*Wham!*
*Wham!*
*Wham!*
At the net, two figures traded shots at blinding speed.
The tennis ball zipped back and forth so fast it was hard to keep up.
"Amazing!"
Choutarou gaped at Mukahi. "Has Mukahi-senpai's net play gotten *this* good?"
He remembered the Kanto finals, where Mukahi was practically crushed by Niou. But now, facing the lightning-fast and reactive Kenya, he seemed completely at ease.
"Probably thanks to Ishikawa's special training," Shishido said, impressed. "After the Kanto finals, he made detailed training plans for everyone except Atobe, Akutsu, and Oshitari. If I recall, Mukahi was specifically working with Hiyoshi on footwork and net play."
"Exactly," Hiyoshi nodded. His right hand, still swollen from yesterday's intense match with Tooyama, was wrapped in thick bandages. Looking at Mukahi dominating the court, he added, "Mukahi-senpai's got serious talent. Plus, the vice-captain tailored the *Enbu-shiki* footwork to suit his physique."
For the past twenty-odd days, Hiyoshi had been sparring with Mukahi almost daily.
Among the team, aside from Ishikawa, he knew best just how strong Mukahi had become.
While not quite national-level, Mukahi's speed and reactions at the net were unmatched by most players nationwide.
*Wham!*
On the court, another ball rocketed toward Kenya's backhand. His eyes narrowed. "This guy's reaction speed is unreal. Fine then…"
*Tap tap!*
Kenya suddenly accelerated, leaving a trail of afterimages as he unleashed his hidden strength. He closed in on the ball and fired back.
*Wham!*
The shot targeted Mukahi's backhand weakness.
To Kenya and the Shitenhouji team, this was a guaranteed point.
*Swish!*
But Mukahi unexpectedly sped up, diving forward like a fish. He swung his racket, then propped himself up with one hand, spinning gracefully in midair before landing lightly on his feet.
"30-15!"
"Dance-style shot?"
Kenya frowned at Mukahi. He'd heard about a Kanto player who excelled at this style.
He'd thought it was no big deal, but now he saw why Mukahi was a Hyotei regular—his skill was extraordinary!
"And that Yushi guy's been lurking in the back," Kenya thought, glancing at Oshitari. "He's directing every shot toward me. Which means… he's scared of Gin's *Hadoukyuu* too!"
Ishida's *Hadoukyuu* was Shitenhouji's second-most powerful signature move.
Its sheer force could knock a grown man off the court. Kenya was confident that even if he and Mukahi swung together, they couldn't block it.
"Time to get serious."
With that, Kenya dropped his playful attitude.
If his cousin wasn't going to engage, he'd lean into his doubles role.
*Wham!*
Moments later, Oshitari served again.
Another spin-heavy ball, but Kenya, ready for it, returned it with ease.
*Tap tap!*
Kenya rushed the net, while Ishida seamlessly pulled back.
Inoue, watching, was surprised. "This formation change… are they sticking with a net battle?"
At the net, Shitenhouji wasn't dominating. Was this Kenya just stubbornly refusing to lose?
*Wham!*
*Wham!*
*Wham!*
The two clashed fiercely.
Just when everyone thought Kenya was set on outplaying Mukahi, he deliberately left his right side open, baiting a shot.
"Perfect chance!"
Caught up in the heat of battle, Mukahi didn't overthink it. He seized the opening, smashing the ball toward the gap.
"Heh."
Seeing Mukahi take the bait, a sly grin spread across Kenya's face.
"Wait… what?!"
Then, the crowd noticed the bald teen at Shitenhouji's baseline, poised to receive.
*Boom!*
Ishida swung with force, unleashing a devastating *Hadoukyuu*. Mukahi's face paled—he didn't dare try returning it and dodged to the side.
"This ball…"
At the baseline, Oshitari's gaze grew heavy as the ball hurtled toward him.
This *Hadoukyuu* was even stronger than before.
Oshitari knew he'd need distance and a two-handed grip to return it.
But his cousin was likely ready to pounce. Returning this would almost certainly cost them the point.
