He's focused, but he's not deaf. Still, Echizen decides to ignore the jeering from the sideline. The guy doesn't seem to realize they're part of the same school.
The third return of his twist serve he catches and rallies back. Marui runs forward, volleying the ball as he places himself close to the net. Serve and volley? Well in that case, Echizen lobs the ball with extra spin for speed, slicing it high through the air to the back corner. That catches Marui off-guard, but he doesn't seem invested enough in the point to make a mad dash to save it, either.
"30-All."
It could be to save stamina. He's got to think about that with all of those training weights. But the fact he's wearing them in the first place is an insult. It's made worse by the fact even after accounting for that, the redhead doesn't seem to really be taking him seriously as an opponent. Not if he's willing to let a point go that easily.
Memories of his dad, and of Ryoga, bubble up and agitate his mood. It's part of a broader pattern, isn't it? Not being looked at as an equal worth fighting in earnest.
The points see-saw through the rest of the first game until Marui seals it with a smash to the opposite corner, and he's just not quite fast enough to catch it. They change court, and Echizen prepares to receive Marui's serve.
Service ace. It's fast...!
The second serve blows past him too, but he lets it. He's adjusting his eyes, studying the trajectory.
"What's wrong? Don't tell me you can't return that."
"When did I say I couldn't?"
Marui bounces the ball a couple of times for his third serve, until Echizen pipes up with a "Hey." Marui looks at him.
"Shouldn't you take those weights off?"
The upperclassman looks amused behind the gum bubble he blows in response.
no subject
The third return of his twist serve he catches and rallies back. Marui runs forward, volleying the ball as he places himself close to the net. Serve and volley? Well in that case, Echizen lobs the ball with extra spin for speed, slicing it high through the air to the back corner. That catches Marui off-guard, but he doesn't seem invested enough in the point to make a mad dash to save it, either.
"30-All."
It could be to save stamina. He's got to think about that with all of those training weights. But the fact he's wearing them in the first place is an insult. It's made worse by the fact even after accounting for that, the redhead doesn't seem to really be taking him seriously as an opponent. Not if he's willing to let a point go that easily.
Memories of his dad, and of Ryoga, bubble up and agitate his mood. It's part of a broader pattern, isn't it? Not being looked at as an equal worth fighting in earnest.
The points see-saw through the rest of the first game until Marui seals it with a smash to the opposite corner, and he's just not quite fast enough to catch it. They change court, and Echizen prepares to receive Marui's serve.
Service ace. It's fast...!
The second serve blows past him too, but he lets it. He's adjusting his eyes, studying the trajectory.
"What's wrong? Don't tell me you can't return that."
"When did I say I couldn't?"
Marui bounces the ball a couple of times for his third serve, until Echizen pipes up with a "Hey." Marui looks at him.
"Shouldn't you take those weights off?"
The upperclassman looks amused behind the gum bubble he blows in response.
"Try and make me."
Jerk...