socalfunplaces Chapter 110 Kirihara Akaya VS Kabaji Takahiro
Chapter 110 Kirihara Akaya VS Kabaji Takahiro
Kirihara charged like a cannonball towards Mochizuki Ryo and grabbed his sleeve.
"senior!"
He tilted his little face up, his voice clear and bright with a hint of excitement, his eyes shining like the sun, "You've finished watching the vice minister's match, now it's our turn!"
Wang Yueling stumbled forward half a step as he pulled her, looking down at the excited little seaweed in front of her, a faint smile in her blue eyes.
"You seem to be in a great hurry."
"Of course I'm in a hurry! I've been waiting for ages!"
Once Kirihara confirmed that the man wouldn't leave, he immediately let go, turned around and ran towards Kabaji, grabbed Kabaji's wrist, and dragged him towards the main stadium.
"Kabachi, let's go, it's our turn to play ball!"
Kabaji let Kirihara pull him along without moving an inch, only slightly tilting his head and subconsciously looking in Atobe's direction, quietly waiting for instructions.
Atobe sat on a lounge chair with his arms crossed. Noticing Kabaji's gaze, he casually raised his hand and lightly snapped his fingers.
Snapped.
"Birch Field".
He raised his chin, his eyes displaying his usual arrogant composure. "Just go for it and play to your full potential."
Kabaji straightened up, his voice low and resolute.
"Yes, Lord Atobe."
As soon as he finished speaking, Kabaji stopped resisting and followed Kirihara's lead, walking towards the main stadium. The two walked side by side, their auras completely different from when they were watching the game.
The intense tug-of-war between Atobe and Sanada just now was like a spark igniting the willow catkins in everyone's hearts.
Not only the onlookers were stirred with emotion.
Kirihara and Kabaji were thoroughly provoked.
Qie was inherently highly competitive, with a youthful arrogance and defiance in his bones. After watching the hardcore contest between the two seniors, his competitive spirit was ignited, and the flames in his eyes almost overflowed.
Kabaji, who is usually quiet and reserved and rarely shows his emotions.
At this moment, his dark eyes shone with a rare light, no longer the blank stare of the past, but with a hint of eager fighting spirit.
Kirihara clenched his fists the whole way, and as he passed Mochizuki Ryo, he raised his chin and loudly declared, "Senpai, after I finish this fight with Kabaji, I'll come and challenge you right away. I'll definitely beat you."
Looking at the young man's spirited appearance, Wang Yueling smiled gently.
He habitually raised his hand to ruffle Kirihara's curly hair, but as his hand reached halfway up, he suddenly noticed the glitter and gel covering Kirihara's head.
He immediately changed his actions and gently patted Kirihara's shoulder.
"I remember our promise. Just focus on the competition. I'll be here waiting for you."
After patting his shoulder, Wang Yueling subconsciously rubbed his fingertips, raised his eyebrows slightly, and a helpless yet amused look flashed in his eyes.
This gel is spread way too thickly.
Even if you try to avoid the top of your head, you can't escape the sequins; they're everywhere!
Wang Yueling gently patted the sequins in her palm, then turned to look at the birch tree standing quietly to the side.
He had originally intended to pat Kabaji on the shoulder, but Kabaji was too tall, and it would look odd if he did so. So, he could only reach out and pat Kabaji's forearm instead.
The voice softened, carrying a hint of gentle encouragement.
"Chonghong, just play freely and don't hold back. Just bring out everything you've learned in this week's training camp."
Kaba nodded slightly, looking at him earnestly, still with that obedient and well-behaved demeanor.
"Um."
Encouraged, Kirihara became even more energetic, striding confidently into the main stadium. Kabaji followed behind him, his steps steady, his tall figure cast in the shadows of the setting sun, adding a touch of understated charisma.
I watched the two of them walk into the stadium.
Wang Yueling looked down at her hands; her fingers were covered in sequins that sparkled in the sunlight.
"How much did you apply?"
After sighing, he walked to the tap in the rest area and rinsed off the remaining sequins. He washed his hands twice before getting them clean, and then took out a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe them.
Finally, he took out his phone.
Facing each other in front of the net, Kirihara and Kabaji spun their rackets to set up their serve.
Press the shutter button.
The image captures their poised and ready-to-go pose.
The orange glow of the setting sun fell upon them, creating a perfect atmosphere.
