"Burning!"
An electrifying shout echoed across the court.
The ball hurtling toward Ryoma Echizen was smashed back with brutal force, the impact distorting its shape into an irregular oval. The return was so fast that Sasabe barely had time to react, his racket swinging in a frantic attempt to intercept.
But the sheer power behind the shot was overwhelming.
Less than half a second later, Sasabe's fingers stung from the force, forcing him to release his grip.
"What—?!"
His eyes widened in shock as the ball sent his racket flying, crashing into the court's fencing with a resounding thud.
"Seigaku scores, 15-0!"
---
Hyotei's Bench
"That power… It knocked the racket right out of Sasabe-senpai's hand!"
Shishido Ryo stared at the court in disbelief, sweat trickling down from under his cap. It was hard to believe that a first-year like Takashi Kawamura could wield such monstrous strength.
"The data mentioned Kawamura's abnormal power, but this is ridiculous," Mukahi Gakuto muttered, his expression tense.
Even if Sasabe and his partner slacked off in training, they were still third-years. Their physical strength should've naturally surpassed most first-years.
---
Seigaku's Bench
"Takashi's going all out, meow~!"
Kikumaru Eiji hung over the railing, eyes sparkling as he watched the match. The sheer intensity of Kawamura's strikes had the crowd roaring in excitement.
In his "Burning" mode, Kawamura didn't hold back—especially now that he was refining his sweet spot technique.
Sasabe's pair had mediocre overall stats, with none specializing in power. Years of neglected training had dulled their reflexes, leaving them utterly defenseless against Kawamura's relentless attacks.
"His power has increased again…"
Inui Sadaharu scribbled calculations into his notebook, analyzing the force behind Kawamura's latest return.
With their only weak point now gone, Hyotei's duo fell deeper into disarray. The score climbed rapidly in Seigaku's favor.
Thud!
Seigaku scores, 2-0!
Thud!
Seigaku scores, 4-0!
Thud!
Hyotei scores, 1-5!
Hyotei managed to scrape a single game by targeting Kawamura, but it was too little, too late.
The final score? 6-1.
Seigaku claimed the first match with ease, taking a 1-0 lead in the overall score.
---
"We won, meow~!"
Kikumaru bounced around excitedly in the bench area, while "Mom" Oishi dutifully handed towels to Kawamura and Yamato, discreetly confiscating Kawamura's racket to snap him out of his fiery trance.
"S-Sorry if I scared anyone…" Kawamura scratched his head sheepishly, back to his usual timid self.
"Good work," Yoru nodded before turning to Oishi and Kikumaru. "Next up—your opponents are decent. Don't let your guard down."
Then, to Kikumaru: "Mukahi's playstyle is similar to yours. I want you to think about how to counter someone who mirrors your own strengths."
If Kikumaru relied on dance-like footwork, then Mukahi was pure "flea-style"—obsessed with acrobatic jumps.
"Yes!"
Oishi and Kikumaru grabbed their rackets and began warming up.
---
Hyotei's Bench
The atmosphere was subdued.
Losing was expected for Sasabe's pair—their lack of training and mediocre talent made them deadweight outside of seniority.
"Our apologies…" Sasabe muttered awkwardly.
Coach Atobe didn't even glance their way, instead addressing Shishido and Mukahi:
"You've studied their data. No need to overthink it—just play your game."
The rest of the team ignored Sasabe entirely, leaving the two to slink back to their seats in silence.
---
"Oishi Shuichiroh and Kikumaru Eiji…"
Shishido and Mukahi exchanged a tense look.
As Seigaku's new-generation doubles pair, they'd been under scrutiny since the regional tournaments—and they'd lived up to expectations, improving with every match.
Though they lacked flashy techniques, their traditional doubles synergy had earned high praise.
Dubbed the "heirs to Seigaku's doubles legacy", they were a formidable duo.
"We fight at full strength!" Mukahi declared.
---
The match began with Shishido's serve.
Whoosh—!
As the referee's whistle blew, Shishido launched the ball high, smashing it down at the peak of its arc.
Thud!
The ball shot toward the outer corner—fast for an average player, but nothing Seigaku couldn't handle with their enhanced reflexes.
The moment it bounced, Oishi effortlessly returned it with a sharp spin shot, the ball hissing as it skidded across the court.
Shishido hesitated, stunned.
In just one exchange, Oishi had flipped the momentum with precision.
"Incredible…"
Data alone couldn't capture the pressure of facing them in person.
Shishido gritted his teeth and countered with a lightning-fast half-volley, accelerating the rally.
"That's his 'Super Speed Half-Volley'!" Yamato noted, impressed.
"So quick, meow~!"
Yet before the ball could even cross the net, Kikumaru was already there, intercepting with a flawless net volley.
"His reflexes… They're almost on par with Tezuka's!" Inui remarked confidently.
Yoru smirked.
Actually, they're even faster.
Kikumaru's reflexes were his innate gift—now further amplified by their training. Combined with the +1 cheer squad buff, victory was all but assured.
Thud!
A golden streak zipped past Shishido and Mukahi, sealing the point.
"Seigaku scores, 15-0!"
A breathtaking display of net dominance.
"We'll have to widen our angles to avoid his intercepts," Shishido muttered.
But broader angles meant higher risk.
As he clenched his racket, a voice cut through his thoughts.
"Ryo!"
Mukahi grinned from the front.
"Remember—you're not alone. This is doubles."
Shishido exhaled, nodding.
Right. Time to fight back.
---