135. The Singles Match Between Two Players

Before Kiryu Hiromi could savor any taste of victory, Fuji lunged toward the left as if propelled by a spring. After swinging his racket, he used the momentum to roll across the court, and the umpire’s voice rang out once more.

"15-15!"

"He’s as light as a swallow, Vice-Captain Fuji..." Ryo Shishido muttered. He had never seen Fuji play like this before; it was like watching a stunt performance.

"Not even Sadaharu and I have been able to gather accurate data on Fuji’s true strength. Just how much potential he holds... perhaps only Tezuka knows," Inui Sadaharu said, looking at Tezuka, who stood with his back to the court.

"This is likely the moment he truly begins to unleash his full power. Precise ball control, immense force, and that incomparable serve—he has already rendered Uehara Makoto unable to rely on his physical advantages to return the ball." Matsubara Mei believed this was the moment Fuji began to shed his genius persona, and surely, this was just the first step in his brilliant display.

As the battle intensified, Akutsu and Uehara Makoto found almost no room to participate. A doubles match had been forcibly transformed into a singles duel by Fuji and Kiryu. Seemingly realizing they could not intervene, Akutsu and Uehara Makoto simply stood to the side, watching with rapt attention, though they remained ready to assist their partners at the first sign of need.

"That Kiryu is attacking with the ferocity of a wild beast. Vice-Captain Fuji has been pinned to the baseline and can’t move..." Shishido noted, observing that Fuji had not moved from the baseline for quite some time.

"No, that’s not it. Fuji is staying at the baseline on purpose," Inui countered, having sensed something amiss.

"On purpose?" Akasawa Yoshirou frowned. He couldn't see anything intentional about it; it looked as if Kiryu was pressing hard, and Fuji was simply forced into a retreat, unable to move from the baseline.

*Thump.*

Fuji hit a lob. Kiryu’s lips curled into a grin; he charged forward and leaped, his body arching like a pouncing leopard, and delivered a powerful smash!

"What is that...?" Shishido asked, catching sight of Fuji’s posture.

"So that’s it—he was baiting him to use the 'Hecatonchires's Gate'!" Akasawa realized.

Accompanied by a whistling gust of yellow and blue, the tennis ball miraculously vanished, only to reappear moments later, hovering in the sky several meters high.

"Damn it! He was trading shots with me at the baseline just to force me into hitting a smash!" The realization flashed through Kiryu’s mind, and he scrambled backward. But it was too late; by the time he reached out with his racket, the ball had already bounced several times.

"30-15!"

As everyone continued to worry for Fuji, Aoi Wamura sat upright, looking unsettled. She whispered to herself, "You must stay calm, Kiryu."

During the exchange, Fuji noticed that Kiryu’s style had become fierce and swift as if unconsciously, rather than by a deliberate strategy to press him. Fuji opened his bright blue eyes. "Is it an illusion...?"

When he had retreated to the baseline earlier, it was truly a desperate measure against such brutal attacks. But now, it was different. In his exchanges with Kiryu Hiromi, he sensed that the latter’s eyes were fixed solely on the ball, as if he no longer existed.

"I have to test it."

Fuji found another opportunity to hit a high lob. Kiryu fell for the bait again. Facing the smash, Fuji once more deployed the "Hecatonchires's Gate." Realizing he had made another mistake, Kiryu fought desperately to chase down the falling ball, but in his haste, he tripped and fell face-first onto the court.

*Splat!*

"40-15!"

"Face-first... that must have hurt, right?" a student from Changqing couldn't help but say.

"He looks like a flopping fish..."

"A face-brake..."

"Hey, Kiryu! Can you still play?" Seeing Kiryu lying motionless on the ground, the umpire ran over, concerned.

"Ugh... I'm fine." Kiryu stood up, clutching his face, and waved the umpire away. When he looked at Fuji, his already arrogant face turned even more savage, his eyes turning a chilling, bloodshot red.

"Oh no..." Outside the court, Toshiaki Honda turned pale with shock, coughing from his sudden fear. On the court, Uehara Makoto whispered in a panic, "That state... it’s back..."

"What’s wrong with that guy? His eyes are so bloodshot..." Shishido noted, feeling a chill at the sight of Kiryu’s expression.

"Is he possessed by Kirihara?" Matsubara Mei wondered, watching the red-eyed Kiryu. Could this guy also trigger a demonic state?

"It’s likely a symptom of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder left over from when he was bullied at Haizuka Middle School," Inui said, flipping through his notebook.

"Eh? What does red eyes and trauma have to do with anything?" Yanagisawa Shinya asked, confused by the medical terminology.

"I mentioned before that the three of them were known as the 'Haizuka Trio' because of their skill in the tennis club. After being bullied by upperclassmen, rumors said Kiryu developed PTSD. I didn't pay much attention to it since the credibility was low," Inui explained, adjusting his glasses.

"You mean the reason for that look is that the fall triggered his trauma from being bullied back then, causing a relapse?" Akasawa asked.

"Exactly. Based on my deductions, his wild and unrestrained style might be linked to this disorder. As for his calm, intellectual persona, that only surfaces when he faces opponents he deems weaker than himself," Inui noted, recording his findings.

"What do you mean by 'calm and intellectual only when his opponent is weaker'?" Matsubara Mei asked, having missed the nuance. He understood the first part: because he had been bullied, his style turned violent. But the disorder didn't just bring negatives; it made Kiryu’s tennis even more formidable.

"It means that before he developed the disorder, he was naturally calm and intellectual. But afterward, that composure was no longer absolute. The threshold for that shift occurs when he encounters someone stronger than him, breaking that delicate balance—like today, against Fuji," Inui said slowly.

"I see..." Everyone, save for Matsubara Mei, listened intently, nodding as they found Inui’s theory plausible.

"Heh heh..." Kiryu laughed coldly, clutching the tennis ball.

"There's... no chance to strike." Uehara Makoto, who had intended to support Kiryu, abandoned the thought entirely upon seeing his partner's red-eyed state. It was better to just watch from the sidelines.

*Boom!*

In his red-eyed state, Kiryu’s twist serve was even faster than before. As the ball hit the ground with intense spin, it left scorched marks on the court. Fuji suddenly opened his eyes, sidestepping while putting every ounce of strength into his arm!

"Argh!"

Feeling the overwhelming impact vibrating through his racket, Fuji let out a shout, and the twist serve was returned!

*Whoosh!*

Kiryu, never expecting Fuji to return that ball, stood in a daze, letting the ball graze his cheek. A thin, red line quietly appeared.

"Game, Changqing! 2-1!"