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🕑 Added 2025-08-05 15:15:27 +0000 UTCChapter 116: The Last Time I Said That, I Almost Died
Makinofuji High
Tennis Club, Coach’s Office
A blindfolded young man placed a thick stack of documents in front of a blond-haired youth. The papers detailed the profiles of talented players from various schools.
"Captain, these are the strongest players I’ve gathered intel on so far."
The blond—Byoudouin Houou—nodded and flipped through the files. The first page featured detailed information on Tohno Atsukyo.
The Kansai Regional Tournament had just ended.
Despite being last year’s national champions, Makinofuji had failed to reclaim the Kansai title, losing to Maihozaka. The root of the problem? A lack of depth in their roster.
With the graduation of their veteran players, their doubles lineup had gaping holes.
Byoudouin, the captain, and the blindfolded Fuwa Tetsuhito were now forced to strategize. To secure back-to-back national titles, Byoudouin had even convinced the school to approve special transfer incentives.
(Fun fact: Makinofuji is a real school—and ridiculously wealthy.)
With the school’s approval secured, all that remained was scouting.
After reviewing the files, Byoudouin singled out a few players who fit Makinofuji’s philosophy.
"Prioritize these names. Plan the route, and we’ll set out."
"Understood!"
Fuwa took back the documents, then hesitated.
"Captain, I saw something on TV earlier. The U-17 middle school team from the U.S. is coming to Tokyo for an exhibition match the day after tomorrow. Should we check it out? There might be some strong players."
Kanto…?
Byoudouin frowned.
Originally, he hadn’t even considered recruiting from Kanto. Historically, national champions almost always emerged from either Kanto or Kansai—with only one exception years ago when a school from Okayama pulled off an upset.
Recruiting from Kanto felt like borrowing troops from the enemy’s camp. Absurd.
After a long pause, Byoudouin shook his head.
"If word got out, Makinofuji would become a laughingstock in Kansai."
"But we could still watch the matches. Didn’t Rikkai’s 13-year winning streak get snapped this year?"
"Yeah. The team that beat them was Seigaku—the same school Samurai Nanjiro attended. The venue isn’t far from Seishun Gakuen’s area, so Seigaku’s players will probably be there."
"...Let’s go."
Byoudouin fell into thought.
Last year, Rikkai had been formidable—unlike Makinofuji, they hadn’t suffered from generational gaps.
By all logic, this should’ve been Rikkai’s strongest year. Yet a school that had faded into obscurity had ended their legendary streak.
This was the perfect chance to scout Kanto’s current landscape.
5:00 PM – Tokyo Airport
A flight from the U.S. had just landed.
Ryouma Echizen, QP, and Yoru waited outside the terminal.
Half an hour later, Ralph Reinhardt and his team emerged, luggage in tow.
"Yoru! Bring it in!"
Ralph spread his arms wide with a booming laugh.
"Keep your golden chest hair away from me!"
Yoru sidestepped, raising a foot threateningly.
"Fuck, you wound me!"
Ralph gestured to his teammates. "Meet the squad—Alan Hopkins, Dudu Obandu, and Chicko Valentine."
FLOKITOTO
"Hey there, little Ryouma~"
The cheerful Chicko waved, then eyed Yoru curiously. "So you’re the brother Ryouma won’t shut up about? Way hotter than Dudu."
Dudu gasped in mock outrage. "Excuse me?! Ryouma, back me up here!"
Ryouma sighed and looked away.
Read. Not replying.
"Oi, what’s that look for?!"
Yoru chuckled. "Seems like you guys are close."
Before leaving the U.S., he’d asked Ralph to keep an eye on Ryouma. Their bond was stronger than in the original timeline, so it made sense Ryouma knew Chicko and Dudu.
What surprised Yoru was the lineup.
The U.S. U-17 team had already formed—and these were all its future core members.
Aside from Ralph:
Dudu Obandu ("Birdman") – Exceptional physicality. 8-star strength.
Chicko Valentine – A tactical genius who loved manipulating scores. 7-star strength.
Alan Hopkins ("The Tennis Doctor") – Could induce injuries mid-match. His stats were even 1 level higher than QP’s, likely due to growth spurts. 9-star strength.
