147. Unreplicable Technology

"Someone like you who only knows how to imitate without any genuine technique of your own limits your own development so early. It will be very difficult to change later on."

Matsudaira Naruai smiled indifferently.

"My talent happens to be just like this, and this is my most authentic technique. Moreover, do not forget, no matter who it is, everyone starts by imitating others. It's just that you all gave up this gift bestowed by the heavens one by one during the process of imitation and chose alternative paths, whereas I have always remained steadfast to this talent."

Waka Hitoshi did not agree with the boy's words and retorted, "Whatever makes you happy."

Matsudaira Naruai had no intention of engaging in a lengthy debate with Waka Hitoshi. Since Waka believed that living in the shadows of others would not cause one to lose themselves and could still provide a direction forward, the boy could not say much more.

When he truly encountered a situation similar to Niou's in the world tournament, where he realized that excessive imitation caused him great harm, Matsudaira Naruai believed Waka Hitoshi would change this path. Changes made proactively after truly hitting a wall oneself would always be much more effective than forced changes brought about by others' persuasion.

"This match will be decided soon."

Waka Hitoshi looked at the scoreboard beside them. Sure enough, Drexler was the most suitable person to deal with Matsudaira Naruai.

"If you were imitating Echizen Nanzirou, I might take you a bit more seriously, but please don't drag these NBA superstars out to make a fool of yourself."

A glimpse of the glide-lob spin—which looked strikingly similar to Oishi and Kanzuki's interception trajectories—flashed through Matsudaira Naruai's eyes. As he closed his eyes slightly, a boundless suction force seemed to erupt from around his entire body, and a white mist surged rapidly outward from the boy as the center!

"That is... the Matsudaira Zone!"

"Great! If he uses the Matsudaira Zone, we won't have to worry about failing to return that lob shot!"

The members of Seishun murmured and rejoiced quietly upon seeing Matsudaira Naruai use the Matsudaira Zone.

"The Matsudaira Zone? If it's to deal with that kind of lob spin that is difficult to return, the Matsudaira Zone is indeed the best method. The subtle spin applied alters the height of the lob spin, allowing the ball to obediently return within Matsudaira's hitting range no matter how high or how deep it flies," Sadaharu Inui said.

"15-0!"

"30-0!"

Relying on the gravitational pull of the Almighty Push, Matsudaira Naruai continuously sucked Waka Hitoshi's lob spin back to the vicinity of his body. Without moving a single step from his original spot, he once again executed a super-spin ball infused with excessive gravitational force. Under these circumstances, while Waka Hitoshi was running around frantically from side to side, he also committed various unforced errors of failing to hit the ball, and soon the boy successfully claimed two points.

"Growing accustomed to Waka's playing style over and over again, and coming up with ways to crack every single one of them—this Matsudaira Naruai is terrifyingly strong..." Kajimoto Takahisa said.

"When we practice with Waka, we always experience intense maladaptation because of these constantly shifting styles, yet he hasn't shown a single trace of abnormality," Tanaka Kohei said, placing his hands on his hips.

"Indeed. Because Waka's imitations are so lifelike, every style shift is like playing against a succession of completely different opponents. It's hard to imagine anyone being able to hold their ground under that kind of frequency," Tanaka Yohei supported his elbows with both hands and nodded.

"Waka's most terrifying advantage is being chipped away piece by piece by that shorty," Kiryu watched Matsudaira and said.

"40-0!"

"2-3! Seishun's Matsudaira wins this game! Side out!"

Swish. Swish.

The two walked toward each other from opposite sides. Matsudaira Naruai smiled relaxed and said, "What's wrong? The glide-lob spin doesn't seem to be working anymore. Are you thinking of using a new imitation tactic to deal with me?"

"That's right. I've already thought of an opponent who is a great match for you."

Waka Hitoshi moved his fingers away from his gently caressed cheek, held up his hand with his fingers spread apart, and shouted, "Let's go!"

"All right!"

Clap! Clap! Clap!

"Is it Batman Scott Pippen this time?"

Matsudaira Naruai continued to use the Matsudaira Zone to adsorb the balls he couldn't reach back to his vicinity. A technique even more versatile than Drexler's was something only Pippen could pull off.