So, to everyone's shock, Oshitari let the ball fly past him without swinging.
"Oh?"
Shitenhouji's Shiraishi, Chitose, and Coach Watanabe all looked at the blue-black-haired, bespectacled teen in surprise.
"That's Yushi for you!" Kenya nodded slightly. In such a short time, Oshitari had analyzed the match and made the smartest choice. His cousin was as calm and sharp as he'd been in their childhood matches.
"Too bad," Kenya thought, his gaze sharpening. "You don't have a shot at winning this match."
His speed, paired with Ishida's power, was unbeatable on the court!
Even some Hyotei players doubted their chances, knowing Shitenhouji had an unstoppable trump card.
*Wham!*
Oshitari served again.
Ishida, ready to unleash a *Hadoukyuu* on the return, set his stance.
"Hm?"
But as the ball bounced, it suddenly veered toward his backhand.
"A spin ball?"
Ishida's expression darkened. He adjusted, switching to a light slice.
*Pop!*
The shot had force, but it was nothing Mukahi couldn't handle.
*Wham!*
*Wham!*
Mukahi and Kenya clashed at the net again.
Kenya seized an opening, deliberately exposing his weakness to lure Mukahi into a trap.
"Hah!"
But Mukahi smirked and sidestepped.
*What?!*
Kenya froze, stunned by Mukahi's cheeky dodge.
*Swish!*
At the baseline, Oshitari narrowed his eyes, slicing the ball with a quick flick of his racket.
*Pop!*
The ball shot out, dipping sharply after crossing the net. Just as Kenya moved to return it, the ball didn't bounce normally—it skidded along the ground!
*Hibari Gaeshi?!*
The crowd—Shitenhouji, Hyotei, and onlookers—gasped in unison.
*Skid skid skid…*
But just when everyone thought Oshitari's shot was a dead ringer for Fuji's *Tsubame Gaeshi*, the ball abruptly changed course, sliding toward the court's edge and out.
"A variation of *Hibari Gaeshi*?"
Shishido, Hiyoshi, and others stared in shock.
"Oh?"
Even Ishikawa raised an eyebrow at Oshitari.
If he recalled correctly, in a PS2 *Prince of Tennis* game from his past life, Oshitari had a move similar to Fuji's.
"It's called…"
"*Skylark Flash Return*!" Oshitari said calmly.
He'd drawn inspiration from Fuji's *Tsubame Gaeshi*, but found its predictability a weakness. His new move was far more practical for real matches.
"40-30!"
The referee called.
Kenya and Ishida's faces grew grim.
They hadn't expected Oshitari to hide such a move. Now, they couldn't rely on heavy topspin shots.
Ishida could manage, but Kenya's net play was severely limited.
"Yushi!" Kenya rubbed his temples, exasperated. "Didn't expect you to throw me *this* curveball. Fine, no choice."
To Hyotei's astonishment, the Shitenhouji speedster flipped down his sock, removing a weighted band packed with lead plates.
"No… seriously?"
The crowd gawked. "He was playing with *that* on?!"
Even Shishido and Hiyoshi were floored.
Kenya's speed had already outpaced most speed-type players.
"Just as *he* predicted," Mukahi thought, staying calm. Before the match, Ishikawa had briefed them on Shitenhouji's players.
Kenya removing his weights confirmed Ishikawa's intel.
Of course, Mukahi was still stunned.
But he knew the situation wasn't hopeless. If he could keep Kenya occupied, Oshitari could score.
*Wham!*
Oshitari served.
Kenya returned and rushed the net again.
Same tactic as before.
But his speed was even faster, catching Mukahi off guard. Still, Oshitari covered the gap Mukahi left.
Oshitari struck, sending a sharp, high-speed slice toward Ishida at the baseline.
"Perfect chance!"
Shitenhouji's team clenched their fists, eyes on Ishida.
*Pop!*
But just as Ishida prepared his *Hadoukyuu*, Oshitari's shot landed at an awkward distance.
The ball's bounce height was perfect for a light tap but too short for a charged *Hadoukyuu*.