But the strongest was undeniably Ralph Reinhardt.
Yoru had expected Ralph’s potential to skyrocket, but not this fast.
[Name]: Ralph Reinhardt
[Age]: 15
[Techniques]:
Base Stats (Lv. 10)
Fundamentals (Lv. 10)
Bullet Serve (Lv. 10)
Sharp Angle Drive (Lv. 10)
Super Half-Volley (Lv. 10)
[Talent]: Adaptive Evolution
[Strength]: 10 stars
[Adaptive Evolution]: Continuously refines weaknesses mid-match, evolving in real time.
In just half a year, Ralph had jumped from 8 to 10 stars.
"Growth spurts really are broken..."
Yoru couldn’t help but feel envious.
Though they were only two years apart (by East Asian age reckoning), those were peak developmental years. Ralph had barely added any new techniques—just a Super Half-Volley—yet his stats exploded.
Meanwhile, Yoru had to stack abilities, training, and strategy just to reach 11 stars.
Still, he knew one truth:
The stronger you are before a growth spurt, the more absurd the boost afterward.
Since they’d slept on the plane, there was no need for jet lag recovery.
Yoru treated them to an all-out yakiniku feast.
The sheer volume of food was terrifying. They ordered an entire menu’s worth at once, leaving the owner convinced they were suicidal.
Yet not a single bite was wasted. By the end, they were still unsatisfied.
"Yoru, your portions are tiny! I was only 80% full before they ran out of meat. Had to fill up on water!" Dudu groaned, rubbing his stomach.
Yoru smirked. "Small-country habits. You’ll get used to it."
Honestly, the U.S. team’s vibe was great. Maybe they could even be potential allies for the World Stage.
But old reservations lingered. That was a question for another day.
"Alright, Yoru. We’re fed—time for a little warm-up. I’ve gotten scary strong lately."
Hearing those words, Yoru’s eye twitched.
"You sure? Last time I said that... I almost died."
"What?"
Chapter 117: A Little Trick – "Reverse Zone"
Under the Seishun Bridge, there was a well-maintained tennis court tucked away—so hidden that it was always empty whenever Yoru came.
Feels familiar… like something from the original series, he mused, though he couldn’t quite place it.
Since it was close to their hotel, Yoru and Ralph headed straight there.
Just then, Ryoma eagerly dashed onto the court. "I’ll be the referee!"
"No. Stay on the sidelines and watch."
Yoru shut him down instantly, then turned to QP. "You do it."
"Understood."
QP nodded and climbed into the umpire’s chair.
"Sorry, kiddo. You’re stuck with us."
Hopkins grinned as Ryoma pouted.
Dodo Banjo, curious, nudged Ryoma. "Hey, is your brother really that strong?"
"Super strong! Even Dad says he’s an unprecedented genius!"
Chico Hanten’s eyes sparkled with interest. "Wow, for Nanjirou-sama to say that…"
Since Ryoma often visited the U.S. U17 camp on weekends (thanks to Ralph), the team had grown fond of the brash little prodigy.
From Ryoma’s stories, his entire drive to improve came from chasing his brother’s shadow.
Even Ralph had admitted—he’d never taken a single point off Yoru in an official match.
(The one time he did during practice, Yoru—being the perfectionist he is—immediately erased it.)
Given how monstrous their captain was, the fact that Yoru could shut him out completely?
Yeah, they were beyond curious.
Meanwhile, Ralph kept glancing at QP, a nagging sense of familiarity itching at him.
Ten minutes later…
"Warmed up. Toss me the ball—I’ll serve first!"
Ralph, now loosened up, snatched the serve without hesitation.
Yoru rolled his eyes and walked to the baseline, his jacket fluttering dramatically in the wind.
"Damn, that’s cool."
Dodo’s eyes gleamed. "I’m gonna wear my jacket like that too."
Ryoma and Hopkins shot him a "Yeah, good luck with that" look.
Chico snorted. "Only works if you’re handsome. Otherwise, you’ll look like barbecue sauce on burnt meat."
"Chico, that hurt!"
"Sorry."
"…That was too fast!"
As the ball bounced, silence fell.
Ralph’s expression sharpened.
His growth spurt had boosted his physical stats significantly—but against Yoru?
