The lunch break quickly passed, and the afternoon finals were about to begin. Many spectators had already arrived at the final match venue and were settling into their seats.
As the regulars from Fudomine and Rikkai entered, the crowd erupted into cheers. The players from Seigaku and Hyōtei, who had just finished their morning matches, also made their way to the stands to watch the upcoming final.
Before the match began, the players followed the staff's instructions and went to the net to bow. The Doubles 2 players then began their warm-up. All the other players, except the coaches, took seats in the first row of the audience. Since Fudomine and Rikkai didn't have coaches, Akashi and Yukimura took the seats at the coaches' tables.
Ten minutes later, the warm-up ended, and the players returned to the court. The referee took their position, and the official start of the Kanto Tournament finals was announced.
"Now, let's begin the Doubles 2 match! Fudomine's Akutsu Jin and Kite Eishirō will face Rikkai's Nioh Masaharu and Yagyū Hiroshi. Please enter the court, players!"
The four players walked onto the court and bowed at the net. Nioh, with a smile, said, "I didn't expect to meet you in Doubles 2, this is going to be a challenge~ Puri!"
Kite, with a cold laugh, replied, "I don't believe a word that comes out of the 'court fraudster's' mouth!"
Nioh smiled even more, "You're going to hurt my feelings, Kite-kun!"
Akutsu, clearly impatient, said, "Enough chatter! Let's get on with it!"
At Akutsu's command, the four players stopped talking and proceeded to the coin toss. As expected, Nioh won the serve.
After both sides took their positions, Kite, interested, looked across at Nioh. He was curious about which illusion Nioh would create for this match.
Without hesitation, Nioh switched his racket to his left hand. His figure swayed slightly, and then Tezuka's figure appeared before the crowd. When it came to serving, Tezuka's Zero-Style Serve was definitely top-tier, and only Ochi's Mach Serve could possibly top it.
When Akutsu and Kite saw Nioh mimic Tezuka, their expressions didn't change much. They had already expected this. Akutsu even appeared slightly intrigued.
"Tezuka" tossed the ball into the air and, as it descended to the right spot, swung his racket. The ball, with complex spin, shot toward their side, but its speed was not high.
Akutsu quickly moved to the landing point, focusing on the ball. Even he couldn't deny the power of the Zero-Style Serve.
As the ball hit the ground, Akutsu swung his racket against it, and the ball suddenly accelerated, bouncing upward for a short distance before landing back on his racket.
"Illegal return! 15-0!"
Akutsu frowned at the ball, feeling something was different. He usually handled Tezuka's Zero-Style Serve with ease, but this one felt slightly off, though he couldn't quite place why.
"Tezuka" remained expressionless, tossing another ball up and serving again. This time, Akutsu reached the landing point but waited, watching the spin after the ball landed. It rolled back slowly before hitting the net, and Akutsu made no move.
"ACE! 30-0!"
On the third Zero-Style Serve, Akutsu again stayed still, focusing intently on the ball as it fell. He watched it as though trying to see through it.
"ACE! 40-0!"
As "Tezuka" prepared to serve a fourth Zero-Style, Akutsu's lips curled into a cruel smile. He had figured out Nioh's serve.
A silver aura surrounded Akutsu, and he activated his Shura Mode. As "Tezuka" served again, Akutsu moved quickly to the landing point. At the moment the ball touched the ground and began to spin, he swung his racket, intercepting the ball.
In the next instant, Akutsu managed to scoop the ball up without the referee calling an illegal return. He had successfully countered the Zero-Style Serve. Afterward, Akutsu deactivated his Shura Mode.
"Tezuka, your serve was broken by Akutsu. What do you think now?" Tachibana asked Tezuka, grinning.
"It's true that Nioh's Zero-Style still has slight flaws. Given Akutsu's strength, it's not surprising he could return it," Tezuka calmly responded.
"You're saying that Nioh's Zero-Style still bounces?" Chitose asked, surprised. He hadn't noticed anything different.
"Yes, that last ball wasn't perfectly flat. It barely bounced, but if it weren't for Akutsu, no one else would have been able to return it," Tezuka explained seriously.
Meanwhile, on the court, after Akutsu returned "Tezuka's" Zero-Style Serve, Yagyū immediately reacted. He dashed toward the landing point and made a sharp stroke, sending the ball with a strange curve flying to the opposite side.
Kite appeared at the landing point in what seemed like an instant. As he was about to strike, the ball suddenly curved sharply to the left after hitting the ground and flew out of bounds.
"Curving Laser Beam!"
"GAME! Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku! 1-0!"
Yagyū Hiroshi
Kite stared grimly at Yagyū, who had assumed his signature pose. Even he had failed to react to the previous shot, but trying to score with this move again wouldn't be so easy. His full-range Shukuchiho was not to be underestimated.
