*Pat!*
*Pat!*
*Pat!*
At the baseline, Atobe continuously tapped the tennis ball with his racket. He was searching for his rhythm, trying to regain his composure after losing the previous point.
As one of the top middle school players, Atobe wasn't the type to dwell on the loss of a single point. Unlike Tezuka, who carried an unwavering belief in his team, or Sanada, who insisted on winning through sheer determination and fairness, Atobe's philosophy was different. In his book, as long as it didn't cross his moral line, any means to score was acceptable.
He lifted his head, his deep eyes locking onto Ishikawa.
His opponent was strong—far stronger than Atobe had anticipated. There was no room for hesitation or doubt in this match.
*Whoosh!*
Atobe tossed the ball into the air and slammed it across the court with a powerful serve.
*Tap! Tap!*
After the serve, Atobe moved forward strategically, not recklessly charging the net but carefully observing Ishikawa's reactions. He anticipated Ishikawa's moves and aimed for his backhand.
*Thud!*
The ball landed.
For anyone else, this shot would have been a surefire winner. In other words, what seemed like a basic move from Atobe was, in reality, a devastating attack to most players.
*Swish!*
But then, a figure suddenly appeared.
Ishikawa's eyes quickly scanned Atobe. The latter's posture was aggressive, his gaze sharp, like an unsheathed sword, radiating an intimidating aura. That predatory look alone was enough to send a shiver down most players' spines.
But Ishikawa wasn't most players. With a mental fortitude nearing that of an elite high schooler, he remained unfazed.
"Is this... what they call 'Ultra-Aggressive Mode'?"
In the original storyline, during Atobe's match against Ryoma, he had transitioned from a playful, taunting style to an all-out, win-at-all-costs mentality. This was his Ultra-Aggressive Mode—a state where he focused solely on overwhelming his opponent.
*Thud!*
Sure enough, as soon as Ishikawa returned the ball, Atobe was already there, smashing it to the opposite side.
*Thud!*
Ishikawa returned it again, and Atobe responded with another fierce attack.
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
The rallies grew faster and more intense. Atobe's playing style began to resemble that of Tachibana from Fudomine, but with a key difference. While Tachibana relied on raw power and brute force, Atobe's attacks were a blend of ferocity and finesse.
Tachibana's shots were straightforward and heavy, capable of knocking the racket out of most players' hands in just a few hits. Atobe's, on the other hand, were like relentless waves—fast, spinning, and unyielding.
For anyone else, this onslaught would have been overwhelming, leaving them scrambling to keep up.
But Ishikawa remained calm.
He returned every one of Atobe's shots with precision, standing firm like an unshakable pillar amidst the storm.
"Hmph."
Atobe's expression darkened as he realized that no matter how hard he pushed, Ishikawa's defense was impenetrable. It felt like he was repeatedly slamming into a solid wall that refused to budge.
"If that's the case..."
Atobe raised his left hand, his fingers lightly touching the bridge of his nose. His piercing blue eyes locked onto Ishikawa, the surroundings fading into darkness as his focus intensified.
*Swish!*
Without even looking, Atobe swung his racket and sent the ball hurtling back.
"No weaknesses?"
Atobe frowned as the ball rapidly approached him.
Aside from his strong fundamentals, Atobe's keen eyesight was what had made him shine in England and dominate the national scene upon his return. It was his greatest weapon.
But now, even with his vision at its peak, he couldn't find a single flaw in Ishikawa's form.
It was as if his opponent was flawless.
"That's impossible," Atobe muttered, his eyes narrowing. "No player is perfect. Everyone has weaknesses!"
*Swish!*
Atobe's gaze intensified as he scrutinized Ishikawa's every move.
*Tap! Tap!*
Ishikawa quickly moved to intercept the ball.
"Huh?"
Atobe's eyes suddenly gleamed as he noticed something. "His upper and lower body aren't perfectly synchronized. There's a slight disconnect... Wait!"
Realization dawned on him, and his brief moment of hope vanished, replaced by frustration.
"He's wearing weights during our match!"
Atobe's expression turned grim.
The slight discrepancy in Ishikawa's movements wasn't due to a flaw—it was because he was deliberately limiting himself.
And what was worse, even with Ishikawa holding back, Atobe still couldn't find a way to score.
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
As the match progressed, Atobe's attacks began to slow.
"Now's my chance."
Ishikawa's eyes flashed as he shifted from defense to offense. With a sharp cross-court shot, he targeted Atobe's weak spot.
*Thud!*
The ball landed, and Atobe's face froze.
"0-40!"
Ishikawa exhaled softly. "As expected of Atobe-senpai. It's not easy to find an opening in your game."
Atobe's expression darkened further.
"Does he not realize I've figured out he's holding back?"
Atobe felt like he'd swallowed a fly. If Ishikawa had been going all out and dominating him, he could have accepted it. But the fact that his opponent was still limiting himself, yet he couldn't score a single point, was infuriating.
And to make matters worse, he couldn't even complain about it.
The match continued, and Atobe found himself increasingly on the defensive. At first, he managed to hold his ground, but as Ishikawa's attacks grew faster, Atobe's movements became sloppier, and his mistakes piled up.