Mochizuki Ryou opened the chat window with Yukimura Seiichi, stared at the photo for a moment, pondered, slowly typed the text in the input box, and sent it.
[Ling]: Seishi, your ace is having a one-on-one fight with my innocent kid. It's incredibly bloody and brutal.
(A golden retriever puppy watching a show while holding popcorn.jpg)
After sending it, he thought for a moment and added another sentence:
[Ling]: After they finish their match, I'll edit the video and send it to you. Watch the match between Sanada and Atobe first. Spoiler alert: Your vice-captain isn't as flashy as our Atobe-sama!
(Golden Retriever pointing.jpg)
After sending the message, he put his phone back in his pocket and leaned against the fence to wait.
After a long while, the phone remained silent.
Wang Yueling took it out and glanced at it. The last message in the chat box was one he had sent, and there was no reply from the other side.
He frowned slightly, a hint of doubt rising in his heart.
Logically speaking, Seishi should have finished his rehabilitation training and returned to his ward by now. Usually, if I send him a message, he'll reply within a few minutes, even if he doesn't reply immediately.
But today, my phone screen is quiet, and there has been no message notification sound for a long time.
Where did Seishi go?
Could it be that the rehabilitation training has been temporarily postponed?
He sighed softly, planning to finish editing the video of Kirihara's match later, then simply make a video call and ask.
"Sending messages to Yukimura again?"
Oshitari walked up to him at some point, holding a sports drink in his hand, with a knowing smile on his lips.
Wang Yueling glanced at him but didn't say anything.
Niou also strolled over from the other side, leaning on Oshitari's shoulder, his little braid swaying in front of his shoulder, deliberately dragging out his teasing tone.
"Puri~ Who else could it be? Judging from how frequently Coach Ling has been sending messages this week, I don't even need to look; I can guess with my toes who it's for."
Shinobu pushed up his glasses, then chuckled softly, his gaze landing on Mochizuki Ryo with a hint of amusement as he spoke slowly.
"Seven days a week, once in the morning, once at noon and once in the evening. It is sent after the competition, before meals, and before going to bed... No matter how busy training is, I don't forget to report my daily life to Yukimura."
"Coach Ling doesn't seem to care about us this much. He's biased, so biased..."
"Yeah, it's super biased, piyo~"
"Are you two bored?" Wang Yueling interrupted him, glared at them, and was about to say something.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed several more people had appeared beside me.
Marui appeared out of nowhere, holding a piece of strawberry cake and eating it while his ears were perked up.
Jiro followed behind him, carrying the cake, a few tufts of reddish-brown curly hair peeking out from behind Marui's shoulders.
Her eyes were bright and sparkling.
He had a look on his face that said, "I've heard some gossip."
Xiang Ri squeezed in as well, still holding half a piece of unfinished cake in his hand, with cream on his lips, but that didn't stop him from listening intently.
Liu quietly walked past the back of the crowd, hiding behind Renou and Shinobu, her fingertips tracing the pages of the notebook.
They obviously also wanted to take the opportunity to collect some fresh character data.
Wang Yueling looked at the group of people, a dangerous glint flashing in her eyes, and the corners of her mouth slowly curved up.
That smile was very gentle.
She was so gentle that everyone simultaneously took several steps back.
"You guys still have time to gossip here? Have you already chosen your opponents for the intra-school showdown?"
He glanced around, his tone unusually gentle yet carrying a hint of intimidation, "While I won't interfere in this match, if you dare to slack off..."
He hadn't finished speaking.
"What? Hiro? I didn't hear you. I'm coming right now."
Niou, quick-witted and resourceful, made up an excuse, turned and ran, his braid swinging rapidly behind his shoulder.
"Oh dear, I remember now. Xiao Jing asked me to make him a cup of black tea, but I forgot. I'll go now."
Shinobu pushed up his glasses, and without batting an eye, he made up an excuse, walking more than twice as fast as usual.
"The match between Kirihara and Kabaji is about to start, let's go watch!" Marui, seeing that things were not going well, stuffed the cake in his hand into his mouth, grabbed Jiro and Mukahi and ran, with Kuwabara following behind, taking big and fast steps.
Everyone in front ran away, but Liu was a step behind and was left behind. Wang Yueling smiled and raised an eyebrow at him, about to speak.
"I should go record the match data."
Liu pretended nothing had happened, quickly closed his notebook, and turned to leave.
