Watching Krauser's technique, even Tachibana Kippei, his own teammate, was a bit stunned. Knocking the racket out of someone's hand wasn't anything new—he could do it too. But his method relied on brute force. Krauser's shot was completely different. It twisted the racket by sheer rotational force alone.
Across the net, Minami Kentarō clutched his wrist, staring at Krauser with a look like he'd seen a ghost. The moment he made contact, it felt like his wrist would snap. The racket seemed to gain a will of its own, violently yanking away from his grip as if trying to fly off with the tennis ball in some twisted union.
"That was… such intense spin! Making the ball rotate vertically isn't easy at all~" Mitsuya narrowed his eyes, his tone thoughtful.
"Oh my, oh my~ Kids these days really are scary. So young and already pulling off moves like that~" Banda said, slightly surprised.
While everyone else was shocked or impressed, Akashi Seijurō sat in the coach's seat with a slight frown. The Wirbel Taufe that Krauser used didn't impress him in terms of power. If the opponent had been someone like Tezuka, it likely wouldn't have worked at all.
Yes—this technique, Wirbel Taufe, originated from the U-17 German team captain, Jürgen Borisovich Volk. (Some translations call him "Borg," but this version uses the official anime name: Volk.)
In the U-17 World Cup, Volk's version of this move devastated the Japan team. Even Tokugawa's Black Hole couldn't counter it. Only Byoudouin, with his monstrous grip strength, could withstand it. For Volk, that move was practically just a regular strike.
To put it plainly, the move was an advanced spin technique. The real challenge lay in making the ball spin vertically while amplifying both its spin intensity and impact.
The reason this technique felt so overwhelming in the source material wasn't just the move itself—it was because Volk used it. He had superhuman strength that made the move terrifying.
Krauser's current ability was nowhere near Volk's. On top of that, he had only just barely grasped the move's fundamentals. Its power was honestly still lacking. But against anyone below national level, it was more than enough.
Still, Akashi believed that if Krauser kept developing, this move's power would only increase. Eventually, he might even reach the U-17 top ten with it alone.
While the audience buzzed over Wirbel Taufe, the match resumed. Minami rotated his wrist a bit and was relieved to find it unharmed.
But as Krauser kept using Wirbel Taufe, both Minami and Higashikata had their rackets blasted away time and time again. The match became completely one-sided. And as if spurred on by something, Tachibana's aggression ramped up, becoming even more intense.
In the end, Minami Kentarō and Higashikata Masami experienced, for the first time in their lives, what a crushing doubles defeat felt like in a real match. The score was 6-0—Fudomine won.
After the match, Minami and Higashikata walked to Banda with their heads low, ready to take responsibility. But Banda didn't scold them. He just smiled and said:
"It's fine, Kentarō, Masami. Your coordination was solid this match, hardly any mistakes. Your opponents were just far stronger individually. Focus on improving yourselves. One day, you'll catch up."
Mitsuya, watching them slump onto the bench, quietly asked Banda, "Banda, do you really believe they can catch up in terms of ability?"
"Ah~ Mitsuya-kun, I know you take data seriously. But sometimes, a well-meaning lie is better for lifting someone's spirits," Banda said with a bitter tone.
Of course he knew. Minami and Higashikata had talent in doubles, but their individual growth potential was limited. Compared to those boys from Fudomine, they were on another level entirely. But he couldn't just say that. It would crush their will to continue.
Meanwhile, after Krauser and Tachibana came off the court, everyone gathered around—mostly to bombard Krauser with questions about why he kept that move a secret until now.
Only after Akashi gestured did everyone slowly return to their seats. Krauser stepped in front of Akashi and asked if there was anything to improve.
Akashi pointed out the lack of sufficient power in the move. He told Krauser to fully master Sweetspot technique as soon as possible and refine Wirbel Taufe. Then, using the updated training plan, boost all five attributes.
Just then, Tezuka and Chitose returned from warming up, and the doubles one match was about to begin. Akashi looked at the two and said calmly:
"Your next opponents are national-level doubles. It won't be as easy as earlier matches. Especially you, Tezuka—your zone isn't well-suited for doubles. I suggest you two try a new approach."
"A new approach? What do you mean, Akashi~?" Chitose asked, confused. Tezuka also looked curious.
"In doubles, there are special techniques too. The most famous is synchronization. Of course, you two can't pull that off yet. But there's another scenario. When two players have similar or compatible abilities, a strange chemical reaction can happen. I call it Synchronization."
"Synchronization…" Tezuka murmured, lost in thought. Chitose scratched his head, still struggling to understand.
"Alright, don't overthink it. I just want to run an experiment. The success rate probably won't be high. In this match, try activating Saiki Kanpatsu no Kiwami at the same time, or maybe Tezuka can use Hyaku Ren Jitoku no Kiwami and attempt to create a link between your Muga auras," Akashi gave his advice.
