Here he comes!
As Ryoma Yoru stood up, the entire stadium buzzed with excitement.
Girls screamed, fans cheered, and Seigaku's team roared in support. The media immediately swung their cameras toward him. Players from other schools straightened in their seats, eyes locked onto Yoru—after all, he was the only player at the Nationals who didn't bother with warm-ups.
"Finally… the clash between last year's strongest and this year's dark horse. The ultimate battle."
"Yoru, huh? I wonder if he can actually defeat Byodoin."
"This is the singles-1 match. Can Byodoin salvage the last shred of dignity for Rokkaku, or will Yoru sweep him away?"
"No matter who wins, Seigaku will be remembered. And so will Rokkaku—this kind of score difference has never happened before."
Whispers spread among the spectators, their faces alight with anticipation.
The moment Yoru stepped onto the court, an overwhelming aura surged outward, making the very ground tremble.
"Ryoma…"
In the stands, a sunglasses-wearing Western woman gasped in shock.
The pressure was so intense that most people felt their breath hitch. Byodoin Houou, standing directly in its path, tensed up.
The two had never faced each other before. But from Ryoma's descriptions of the exhibition matches and that encounter with Oni Juujirou, it was clear Yoru was no ordinary player.
Still, Byodoin hadn't expected this level of dominance.
Yoru walked calmly to the center of the court, locking eyes with Byodoin. "Step up, Byodoin Houou."
As soon as he spoke, the suffocating pressure vanished.
Spectators gasped for air—even rival players struggled. Strangely, only the younger kids seemed unaffected, looking around in confusion.
Oni Juujirou narrowed his eyes. "Yoru's control over his aura is terrifying."
The fact that only children remained unharmed proved Yoru's mastery over his presence.
"Ryoma has always had exceptional mental fortitude. It gives him a natural edge in aura control. But…" Q.P. turned to Byodoin, his expression grave. "What worries me more is Byodoin Houou."
Oni frowned. "Should we really be concerned? If it's Yoru, he shouldn't have trouble winning."
"No." Q.P. cut him off sharply. "Ryoma loves showmanship. Even against us, he played with his jacket on. But now? He took it off and preemptively suppressed Byodoin with his aura."
A chill ran down Oni's spine. "You mean… Byodoin's gotten stronger?"
There was another detail Q.P. didn't voice.
Before the match, Yoru had made Yamato say a few morale-boosting words.
Combined with Yoru's ability to see talent and strength…
It meant Byodoin Houou had likely undergone a monstrous evolution—one that forced Yoru to take this match deadly seriously.
Byodoin strode onto the court, beginning his warm-up routine.
In the player's area, Tezuka—tasked with recording the match—quickly set up his camera. He, too, noticed the subtle differences in Yoru's demeanor.
This wasn't just another match.
This was going to be a war.
---
Tezuka's emotions were conflicted.
Part of him feared Yoru might lose—after all, Byodoin was his idol.
Yet another part secretly hoped someone would finally push Yoru to his limits.
In the stands, Tanegashima murmured, "Everyone… brace yourselves. What you're about to witness might be the greatest match of our middle school careers."
---
After warm-ups, Byodoin took his position.
The moment he stepped onto the court, a tsunami of violent aura erupted.
"Trying to intimidate me?"
Yoru smirked, unleashing his own pressure—a regal, suffocating gaze that made instinctive fear crawl up the spines of onlookers.
The collision of their auras made the air itself tremble. Glass fixtures rattled violently.
After a few seconds, Byodoin reached the center. Both auras shattered simultaneously.
They stood, facing each other.
"I'll win this. Prepare to lose." Byodoin's voice was ice-cold.
The aura clash had been even on the surface, but deep down, he knew he'd been outmatched.
Yet he had to protect Rokkaku's last shred of pride.
Yoru didn't respond.
He always found this part ridiculously cringey.
The referee, seeing no further exchange, blew his whistle.
"National Finals—Seigaku vs. Rokkaku! Singles-1 match begins! Byodoin Houou to serve!"
The two retreated to their baselines—one winding up for the serve, the other crouching into a defensive stance.
"Yoru…"
Trash talk aside, Byodoin wasn't foolish enough to underestimate him. He'd warmed up thoroughly.
Thud… thud… thud…
The ball bounced rhythmically against the court. Byodoin's focus sharpened with each impact.
Once he felt ready—
Snap!
He caught the ball mid-bounce.
And then—
A blinding golden light erupted from his fingertips.
"What the—?!"
In the stands, Tanegashima shot to his feet, eyes wide.
"What's wrong?" Munehiro and the others looked confused.
"That's…" Inui's voice was tight. "The Light Ball—a technique bordering on the Otherworldly tier. I never thought Byodoin had reached this level. Didn't he use it in previous matches?"
The others shook their heads. The concept of "Otherworldly" techniques was foreign to most middle schoolers.
Due to technological limitations, many pro-level techniques with flashy visual effects looked ordinary on TV. That's why live matches were a different experience entirely.
Tanegashima and Inui had learned about the Light Ball and the "Otherworldly" tier after watching pro matches in person.
But for a middle schooler to wield it?
Unthinkable.
---
On the court, the glowing ball soared into the air.
"Yoru… don't die on me now!"
Byodoin roared as he swung—
"This is the Light Ball!"
The moment his racket connected, the world exploded in golden fury.
---