He never held back.
The more serious he was, the harder Yoru pushed him, exposing weaknesses to refine.
BANG—!
Bullet Serve!
A cannon-like delivery—blazing speed, crushing weight.
In the original series, this was a "jobber special," but in reality, even pros used it to rush opponents.
QP’s eyes flickered.
"…Best I’ve seen in our age group. But against Yoru?"
BANG—!
Before the ball could fully rise, Yoru’s racket blurred, smashing it back instantly.
BANG—! BANG—!
The return skidded off the court before Ralph could recover his stance.
Bullet Serves had one flaw—predictable trajectory and long recovery time.
Ryoma gasped. "First blood!?"
"Not yet."
Alan smirked.
Sure enough, Ralph used his momentum to pivot into a full-speed dash, intercepting the ball just before it hit the fence—
BANG—! BANG—! BANG—!
The rally exploded into a high-speed exchange.
Yoru volleyed before the bounce every time, while Ralph scrambled just to keep up.
Dodo, Chico, and Hopkins watched, stunned.
They’d never seen Ralph so thoroughly outmatched from the first point.
"…As expected. You’re even stronger now."
Ralph wasn’t surprised.
Yoru always adjusted to his level—as if he could see through his entire arsenal.
Twenty exchanges in, Yoru suddenly spoke.
"Warmed up? Time to raise the stakes."
Dodo choked. "He was holding back!?"
"Bring it!" Ralph shouted, returning another drive.
"I’ve been working on some… little tricks."
Yoru didn’t move as the ball flew toward him.
"Zone?" Ralph braced himself.
But he was wrong.
The ball veered sideways mid-air, landing out of bounds.
Silence.
The trio on the sidelines froze. Ralph just stared.
Only Ryoma cheered. **"It’s here! Reverse Zone—Big Bro’s new move!"**
"Reverse… Zone?"
Ralph exhaled sharply. "So instead of pulling the ball in, you force it out?"
"Bingo~"
Yoru grinned, resting his racket on his shoulder. "Simple, right? Just Zone in reverse."
"Simple my ass!"
Ralph nearly tore his hair out.
This wasn’t "simple"—it required insane spin control and precision, effectively a brand-new technique.
Then it hit him.
"Wait. You said ‘some’ little tricks?"
Yoru’s smile widened.
"‘Some’?"
Chapter 118: Watch and Learn, Ryoma—This Is How You Use "Hyakuren!"
[System Alert: Detected Ryoma Echizen attempting to copy "Reverse Zone (Lv. 10)"... Copying failed.]
This brat...
Yoru’s lips twitched as he glanced at Ryoma, whose eyes sparkled with excitement.
BANG—!
30-0!
BANG—!
40-0!
BANG—!
1-0!
Once the Reverse Zone made its debut, every single return Ralph attempted flew out of bounds.
Even when he applied counter-spin, it wasn’t enough.
Still, Ralph quickly realized that counter-spin could neutralize the Reverse Zone’s effect—but only if the spin was overwhelmingly stronger.
He needed to completely overwrite the Reverse Zone’s rotation.
Difficult, but not impossible.
Ralph eyed the ball mark outside the court. "You’ve amplified the Reverse Zone’s spin way beyond the standard Zone, right?"
"Yep. About six times stronger."
Yoru didn’t bother hiding it. Knowing the theory didn’t mean Ralph could counter it—and even if he could, Yoru still had the Supreme Zone in reserve.
Six times?!
Ralph’s eye twitched. He’d expected a boost, but not that drastic.
This would take some work.
"Again!"
Second Game – Yoru’s Serve
No fancy techniques this time—just a blistering flat serve.
Ralph reacted instantly, intercepting the ball before it peaked.
But the moment the ball crossed the net, Yoru was already there, racket raised.
"This move’s proficiency isn’t perfect yet—can’t fully sync with my 10-star stats—but the speed’s decent."
His arm vanished.
THUD-THUD-THUD!
A triple-impact echoed as the ball slammed into the fence, leaving a dent and a wisp of smoke.
Ralph had reacted in time.
He couldn’t see the ball’s trajectory, but he’d predicted its path based on Yoru’s stance and swing.
