"Is this really the same Shishido from last year?"
Seeing Shishido return to the court, representatives from schools that had previously faced Hyotei couldn't hide their astonishment.
Shishido Ryo!
Once the most flamboyant player in Hyotei.
Known for his fast attacks, he often mocked weaker opponents, exuding an air of superiority.
But who could have guessed?
In just one year, not only had he cut his hair, but his personality had also transformed into that of a hardened, iron-willed warrior.
"Yeah," sighed Inoue, a reporter from Tennis Monthly, standing outside the crowd. "This year, Hyotei has been infused with a new energy. Everyone has changed under that person's influence."
From Atobe and Oshitari at the top to Hiyoshi and Shouro at the bottom, the arrival of Ishikawa had elevated Hyotei from a team that was merely a national contender to a powerhouse that now firmly overshadowed even the reigning champions, Rikkai Dai!
"Too bad," Inoue added, his gaze shifting to a blue figure moving on the court. "In this situation, Hyotei's Doubles 2 is likely to lose."
At that moment, Shishido was running across the court, but his movements were noticeably less fluid than before. Upon closer inspection, one could see a faint trace of blood seeping through the bandage on his arm.
Whoosh!
A blindingly fast shot streaked past.
Shishido gritted his teeth and chased after it, but the pain in his knee twisted his face into a grimace with every step.
Swish!
In the end, he missed the ball.
Standing at the edge of the court, Shishido cursed himself for not being faster.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
To the shock of everyone watching, he began slamming his racket against his bleeding knee.
"Shishido-senpai!" Ootori rushed over to stop him. "It's just one point! We can still win it back. Don't hurt yourself like this!"
"Ootori, you don't understand," Shishido shook his head repeatedly.
He knew his current state was like a tightly drawn string. If he loosened even a little, he would lose his edge. So, he had to stay absolutely focused, even if it meant hurting himself.
"Senpai!" Ootori suddenly shouted, his voice unusually fierce. "What kind of match do you think this is? This is doubles! You have me! I promise you, no matter what, I'll defend the baseline!"
"Ootori..." Shishido was stunned.
He had never seen the usually gentle Ootori act so fiercely. But as he looked into Ootori's clear, sincere eyes, a warmth spread through his heart.
"I understand," Shishido finally said.
With that, the two took their positions, ready to face Rikkai's onslaught with their strongest defense.
Unfortunately, Shishido's injury was severe. What should have been a flawless net defense was now riddled with gaps against a top-tier player like Yanagi.
As a result, Hyotei's duo was pushed back relentlessly.
Thud!
"Game! Rikkai Dai, 6-5!"
"Tch," Kaidoh sneered from the sidelines. "I thought they were supposed to be strong. Is this all they've got?"
The rest of Rikkai's team shared knowing smiles.
Honestly, Shishido's tough-guy act and Ootori's outburst had startled them. They had expected a fierce counterattack, but instead, Yanagi had completely suppressed them.
"Well," Marui chuckled, "Yanagi isn't the type to be intimidated by a show of force."
"True," Jackal nodded in agreement.
With this, the match was tied at one win each. Regardless of the outcome of Singles 2, with their doubles pair securing a win and Yukimura anchoring Singles 1, Rikkai was confident of ultimate victory.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
In the twelfth game, Rikkai launched a fierce offensive.
On Hyotei's side, Shishido did his best to defend, but the score kept slipping away. Frustration gnawed at him, and he couldn't help but feel that Ootori's earlier promise had been too bold. If he had pushed himself harder, maybe they could have turned the tide.
Thinking this, he glanced back at Ootori.
Thud!
Yanagi's shot landed precisely on the baseline. It was hard to believe that at this stage of the match, he could still maintain such precise control.
"Huh?!"
But then, Shishido's eyes widened as he noticed something.
Swish!
A figure lunged toward the ball, completely disregarding his own safety.
Thud!
Ootori's body hit the ground hard, but he managed to return the ball. He quickly got back up, his eyes locked on his opponents, ready to dive again if needed.
"Ootori..." Shishido was speechless.
He had never expected Ootori to go to such lengths during a match. Even if he had missed those shots, Shishido would never have blamed him afterward.
"I promise you, no matter what, I'll defend the baseline!"
Shishido recalled Ootori's determined, clear-eyed promise, and his heart trembled. A look of guilt crossed his face.
"I actually doubted your promise..."
After a moment of self-reproach, Shishido's gaze sharpened as he looked at his opponents. "Ootori, I've received your resolve. Now, let's fight together... side by side!"
Step!
With that, Shishido dashed forward, intercepting the incoming shot.
Huff... huff...
At the baseline, Ootori, who had been ready to dive again, noticed the ball wasn't coming his way. Looking up, he saw Shishido standing at the net like a towering tree, blocking Rikkai's attacks.
"Shishido-senpai..."
Watching Shishido move swiftly, returning shot after shot, Ootori felt a similar tremor in his heart.
In that moment, he too felt Shishido's resolve.
