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*Thud!*
*Thud!*
*Thud!*
On the court, the intense doubles match between Hyotei and Seigaku was in full swing.
Despite Kaidoh's injury, the pair Hyotei sent out still dominated the match. Among them, Hyotei's second-year player, Hiyoshi Wakashi, left a particularly strong impression.
"First, he replicated Kaidoh's Snake Shot, then he countered the Twist Snake Shot," Oishi remarked, his expression grim as he watched Hiyoshi control Hyotei's backline. "And now, he's even pulled off Momoshiro's Dunk Smash!"
"Ryoma was right," Fuji added, his eyes open and his tone serious. "Hyotei's vice-captain definitely had a plan in place. Whether it was Momoshiro or Kaidoh on the court, Hiyoshi would have countered them."
The situation was clearly unfavorable for Seigaku.
*Thud!*
At the net, Shishido accelerated past Kaidoh's reaction time, scoring with a sharp intercept.
"Game! Hyotei leads, 4-0!"
In the blink of an eye, Hyotei had secured the fourth game. To any observer, it was clear that Hyotei had taken control of the match. This doubles match was likely going to end in Hyotei's favor.
"Shishido is amazing," Shiba commented from the sidelines. "Whether he's paired with Ootori or Hiyoshi, he maintains such a high scoring rate."
"True, he's a natural at doubles," Inoue agreed, then turned his gaze to Hiyoshi. "And Hiyoshi's performance is equally impressive. He's continuously pulled off Kaidoh and Momoshiro's signature moves. That kind of talent is rare even among second-years."
This match showcased Hyotei's dominance as the reigning champions of Tokyo. Even Inoue, who leaned more toward Seigaku, had to admit that Hyotei's victory in the Tokyo tournament was well-deserved.
*Thud!*
*Thud!*
*Thud!*
On the court, the battle raged on. Hiyoshi was having the time of his life. Although he'd played in official matches before, those were during the regional tournaments against weaker opponents. Seigaku's players were strong, but their styles happened to be perfectly countered by his.
Plus, with the Snake Shot and Dunk Smash techniques Ishikawa had taught him before the match, Hiyoshi felt unstoppable.
"Hmm..."
However, as the match entered the fifth game, Coach Sakaki, who had been pleased with the match so far, suddenly frowned. "Something's... off."
"Huh?" Mukahi and Oshitari, who overheard him, looked surprised. "Shishido and Hiyoshi are completely dominating. They'll probably take this fifth game soon too."
"They will take the fifth game," Jirou chimed in, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "But... it might not be as easy as we think."
*Thud!*
As if to confirm his suspicion, the ball, which was about to fly out of bounds, was miraculously chased down by Kaidoh and returned.
*Whoosh!*
The ball curved through the air, heading toward the backcourt.
"Bring it on!" Hiyoshi shouted, sprinting after the ball. He raised his racket and executed a Snake Shot, sending the ball back.
"Hmph."
Kaidoh snorted, chasing after the ball and returning it with another Snake Shot.
"Got your rhythm back, huh?" Hiyoshi smirked, then sneered. "Too bad, it's too late."
The score was 4-0 in Hyotei's favor, and this was Hiyoshi's serve game. With the advantage, he was confident he could close out the match.
*Thud!*
*Thud!*
*Thud!*
However, things didn't go as smoothly as he expected. The fifth game turned into a grueling rally. Despite his initial advantage, the guy with the green headband on the other side of the net was proving to be incredibly tenacious.
The first point alone took nearly two minutes before Hiyoshi finally scored.
*Huff... huff...*
After scoring, Hiyoshi gasped for breath, wiping the sweat from his forehead. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. "You're tough, but you're only delaying the inevitable!"
With one point under his belt, Hiyoshi rallied himself and launched another attack. His only thought now was to end the match in one fell swoop and make sure everyone remembered the name Hiyoshi Wakashi!
*Thud!*
The ball shot across the court.
Standing at the baseline, Hiyoshi puffed out his chest and assumed a peculiar stance.
"What's that pose?" the Seigaku team wondered, confused.
"It's a martial arts stance," an elderly voice explained from behind them. They turned to see the coach from Rokkaku Middle School, accompanied by his team.
"Hello," Ryuzaki greeted him respectfully.
This old man was a pioneer of Japanese tennis, and even she didn't dare show any disrespect.
"Mm," the old man nodded, then turned his attention to Hiyoshi, who was accelerating his attacks. "That's a stance from ancient martial arts. This young man has likely integrated those techniques into his tennis."
"Ancient martial arts?!" the Seigaku trio exclaimed in disbelief.
"I see," Fuji said, nodding as if he'd figured something out. "Using martial arts footwork to increase his speed, and the unpredictable movements of martial arts to throw off his opponent."
"He's got some skill," Ryoma admitted.
Though in his opinion, the stance wasn't particularly threatening, Seigaku was already at a disadvantage. Losing this game would push them to the brink.
At this point, even the smallest advantage for their opponents would be disastrous for Inui and Kaidoh.
"His martial arts are at a beginner's level," the old man continued. "But he's too impatient. His desire to win has clouded his judgment, making him lose sight of the bigger picture."
Hmm?
While others didn't seem to grasp the significance of his words, Inui, standing on the court, felt a chill run down his spine. Behind his opaque glasses, his eyes widened in alarm.
"Has he figured it out?"
Inui's heart raced. If not for his glasses hiding his expression, his eyes would have betrayed his panic.
He instinctively glanced toward Hyotei's side—more specifically, at the black-haired boy.
*Phew...*
To his relief, it seemed the other hadn't noticed the shift in the game.
