"Kaidō, move back 2 meters and shift 1.5 meters to the right!" Inui Sadaharu immediately started directing Kaidō's positioning.
Without hesitation, Kaidō moved exactly as instructed, crouching down and swaying side to side, waiting for Akutsu's next serve.
Akutsu tossed the ball again and slammed out another high-speed serve. The ball shot toward the left baseline at over 200 km/h, and just as it bounced, a racket blocked its path.
"After seeing Kaidō's movement, the probability of the serve landing to the left was 83%," Inui said calmly as he returned the shot.
Kite appeared instantly at the drop point and executed a Habu. The ball twisted unpredictably midair after crossing the net, constantly shifting direction, making it impossible to clearly read the bounce point.
Just as the ball looked like it would fly past the right sideline, Kaidō suddenly lunged to the right. Thanks to his above-average arm length, he barely managed to intercept it. Then, using power drawn from his shoulder through his entire arm, he swung hard.
The ball curved wildly, arcing far out of bounds, wrapping around the umpire's chair and landing in the Alley on the far left side of the court. Since it was doubles, that spot was still in.
"Boomerang Snake!"
Even Ryōma was shocked—he'd never seen such an absurd curveball. Just when he thought Kaidō-senpai had scored, Kite's figure flashed again, appearing on the left side and smacking a diagonal shot. Since Kaidō hadn't recovered his stance in time, he could only watch the ball zip past and out of bounds.
"30-0!"
Forget the difference in skill between Kaidō and Kite—Kite's Shukuchihō was a total counter to Kaidō's Snake. When it came to defense, barely anyone could match that technique.
Kintarō, excited by Kaidō's Boomerang Snake, shouted in awe from the sidelines. To him, it was unbelievable and amazing. He started yelling that he wanted to learn it too—but Akashi shut him down immediately. With limbs that short, it just wasn't going to happen.
Akutsu served again. Inui barely managed to return it, but his focus was on collecting data, so Kaidō had to cover most of the returns. Even with his signature move, Kaidō couldn't make a dent. Pure willpower wasn't enough—especially when Akutsu wasn't even going all out.
"40-0!"
"Game! Fudomine! 2-0!"
The third game was Kaidō's serve. This time, Inui stopped focusing only on gathering data and decided to apply the information he had, adjusting gradually during the match.
After Kaidō served, Inui moved immediately. Before Akutsu even made contact, Inui was already sprinting toward the right baseline. As expected, Akutsu had hit a crosscourt—Inui had predicted it using his data.
Using the data, Inui kept maneuvering around Akutsu and Kite while directing Kaidō's positioning. For a moment, they were holding their own.
"That speed and explosiveness... looks like you've just barely hit the national level, huh, Inui Sadaharu," Akashi murmured softly as he watched Inui return a shot.
But the gap between Kaidō and the other three was just too big. Akutsu and Kite didn't hold back, focusing on Kaidō as their weak point. Since they were already familiar with Seigaku's players, they didn't even bother using Light Shot or Dark Shot.
"0-15!"
"0-30!"
"0-40!"
"Game! Fudomine! 3-0! Change sides!"
During the break, Kaidō turned to Inui and said, a little ashamed, "Inui-senpai, I'm sorry! I dragged us down!"
"No, Kaidō. You've done well. Every Fudomine player is national level—I expected this kind of match." Inui offered a small reassurance.
After switching sides, it was Kite's turn to serve, and he opened with a Barrage Serve. But Inui had already predicted it from the data. Gripping the racket with both hands and bracing himself with solid footing, he barely managed to take the serve using his newly national-level strength. His racket didn't fly away, but the return was weak.
Akutsu saw his chance, charged to the net, leapt up, spun twice in the air, and used the centrifugal force to smash the ball hard. The shot sent Kaidō's racket flying.
"15-0!"
Akashi watched Akutsu's acrobatics and then glanced at Kintarō beside him. Probably only those two could pull off moves like that—one relying on flexibility, the other on raw power.
From there, Akutsu unleashed his full strength. He kept returning balls from impossible angles, twisting his body like a pretzel. Watching from the sidelines, Ryōma felt a chill run down his spine. Just looking at it made his back ache.
"30-0!"
"40-0!"
"40-15!"
"Game! Fudomine! 4-0!"
Inui had pulled a trick using Kaidō as a decoy to score a point, but it only worked once. In the end, he and Kaidō still lost the game.
Now it was the fifth game—Inui's serve. He kept using Waterfall, even though he knew it wouldn't work on Akutsu and Kite. But he had no other options, so he went all in.
By this point, Inui had practically completed all his data models and could direct Kaidō to the drop point in advance. But all that really did was extend the rallies—they still couldn't score.