However, among all of Waka Hitoshi's transformations, Pippen was the only one whose timing he chose incorrectly. Because even though Pippen's technique was more comprehensive, he still couldn't use this point to break Matsudaira Naruai's Matsudaira Zone—unless Waka Hitoshi could make Pippen's technique as uniquely overpowered as it was in 2K Online. Relying merely on a few brute-force slam dunks simply wasn't enough to break the Matsudaira Zone.

"3-3! Seishun's Matsudaira wins!"

"How is it? Are the little kid's games over? If you're done playing, hurry up and end this boring match; I'm already tired."

Matsudaira Naruai looked at Waka Hitoshi's extremely grim expression, shrugged, and asked.

"Since none of these tactics work against you, I have no choice but to try that ultimate tactic!"

Waka Hitoshi repeated his previous motion and shouted, "Let's go!"

"All right!"

"If you have any last words, you'd better finish saying them now. Otherwise, once you lose, you won't have this many listeners left."

Waka Hitoshi chuckled softly.

"That way of speaking..." Ryou Shishido was startled.

"That nonchalant attitude..." Akazawa Yoshirou followed up.

"That provocative tone..." Sadaharu Inui pushed up his glasses.

"Is he imitating Matsudaira himself this time?" Mamoru Inoue said.

"Though I'm reluctant to admit that this fellow is imitating Matsudaira himself, I must say, whether it's the tone, the demeanor, or the movements, it's very much alike..." Oda Fuyuka frowned slightly.

"Interesting. Has he finally started imitating me? Then let me see just how far you can imitate."

Imagining that this was Waka Hitoshi's final transformation, Matsudaira Naruai felt a wave of relief wash over him. This frustrating match could finally come to an end.

Watching the serve sent over by Waka Hitoshi, Matsudaira Naruai returned it with ease. After all, it was a trajectory he was accustomed to; there was no reason he couldn't spot the weaknesses within it.

"Amazing... Facing that serve, Matsudaira actually went straight to the net for an interception. It's even faster than my super-high-speed half-volley!" Shishido Ryou exclaimed in surprise.

"If you still had the techniques of other different basketball stars to imitate, you might have been able to battle me to a full-length match, but imitating me... defeating you becomes very easy!"

Matsudaira Naruai once again anticipated and returned Waka Hitoshi's shot to the corner, speaking calmly.

"Arrogant fellow, I will definitely make you fall by my hand!"

Waka Hitoshi's expression shifted slightly, and then he attempted to execute Matsudaira Naruai's no-spin ball. However, the moment his racket's face made full contact with the tennis ball, Waka Hitoshi's form completely fell apart!

Thwack!

"15-0!"

Matsudaira Naruai watched the flying tennis ball, used a repulsive force to eliminate the spin on it, and then attached a gravitational pull to suppress any subsequent spin that might arise. The no-spin ball streaked past like a flash of lightning; even though Waka Hitoshi saw the ball flying toward him, he was unable to return it!

Looking at the tennis ball rolling over from the wire fence, Waka Hitoshi said with a perplexed expression, "I couldn't hit it... The no-spin ball imitation failed..."

Waka Hitoshi was not perplexed because he failed to return Matsudaira Naruai's shot, but rather bewildered as to why he couldn't use the exact same motion as Matsudaira Naruai to hit a no-spin ball just now.

Right now, Waka Hitoshi's mind was filled with thoughts of where on earth he had gone wrong. His posture and movements were completely identical, yet he just couldn't hit a ball without spin. He had never encountered a problem where an imitation failed when copying others; why had he failed just now?

Matsudaira Naruai scratched the strings of his racket with his finger, producing a clacking sound. Feigning deep thought, he said casually, "Your failure to imitate my no-spin ball must be because this world can only accommodate one me who can hit this kind of ball, right?"

Having said this, Matsudaira Naruai couldn't help but feel inwardly startled. The world of Prince of Tennis ultimately required technique. Waka Hitoshi, whose imitation ability was second only to Kabaji and Niou, was actually unable to imitate his no-spin ball. Sure enough, reincarnators with systems were true overpowered protagonists; while their cheat abilities were awesome, they also refused to allow themselves to be plagiarized.