第１３４３堀：ルール説明 (Part2)
"I see. So, when Kirika-sama returned the ball earlier, the racket was angled at nearly ninety degrees, which is why it deflected so high into the air," Orelia said, acting as the spokesperson.
I nodded. "Exactly. Well, if your only goal is to land the ball in the opponent's court, it’s easy to fall into the trap of just trying to cushion the impact. But if you do that, you’re just giving your opponent all the time they need to set up their next shot."
I bounced the ball on my side of the court, then, taking careful aim, I unleashed a smash. With a crisp, satisfying *thwack*, the ball streaked across the court and zipped toward the back wall.
"Returning a shot like that is incredibly difficult, so it’s best to avoid it if you can. That said, practicing rallies is essential. Kirika, let’s try it again, keeping what I just explained in mind."
"Understood."
"Alright, watch my hands closely. This time, you serve."
Kirika returned to her position and served. It wasn't the soft, lobbing arc from before; she had calculated the angle, so it didn't just float—it came over with a decent amount of speed. I tilted my racket sharply to return it. Instead of popping high into the air like hers had, the ball struck her side of the court with a sharp, low bounce.
"Whoa!"
Kirika was surprised by the speed, but given her natural physical prowess, she managed to scramble and return it. The ball floated a bit high, but compared to her previous attempts, it was a world of difference—it successfully landed on my side. I returned it with a gentle touch, and Kirika followed suit, establishing a rhythm.
"This back-and-forth is what we call a rally. But you don't score points just by doing this..."
Seeing a slightly soft return from Kirika, I swung with all my might, driving the ball down into her court.
"Ngh!?"
Kirika reacted, but she couldn't account for the angle of her racket; the ball soared wildly, sailing far past my side and flying well over my head.
"And that’s how it goes. You keep that up, aiming to be the first to reach eleven points. However, there’s something called a 'deuce.' If the score hits ten-all, you have to win by two consecutive points, meaning you aim for twelve. If you can't pull ahead and it reaches eleven-all, then you aim for thirteen."
I decided to stop the explanation there for now. Usually, you’d play a best-of-three or best-of-five series, but that’s for pros or people who are serious about the sport. A single game would be plenty for us.
"It’s difficult at first, but it’s one of those games that gets fun once you get the hang of it. Think of it as just learning a new pastime. I’m not going to force anyone, though. Some things just don't click for some people."
That’s the truth—you can be a natural athlete and still find that one specific field just isn't for you. Forcing it would only ruin the fun.
"This is meant for those who want to enjoy it. There are plenty of other games and equipment around, so feel free to try those instead."
"I understand. I'll give it a try for now. Orelia, would you be my opponent?"
"Yes, I'd be happy to."
Prol immediately challenged Orelia. Good, it’s best if beginners pair up. Even if they can't sustain a rally, they can still have fun.
"Well then, Kirika-sama, would you care to be my opponent?"
"Oh? You’re challenging me?"
"Yes. I feel like I could win against you, Kirika-sama."
"Ho? Based on the movements you saw earlier? Very well."
Hovis threw down the gauntlet to Kirika. I suppose he figured they were at the same level. That left me with...
"U-um, I’m, um, not very good at this sort of thing..."
"Don't worry about it. It’s just for fun, anyway. You don't have to be good to enjoy it. Let’s just take it easy."
Exactly. You don't need to be a master of rallies. The most important thing is to enjoy yourself. Enjoyment doesn't have to equal skill.
"Alright, let’s use what we just practiced as a starting point."
"Yes."
And so, I found myself enjoying a leisurely game of table tennis with Yayui. Table tennis... I haven't played this in ages. I wonder if they have tables like this at those large sports centers back home?