A group of people ran faster than rabbits, shouting "Kirihara, do your best!" and "Kabaji, do your best!" as they ran, their voices clashing and creating a chaotic mess.
Watching the retreating figures of everyone, Wang Yueling's smile deepened. She muttered something under her breath, her tone both arrogant and playful.
"You little punks, you think you can mess with me? It's a piece of cake for you to handle, humph."
He put his phone back in his pocket and turned to walk towards the main stadium.
A gentle breeze, carrying the warmth of the setting sun, intensified the orange-red glow, bathing the entire tennis court in a soft golden-orange hue.
The light on the lake surface shattered into patches of gold, and swans glide slowly across the water, occasionally letting out a soft cry.
A large crowd had already gathered around the stadium.
Kirihara and Kabaji stood in their respective halves of the field.
The referee at the net was Shiita Urayasu, holding a whistle, his cheeks flushed even redder with excitement. The linesman was Ryohei Koizumi, standing outside the sideline, holding a flag, his expression serious.
Pu Shan took a deep breath and blew the whistle.
"Singles match: Akaya Kirihara vs. Takahiro Kabaji, the match is now beginning!"
Kirihara stood behind the service line, his fingertips gripping the tennis ball, looking at the tall Kabaji on the other side.
He swallowed hard.
Having just witnessed firsthand how Hyotei's Captain Atobe wore down Vice Captain Sanada through patience and endurance.
That match had a huge impact on him.
I'm also a little scared.
What he's worst at is getting bogged down in a protracted battle.
Kabaji has good physical fitness and endurance; he can run the whole field without getting tired.
He knew all too well that they had shared a room for a week.
Every time I play games until the early hours of the morning and am so sleepy I can barely keep my eyes open, Kabaji is still doing push-ups. In the morning, when I turn off my alarm to try and doze off for another five minutes, Kabaji has already finished a round of morning training.
His physical endurance is top-notch among junior high school players, and his defensive coverage across the entire court is unmatched.
A real physical barrier.
If it really comes down to a contest of endurance and tug-of-war, I won't gain any advantage whatsoever.
We need to find other ways to win.
He didn't want to disappoint Senior Mochizuki; he didn't want to lose face in front of the other seniors.
Kirihara pursed his lips, gripped the tennis ball tightly, and whispered a pep talk to himself.
"Don't panic. As long as we don't follow Kabaji's rhythm and keep our composure, we can break through Kabaji's defenses with our aggressive attacks."
"Yeah, I'm Kirihara, Rikkai's ace."
After saying this, Kirihara's eyes suddenly sharpened.
He gripped the tennis ball tightly with his fingertips, tossed it gently into the air, and then suddenly unleashed his signature move with a powerful flick of his wrist.
"Knuckle serve".
The serve was clean and crisp, the tennis ball flying through the air with an eerie spin and extreme speed, whistling past Kabaji's side.
The distance was so close it made one break out in a cold sweat, yet they avoided touching each other by the slightest.
The first ball landed on the line, ace!
Following the second and third shots, Kirihara hit the same type of ace shot in succession, aiming at Kabaji's side close to him with each shot.
The landing point is tricky, the spin is unpredictable, and it carries a strong sense of psychological pressure.
The boys watching from the sidelines instinctively held their breath, secretly worried for Kabaji on the field.
Anyone else facing Kirihara's continuous close and tricky serves would inevitably feel fear and instinctively dodge and move away.
However, Kabaji remained calm throughout the entire match, his expression unchanged, his eyebrows and eyes showing no emotion. He stood quietly in place, letting the tennis ball glide past him.
There was no sign of panic or dodging whatsoever.
It is as steady as an indestructible mountain.
Wang Yueling leaned against the netting, taking in the entire scene on the field.
He had said before that Kirihara's serve was never about violently injuring opponents, but rather about disrupting their rhythm through targeted placement and psychological pressure.
As long as you stay calm and don't panic, this move won't pose a real threat.
Of course, there aren't many people who can remain as calm and composed as Kabaji.
Just as Kirihara hit his fourth knuckle serve, the ball heading toward Kabaji's side, Kabaji, who had been standing still, finally made a move.
During this week of training camp.
He always stood quietly to the sidelines, observing everyone's matches, especially Marui's net play techniques.
He kept them all in his heart.
At this moment, he was just as Niou-senpai often said.
Discard all the fancy and superfluous movements of imitation.