Ishikawa, of course, capitalized on every opportunity, striking with surgical precision at Atobe's vulnerabilities.
*Thud!*
"Game! Ishikawa, 1-0!"
*Thud!*
"Game! Ishikawa, 2-0!"
*Thud!*
"Game! Ishikawa, 3-0!"
In what felt like the blink of an eye, Ishikawa had taken three games, while Atobe hadn't scored a single point. The pressure of continuously losing points and failing to score began to weigh heavily on Atobe's mind.
His opponent was simply too strong.
Ishikawa had no weaknesses, and his ability to read the game was terrifying. Every time Atobe made even the slightest mistake, Ishikawa was there to exploit it.
*Whoosh!*
A breeze began to blow around the court, mirroring Atobe's increasingly somber mood.
"Atobe Keigo," Atobe muttered to himself, staring at Ishikawa as he prepared to serve. "Are you really going to lose here?"
*Swish!*
He widened his stance, lowered his center of gravity, and gripped his racket tightly, ready to face whatever came next.
*Whoosh!*
On the other side, Ishikawa tossed the ball into the air. His cold eyes locked onto Atobe, sensing the shift in his opponent's demeanor. With a swift motion, he unleashed a serve at 60% power—the *Star Trace Serve*.
*Boom!*
The ball shot across the court like a bolt of lightning, far faster than Atobe could react.
*Thud!*
By the time the ball landed and bounced past him, Atobe could only watch in stunned silence.
"15-0!"
Ishikawa's voice echoed, but Atobe's body trembled.
The serve was unbelievably fast. Even Atobe, with his sharp reflexes, couldn't fully process it.
*Whoosh!*
A cold wind swept through, sending a chill down Atobe's spine. He quickly repositioned himself, his guard higher than ever.
It had been a long time since Atobe had faced an ace serve like this. Ishikawa was clearly taking this seriously now, and Atobe couldn't afford to let his focus slip.
*Whoosh!*
Ishikawa served again, his movements fluid and precise. Atobe's eyes followed every motion, but as Ishikawa's racket connected with the ball, his vision blurred slightly.
*Boom!*
The ball landed, and Atobe's heart skipped a beat.
He looked down, but the ball was already gone, leaving a faint mark on the court. Atobe suddenly remembered a similar scene involving his teammate, Oshitari.
Back then, Oshitari had been the one struggling against an opponent's lightning-fast serve. Now, it was Atobe's turn to be on the receiving end.
*Drip.*
A drop of sweat rolled down Atobe's forehead and hit the ground.
He was shaken.
*Boom! Boom!*
Ishikawa didn't let up, firing two more ace serves to secure the fourth game.
Then, it was Atobe's turn to serve.
But his mind was elsewhere, his movements sluggish and unfocused.
*Boom!*
"0-15!"
*Boom!*
"0-30!"
*Boom!*
"0-40!"
In the blink of an eye, Ishikawa had taken three more points.
Atobe served again, but his heart wasn't in it.
"Atobe-senpai," Ishikawa said, shaking his head as he prepared to return the ball. "If you're not going to take this seriously, we might as well end the match here."
*Boom!*
He sent the ball back, and Atobe barely managed to return it.
"What's wrong with me?"
Atobe's mind raced as he recalled the points he'd lost. He felt a sense of urgency but also confusion.
Yes, he was at a disadvantage.
Yes, he hadn't scored a single point.
But that was no excuse for his lack of focus.
As someone who prided himself on his determination and competitive spirit, Atobe never backed down from a challenge. No matter how strong his opponent was, he would never give up.
"So, Atobe Keigo," he muttered to himself, "what are you afraid of?"
He chased after Ishikawa's next shot, his movements becoming more deliberate.
But the feeling of hitting a wall persisted.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't break through Ishikawa's defenses. His greatest weapon—his keen eyesight—had failed him.
Yet, Atobe refused to accept defeat.
He wanted to win. He *needed* to win.
But with his abilities seemingly neutralized, what else could he do?
*Swish!*
Suddenly, memories flashed before Atobe's eyes.
Back in England, during his time at an elite elementary school, he had faced a formidable opponent. In a critical moment, he had used his vision to spot a weakness and turned the tide of the match with a single shot.
From that day on, Atobe had relied on his eyes to defeat countless opponents, often toying with those who considered themselves prodigies.
Now, facing Ishikawa, Atobe felt like he was back in that elementary school match.
"That's right," he thought, a self-deprecating smile forming on his lips. "All I have left is my eyes."
*Swish!*
His gaze sharpened as he focused entirely on Ishikawa.
*Buzz.*
Time seemed to slow as Atobe's vision reached its peak.
In his mind, the court transformed into a frozen landscape, with countless ice pillars representing Ishikawa's weaknesses.
"So these are your true weak points," Atobe murmured, his eyes gleaming with newfound determination.
*Swish!*
He swung his racket, aiming for one of the ice pillars.
But just as the ball was about to hit its mark, all the pillars shattered into dust.
"Atobe-senpai," Ishikawa said calmly, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, but... I have no weaknesses."
*Boom!*
The ball shot past Atobe, leaving him frozen in place.
---
**pat-reon: belamy20**
(End of Chapter)