Yet the sheer speed left him swinging at air.
Alan Hopkins whistled. "Damn, that’s fast."
Not as flashy as the Reverse Zone, but still terrifying.
15-0!
Ryoma’s eyes gleamed. "That technique…!"
[System Alert: Detected Ryoma Echizen copying "Like the Wind (Lv. 6)"... Feedback multiplier activated! You gain "Like the Wind (Lv. 8)"!]
[Feedback ineffective!]
Huh?
Yoru glanced at Ryoma. Copying again, huh?
Too bad his stats couldn’t handle Lv. 8 yet—he’d only replicated Lv. 6.
Still, a good start. Now Yoru wouldn’t have to train this move manually—Ryoma would farm it for him.
Poor Sanada.
The thought of Ryoma and Sanada spamming "Like the Wind" at each other in the future was downright hilarious.
But Lv. 8 "Like the Wind" wasn’t enough to overwhelm Ralph.
Both of them had 10-star stats and fundamentals, and Ralph’s real combat adaptability was even scarier.
On the second attempt, Ralph adjusted, intercepting the ball—though his return was shaky.
Yoru seized the opening with a smash.
30-0!
He knew the moment Ralph returned it once, this technique’s effectiveness would plummet.
Third Serve – Twist Serve
The familiar motion made Ralph groan. "Again?!"
"If it works~"
The ball curved violently upon landing, kicking toward the net.
But Ralph, now prepared, snapped his racket down, returning it—though the spin sapped its speed and power.
Then—
WHOOSH.
A mist-like aura enveloped Yoru’s arm.
Hyakuren no Kiwami – Pinnacle of Hard Work!
The ball, mid-flight, was sucked into a whirlpool and dragged straight to Yoru’s racket.
Ralph and Ryoma froze.
"Wait—since when were you in Hyakuren?!"
"And you can activate a Zone off a SERVE?! What the hell are you?!"
Ralph was losing it.
Ryoma just gaped, speechless.
Yoru smirked. "Ryoma learned Hyakuren from me. Why’s it weird that I can use it?"
He turned to Ryoma. "Watch closely. This is how you use Hyakuren."
From their Hyakuren and Zone levels, Yoru could tell Ryoma hadn’t yet combined the two.
Tezuka had been training him lately—but since Ryoma never used Hyakuren in practice, Tezuka never taught him the synergy.
BOOM—!
The doubled return power erupted as the ball blasted through the court, landing at an impossible sharp angle—enhanced by Yoru’s Sharp Angle Drive.
This was the full might of an 11-star player.
The ball cannoned into the fence, leaving a crater-like dent.
Ralph’s forehead dripped with sweat.
This… This is Hyakuren?!
The difference between Ryoma’s version and Yoru’s was night and day.
"Hyakuren + Zone…"
Alan, Chicko, and Dudu all stared at Ryoma.
They knew he had both techniques—but they’d never seen him fuse them.
Hyakuren’s downside was obvious: sacrificing all other physical stats for raw power.
But paired with the Zone?
It was perfection.
BOOM—!
Yoru scores—2-0!
BOOM—!
Yoru scores—3-0!
By the fourth game, Ralph’s Adaptive Evolution kicked in.
He still couldn’t break the Hyakuren-Zone combo, but he adjusted enough to return consistently.
"Incredible…"
QP, sitting as umpire, watched Ralph evolve in real time.
Through minute tweaks—even changing his habits—Ralph patched his weaknesses mid-match, instantly applying the fixes.
By now, QP noticed Ralph’s style mirrored his own—but where QP sought flawless perfection, Ralph adapted dynamically, optimizing for his own peak.
A fundamental difference.
BOOM—!
Yoru scores—4-0!
"Hah…"
Yoru exhaled.
For the first time since Nanjiro, he felt real pressure.
Normally, his 10-star stats let him dominate effortlessly.
But now?
Ralph, in the midst of his growth spurt, had caught up.
Screw it. Time to cheat.
"Heads up, Blondie~"
"Cheat?!"
Chapter 119: Ryoma’s Madness; Yoru’s Pinnacle
Noticing the familiar aura, Q.P. murmured, "He's here."