He quickly moved half a step to the left, precisely positioned himself, turned his racket sideways, and used the racket face angle to accurately catch the ball's sidespin. With a powerful flick of his wrist, he steadily returned the ball to its starting position.
The ball landed perfectly in the corner of Kirihara's back half, neither too deep nor too shallow.
Kirihara didn't react in time, and his hasty attempt to make amends was still a step too late.
"40-15".
Marui stood on the sidelines, chewed his gum twice, and blew a bubble.
"Kabaji, that was a beautiful return. It seems like there's a bit of my genius volley technique in it."
Kuwabara nodded: "It's not just a little, it's a lot. That racket angle perfectly blocks the axis of spin of Akaya's serve. It's the angle that Bunta likes the most."
Yagyu adjusted his glasses and joined their analysis, "And the timing of his movement when breaking serve is very similar to yours. Both of them start moving the moment Akaya hits the ball."
Liu opened her notebook and traced a few lines on the paper with her pen.
"A knuckle serve produces a ball speed of approximately 170 km/h, a spin angle of 43 degrees, and a landing point deviation of 3 centimeters. A return shot from Kabaji has a racket face tilt angle of 27 degrees and a spin reduction efficiency of approximately 70%."
"This doesn't seem like the kind of shot you can hit just by imitating Bunta."
After he finished speaking, he glanced at Niou standing beside him with an inscrutable expression.
Niou noticed his gaze, but didn't speak; however, the curve of his lips betrayed him.
Marui, Yagyu, and the others exchanged glances, becoming even more certain.
Niou is definitely behind this.
On the court, Kirihara stared wide-eyed at the tennis ball that landed steadily, his face filled with disbelief.
Kabaji, who was very proud of his knuckle serve and whose technique was usually difficult for most people to break, easily countered it. Kabaji, who seemed to only know how to return the ball with power and imitate others, easily broke through it.
Moreover, the way he returned the ball, the way he exerted force, and the angle of his racket face all looked very familiar.
Hmm... that was clearly Marui-senpai's technique.
Kirihara gritted his teeth and stood back on the baseline.
Before the surprise in his heart had subsided, the subsequent match caught Kirihara even more off guard.
Kabaji completely copied Atobe's tactics from the previous match.
He doesn't launch aggressive attacks; he hits every ball back with great force, landing it neither too deep nor too shallow, at a moderate angle, yet he still makes it difficult for Kirihara to receive it.
At the same time, Kabaji also copied Marui's defensive strategy of leaving no blind spots, with an impeccable positioning that did not give Kirihara any chance to break through with a strong attack.
Qie was already impatient, and being slowly pulled along like this, his mentality gradually became restless, his hand movements began to show slight distortions, and he frequently made mistakes.
The score was gradually leveled, and Kabaji took the first game.
"Game, Kabaji, 1-0."
In the second game, it was Kabaji's turn to serve.
Kabaji stands in the service court, gripping the ball with his knuckles, raising his hand to toss the ball, swinging his racket to generate power, his serving posture, power angle, and wrist rotation range.
They are exactly the same as Kirihara's knuckle serve.
It even perfectly mimics the spin and bounce trajectory of a tennis ball.
It's not just about serving, but also in the subsequent game.
Kabaji also completely imitated all of Kirihara's signature moves, such as powerful flat shots, net play, and close-range body shots.
The only difference is that Kabaji is a power-type player, so every ball he replicates is more powerful and domineering than Kirihara's original moves, with a strong sense of gravity and double the pressure.
Kirihara was prepared; Kabaji would mimic his skills, react quickly, and neatly return the ball to the opposite midfield.
Kabaji stepped forward and volleyed with his forehand. The ball speed wasn't fast, but the power was immense.
Kirihara reached out to catch it, and the moment his racket touched the ball, his wrist went slightly numb from the impact.
Gravity ball.
Kirihara gritted his teeth and blocked the ball back, which landed in midfield.
Kabaji hit a forehand smash and a heavy ball.
After seven or eight rallies, Kirihara's arm was starting to ache. His stamina was already inferior to Kabaji's, and now he was being dragged into more rallies, having to exert force to hit every ball, which was much more taxing than usual.
His small, shuffling steps on one foot slid twice across the grass, resulting in a slightly short return shot. Kabaji seized the opportunity to move to the net and volley the ball for the point.
"Game, Kabaji, 2-0."
A suppressed gasp of surprise instantly erupted from the sidelines.