But Akutsu seemed to be losing patience, or perhaps he remembered being completely crushed by Mitsuya's data back in his first year, so he unleashed his wild side. Inui Sadaharu instantly felt like he was being stared down by a savage wolf.
Facing the awakened Akutsu, Kaidō lost all ability to fight back. Even if he managed to reach the drop point in advance, with his current strength he couldn't handle Akutsu's terrifying power.
Meanwhile, Inui's data got thrown off due to Akutsu's burst. Just as he was about to start recalculating, Kite seized the moment and, like an assassin in the dark, struck a deadly blow aimed at their opening.
"0-15!"
"0-30!"
"0-40!"
"Game! Fudomine! 5-0!"
Fuji let out a quiet sigh. He knew they'd already lost this match. Kaidō couldn't keep up with the pace of the other three, and even with Inui's support, it wasn't enough.
The final game was Akutsu's serve. Kaidō hadn't given up—he kept chasing every ball with everything he had. From the sidelines, Momoshiro watched in silence.
In the end, Inui and Kaidō still lost the Doubles Two match. But at least the match had been exciting and didn't disappoint the audience that had come to watch.
"Game! 6-0! Match over! Winner: Fudomine!"
The most shaken person was definitely Ryōma. In Seigaku, not even counting the third-years, beating Kaidō or Momoshiro wasn't something he could guarantee. And now, a stronger Inui-senpai plus Kaidō-senpai still lost this badly?
Had tennis in Japan already reached this level? Ryōma silently clenched his fist. His pride wouldn't let him accept being that far behind—but reality hit hard.
The Doubles One match was about to begin. For Seigaku, it was obviously going to be Oishi and Kikumaru. On Fudomine's side, Tachibana Kippei and Chitose Senri stepped in. These pairs were basically fixed now—just like Hyōtei's Oshitari and Mukahi, or Rikkai's Marui and Jackal.
"Next is Doubles One! Fudomine's Tachibana Kippei and Chitose Senri versus Seigaku's Oishi Shūichirō and Kikumaru Eiji! Players, please enter the court!"
All four came to the court. After shaking hands, they just exchanged brief greetings—they were already well acquainted. The coin toss gave serve to Tachibana.
"First game! Fudomine to serve!"
As Tachibana prepared to serve, a milky-white aura suddenly rose from Oishi and Kikumaru. Then their energies linked, and their eyes turned light gold. They'd entered Synchronization.
"Oishi–Kikumaru Synchronization!"
"Didn't expect Oishi and Kikumaru to go straight into Synchronization… Looks like they're going all out this time," Inui said as he took a sip of water.
"Inui-senpai, what's Synchronization?" Ryōma asked curiously—he had zero knowledge about doubles.
"Synchronization is known as a doubles miracle. When two players achieve it, their hearts and minds are in perfect sync. Without any verbal or physical cues, they understand each other completely, making their coordination flawless," Inui explained.
"Oh? So Oishi-senpai and Kikumaru-senpai can do something like that?" Ryōma said, surprised. But hearing that, he figured this match should be locked down. At least, that's what he thought to himself.
Seeing their opponents enter Synchronization, Tachibana and Chitose didn't immediately activate their Beast Aura. Tachibana's aura had been unstable lately, and it was affecting their Beast Synchronization too.
Still, even without it, Tachibana and Chitose could suppress Oishi and Kikumaru. The difference in personal skill was just too large—Synchronization alone wouldn't make up for it.
Tachibana tossed the ball and, at the moment of contact, added an irregular spin. The ball crossed the net and split into eight shadows, all falling toward Seigaku's court.
"Abare Jishi!"
But at the net, Kikumaru suddenly moved like he was using Shadow Clone. Multiple images of him filled the court. He struck at each ball shadow, finally managing to return Tachibana's Abare Jishi.
Chitose activated Hyaku Ren Jitoku no Kiwami, appearing in a flash at the landing point and swinging hard. The doubled return went straight toward Oishi.
Oishi's racket dragged loudly against the ground as he swung from low to high, lofting the return high across the court, toward the baseline behind Tachibana and Chitose.
"Moon Volley!"
But that wouldn't work on Chitose, who'd activated Hyaku Ren Jitoku no Kiwami. He dashed back to the baseline with such speed that afterimages followed behind him, powered by Muga no Kyōchi.
He returned the descending ball with another doubled shot, blasting it toward Oishi's right side. Oishi met it head-on without hesitation—just as Kikumaru suddenly appeared beside him, also swinging. Their rackets overlapped, striking the ball together.
Combining their strength, they managed to return Chitose's powered-up ball. But Tachibana followed up instantly, slamming the ball with full force. It exploded into countless shadows and slammed down on Seigaku's court before bouncing out of bounds. Oishi and Kikumaru didn't even react in time.
