"Actually, I've been meaning to say this... does Niō really need to copy someone that perfectly?" On the Japan Team bench, Tachibana Kippei watched "Ryōma's" cocky expression on court with a helpless sigh.
"That kind of thinking is completely wrong, you know~ Every great actor starts from imitation. And during imitation, one must also grasp the psychological flow of the character in every situation. I think Niō-kun's performance is absolutely flawless in that regard!" Irie said, clearly pleased with Niō's acting.
Everyone blinked at Irie's words. As strange as it sounded, they couldn't help but think he had a point. But a moment later, they all shook their heads, quickly erasing that dangerous thought—none of them were as obsessed with performance as Irie was.
"This serve isn't in my database. How troublesome..." Jonathan muttered, running a hand through his hair. Even with his calm personality, frustration was beginning to surface.
Meanwhile, "Ryōma" had already returned to the baseline. Without hesitation, he struck the ball again, sending it across to the other side. This time Edgard was the receiver. He predicted the landing point and got into position, keeping his leg muscles tense and ready.
But "Ryōma" didn't use the Samurai Kick Serve again. Instead, the ball bounced almost straight up at a ninety-degree angle, catching Edgard completely off guard. Luckily, he managed to react in time and barely returned it.
The moment the ball crossed the net, golden light flickered from the opposite court. Jonathan and Edgard immediately thought of the Glowing Shot. They focused all their attention, with Edgard already moving his racket to defend.
The next second, "Ryōma's" body was engulfed in golden light. He leapt high near the net, spun once in midair, and smashed down with full force. The ball turned into a spinning whirlwind, cutting through the air at incredible speed.
"Cyclone Smash!"
"40–0!"
"As expected of the Trickster on the court. This kind of psychological play… even the real Echizen couldn't pull that off," Yagyū said from the stands, pushing up his glasses with a proud smile.
"Edgard-senpai! The strength the opponent's showing now completely deviates from my data! It looks like the Echizen Ryōma from the U.S. team wasn't showing his real power in earlier matches!" Jonathan said, frowning deeply.
"As expected. The only thing we can do now is give it everything we've got!" Edgard replied, unfazed. After all, the American team was ranked fifth in the world—it was obvious they wouldn't have shown their full hand in the group stage.
When "Ryōma" served for the fourth time, Edgard finally returned the ball perfectly. Both French players immediately fixed their attention on "Ryōma." But the next instant, a silver flash of light swept past them.
"Game! Japan! 2–1!"
"Tch~ I let my guard down! Totally got played!" Edgard spat, clicking his tongue as he and Jonathan walked back to their bench in frustration.
On the Japan Team's side, Niō had already reverted to his usual self, while Kaji sat beside him, eating a banana and gulping down water. He had to make full use of this short break.
"You'll have to judge for yourself when to use that state again. I don't think I need to remind you about the stamina issue," Coach Mifune said calmly, watching Kaji closely.
"I understand, Head Coach!" Kaji took a deep breath and nodded firmly.
"As for you, Niō… watch your mental power consumption. And don't expose your Infinite Illusion ability too early," Mifune continued, turning toward Niō.
"Got it! Puri~" Niō answered with a grin, making an OK sign with his hand.
The timeout soon ended, and the four players returned to the court. Niō rested his chin in his hand, eyeing the French pair with a playful glint in his eyes. He began pondering who to transform into next, the corners of his mouth curling higher with mischief.
On the opposite side, Jonathan and Edgard were thinking the same thing—trying to guess who Niō would copy next. But they both knew it was pointless. A moment later, Niō's body started to blur and distort once again.
"Alright then, let me and my beloved end this match together~"
Under everyone's stunned gaze, "Camus" lifted his racket, kissed it lightly, and spoke in a slow, elegant tone.
"C-Captain!!!" Jonathan froze, staring blankly at the "Camus" across the court, completely at a loss for words.
"Damn it! Are you trying to mock us?!" Edgard finally couldn't hold back, his face twisting in anger as he roared at "Camus."
"When someone walks the same path as you, it only proves your revolution is moving in the right direction! So there's no need to be angry, Delacroix!" "Camus" replied in that all-too-familiar tone, completely ignoring Edgard's fury.
On the Japan Team's bench, Duke could only sigh helplessly and glance apologetically toward the real Camus. But the actual Camus didn't seem offended at all. He shook his head lightly at Duke, his lips curling into an intrigued smile as he looked at the "himself" standing on court.
"I wonder… how deep is your understanding of revolution, Niō Masaharu?" the real Camus said for the first time, clearly pronouncing Niō's full name.
For a brief moment, silence filled the venue. Then, an explosive wave of cheers erupted, almost shaking the entire arena. Countless fans screamed "Camus-sama!" at the top of their lungs, their voices filled with excitement. It was the first time the Japan Team truly realized just how popular Camus was.
The fourth game began with Edgard's serve. His forehead veins bulged as he glared sharply at the "Camus" opposite him. Tossing the ball high, his racket spun through the air in a complex motion before slamming down hard.
The sound of impact echoed—his serve transformed into a ferocious polar bear, roaring as it lunged toward Kaji. But Kaji didn't hesitate for a second. He instantly activated his Godspeed Mode, his body vanishing from almost everyone's sight.
On the sidelines, Akashi and Atobe's pupils tracked the blur rapidly—they were among the few who could still follow Kaji's movements. Fuji activated Light Wind, and in the high-speed dimension of vision, he too managed to perceive Kaji's movement.
A flash of silver light tore across the court. The polar bear illusion shattered into mist, and the tennis ball shot toward the far-left corner with terrifying speed. Edgard, already focused after his serve, could only see a fading trail before the ball flew out of bounds.
"0–15!"
"Still no good, huh? Guess this guy's speed is a real problem..." Edgard muttered to himself, glancing briefly at Kaji.
He tossed the ball up again, this time abandoning his Art Tennis style. Instead, he charged forward toward the net, while Jonathan followed up beside him. When Kaji's body flared in silver light once more, the two had already formed a double interception formation.
In perfect sync, they crossed rackets—blocking Kaji's return for the first time. Both of them smiled in relief, but then, in the blink of an eye, a graceful figure flashed by. Countless flower petals drifted down through the air, and the ball appeared behind them, bouncing once before flying cleanly out of the court.
"0–30!"
"My beloved told me you'd manage to return that last ball. So of course, I couldn't just stand by and let my partner lose a point~" "Camus" said serenely, already standing near the net.
"You've got to be kidding me!!!" Edgard snarled, glaring so hard it looked like he could bite Niō in half.
"Don't let appearances fool you! Stay calm, Delacroix!" the real Camus suddenly called from the bench.
Hearing his captain's voice, Edgard exhaled sharply through his nose and said nothing more. He turned and walked back to the baseline. Jonathan's face remained stoic, but inside, he let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Just as Edgard prepared to serve again, a dazzling light began radiating from "Camus." The audience gasped—it looked eerily familiar, almost like the Light of Pride they had seen before.
But a moment later, they realized something was different. "Camus" hadn't activated the Light of Pride. The glow gathered slowly beside him, swirling gently before taking shape behind his back—forming a brilliant, heart-shaped aura.