The experience of Rakurai no Kōki (Light of Desolation)—complete focus on the match, utilizing every element to maximize the efficiency of his returns.
The experience of Aichi no Kōki (Light of Love and Wisdom)—the mind’s deception of emotions, temporarily boosting muscle efficiency while suppressing the opponent’s momentum with sheer presence!
These were insights Q.P. had derived from his match against Kōki, not inherent traits of Kōki itself.
It was this terrifying analytical and adaptive ability that forged Q.P.’s Perfect Pursuit.
And now, Yoru—wielding the **"Super-Perfect Pursuit"**—had pushed these battle-tested experiences to their absolute limit!
A chilling glow enveloped Yoru’s body. The temperature on the court plummeted as an oppressive sharpness permeated the air.
[Super-Perfect Pursuit]: Perfectly develops one’s abilities while extracting the combat experience of the three Kōki (Lights of Tenacity). Each extracted Kōki significantly increases the user’s five stats and foundation by a percentage during matches.
Extracted so far: Rakurai no Kōki, Aichi no Kōki.
Yoru glanced at his fully amplified stats.
Combat Power: 11 Stars (+1.5)
A direct increase of 1.5 stars—on top of an 11-star base.
In the original story, Q.P.’s evolution into Ultimate Pursuit earned him praise from Volk as "the closest existence to the God of Tennis," nearly invincible.
Just how terrifying would the增幅 be if it evolved into "Super-Ultimate Pursuit"?
[System Alert: Ryoma attempts to replicate ‘Super-Perfect Pursuit’—Replication Failed. Mental Damage Sustained…]
[System Alert: Ryoma attempts to replicate ‘Super-Perfect Pursuit’—Replication Failed. Mental Damage Sustained…]
[System Alert: Ryoma attempts to replicate ‘Super-Perfect Pursuit’—Replication Failed. Mental Damage Sustained…]
"...Dudu, take Ryoma away. This match is beyond what he can handle now."
With his last shred of rationality, Yoru shot a glance at Duoduo Obando before plunging into a state of hyper-focus.
"Oh my God!"
Only then did Duoduo notice Ryoma’s increasingly pale face. Without hesitation, he hoisted the boy over his shoulder and sprinted off the court.
Chitose Banten sucked in a sharp breath. "That kid… Was he actually trying to copy it? How reckless."
The others had heard rumors about Ryoma’s talent, but this was on another level.
"...Incredible."
Ralph Reinhardt exhaled deeply, feeling the relentless pressure.
It hit him—Yoru had never been serious in their past matches.
Now, he was playing for real.
BANG!
A simple serve. Blinding speed. The ball landed mid-court before anyone could react.
Yet—
"Body forward. Calf muscles tense. Ball bounces—explode!"
Yoru appeared at the landing point instantly, a fading afterimage left in his original position.
"Lower the swing. Harness momentum for maximum return."
A flash of cold light—
BANG! BANG!
Two near-identical impacts overlapped as the ball cratered the chain-link fence, leaving a one-meter-wide dent. Had it not hit a joint, the fence might’ve shattered entirely.
"What… is this?"
Only after the ball embedded itself did the gust of wind from its trajectory whip past them.
No visible movement. No visible swing. No visible ball path.
"The pinnacle of fundamentals—discarding all technique to achieve absolute focus."
Q.P.’s gaze locked onto Yoru, his breath steady but his mind racing.
He could sense it—Yoru’s Perfect Pursuit had evolved into something even greater.
"Yoru scores! 15-0!"
Gulp.
The spectators swallowed hard, their faces etched with disbelief. Yoru’s performance defied everything they understood about tennis.
---
Around the corner, Duoduo and Ryoma—still leaning against the wall—flinched at the monstrous impact sounds.
Though they couldn’t see the match, the sheer violence of the collisions told them everything.
BANG!
"Yoru scores! 30-0!"
BANG!
"Yoru scores! 40-0!"
BANG!
"Yoru scores! Game—5-0!"
Four serves. Four returns. Four points.
From the first move, Ralph couldn’t track anything—only the delayed sound of the ball and the icy wind brushing past him.
During his match against Oni Juujirou, Yoru had been distracted, his mind fixated on "rewards," never unleashing Super-Perfect Pursuit at full power.