"It seems my strategy isn't flawless," Inui thought, further masking his emotions and becoming even more cautious.
*Thud!*
*Thud!*
*Thud!*
On the court, Hiyoshi, now in his martial arts stance, launched a relentless offensive. But Kaidoh, as if he'd thrown caution to the wind, managed to return every shot.
Gradually, the crowd began to notice that Hyotei's scoring pace had slowed significantly.
*Thud!*
"40-0!"
After a hard-fought rally, Hiyoshi finally secured the game point, easing the tension among the Hyotei players and igniting their cheers.
"Hyotei!"
"Hyotei!"
"Hyotei!"
"Seigaku's guys are really stubborn," Hiyoshi thought, glancing warily at Kaidoh. He hadn't expected the green headband-wearing player to hold out this long, even after being mentally worn down.
"Hmph, this next point will finish you!"
*Thud!*
With that thought, Hiyoshi sent the ball flying once more.
Kaidoh, his snake-like eyes narrowing, quickly tracked the ball's trajectory and moved to intercept it.
"Inui-senpai said that the closer they are to winning, the more desperate they become to score that final point," Kaidoh thought, his eyes flashing with determination. "So... I have to wear you down!"
*Thud!*
With that in mind, Kaidoh and Hiyoshi poured everything they had into the next point.
Hiyoshi attacked fiercely, like a sharp spear thrusting toward his opponent's throat.
Kaidoh, on the other hand, dashed across the court, wielding an unyielding shield, narrowly blocking each of Hiyoshi's deadly strikes.
Time ticked by, but Hyotei still hadn't secured the final point. Several times, Shishido had opportunities to score, but Hiyoshi, now consumed by his obsession, intercepted the ball each time.
"Something's... not right," Shishido thought, sensing the subtle shift in the game's momentum.
*Whoosh!*
Seeing the ball flying toward him, Shishido didn't hesitate. He dashed forward, reaching it before Hiyoshi and striking it cleanly.
*Thud!*
"Game! Hyotei leads, 5-0! Change sides!"
At the 34-minute mark, Hyotei finally secured the fifth game, pushing Seigaku to the edge.
*Huff... huff...*
Behind Shishido, Hiyoshi gasped for air, his throat burning as if blades were scraping it with every breath.
In contrast, Kaidoh, who had expended just as much energy, only had a sweaty face and slightly faster breathing, clearly still holding plenty in reserve.
"Is this Seigaku's strategy?" Coach Sakaki mused from his seat. "They recognized our fast-paced play and decided to target Hiyoshi's stamina first?"
It was a valid tactic.
But Seigaku was too far behind.
They hadn't won a single game, and with Shishido still on the court, Hyotei only needed one more game to seal the match and crush any hope of a Seigaku comeback.
"Sixth game! Seigaku's Inui to serve, one game remaining!"
*Tap... tap... tap...*
As the referee announced, Inui bent down, lightly tapping the ball.
"Bring it, Inui," Shishido said, his eyes blazing with determination. "This final game will be where I end you!"
He was confident. With his explosive power, he was sure he could finish the match 6-0 and wrap up the doubles match.
*Whoosh!*
Inui tossed the ball into the air.
He bent his knees, pulled his abdomen in, and leaped upward, his racket swinging down with precision.
*Bang!*
A loud crack echoed as a pale green streak shot across the court, moving so fast it left Shishido stunned.
*Thud!*
By the time Shishido regained his senses, the ball had already hit the ground and bounced off the court.
"I... I can't move?!"
*Tap... tap... tap...*
The ball rolled to a stop against the wall behind him.
"15-0!"
"That... that was an insanely fast serve!" the crowd gasped in shock.
The Seigaku team quickly turned their surprise into excitement. "It's like a waterfall crashing down!" Horio exclaimed.
"A waterfall, huh?" Inui mused, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "Then let's call this the Waterfall Serve."
"A super-speed serve?" Jirou and the others on Hyotei's side frowned. "We didn't expect Inui to have such a hidden card."
"But..." Ootori wondered aloud, "if he had this serve, why didn't he use it earlier? Why give up a service game?"
The others were equally puzzled.
"It's simple," Ishikawa explained. "He didn't want to tip his hand and alert his opponents. By holding back, he let Kaidoh wear down Hiyoshi's stamina, all part of his plan."
"But..." Oshitari still didn't get it. "Seigaku is down 0-5. Even if they exhaust Hiyoshi, Shishido is still here. He only needs one game to end it, right?"
*Thud!*
Inui's Waterfall Serve struck again, leaving Hiyoshi wide-eyed as the ball flew past him.
"30-0!"
"That's Inui's secondary goal," Ishikawa said, watching the bespectacled player. "Wearing down Hiyoshi is part of their two-on-one strategy. But his real aim is to gather data."
"If I'm not mistaken," Ishikawa continued, shaking his head slightly, "Inui has already collected all the data he needs on Hiyoshi and Shishido. Seigaku's counterattack is about to begin."
*Thud!*
"40-0!"
*Thud!*
"Game! Seigaku, 1-5!"
With four consecutive ace serves, Inui turned the tide, forcefully taking a game from Hyotei.
"Hmph," Shishido glared at Inui. "I'll admit, you're strong. But if you think collecting data on me will guarantee your victory, you're mistaken."
With that, he bent down and, to the crowd's astonishment, removed the weighted ankle braces he'd been wearing.
"Oh?"
But at the same time, Inui also bent down, revealing his own weighted gear hidden under his socks.
"What?!"
The Hyotei team gasped. "That glasses-wearing guy from Seigaku... was also wearing weights during the match?!"
**(End of Chapter)**