Songgang scores, 2:0!”
“Game, Songgang scores, 4:0!”
“Game, Songgang scores, 6:0! A shutout victory!!”
In the Court.
There was silence.
A complete defeat, this was a true complete defeat!
From beginning to end, Songgang only used basic tennis skills and one Zero-Shiki Drop Shot.
But, with just such a ball, Shishido Ryo had no chance to struggle at all.
“Time... less than seven minutes!”
Oshitari Yushi spoke in a deep voice, “Ryo has been completely defeated!”
Yes, it was less than seven minutes.
Yet Shishido Ryo had already been utterly defeated.
And this was only the beginning.
Soon.
Jiro Akutagawa, Mukahi Gakuto, Oshitari Yushi...
One after another, almost all of Hyotei's regulars, except Atobe Keigo, took to the Court.
But in the end.
The result was the same!
Everyone was shut out!
Complete defeat, everyone was completely defeated!!
And after the matches ended, everyone was somewhat in a trance.
“What kind of feeling is this...”
Everyone looked at each other, somewhat in disbelief.
When facing Songgang, they had a feeling that their own tennis balls... seemed to be completely controlled by him!
It must be said, this feeling made everyone's scalp tingle.
“Now, I believe everyone has no objections, right?”
While everyone was in disbelief,
Atobe Keigo's voice rang out: “Then I announce that Rin officially becomes Hyotei's Vice Captain—!”