Tezuka and Chitose thought for a moment, then both nodded. Honestly, neither of them had ever considered this before, and they'd never tried using Muga no Kyōchi in a doubles match.
The reason Akashi came up with the idea was because, whether in the original storyline or now, Tezuka had awakened Saiki Kanpatsu no Kiwami due to Chitose. It was a lot like what happened with Yukimura and Tokugawa during the World Cup—only without the technique-sharing effect.
Though with Tezuka's talent, awakening Saiki Kanpatsu no Kiwami wasn't surprising, it was clear in the original that it was Chitose's influence that triggered it. That likely had something to do with the special traits of Muga no Kyōchi.
So now Akashi wanted to try and see whether the Sixth Sense was something Yukimura developed on his own—or if it was actually the result of Synchronization, a kind of chemical reaction between abilities.
Anyway, even if the test failed, with Tezuka and Chitose's abilities, they could win just playing normally—so why not give it a try?
On Yamabuki's side, their players for doubles one were of course their only nationally-ranked doubles pair, Sakata Kuri and Fujii Hikaru.
As the umpire announced the start of the doubles one match, Tezuka and Chitose walked toward the court with serious expressions, still thinking about what Akashi had just told them.
Tezuka had won the coin toss, so Fudomine would serve first. Standing at the baseline, Tezuka tested the ball's bounce. He didn't plan on using Muga no Kyōchi just yet—this was something he and Chitose had discussed. They'd use the first game to observe.
Tezuka tossed the ball high and, as it dropped to just the right height, he swung hard. The ball zipped over the net, heading for the back corner of Yamabuki's side. The speed and angle were perfect, but Sakata Kuri and Fujii Hikaru were national-level doubles after all. They returned it easily.
Both sides played cautiously at first, feeling each other out. After three or five rallies, Chitose was the first to break the balance. He slammed the incoming ball with a strong vertical spin. After crossing the net, the ball shot upward and vanished from Sakata's sight.
"Kamikakushi!"
"15-0!"
Only after hearing the score called did Sakata realize what happened. He turned to see the ball still bouncing slightly just outside the court.
"Definitely not ordinary!" Sakata and Fujii exchanged glances and nodded at each other.
Tezuka served again, and this time neither side held back. After several exchanges, Tezuka rushed the net, raised his racket behind his head, and lightly sliced the incoming ball. It floated over the net and softly dropped. Instead of bouncing, it rolled backward along the ground.
"Zero Shiki Drop!"
"30-0!"
Even Mitsuya was visibly surprised. Mastering a technique of this level as a first-year... this Tezuka Kunimitsu kid had unimaginable talent.
"This style… reminds me of that unruly boy from many years ago," Banda said with a bit of emotion in his voice.
Quickly, Tezuka and Chitose took the first game from Sakata and Fujii. But the Yamabuki pair wasn't flustered. Their experience kept them composed.
Yet right at the start of the second game, as Fujii prepared to serve, something astonishing happened—both Tezuka and Chitose were suddenly surrounded by a shimmering seven-colored aura. Starlight glittered around their heads. They spoke in unison:
"Ball 4."
Banda's normally squinted eyes snapped wide open. Mitsuya stood up in shock, then turned to him and asked,
"Banda, I'm not seeing things, right? That's Muga no Kyōchi?"
"Fuuu~" Banda let out a long breath. "Yes. One of the three inner techniques of Muga—Saiki Kanpatsu no Kiwami."
"0-15!"
As Banda and Mitsuya spoke, Sakata and Fujii had already lost the first point of the game—just as Tezuka and Chitose predicted, they lost it on the fourth ball.
The Yamabuki pair thought it was coincidence. Sure, they noticed Tezuka and Chitose's unusual state, but they were experienced players. They'd watched last year's national finals—Makinofuji versus Maikozaka—in person.
As they prepared to serve again, Tezuka and Chitose once more spoke in perfect sync:
"Ball 6."
Now Sakata and Fujii were really starting to feel nervous. 'No way they'll score on the sixth ball too, right?' But they had no time to think further and could only keep playing their best.
"0-30!"
Sure enough, Sakata lost the point again—on the sixth ball. He couldn't accept it. How could the opponents predict the rally so accurately? It was like some kind of absolute prophecy.
But even if Sakata and Fujii were unwilling to believe it, they were still just nationally-ranked doubles players. Against the absolute forecast of Saiki Kanpatsu no Kiwami, they had no way to fight back.
"0-40!"
"Game! Fudomine! 2-0!"
As the umpire called the score, Sakata and Fujii had lost their service game. At that moment, the aura of Muga around Tezuka and Chitose began to ripple faintly.
Back on the bench, Akashi's eyes lit up. He stared intently at Tezuka and Chitose on court, a look of rising anticipation in his eyes. 'Looks like this experiment might really work.'