But after returning from England, something had changed.
For the first time, Yoru was treating tennis as more than just a "quest" to conquer the world.
BANG!
A basic serve.
Minimalist.
BANG! BANG!
Three sounds merged into one. Ralph stood frozen, unable to react.
Beyond the toss, there was nothing—no cues, no predictions, just the afterimage of dust swirling where the ball had been.
"How… is this possible?"
Helplessness. Total helplessness.
Ralph had never felt so powerless. Even in past losses to Yoru, he could at least see his shortcomings and improve.
But this time—nothing. Not even the sound reached him in time.
Meanwhile, Yoru stared at his palm, an indescribable sensation lingering in his chest.
---
Echizen Residence
Nanjiro slid open the door to a small backroom shrine.
No idols or photos adorned the altar—just a single silver tennis racket placed reverently atop it.
Lighting a cigarette, Nanjiro took a long drag, exhaling the acrid smoke with a sigh.
"Been a while since I talked to you. The old man wouldn’t let me bring your portrait—said you belonged ‘back home.’"
He chuckled bitterly, stubbing out the half-smoked cigarette onto the altar.
"Yoru’s grown so strong… But now, I don’t know how to guide him."
His mind drifted back to the day Yoru returned from England.
The path ahead was already murky—the "door" Yoru sought to open was the hardest Nanjiro had ever seen.
And now, after England, an aura even Yoru himself hadn’t noticed had latched onto him.
Kōki—The Light of Tenacity.
It hadn’t fully awakened yet. Could it awaken?
To Nanjiro’s heightened senses, three distinct Kōki hovered at the edge of Yoru’s potential—a convergence never recorded in history.
If awakened, it would elevate Yoru’s power beyond measure.
But it would also make that "door" infinitely heavier.
Given Yoru’s trajectory, he’d inevitably encounter the Realm of Gods—adding yet another layer of impossibility.
Nanjiro couldn’t fathom the weight of that door anymore. It wasn’t just a wall—it was a barrier sealing away destiny itself.
And if Yoru couldn’t break through?
No matter how brilliant he became, his light would be fleeting—just another star swallowed by the abyss of time.
Chapter 120: The Challenge Begins; The Phoenix's Attention
"Game over. 6-0, Yoru wins."
QP's voice cut through the silent night with chilling clarity.
Ralph stared at the mangled wire fence behind him and let out a bitter chuckle.
Clap, clap, clap.
Applause echoed from the sidelines.
The intensity of this match had completely shattered their understanding of tennis.
Only now did they realize—tennis could be played this way. And also...
Their own captain wasn’t that invincible after all.
Match End.
Dudu Obando brought Ryoma back.
Yoru, now out of his heightened state, ruffled Ryoma’s hair. "You’ll try anything, huh? Got a death wish?"
"Instinct..."
Ryoma’s cheeks flushed slightly as he avoided eye contact.
After giving Ryoma’s hair one last rough tousle, Yoru turned to Dudu and the others. "Anyone else here still feeling invincible?"
Hell no!
We’re scrubs!
All three shook their heads violently.
After witnessing that level of play, they’d be lucky to leave the court alive.
Ralph then sidled up to Yoru with a sly grin. "Hey, Yoru~ Let’s make a deal."
"What?"
"You already beat me up tonight, so... no doing it again tomorrow, okay?"
"..."
After dropping Ralph and the others at their hotel, Yoru studied Ryoma’s youthful face—and a new idea struck him.
On the way home, he made an unplanned stop at a sports store.
He didn’t buy anything. Just exchanged a few words with the owner before leaving, leaving Ryoma and QP utterly confused.
That Night.
Yoru stood in the yard and muttered, "System, open my stats."
[Host]: Yoru
[Age]: 12
[Techniques]:
Personal Five Dimensions (Lv. 10)
Tennis Fundamentals (Lv. 10)
Twist Serve (Lv. 9)
Three Great Domains (Lv. 10)
Muga no Kyōchi (Lv. 8)
Hyakuren no Kiwami (Lv. 7)
Sharp Angle Drive (Lv. 9)
Super-Speed Vertical Serve (Lv. 9)
Shinobi Hayate (Lv. 8)
(+ 2 less significant techniques folded)
[Combat Power]: ★★★★☆ (11 Stars)
[Talents]:
Ten Senses Control
Perfect Copy
Super-Perfect Quality (2/3 Hikari unlocked)
No changes.
