Okabara Kyogumichi walked to the center of the court, gently spun the tennis racket half a turn in his palm, and with a slight flick of his wrist, the racket drew a clean arc. He did not rush to serve, but first stretched his shoulders and wrists. His seemingly casual movements exuded an indescribable composure, completely out of place with the tense atmosphere around him.
Hayama Hayato stood on the opposite side of the court, his expression gradually becoming serious. He could feel the aura emanating from Kyogumichi; seemingly relaxed and casual, yet subtly sharp. As a key player on the school's soccer team, Hayama had a keen intuition for ball sports. This student, who had suddenly appeared, was definitely not as simple as he seemed on the surface.
"Please guide me," Hayama bowed slightly, assuming a standard receiving stance.
Kyogumichi nodded in acknowledgment, casually took a tennis ball from his pocket, and gently stroked its surface with his fingertips. Sunlight fell on his profile, casting a long shadow from his eyelashes, his expression focused and calm.
The murmurs from the crowd gradually subsided, and everyone's gaze was fixed on the center of the court. Yukino Yukinoshita stood on the sidelines, wiping sweat with a towel, her gaze complex as she watched Kyogumichi's back, her fingers gripping the towel tightening slightly. Yuigahama whispered beside her, "Does Okabara-san also play tennis?"
Yukinoshita did not answer, only staring intently at the court.
Kyogumichi finally moved. He slowly tossed the tennis ball, his body arching slightly backward like a drawn bowstring, his right hand gripping the racket, drawing a silvery-bright trajectory in the sunlight. The contact between racket and ball made a crisp "thwack" sound, and the tennis ball, with strong topspin, arced through the air in a strange trajectory, as if endowed with life.
This serve, seemingly unremarkable, landed precisely on the inner corner sideline of the opponent's court. After landing, it suddenly bounced upwards at a tricky angle, giving Hayama almost no time to react.
"Good shot!" Kawasaki Saki couldn't help but exclaim.
Hayama, relying on years of training instinct, managed to return the ball, but due to his unstable center of gravity, the quality of his return was not high. The tennis ball floated lightly towards Kyogumichi's forehand, appearing full of openings.
Miura Yumiko immediately shouted excitedly, "Hayama! Opportunity!"
However, Kyogumichi seemed to have anticipated it. Without moving his feet, he merely flicked his wrist, and the racket, as if it had eyes, precisely struck the center of the ball. He did not choose to smash with great force, but instead gently touched it with the edge of his racket. The tennis ball suddenly changed direction, carrying strong sidespin, flying over the net and landing in a gap where Hayama could not possibly reach.
"Net! Point!" Yui Yuigahama, who had arrived at the sidelines at some point, couldn't help but raise the scoreboard and shout upon seeing this brilliant volley. She was wearing a cute yellow dress today and holding a freshly bought drink, apparently drawn by the commotion as she passed by.
Hayama stood frozen, looking at the in-bounds tennis ball with some surprise. This return, seemingly effortless, controlled the power and angle perfectly, clearly requiring extremely high ball-handling skills.
Kyogumichi turned slightly, his left hand hanging naturally, his right hand holding the racket resting on his shoulder. He didn't even have any extra celebratory movements, as if that brilliant volley was just a casual flick. This nonchalant attitude was more impactful than any arrogant celebration.
"Good luck," Kyogumichi said softly, without a hint of pride in his tone.
Hayama's gaze became even more serious. He knew this was definitely not luck; the ball control demonstrated by that return even surpassed that of the tennis club captain. He took a deep breath, adjusted his mindset, and prepared to receive the next serve.
The subsequent match completely became Kyogumichi's solo show. His movements were not as powerful and fast as Hayama's, and even seemed a bit nonchalant, yet he always managed to hit astonishing shots at the most critical moments.
Facing Hayama's powerful smashes, Kyogumichi would simply shift his feet slightly, and with a feather-light touch of his racket, he could return the ball to the most difficult position for his opponent. When Hayama tried to use drop shots to move him, he would suddenly accelerate, and seemingly impossible balls would always be miraculously saved by him.
Most astonishing was his serve. Kyogumichi's serves did not pursue extreme speed, but focused on changes in spin and landing spot. Sometimes the tennis ball would slide sideways after landing, other times it would bounce high. Each serve kept Hayama scrambling, completely unable to predict.
"What kind of serve is that...?" Someone on the sidelines couldn't help but exclaim.
"He's incredible, I had no idea he played so well."
"Hayama is the Youth Cup champion, and he's being dominated?"
The discussions grew louder, everyone impressed by the skill Kyogumichi displayed. His playing style was not as passionate and powerful as Hayama's, but carried a kind of control and composure over everything. Each swing was as precise as if calculated, showcasing the art of tennis to its fullest.
Miura Yumiko's face grew increasingly ugly. She had initially thought Hayama would easily win, but never expected such a situation. She clenched her fists tightly, her fingernails almost digging into her flesh.
Yukino Yukinoshita stood on the sidelines, her eyes filled with surprise and doubt. It was her first time seeing Kyogumichi play tennis, and she never imagined he would be so formidable. That composure in controlling the entire court, the precise judgment, and the seemingly casual yet skillful swings, all made her feel both unfamiliar and curious.
Yui Yuigahama, on the other hand, watched with sparkling eyes, forgetting to drink her beverage. She occasionally looked at Kyogumichi on the court, then at Yukinoshita beside her, a smile involuntarily curving her lips.
Ten minutes into the match, Hayama was already panting, sweat dripping from his forehead like broken pearls. He looked at Kyogumichi, who was still composed on the opposite side, and finally realized the gap between them.
Kyogumichi lightly tossed the tennis ball, preparing to deliver the final serve. Sunlight filtered through the racket strings, casting dappled shadows on his face. His movements were still fluid and elegant; with a slight flick of his wrist, the racket precisely struck the center of the ball.
This serve carried a strong sidespin, rotating like a top in the air. After landing, it suddenly bounced outwards. Hayama lunged to save it but was still a step too slow. The tennis ball landed in-bounds, and the match ended.
The entire court was briefly silent, then erupted in a burst of enthusiastic applause and cheers.
Kyogumichi put down his racket and nodded slightly to Hayama: "Thank you for the game."
Hayama panted, but a relieved smile appeared on his face: "No, I lost, you played very well." He was an honorable person; although he lost the match, he was thoroughly convinced by Kyogumichi's skill.
Kyogumichi said no more and turned to walk towards the sidelines. Yukino Yukinoshita handed him a bottle of water, a complex emotion in her eyes: "You... are very impressive."
"I just learned a little before," Kyogumichi took the water, twisted open the cap, and took a sip, his tone still calm.
Yui Yuigahama also ran over, a bright smile on her face: "Okabara-san, you're amazing! I didn't know you played tennis so well!"
Kyogumichi smiled, and just as he was about to say something, a system panel suddenly popped up in front of him:
[Character: Yukino Yukinoshita] [Bond Progress:0% → 8% (Triggered Event: Shock of Strength)] [Event Evaluation:Your strength and composure displayed on the court have sparked strong curiosity and recognition in her.]
[Character: Yui Yuigahama] [Bond Progress:0% → 7% (Triggered Event: Stunning First Impression)] [Event Evaluation:Your brilliant performance on the court caught her eye and generated strong interest in you.]
Kyogumichi paused, then dismissed the panel and looked at the two girls in front of him. Yukinoshita's gaze was still cool, but with a hint of subtle softness; Yuigahama, on the other hand, smiled like a little sun, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Sunlight filtered through the tennis court's wire mesh, casting warm shadows on the three of them.