After the semifinals concluded, there was still a week left before the finals.
Yoru and the others needed to return to school first, then head back to Kansai the day before the championship match.
On the bus ride home, the team chatted excitedly, daydreaming about what it would feel like to lift the championship trophy.
Only Yoru seemed drowsy, lulled by the white noise of the bus—until a sudden system alert jolted him awake.
[Ding! Detected that 'Echizen Ryoma' has mastered Sweet Spot Technique (Lv. 1). Feedback multiplier activated: You have mastered Sweet Spot Technique (Lv. 3)!]
[Due to your Five Dimensions stats, Sweet Spot Technique has been upgraded to Lv. 8!]
[Reminder: You now meet the conditions to develop the "Lightning Strike" shot. It is recommended that you attempt it yourself. Ryoma's Five Dimensions are insufficient to raise Sweet Spot Technique to Lv. 5 before the main storyline begins.]
["Lightning Strike" requires at least Lv. 5 Sweet Spot Technique to attempt development.]
"Damn, that's huge!"
Yoru's sleepiness vanished, replaced by excitement.
He hadn't expected Ryoma to already grasp the basics of Sweet Spot Technique at this age.
Even if Ryoma couldn't push it to Lv. 5 yet, it still unlocked a new skill path for Yoru.
Turning to QP, he said, "After we get back to Seishun Gakuen, let's train at the court under the railway bridge. There's a technique I want to try."
"Understood."
QP nodded. When it came to tennis, he rarely refused.
---
After a long and bumpy ride, the bus finally pulled up at Seigaku's gates.
Yoru stood and clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.
"Rest up today. Recover your energy—training resumes tomorrow as usual."
"One last week. Push through!"
His voice echoed through the bus, but before the words even settled—
"No need to rush. There's still time!"
Kaidoh suddenly stood up. "I can squeeze in extra practice. I'll head home after 8 PM."
"Huh?"
Yoru blinked. Already skipping rest?
Are the Kaidoh family genetically engineered to be training maniacs or something?
In the original series, Kaidoh Kaoru was infamous for his brutal, almost self-torturous training regimen.
Inspired by Kaidoh, Kawamura and the others also voiced their eagerness to keep training.
With only a week left, they were desperate to improve however they could.
Seeing their determination, Yoru realized—
The old, lazy Seigaku was long gone.
With their dream so close, no one wanted to waste what might be their only shot at glory.
He didn't argue.
---
Back at the tennis club, the team dove into intense drills.
Sprinting, jumping, striking—sweat soaked through their shirts as they pushed their limits.
Time flew, and before they knew it, 8 PM arrived.
Exhausted but mentally invigorated, the players finally dispersed.
Only then did Yoru and QP make their way to the railway bridge court.
The damage from Yoru's earlier match with Ralph had been completely repaired—the court looked brand new.
"Who the hell maintains this place?" Yoru muttered.
He'd chosen this spot for a reason: the court quality was on par with national tournament standards—practically professional-grade.
Shaking off the thought, the two stepped onto the court.
"The technique I'm trying is dangerous," Yoru warned. "Don't force yourself to return it."
"Understood." QP nodded, inwardly wary.
It was rare for Yoru to be this cautious.
---
Yoru closed his eyes, visualizing the principles of Sweet Spot Technique and Lightning Strike:
- Sweet Spot: The optimal contact point on the racket that minimizes arm strain while maximizing power.
- Lightning Strike: A shot struck perfectly within the Sweet Spot, generating overwhelming force.
- Super Sweet Spot (SSS): A near-mythical zone within the Sweet Spot that amplifies power exponentially. The "Destroy" shot is born from this point.
In theory, no one can consistently hit the SSS—only approach it.
Mastering Sweet Spot Technique is a lifelong pursuit. Even minor refinements lead to drastic power spikes.
But that was a problem for future Yoru.
Right now, he just needed to land a Lightning Strike.
According to the system, once he grasped it, his Five Dimensions would instantly elevate its level.
Lightning Strike was near-Otherworldly tier, with almost no drawbacks—a perfect addition to his arsenal.
Yoru tossed the ball, his focus sharpening. A faint glow flickered at his fingertips as he swung—
BOOM!
A radiant sphere rocketed toward QP's side, though the shockwave was milder than expected.
"Lightning Strike? You're developing this?" QP raised an eyebrow.
The technique wasn't a secret internationally—many trained Sweet Spot Technique, but few specialized in Lightning Strike.
Not because it was weak, but because it lacked versatility.
Most used Sweet Spot to enhance existing techniques (like Oni's Black Axe → Golden Axe).
Others, like Ryoma and Tokugawa, modified Lightning Strike itself (e.g., Hope Shot, Twist Spin Strike).
QP had assumed Yoru would take the first path—infusing Sweet Spot into his moves.
Instead, he was going all-in on Lightning Strike variations.
"Not 'developing' yet. Just laying the groundwork."
[Ding! Congratulations, Master! You have mastered Lightning Strike (Lv. 1)!]
[Due to your Five Dimensions and Sweet Spot Technique, Lightning Strike has been upgraded to Lv. 8!]
With Lv. 8 Sweet Spot Technique, mastering Lightning Strike was effortless.
Yoru gripped another ball—lightning crackled around it as a dazzling glow erupted.
"QP… brace yourself."