"Abare Dama!"
"15-0!"
Just the first rally was already so intense that the crowd erupted in cheers. In the players' area, little Kintarō was jumping up and down in excitement, shouting support for Tachibana and Chitose.
On the other side, Ryōma was already having thoughts of returning to America. What had he just witnessed? Synchronization aside, that aura from the senpai named Chitose—he had only faintly sensed something like that from his dad before.
Ryōma knew very well how strong his old man was. There was only one word for it: unfathomable. He'd never beaten him even once growing up, and it was always clear his dad had been toying with him, never going all out.
"Looks like something's about to change in Tachibana's Beast Aura, and the Muga power in Chitose is starting to stir too..." Akashi watched the two on court with a deep gaze.
Still, this match probably wouldn't trigger a full breakthrough. Maybe just before the national tournament, depending on their own realization. Or perhaps he could find some time to help guide them, Akashi thought silently.
The match continued. Tachibana once again unleashed Abare Jishi, but it wasn't very effective against the current Kikumaru—unless his stamina started running low later.
With the boost from Synchronization, Oishi and Kikumaru's teamwork reached its peak. Even shots they couldn't handle alone, they faced together. They held out for quite a few rallies but ultimately couldn't win the point.
"30-0!"
"40-0!"
"Game! Fudomine! 1-0!"
Before the second game began, Kikumaru and Oishi exchanged a look and immediately set up the Australian Formation. As Oishi served, Kikumaru moved side to side at the net, fully covering him from view.
From Chitose's perspective, a tennis ball suddenly appeared behind Kikumaru, flying straight toward the right baseline. Luckily, he reacted fast and moved quickly to the drop point. As he swung, he used the super sweet spot to add a special spin. The moment the ball touched his racket, it vanished and reappeared right on the baseline, rolling out of the court.
"Kamikakushi Kai!"
"0-15!"
Oishi stared blankly at the ball by his feet. That was a shot he'd never seen before. Looked like Chitose's Kamikakushi had evolved—becoming even tougher to handle.
Akashi chuckled a little from the sidelines. No wonder Chitose had been looking for Kite to train with lately. So, he'd fused part of the dark-hit mechanics into Kamikakushi. Just like Tachibana's upgraded Abare Dama. One light, one dark—no wonder they were a doubles pair.
The match resumed. Oishi and Kikumaru stuck with the Australian Formation, and thanks to their mental link from Synchronization, they used it to full effect. Even Tachibana and Chitose had to take them seriously.
After Kikumaru intercepted a return from Chitose using his acrobatic skills, he fired off a Kikumaru Beam. Just as Tachibana was about to rush forward and return it, a deep crimson aura burst out of his body on its own. He froze for a second, and the ball exploded near his feet and flew out of bounds.
"15-15!"
Tachibana ignored the lost point and focused entirely on examining his own state. He clearly hadn't triggered the Beast Aura himself—so why had it awakened on its own?
Chitose noticed the anomaly too. The Muga energy in his body instantly surged to his brain, and faint starlight began to shimmer around his head. He had activated Saiki Kanpatsu no Kiwami.
"Twelve shots!"
Before Oishi served, Chitose made a full prediction. Ryōma, watching from the side, didn't get it at all, while the trio beside him had already turned to stone.
Oishi served the ball and entered his Oishi Territory. Watching the court, he noticed Tachibana kept his head down like he was deep in thought, not even reacting to the ball.
Chitose quickly covered for him, taking on both Oishi and Kikumaru by himself. This unexpected turn actually surprised Akashi a little—maybe he'd underestimated Tachibana.
Both sides began an intense rally. With Tachibana out of the play, Oishi and Kikumaru held their own against Saiki-enhanced Chitose using Synchronization. Kikumaru flipped and twisted at the net while Oishi calmly read the court.
Facing a high lob, Kikumaru jumped up high, spun mid-air, and slammed a backhand. The ball turned into a blur as it flew toward Chitose's backcourt.
"Kikumaru Rocket!"
Chitose didn't react at all, like he hadn't even seen it. Just as Seigaku thought Kikumaru had scored, Tachibana suddenly looked up. His deep crimson aura erupted like flames. With both hands on his racket, he swung hard at the incoming ball.
The ball instantly got coated in the same crimson aura and shot toward Kikumaru at the net. Just as Kikumaru jumped to intercept, a familiar roar echoed—along with a flash of memory from his first year. He froze on the spot, and the ball flew out of bounds.
"Roar of the Lion!"
"15-30!"
Akashi hadn't expected Tachibana to break through like this. He glanced at the now-speechless Ryōma and thought to himself, 'Could the protagonist aura be contagious too?'