Yoru frowned. "System, has my body undergone any recent changes? Or... is something about to awaken?"
[All information is as displayed by the system.]
Yoru pressed, "Is it possible that something is awakening, but the system can’t detect it until it fully manifests?"
[Boss, I’m just an employee. I don’t make the rules... I’m just the messenger.]
Useless.
Yoru gave up. Over the years, he’d realized the voice wasn’t the system’s true will.
Earlier, when he’d pushed himself to the limit, he’d felt something—like Muga, but far more intense.
Next Morning.
Byakuya "Phoenix" Kujō and Tetsujin "Iron Man" boarded the train to Tokyo Tennis Park.
Thanks to media hype, the venue was packed.
The challenge tournament had loose entry rules: open to anyone 15 or younger.
The exhibition would run for three days. Each player could accept up to three challenges per day (best-of-one set). Winners received cash prizes—¥50,000 per victory.
The slots filled instantly.
As the sound of rallying balls echoed through the park, Phoenix and Tetsujin strolled in.
Before long, they spotted four players in blue-and-white uniforms emblazoned with "Seigaku" on their chests.
"Seigaku, huh?"
Phoenix and Tetsujin exchanged a glance and moved closer.
Seigaku’s Group
"Damn it! Ralph signed QP up for the last slot, so I had to enter Hopkins’ bracket. Let’s try again tomorrow!"
"Nope. One day only. Training resumes tomorrow."
"Yamato, who’d you sign up against?"
"Baliantyin."
Yoru and the others chatted while waiting for matches to start.
Since he’d promised Ralph, Yoru sat out today, guiding Tezuka and Ryoma as spectators.
Ten minutes later...
Dudu Obando defeated his first opponent.
"Next match: Yamato Yuudai vs. Chikako Baliantyin!"
The announcement boomed across the park.
Yoru nudged Yamato. "Pump yourself up."
(A/N: This was a bug discovered during the Kanto Tournament—Yamato could buff himself more than others!)
"Right!"
Yamato slapped his cheeks and muttered, "Come on, don’t embarrass Seigaku."
+0.8 BUFF activated.
He stepped onto the court, radiating confidence.
The Match Begins.
Yamato seized the early advantage.
With his rune-enhanced playstyle, he dominated with aggressive shots, forcing Baliantyin into defensive positions.
By 2-1, Yamato had already analyzed his opponent’s habits—setting up deceptive shots that exploited Baliantyin’s blind spots.
He even surged to 3-1.
Just as the crowd thought Yamato had it in the bag... something strange happened.
Though Yamato still seemed in control, Baliantyin kept scoring—almost as if by luck.
3-1 → 4-4.
With so many points shifting, it couldn’t all be luck.
The final score: 6-4, Baliantyin wins.
Phoenix’s Observation
Tetsujin frowned. "Captain, was that luck? Every shot had some weird bounce that messed up Yamato’s returns."
Phoenix shook his head. "He used environmental factors. That Baliantyin kid has terrifying insight and precision. He aimed for small rocks to alter the ball’s trajectory."
He glanced at Yamato. "But... that Seigaku player’s no slouch either."
Post-Match Debrief
Back with the team, Kirihara voiced the same confusion.
Yoru’s explanation mirrored Phoenix’s.
Baliantyin’s style resembled Momoshiro’s "Insight Mode" in the original series—exploiting micro-factors to disrupt rallies.
Next Match: Kirihara vs. Alan Hopkins
(Note: Kirihara recently turned 15, hitting a growth spurt. His stats jumped to ★★★★☆ [8 Stars]. But Hopkins, who developed earlier, sits at ★★★★★ [9 Stars].)
Match Start.
Like Yamato, Kirihara dominated early with his Supersonic Serve and Supersonic Volleys, leaving Hopkins scrambling.
The crowd erupted as Hopkins struggled to even touch the ball.
Kirihara’s performance outshone Yamato’s by miles.
Even Phoenix looked impressed.
"Kirihara, huh? Not bad at all."
