"Two losses in a row?!"
At Shitenhoji's bench, Zaizen stared in disbelief at the returning figures of their defeated teammates.
He knew Hyotei was strong, but he never imagined their captain Shiraishi, along with their top doubles pair, Oshitari and Ishida, would lose.
The top team from Kansai had just suffered two straight defeats?!
"Our pre-match analysis wasn't wrong,"
Shiraishi said, his face grim. "Hyotei this year is incredibly strong. Even when they beat Rikkai in the Kanto finals, they weren't showing their full strength."
"Mm."
Coach Watanabe Osamu nodded.
Hyotei's dominance had exceeded his expectations. In his original plan, Shitenhoji would at least snag one win in the first two matches, even in the worst-case scenario.
Now,
After back-to-back losses,
Not just the regular players, but even he, the coach, felt their chances of victory slipping away.
"Now… it's all up to him!"
Turning his head, Watanabe looked toward a tall figure holding a racket at the court's edge.
Chitose Senri.
One of the former top players from Kyushu.
Also, a recognized powerhouse at Shitenhoji, with skills no less impressive than their captain, Shiraishi.
And,
The reason Shiraishi was called Kansai's best was because Chitose had transferred from Kyushu. Most people still saw him as the ace of Shishi Gakuen Junior High.
In a way,
Compared to Shiraishi, who led Shitenhoji to the semifinals last year but didn't play before Rikkai eliminated them, Chitose—Shishi Gakuen's ace who swept the nationals alongside Tachibana—had far greater fame!
"Next up, the Singles 2 match."
The loudspeaker crackled to life. "Hyotei Academy's Atobe Jin versus Shitenhoji Junior High's Chitose Senri. Both players, please prepare!"
*Thud!*
As the announcement ended,
On Hyotei's side, Atobe, racket tucked under his arm, strode onto the court with a blank expression.
His cold demeanor radiated an unapproachable aura. The moment he stepped onto the court, Shitenhoji's players felt a heavy, oppressive vibe.
"Atobe Jin!"
Watanabe frowned. "Called a once-in-a-decade tennis prodigy by Yamabuki's Coach Banda. He lost to Ishikawa at the metropolitan tournament, then joined Hyotei, steamrolling elite players from every school with national-level skill!"
"Another national-level player?"
Zaizen's jaw dropped. "Tezuka, Oshitari, now Atobe, and don't forget Ishikawa—ugh! Isn't Hyotei's lineup just ridiculous?"
And that didn't even include Aguri and Shishido, who were starting to break into the national tier.
Plus,
Mukahi, Hiyoshi, Ootori, and Kabaji, all either close to or already at Kanto's top level.
Hyotei's roster was, frankly, on par with Rikkai's, even after Yukimura's return.
By comparison,
Shitenhoji's lineup looked lackluster.
"Ugh."
This realization hit hard. Players like Zaizen, who'd been brimming with confidence in Shitenhoji's overall strength, now felt a creeping sense of pressure.
Only now did they understand why their coach and captain had taken Hyotei so seriously before the match.
"Treat every match like it's the finals—that's what they meant."
Grasping their intent, Zaizen gave a self-deprecating smile.
Then,
He turned to the court,
His gaze locking onto Chitose. In his mind, he thought, *Senpai, Shitenhoji's last hope rests on you!*
At the net,
Chitose and Atobe faced each other.
Both sensed the formidable presence of the other. Especially Chitose—he'd traveled to Kanto and witnessed Atobe crush Rikkai's Kirihara in a match.
If anyone on Hyotei's roster had their strength underestimated, it was definitely this guy.
Still,
Their personalities didn't mesh. After a quick coin toss for serve, they both retreated to the baseline without much talk.
"Match begin!"
Moments later, the referee, noting both players' readiness, nodded. "Shitenhoji's Chitose to serve, first game!"
"Chitose Senri, huh?"
On Hyotei's side, Mukahi, Shishido, and the others watched with heavy expressions.
Last year,
Around the same time,
During the national tournament,
They'd seen Chitose and Tachibana's Shishi Gakuen take down strong opponents one after another.
A year later,
Now at Osaka's Shitenhoji in Kansai, his skills had likely undergone a dramatic evolution.
*Buzz!*
Suddenly,
A milky-white aura swirled around Chitose. The white energy surged, transforming into waves that clung to his body.
"Muga no Kyouchi?"
The crowd's expressions shifted.
Oshitari's voice was low. "And it's a deeper level of Muga no Kyouchi!"
Compared to the state achieved by Echizen or Kirihara, Chitose was clearly on another level.
For one,
The sheer volume of that shimmering aura was the result of intense refinement. The only comparable mastery might be Tezuka's Thousand-Hammered Brilliance.
*Whoosh!*
With that,
Chitose tossed the ball high.
He arched backward, his body leaning further as his racket-wielding wrist angled downward.