Before the second set began, Nioh, who had already returned to his usual self, suddenly removed the wristband from his right hand and tossed it behind him. The wristband landed accurately in the hands of Akutsu, who fumbled for a moment.
"Is it weighted? Doesn't seem like it. That looks like a specially designed training wristband!" Akashi murmured from Fudomine's coach seat.
After removing the wristband, Nioh rotated his right wrist, then switched the racket to his right hand. His expression turned serious, and after a deep breath, his form began to blur.
The next moment, a young man with white short hair and dark skin appeared before them, wearing the Japan team's uniform. It was none other than the current U17 No. 4 player—Tanegashima Shuji.
Having experienced the broader world, Nioh's illusion powers had drastically improved. Unlike the past, when he could only mimic middle school players, he could now replicate U17 high school players, and even first-string members.
While the strength of the illusion versions of these players was still weaker than the originals, they were of immense help to Nioh. He had even seen foreign players at the World Cup and could replicate one or two of them, though he had no intention to. After all, Japan's U17 players were far stronger than those of most other countries.
Kite, standing at the baseline, gazed sharply at the 'Tanegashima' Nioh had just created. He didn't hesitate and tossed the ball up, unleashing a powerful swing. The ball shot forward with tremendous energy, heading straight to the opposite side.
'Tanegashima' arrived at the landing point in just a few steps. As the ball hit the ground, a cloud of dust rose before the ball rebounded with force toward him.
"Big Bang Serve!"
In an instant, a racket intercepted the ball's path. As the ball made contact with the racket, a strange spiritual fluctuation slowly spread from the racket, neutralizing both the impact and spin of the ball.
"Halt Destruction Nothingness (Illusion Version)!"
"Oh? While it's not the real Halt Destruction Nothingness, the effect is quite close. Looks like you've put in quite a bit of effort, Nioh!" Akashi remarked calmly from the sidelines.
'Tanegashima' casually returned Kite's Big Bang Serve. Kite's Big Bang was already as powerful as Date's "Springtime of Danji ", but it had no effect on 'Tanegashima.'
In an instant, Akutsu appeared at the net and swung with tremendous force, sending the ball speeding to the opposite corner. However, 'Tanegashima' reappeared, intercepting the ball effortlessly.
With the power of the illusion version of Halt Destruction Nothingness, 'Tanegashima' clashed directly with Akutsu. Kite and Yagyū occasionally filled in with their own support, and the match intensified.
Even with 'Tanegashima's' Halt Destruction Nothingness, both Nioh and Yagyū were weaker than Akutsu and Kite overall. Even the real Tanegashima, despite his superior skills, couldn't claim a definite victory over Akutsu. Of course, he wouldn't lose either.
"15-0!"
In the end, Kite used his Shukuchiho to hit a shot that Nioh couldn't react to in time, claiming the point. After all, Nioh's physical attributes and those of Tanegashima couldn't compare.
Kite served the Big Bang again, this time applying Sweet Spot Technique to further enhance its power. But once again, 'Tanegashima's' Halt Destruction Nothingness intercepted the ball.
The battle raged on as both sides exchanged powerful blows. 'Tanegashima' pushed Halt Destruction Nothingness to its limits, blocking every one of Akutsu's powerful smashes. Kite's Shukuchiho completely countered Yagyū's Curving Laser Beam.
"30-0!"
"40-0!"
With back-to-back points, Nioh and Yagyū couldn't prevent themselves from losing more points. The situation on the court was clearly unfavorable for them, yet Nioh maintained his illusion of Tanegashima without losing heart. Yagyū, too, remained calm, as always.
Even though Nioh knew his serve wouldn't work against 'Tanegashima,' Kite unleashed another full-force Big Bang Serve. As expected, 'Tanegashima' returned it.
Akutsu, observing the flying ball, displayed visible frustration and swung his racket at it. The ball shone with dazzling golden light, transforming into a massive orb of light that sped towards the opposite side.
"Glowing Shot!"
'Tanegashima' didn't flinch as the massive light orb approached. He dashed straight at it and, just before the orb reached him, swung his racket. The next moment, the light orb vanished, and a tennis ball glowing with golden light crashed into 'Tanegashima's' racket.
Despite the ball's tremendous force, the racket emitted layers of spiritual waves, preventing the ball from breaking through. Some of the impact from the ball slammed into the wall behind 'Tanegashima,' cracking it.
Fortunately, the court had been renovated a year ago, and the surrounding walls were raised higher, preventing spectators from being in danger during such intense shots.
'Tanegashima,' covered in sweat, gritted his teeth, gripping the racket tightly. Gradually, the force from the ball dissipated, and the next moment, both the ball and racket fell to the ground. 'Tanegashima's' figure blurred, turning back into Nioh.