Plus, Ishida knew a basic *Hadoukyuu* wouldn't break Hyotei's defense.
No choice—he lofted a high lob to slow Hyotei's momentum and buy Kenya time to reposition.
But that played right into Mukahi's hands.
He leaped, twisting midair with incredible hang time, scanning for openings in Shitenhouji's formation.
*Wham!*
He fired.
The ball threaded the gap between Kenya and Ishida.
"Game!"
"Hyotei, 1-0, change courts!"
First game to Hyotei.
On Shitenhouji's side, Ishida removed his bullet-belt-like power band.
No *Hadoukyuu*, and the gear was hindering his play.
Second game.
Shitenhouji's serve.
Kenya went for a quick attack, setting Ishida up for a shot. Hyotei's duo—Oshitari was fine, but Mukahi wouldn't dare hit straight to Ishida.
So, in their service game, Shitenhouji took the edge.
After a fierce rally, Shitenhouji tied it, 1-1.
"Both sides are incredible!" Inoue marveled from the sidelines.
He'd thought Hyotei couldn't handle Shitenhouji's speed-power combo. But Oshitari not only debuted a move surpassing *Tsubame Gaeshi*, he'd neutralized Ishida's *Hadoukyuu* with precise control and spin.
Now, both teams were back on equal footing.
*Wham!*
"Game!"
"Hyotei, 2-1!"
*Wham!*
"Game!"
"Shitenhouji, 2-2!"
*Wham!*
"Game!"
"Hyotei, 3-2!"
*Wham!*
"Game!"
"Shitenhouji, 3-3!"
The score stayed tight.
Neither side gave an inch.
"Hyotei's Oshitari hasn't made a single mistake?" Zaizen muttered from Shitenhouji's side. "He's human, not a machine. No way he's *that* perfect!"
*Wham!*
As he spoke, Oshitari returned another shot, landing it on Ishida's backhand. The bounce height was, again, unsuitable for a full-swing *Hadoukyuu*.
"Damn it!"
Ishida's face darkened.
He was, by far, the most frustrated player on the court.
Gritting his teeth, he channeled *Hadoukyuu*'s technique into his wrist.
*Bang!*
The ball shot out like a cannonball.
But this impromptu *Hadoukyuu* lacked the power and presence of a fully charged one.
"Here we go!"
Seizing the moment, Oshitari stepped forward.
A fiery aura flared around him. With his momentum surging, he raised his racket like a sword and slashed at the ball.
*Bang!*
The racket's edge smashed into the ball.
Oshitari's arms flexed, a fierce glint in his eyes as he blasted the ball away.
*Crackle!*
A lightning-like trail streaked across.
*Thud!*
The ball hit the ground. Kenya, just starting to move, couldn't catch up.
"Game!"
"Hyotei, 4-3, change courts!"
"Is that… *Daylight Mode*?"
Seeing Oshitari cloaked in a fiery red aura, Shiraishi's eyes flickered.
Others might not know, but he did.
Oshitari's cool-headed *Shadow Moon Mode* had sealed Ishida's *Hadoukyuu*. Now, with the explosive *Daylight Mode*, he'd turned Ishida's own move against him.
In a way, Oshitari had conquered the *Hadoukyuu* of junior high's strongest power player, Ishida Gin!
As for Mukahi, he wasn't dragging Oshitari down.
His speed and footwork kept Kenya tied up, creating scoring opportunities for Oshitari.
*Wham!*
*Wham!*
*Wham!*
The battle raged on.
Hyotei held the upper hand.
Seeing this, Shitenhouji's Coach Watanabe sighed. "When power and speed lose their synergy, it's like two perfectly meshed gears—one gets chipped, and the whole machine falters."
With Ishida sealed, Shitenhouji had little chance of winning this Doubles 2 match from the start.
*Wham!*
Finally, Mukahi spun midair, smashing a pinpoint shot through the gap between Ishida and Kenya.
"Match over."
The referee took a deep breath and announced, "Hyotei's Oshitari Yushi and Mukahi Gakuto win, 7-5!"
(Chapter End)