"That's…"
Seeing Chitose's serving stance, Hyotei's players seemed to recognize something and let out a low gasp.
*Wham!*
In an instant,
Chitose swung.
The ball rocketed out.
Upon landing, it veered unpredictably, skidding along the ground.
"15-0!"
"Tannhauser Serve?"
From the coach's bench, Sakaki Tarou stared at Chitose in surprise. "Is this the power of Muga no Kyouchi?"
To take another player's signature move and use it effortlessly—even Tezuka's elite Tannhauser Serve, mastered without a hitch?
That ability was almost too strong.
"Not quite,"
Ishikawa shook his head. "Muga no Kyouchi only enhances certain aspects of a player's ability. A move like the Tannhauser Serve requires top-tier technique to pull off!"
In other words,
This Kyushu titan's own technical skill was already at the pinnacle of national level.
*Wham!*
Then,
Chitose served again.
*Skrrt!*
The ball hit the ground and skidded along the surface once more.
"30-0!"
"So strong, Chitose-senpai!"
Shitenhoji's players, previously deflated, perked up with renewed energy.
"But…"
Zaizen paused, puzzled. "Is it really necessary to reveal his trump card right from the start?"
He didn't get it.
A technique like Muga no Kyouchi—shouldn't it be saved for later, after probing the opponent, to exploit their weaknesses more effectively?
"It's absolutely necessary,"
Shiraishi shook his head. "The opponent's too strong. Even with Muga no Kyouchi, there's no guarantee he can hold his service game!"
"R-Really?"
Zaizen froze.
He instinctively looked toward the court.
*Wham!*
Sure enough,
As Chitose's "Tannhauser Serve" landed and popped up, Atobe's racket swept across.
*Thwack!*
The low-flying ball smacked into the net.
"Net!"
"40-0!"
"Hiss!"
Shitenhoji's players flinched, staring at Atobe like he was a monster.
"He… he actually caught up?"
Zaizen's face was pure shock.
That serve, which seemed utterly unsolvable to him, was tracked and returned by this Atobe guy in such a short time?
It was downright terrifying!
"The Tannhauser Serve… can actually be returned?"
It wasn't just Zaizen. On Hyotei's side, Mukahi, Hiyoshi, and others gaped at the skid marks left by Atobe's swing.
"There's no such thing as an absolutely unsolvable technique in this world,"
Ishikawa said softly, shaking his head. "Besides, Chitose is only mimicking it. With the same technical foundation, his understanding of the Tannhauser Serve can't match Tezuka's."
That was his long-held belief.
It's the player that's strong, not the technique. If Ishikawa himself used the Tannhauser Serve, its power and effect would surpass even Tezuka's.
*Wham!*
At that moment,
Chitose launched his fourth serve.
The ball bounced and shot toward Atobe's face.
"Topspin Serve?"
A murmur of surprise rippled from the sidelines.
*Wham!*
But,
For a serve with such simple variation, Atobe returned it with ease.
*Whoosh!*
Then,
A swift cyan whirlwind flashed across the court.
"Now it's Sanada's Rai?"
The crowd's eyes followed the ball's trajectory. On the other side, Atobe's figure appeared.
*Wham!*
The ferocious Rai was effortlessly neutralized.
And Atobe's return was no slouch—powerful enough to knock the racket out of an average player's hands.
*Bang!*
Chitose didn't back down, firing back with a fierce blazing shot to Atobe's backhand side. Atobe moved quickly, chasing the ball and swinging.
*Thwack!*
But,
Having used two signature moves, Chitose had already closed in on the net. With a light flick of his racket, he sent the ball into the net.
*Rustle…*
Then,
Under the stunned gazes of the crowd, the ball rolled along the net before dropping into Atobe's side of the court.
"Game!"
"Shitenhoji's Chitose, 1-0, switch courts!"
First game done.
Chitose easily held his service game.
His exceptional skill and seamless mastery of various techniques far surpassed the likes of Echizen and Kirihara.
What was even harder to ignore was Chitose's state.
While in Muga no Kyouchi, his mind remained razor-sharp. In this state, he could wield those techniques with precision, maximizing his scoring efficiency.
"No wonder he's a top-tier national-level player,"
Inoue said, deeply impressed.
Among the new generation, aside from the anomaly that was Ishikawa, others—even Rikkai's second-year ace or that boy with samurai blood—still had a long way to go compared to these seasoned national-level veterans.
"If Chitose can win this match…"
Inoue paused, then shook his head.
The match had only just begun.
Chitose was undoubtedly strong, but Hyotei's tennis prodigy hadn't shown his true colors yet.
The outcome was still anyone's guess.
"Muga no Kyouchi, huh?"
After switching courts,
At the baseline,
Atobe gripped the ball tightly, his eyes locked on Chitose. "Looks like you're a cut above those two brats, aren't you?"
With that thought,
A faint smirk curved his lips.
His gaze sharpened, like a hunter locking onto his prey!
**(Chapter End)**