**Chapter 172: Ishikawa's Shukuchi Technique, the Iced Tea Poisoning Incident on the Beach Court (Part 1)**  

"Shukuchi technique?" 

Ootori asked, puzzled. "Is that the move where that guy just now instantly moved from the baseline to the net?" 

"Exactly," Ishikawa nodded. "It's a technique from the ancient martial arts of Okinawa. Without understanding its principles, there's no way to defeat them." 

"Ancient martial arts?" 

Shishido narrowed his eyes. He didn't doubt Ishikawa's words. After all, Ishikawa's knowledge of ancient martial arts far surpassed even Hyōtei, whose family ran a dojo. 

"Let me handle this," Ishikawa said with a smile. "I'd like to experience tennis with an Okinawan twist." 

"Uh, sure," Shishido reluctantly agreed. Although he felt a bit frustrated about not being able to reclaim their honor, he trusted Ishikawa's judgment. Without understanding this so-called "Shukuchi technique," winning would be nearly impossible. 

"Wait a second." 

Just then, Kai walked over and took Shishido's racket. "Sorry, guests. To ensure fairness for the next players, we need to switch rackets after each match." 

"Alright," Shishido nodded without resistance. It made sense, and after all, this was their business. Fairness was important. 

"Is that so?" Ishikawa, however, noticed something off in Kai's slightly nervous movements. 

"Here you go," Kai returned shortly after, handing Ishikawa a blue racket. "Sorry for the wait. This is your racket." 

"Thanks," Ishikawa smiled, taking the racket. He glanced at it briefly and immediately noticed something unusual. The wear and tear on the racket were excessive. From the front, the strings seemed fine, but when tilted slightly, several strings were visibly loose. 

Clearly, this was their way of dealing with strong opponents. It wasn't exactly honorable, but it fit Ishikawa's impression of this team. 

"Sir," Kai said, relieved to see no obvious reaction from Ishikawa, "should I go over the rules again?" 

"No need, but I have a request," Ishikawa said, pulling out a bottle of reddish-brown liquid. "If I lose, I'll pay or eat bitter melon. But if your team loses, I don't want the prize money. Instead, each of you will drink 50 milliliters of this." 

"Huh?" Kai was taken aback. Staring at the murky liquid, he felt a wave of unease. 

"What... what is this?" 

"Don't worry, it's just a drink I usually have," Ishikawa explained with a smile. "It tastes great and has benefits like relieving fatigue and beautifying the skin. If you don't believe me, you can ask them." 

"Relieving fatigue? Beautifying the skin?" Kai glanced at Ootori skeptically. "Is that true?" 

"Yeah," Ootori nodded. He wasn't lying—it *was* Ishikawa's usual drink. But the taste? Well, let's just say even someone as tough as Akutagawa would turn into a whimpering kitten after 300 milliliters. 

"Alright then," Kai said, reassured by Ootori's response. He might not trust Shishido, but this shy, innocent-looking boy seemed genuine. 

"So... who do you want to challenge?" 

"Him," Ishikawa said, pointing at Hirakoba. "If he's still up for it, that is." 

"Of course," Kai replied with a grin. "Hirakoba's stamina is incredible. In this heat, he could play for another hour without breaking a sweat." 

This wasn't an exaggeration. Growing up by the sea and trained in ancient martial arts from a young age, their stamina was unmatched. 

"Let's begin, then," Ishikawa said, stepping onto the court. 

"Heh," Kai smirked inwardly. "Even if you're skilled, with that racket, not even Eishirō could beat Hirakoba!" 

"Match start!" 

Moments later, Chinen, acting as the referee, announced, "Challenger to serve. One-set match!" 

*Thwack!* 

Ishikawa served the ball. 

"Here we go," Hirakoba thought, watching the ball's trajectory. He sprinted toward the landing spot, his spirits high. Like Kai, he sensed that Ishikawa was no ordinary opponent. 

Meeting two strong players in one day? Most would consider it bad luck, since their earnings depended on how quickly they could finish matches. But Hirakoba wasn't like most people. 

He thrived on challenging opponents. Within the team, only Kai could match him, but Kai was too cunning to engage often. As for their captain, Kite? That guy was in a league of his own and not someone Hirakoba wanted to mess with. 

So, this was his chance to enjoy a real match. The stronger the opponent, the more excited he became. 

*Thwack!* 

Hirakoba returned the ball with a sharp shot. 

Ishikawa smiled faintly, countering with a backhand that landed precisely on the left baseline. 

"What?!" Hirakoba's expression shifted. Such precise control was almost unbelievable. 

"A fluke, right? Even Eishirō couldn't guarantee a shot like that." 

But when Ishikawa followed up with another shot to the right baseline, Hirakoba's confidence wavered. 

"Not a fluke?" Hirakoba's eyes narrowed. He couldn't afford to underestimate Ishikawa anymore. 

*Thwack!* 

Hirakoba returned the ball with force, then dashed toward the net with astonishing speed. 

"Here it comes!" Shishido, Ootori, and the spectators all leaned forward, captivated. 

In the blink of an eye, Hirakoba had moved from the baseline to the net, delivering a powerful shot to Ishikawa's right corner. 

"Hmph!" Hirakoba smirked. "You should feel honored to have forced me to use this move." 