Nioh, wincing in pain, clutched his right wrist, clearly suffering from the Glowing Shot that had exceeded his limits and caused some injury to his wrist.
"GAME! Fudomine! 1-1!"
Seeing Nioh's condition, Yagyū immediately rushed to his side, asking about Nioh's well-being.
"Nioh! Are you okay? Did your right hand get hurt?"
"I'm fine~ That last Glowing Shot was stronger than I expected. My right hand might need a few rounds to recover!" Nioh said with a wry smile.
"Got it. I'll take the lead from here. You find chances to support," Yagyū said firmly.
"Puri~ Teaming up with you was definitely the right call. So gentlemanly!" Nioh joked.
The third game was Yagyū's serve. As he stood at the baseline ready to serve, Nioh held his racket in his left hand, and his form began to blur again. A boy in a Shitenhōji uniform with short chōji brown hair, the ends slightly curling upward, appeared before everyone's eyes.
Yagyū looked at the 'Shiraishi Kuranosuke' in front of him and more or less guessed Nioh's next move. This level of coordination was something they had built over time.
Yagyū tossed the ball high and instantly swung. The ball turned into a beam of light and shot toward the opposite court at high speed.
"Laser Beam!"
The speed was fast, but for Kite, who had mastered the Shukuchi-hō, it wasn't hard to return. In a flash, Kite appeared at the landing point and returned the shot. The ball curved strangely as it crossed the net.
"Habu!"
The ball twisted and swerved past Yagyū toward the baseline, but 'Shiraishi' appeared and returned it with flawless form.
Akutsu, standing at the net, intercepted and smashed the ball in an incomprehensible stance. The ball turned into a blur as it flew toward the backcourt.
Yagyū rushed over and countered with a strong smash. The ball streaked like a laser toward the ground. Akutsu instantly reacted, stretching out his racket. After bouncing, the ball veered sharply to the right.
But Akutsu launched off both legs and leapt sideways into the air. After two full-body spins, he slammed the ball down with force.
The ball sped toward the baseline faster than Yagyū could react, but 'Shiraishi' got there just in time and chopped the ball with the frame of his racket.
The ball, carrying a strong sidespin, curved into Akutsu's left-side gap. Kite used the Shukuchi-hō to appear there instantly, but just as he was about to swing, the ball began spinning wildly after it bounced, circling in a tight pattern and forming twelve shadow images that hugged the ground and spun out of bounds.
"Entaku Strike!"
"15-0!"
"Mm~~ Ecstasy!" 'Shiraishi' tilted his head back in satisfaction after scoring.
Kite's gaze grew dangerous after the point. He shot a glance at 'Shiraishi,' then shifted to Yagyū, lips curling into a cold smirk.
On the next point, Yagyū fired another Laser Beam, but it still didn't work on Kite, who returned it with ease. They resumed a fierce rally. This time, Yagyū led the offense while 'Shiraishi' supported with perfect fundamental tennis.
After Yagyū launched a Reflective Laser Beam, Kite intercepted it using the Shukuchi-hō. The next instant, the returned ball vanished, and darkness swallowed Yagyū and 'Shiraishi's' court.
"Dark Side!"
A massive dark light sphere suddenly appeared in front of Yagyū. Before he could react, his right hand went numb, and the racket flew from his grip, spinning in the air before landing on the ground.
When the darkness cleared, Yagyū was rubbing his right hand. His racket had fallen nearby, and the ball—now deformed—was lying near the wall, where a deep dent had appeared.
"15-15!"
Kite had held back, not aiming directly at Yagyū's body. He simply knocked the racket away, leaving Yagyū's arm temporarily numb.
Now both Nioh and Yagyū had issues with their right hands. Thankfully, Yagyū's condition was minor—just some numbness—so he could still play normally, though his special techniques were temporarily unusable.
As expected, Yagyū served normally on the next point. 'Shiraishi' didn't have any flashy moves, relying entirely on flawless fundamentals. This left them at a clear disadvantage.
"15-30!"
"15-40!"
"GAME! Fudōmine! 2-1! Change courts!"
Akutsu and Kite used aggressive attacks to take the third game. During the break, Nioh and Yagyū headed to the coach's bench to rehydrate.
"Is your right hand okay, Nioh?" Yukimura asked with concern.
"Can't use it for now, but it's not injured. Just needs time to recover," Nioh replied honestly.
"That's good. What about you, Yagyū?" Yukimura turned to him.
"It's still a little numb, but not a big deal," Yagyū said, adjusting his glasses.
Yukimura nodded, saying no more. He knew both players were calm and level-headed—there wasn't much he needed to instruct.
On the Fudōmine bench, Akashi didn't say much either. He simply reminded his players not to injure anyone.
The break soon ended. The four players switched courts and returned to the match. Nioh was still holding his racket in his left hand. The spectators stared at him with excitement, wondering—who would he become this time?