With renewed determination, Ootori stood firm at the baseline, ready to cover any gaps.
Their spirits and resolve were aligning, resonating at a unique frequency.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
On the court, the four players clashed fiercely.
As the match progressed, Rikkai's duo grew increasingly puzzled. Especially Yanagi. According to his data, their opponents' stamina and condition should have been nearing their limits. So why did it feel like they were getting stronger?
"Did my data fail?" Yanagi narrowed his eyes.
His instincts told him something beyond his control was happening.
"Hmph," Yanagi's eyes flashed coldly. "Just one more point. No matter how much you resist, it's futile!"
Swish!
With that, Yanagi swung his racket, sending a sharp, high-speed slice shot across the net.
"It's over!" Rikkai's team cheered from the sidelines.
"You think it'll be that easy?"
But on the other side, Shishido stepped forward. Ignoring the pain in his knee, he activated Limit Break, chasing down the ball and returning it.
"Useless," Yanagi shook his head. "The probability of you using Limit Break is 56%, but the probability of Niou hitting Laser Beam is... 100%!"
Whoosh!
As soon as he spoke, a laser-like beam shot past Yanagi.
The ball was too fast.
Even at full strength, Shishido might have struggled to return it. But now, injured as he was, he could only watch as the ball flew past.
Step! Step!
But then, a figure dashed from the baseline—Ootori!
As Shishido's backup, he had anticipated that Yanagi might follow up with an even faster shot.
Sure enough, Niou unleashed what should have been the winning shot—the Laser Beam!
Now, Ootori was giving it his all. His usually calm, gentle face was twisted in determination, every muscle straining.
But Niou's Laser Beam was simply too fast.
Despite his rigorous daily training, Ootori felt a deep sense of helplessness.
"Should I give up?"
A voice whispered in his mind.
He knew that even if he stopped now, no one would blame him. He had done his best.
But then another thought emerged: "What would Shishido-senpai do?"
He thought of Shishido, who had pushed through the pain, refusing to give up despite every step being agony.
Swish!
In that moment, Ootori's eyes hardened with resolve.
Step!
With all his strength, he charged toward the ball.
Swish!
But then, his foot slipped, and he lost his balance, falling forward.
"Ootori!!!"
The Hyotei team cried out in alarm.
Watching Ootori fall, Hiyoshi's heart sank.
He knew it was over.
There was no way Hyotei could turn this doubles match around now.
On the other side, Rikkai's team breathed a collective sigh of relief.
They had won!
The doubles match was theirs!
Hum...
But then, a milky-white aura began to swirl around Ootori.
"Is that... the Muga no Kyouchi?!"
Spectators and representatives from other schools gasped in disbelief.
"No! That's not it!" Chitose suddenly interjected. "That's not the Muga no Kyouchi!"
As someone deeply versed in the Muga no Kyouchi, he could tell that the energy emanating from Ootori was something entirely different.
Hum...
In the next moment, the aura extended to Shishido at the net. Like a white ribbon, it connected the two in a unique way.
Swish!
Suddenly, Ootori's eyes took on a golden hue.
As he fell, he lunged forward, striking the ball just as it bounced.
Whoosh!
In an instant, a sharp yellow streak shot past Yanagi and Niou, landing between them.
Thud!
The ball hit the ground before they could react.
"This..."
Yanagi's eyes widened. He glanced at the two figures enveloped in the white aura, then turned to the calm-faced boy on the sidelines. "Did you... foresee this too?"
At that moment, a deep sense of dread washed over Yanagi.
If Ishikawa had predicted this from the sidelines, then he was truly terrifying.
Thinking of the strange energy surrounding Shishido and Ootori, Yanagi's heart sank.
This match was going to be tough!
"Out!"
But just then, the referee's voice rang out. "Game over! Rikkai Dai Fuzoku's Yanagi Renji and Niou Masaharu win, 7-5!"
"Out... out of bounds?!"
Everyone turned to look at the baseline.
Sure enough, Ootori's return had landed just outside the line, missing it by about three centimeters.
"Phew..."
Rikkai's team collectively exhaled in relief.
Even Kaidoh, who had been confident earlier, felt a lingering sense of unease.
Thankfully, they had won.
With one win and one loss, Hyotei and Rikkai were back on equal footing.
"Ootori..."
After the loss, the strange energy around Shishido and Ootori dissipated.
Shishido turned to his partner, his expression complex.
"What a shame!"
Mukahi lamented from the sidelines. "If that ball hadn't gone out, the match would have been completely different."
"Yeah," Hiyoshi agreed. "Too bad Ootori's condition was off, leading to that mistake."
"A mistake?" Ishikawa chuckled. "If I'm not mistaken, Ootori-senpai intentionally hit that last shot out."
"Intentionally? No way!"
The others stared in disbelief.
This was Ootori we were talking about! While others might pull off such tricks, Ootori would never!
"Hmm."
But Atobe and Oshitari seemed to understand. Their eyes drifted to Shishido's bloodied knee.