"Shukuchi technique," Ishikawa's calm voice echoed from the direction of the ball's landing. 

"What?!" Kai, Hirakoba, and the rest of the team froze, their eyes widening in shock. 

Ishikawa had somehow appeared at the exact spot Hirakoba had targeted. With a casual flick of his racket, he returned the ball effortlessly. 

"In Okinawan martial arts, it's a method of closing the distance before the opponent notices. Instead of pushing off the ground, it uses gravity—essentially free-falling forward to create the illusion of instant movement. To others, it looks like you've teleported to the net." 

As he spoke, Ishikawa glanced at his opponent, whose face had turned grim. 

"Damn it!" Hirakoba and Kai exchanged uneasy looks. How did this guy know the secret behind the Shukuchi technique? 

"Hmph!" Hirakoba snorted, rallying himself. He swung his racket, sending the ball spinning in an unpredictable trajectory. 

"Here it comes—his signature move!" The spectators gasped. 

**[Cobra Shot]!** 

Hirakoba's ultimate technique. Without exceptional reflexes and speed, returning it was nearly impossible. Even the guy with the blue cap earlier had lost two points before figuring it out. 

"The spin is impressive," Ishikawa remarked, watching the ball. "But the variations are too simple." 

"Simple?!" The team scoffed, some even laughing. "If it's so simple, why don't you—" 

*Thwack!* 

Before they could finish, Ishikawa effortlessly returned the Cobra Shot, landing it perfectly on the baseline. 

"15-0!" Chinen announced, slightly dazed. 

"H-how?!" The team, including Kai, stared in disbelief. "He just countered Hirakoba's Cobra Shot like it was nothing?!" 

"This guy..." Hirakoba's expression darkened. He hadn't expected his signature move to be dismantled so easily. But being on the court, he felt the pressure radiating from Ishikawa more acutely than anyone else. 

"I've met my match," Hirakoba thought, his focus sharpening. 

*Thwack!* 

Ishikawa served again. 

Seeing the ball's placement, both Hirakoba and Kai tensed. 

Another baseline shot! 

This guy's control was beyond extraordinary. 

Under immense pressure, Hirakoba tried to counter with his signature moves and the Shukuchi technique. But Ishikawa had already figured out the technique's weakness, targeting the sides and keeping Hirakoba on the defensive. 

*Thwack!* 

"30-0!" 

*Thwack!* 

"40-0!" 

In no time, Ishikawa had reached match point. 

Desperate, Hirakoba launched a counterattack. After a series of exchanges, he suddenly dropped a short shot. 

*Tap tap!* 

Ishikawa rushed forward, returning the ball. 

"Now's my chance!" Hirakoba's eyes gleamed. "I was saving this for nationals, but I have no choice!" 

*Thwack!* 

With a powerful swing, the ball shot forward, spinning wildly and curving past Ishikawa. 

"Is that..." Kai's eyes widened. "The *Great Cobra*?!" 

He hadn't expected Hirakoba to pull out his ultimate move so soon. The Great Cobra's spin was three times that of the regular Cobra Shot, making it a formidable technique even at the national level. 

"But," Kai thought, glancing at Ishikawa's position near the net, "there's no way he can return this—" 

*Whoosh!* 

Before Kai could finish, Ishikawa seemed to glide backward from the net to the baseline without moving his legs. 

"Sh-Shukuchi?!" Hirakoba exclaimed, his eyes bulging. 

Not only had Ishikawa deciphered the technique, but he'd also mastered it?! 

*Thwack!* 

Ishikawa angled his racket, using the edge to add spin to the ball. With a sharp flick, he sent it hurtling toward the baseline. 

"Not so fast!!!" Hirakoba, now frantic, sprinted after the ball. 

"Got it!" He reached the ball and swung his racket. 

*Crack!* 

The moment the ball connected with the racket, Hirakoba's expression froze. 

"What kind of power is this?!" He felt an overwhelming force surge through his arm. 

*Rip!* 

The ball tore through the racket's strings, slamming into the sand with a thunderous crash, leaving a crater over ten centimeters wide. 

The entire beach court fell silent. 

"H-how?!" Hirakoba stared at his shattered racket in disbelief. "His racket was swapped out by Kai! How could he hit with such power using *that* racket?!" 

Even Kai was stunned. He was certain Ishikawa was using their tampered racket. It should've fallen apart by now, not delivered a shot like that! 

"Hey," Ishikawa called out to Chinen on the referee's chair. "Does that count as my point?" 

"Uh, y-yes! Of course!" Chinen stammered. "Challenger wins!" 

"Damn it!" Hirakoba's face twisted in frustration. Not only had he lost, but he also had to pay up. 

"Um..." Hirakoba approached the net, awkwardly holding his broken racket. "Can I choose your penalty instead?" 

Shishido and Ootori exchanged impressed glances. 

"Sure," Ishikawa said with a smile. 

Relieved, Hirakoba accepted a small cup of the reddish-brown liquid. He figured it couldn't be worse than paying up. After all, they'd eaten bitter melon before—how bad could this be? 

He downed the drink in one gulp. 

"Gah!" Hirakoba's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Clutching his throat, he made choking sounds before collapsing to the ground, foaming at the mouth. 

The beach court fell into stunned silence. 

(Chapter end) 

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