The match began.
Momoshiro chose his side, Ryoma would serve first, and Horio acted as the referee.
“Ahem!
The match between Momoshiro-senpai and Ryoma Echizen will now begin!
Ryoma will serve first.
This match will follow the three great principles of fairness, impartiality, and openness…” Horio rambled on and on, which made Ye Changfeng, who was watching from the side, extremely annoyed.
“One game decider.
Ryoma to serve.
Match start!”
Ryoma’s first serve was a deliberate fault.
“Come on, stop holding back and use your Twist Serve already!” Momoshiro pointed at him.
“No.”
“Tch, what an arrogant guy,” Momoshiro muttered.
Here it comes.
Ye Changfeng watched carefully — Ryoma’s Twist Serve.
The ball flew fast, landed in Momoshiro’s court, and bounced sharply outward toward him.
Thwack!
Momoshiro reacted instinctively, but the racket was knocked out of his hand by the spinning ball.
15-0!
‘Twist Serve — a serve with heavy topspin that causes the ball to bounce outward.
The speed isn’t that high yet, probably only at Master level at most,’ Ye Changfeng analyzed.
“Whoa, that’s terrifying… So that’s the Twist Serve?
First time seeing it!” Momoshiro said with a relaxed grin.
“You okay?
You’re already sweating,” Ryoma provoked.
“Damn brat!” Momoshiro focused.
‘The ball is faster than I expected.
I have to return it right when it bounces up.
I need to move forward!’
He charged in aggressively.
“Got it!” He managed to hit the ball before the full topspin kicked in.
30-0!
Ryoma was leading, but the ball ended up in the net.
‘Even though Momoshiro is injured, he’s still a Seigaku regular.
After a few more balls he should be able to return it properly,’ Ye Changfeng thought.
On the third serve, Momoshiro finally connected cleanly.
“Lucky!
It went over!”
30-15!
Another Twist Serve.
Momoshiro stepped forward again — he seemed to have found the timing.
“Sorry, Echizen.
I’ve figured out the timing now.
When it comes to pure power, I won’t lose!” Momoshiro smashed the ball back hard.
After a few baseline rallies, Ryoma suddenly dropped a short ball near the net.
It was a Drop Volley!
Thud!
Momoshiro’s injured leg gave out as he tried to rush forward and he fell to the ground.
40-15!
“I didn’t expect him to have that kind of shot too…” Momoshiro thought, glancing at his injured leg.
‘This is taking too long.
If I don’t finish this quickly…’
“I’m only just getting started,” Ryoma said as he switched his racket from his right hand to his left.
‘There it is — one of his famous lines.’ Ye Changfeng watched with a speechless expression.
‘This guy really is unbearable.
Does he die if he doesn’t show off?’
“Forget it.
I’m not playing anymore.
I’ll let you off the hook this time,” Momoshiro suddenly said, calling off the match.
“I don’t mind,” Ryoma replied coolly.
He walked off the court and put his racket back in his bag.
‘As expected, the current Ryoma is still stronger.’ There was a clear gap in strength, and since neither of them had developed extremely deep techniques yet, raw power basically decided the outcome.
“Wow!
Ryoma, you’re so strong!
Where did you learn to play tennis?” Horio finally shifted his attention to Ryoma.
Ye Changfeng breathed a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, Coach Ryuzaki had appeared at some point.
“Is this really okay, Momo?
You got completely dominated by him.
If your leg wasn’t injured, you probably would’ve won, right?”
“Oh, Coach.
Maybe…” Momoshiro said, then pointed toward Ye Changfeng on the sidelines with a meaningful look.
“But my sixth sense is telling me that guy over there is way more dangerous.”
“Oh?” Coach Ryuzaki looked at Ye Changfeng.
“He’s also a first-year?”
“Oops, I’ve been spotted.
Time to go.” Ye Changfeng quickly slung his tennis bag over his shoulder and slipped away.
It still wasn’t the right time to show his full strength.
He’d wait until tomorrow.