"Here it comes—the ultimate showdown between the Kanto and Kansai champions!"
"Damn, you're a genius. That one line just raised the hype to another level."
"Shuuji Tanegashima, captain of Maizono Academy, possesses incredible return skills. He's a long-renowned powerhouse in Kansai."
...
Before the match even began, the stadium buzzed with chatter.
Many fans who closely followed the national tournament had been eagerly awaiting this match, curious to see who would come out on top.
Even Inui was intrigued—could Yoru break through Tanegashima's defense?
Eliminated teams turned their attention to the two players.
Unlike Yoru, who had risen to fame just this year, Tanegashima had been a prodigy since his first year. By his second year, he took over as captain, leading Maizono to the national stage and earning nationwide acclaim.
Many called him the best defender in middle school tennis.
Yoru gripped his racket and stood.
A cool breeze rustled his jacket as he stepped onto the court, eliciting cheers from the girls in the stands—much to the envy of the male spectators.
Strolling to the net, Yoru glanced toward Maizono's side, lips moving slightly.
Anyone close enough would've heard:
"More wind, please... so hot, so hot!"
...
"He's here, huh?"
Tanegashima took a deep breath but didn't step onto the court immediately. Instead, he warmed up on the sidelines.
Unlike Yoru—who rarely bothered with warm-ups—Tanegashima wasn't reckless.
Warm-ups prevented injuries, improved blood flow, and mentally prepared players. Most importantly, they ensured peak performance.
But Yoru? Thanks to his system-granted perfect reflexes, he was always in top condition. Hence, his warm-up count so far: zero.
Ten minutes later...
Tanegashima exhaled.
"Here."
Inui handed him his racket. "We're down 4-0."
The implication was clear: If possible, win at least one match. Don't let Maizono lose too embarrassingly.
"I'll do my best."
Tanegashima's gaze settled calmly on Yoru as he finally stepped onto the court.
Without waiting for the umpire's signal, the two shook hands across the net.
"Yoru-kun, I've been looking forward to this match," Tanegashima said, his usual playful grin absent, replaced by sheer determination. "After reviewing all your match records and Weekly Tennis's analysis, how could I not be excited?"
Yoru's documented matches were few, but every one ended in a shutout. His strength was undeniable.
Yoru's eyes burned with intensity. "Tell me—has anyone ever broken through your defense?"
Under that piercing stare, Tanegashima answered seriously, "Not once. Not head-on."
"Is that so?" Yoru smirked. "Then I'll be the first."
A crushing pressure instantly engulfed the court—
Haki.
Or, in Prince of Tennis terms, aura.
While not as exaggerated as One Piece's Conqueror's Haki or Bleach's Reiatsu, top players in the PoT universe could project their fighting spirit as tangible pressure.
This concept was fully realized in New Prince of Tennis, where monsters like Volk, Byoudouin, and Duke emitted overwhelming auras.
There was even a scene where Volk's mere gaze shattered an opponent's will to compete.
FLOKITOTO
"This pressure—?!"
Tanegashima's face paled. For a moment, breathing itself felt difficult.
"Come. Show me your strength."
Yoru turned and walked away, the oppressive aura dissipating as the crowd watched.
Reaching the baseline, he mused, "This world's insane. If we weren't playing tennis, it'd just be a superpower battleground."
Meanwhile, Tanegashima—now at his own baseline—assumed a defensive stance, heart still racing.
"The rumors about Yoru... they undersold him."
"BEEP BEEP—!
National Semifinals: Seigaku vs. Maizono Academy!
Singles 1: Yoru (Seigaku) to serve!"
With both players ready, the umpire signaled the start.
Yoru caught the ball tossed by the umpire.
No dribbling. Just a casual, sky-high toss—higher than normal—and a leap before it even peaked.
"A smash serve?"
Tanegashima leaned forward, ready to chase the rebound.
Such serves bounced high, demanding early returns.
THWACK—!
A single, sharp impact—when there should've been two (hit + bounce). The ball's speed merged the sounds.
"Too fast!"
Tanegashima's pupils contracted. Even with his sharp vision, he barely caught a blur.
Instinctively, he lunged wide, swinging at the ball just before its peak rebound.
"Whoa! That serve's insane!" Mizuki gasped. "That's the supersonic vertical serve Yoru learned recently, right? He's matching QP's speed—no, surpassing my Speed Serve!"
QP adjusted his glasses. "Yoru's five stats and fundamentals outclass mine. With this technique, reaching my velocity was inevitable."
He wasn't surprised—just impressed by Yoru's monstrous talent.
Even among Germany's elite, QP's rapid-growth phase made him a physical outlier. Yet pre-growth Yoru already surpassed him.
What kind of monster will he become after his growth spurt?
"But forget the serve—that Tanegashima guy returned it? That's terrifying!" Oishi stared in disbelief.
By the sound, Yoru's serve matched QP's Glowing Mode. Even Inui couldn't react—yet Tanegashima did.
THWACK—!
Tanegashima's return looked effortless.
"Enhanced Senses, huh?" Yoru narrowed his eyes.
[Enhanced Senses]: Superhuman reflexes. Neural transmission speeds multiples faster than normal. The longer the match, the sharper the senses.
Yoru wasn't shocked. His stats only led Tanegashima's by one tier.
With this innate talent + elite dynamic vision, returning his serve was plausible.
Tanegashima's 11-star rating mostly came from his defensive mastery. Other techniques barely moved the needle past 10 stars.
THWACK!
Another strike—Yoru fired Speed of Wind, the return blistering fast.
Yet before the ball finished rebounding, Tanegashima was already there, racket intercepting.
Another return.
Yoru's eyes gleamed.
"As expected of the 'Ultimate Punching Bag' of Prince of Tennis—keeping up with my speed? Perfect. Time to let loose!"