Early morning.
U17 Training Base.
As usual, everyone started their morning training.
Inside Court 3.
The trio was training as usual.
The other high schoolers, after witnessing the noticeable progress of毛利 (Mouri) and 原哲也 (Hara Tetsuya), had also become more motivated in their training.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Court 5.
Known as the first major threshold for transformation in the U17 Training Base. By this court, the number of players had significantly decreased.
At this moment.
Inside the court, two groups of players were training.
Outside the court, about ten high schoolers stood watching.
Thud! (patreon belamy20) Inside the court.
A black-haired figure swung his racket with force.
The powerful stroke sent the tennis ball whistling through the air like a gust of wind.
"Nice shot!"
Opposite him.
A blue-haired young man with a distinctive strand of hair sticking out chuckled and dashed to catch up with the ball.
"So fast!"
The spectators around Court 5 were startled.
Thud!
Immediately.
The blue-haired young man struck back, sending the ball flying with a powerful shot.
The ball was so fast that the forward player on the other side couldn't react in time. He could only watch as the ball whizzed past him.
"Is this the strength of 鹜尾前辈 (Washio-senpai), who was originally from Court 3?"
Bang!
However.
Before he could think further, the black-haired young man on the other side had already returned the ball.
"Too slow, too slow!"
On the other side.
A young man with a bandage on his nose, who had been waiting in position, smirked and raised his racket to counter.
Bang!
The ball landed in his racket.
A heavy sensation spread through his arm.
But with a slight raise of his brow, he channeled his strength and sent the ball back.
"As expected of 都忍 (Toshinobu), his strength is terrifying."
The young man, 铃木惷 (Suzuki Shun), who was originally from Court 3, said with a smile.
It turned out.
After being demoted to Court 16.
The trio, fueled by shame, had worked their way up from Court 16 to Court 5 in about two weeks.
During this time, they had been training intensively every day. Their goal was to redeem themselves in the shuffle battle to return to Court 3 and erase the shame of their previous defeat!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
At this moment.
The three continued their intense match on the court.
Another high schooler could only stand by and watch, completely unable to intervene in the trio's battle.
Although the gap between Court 3 and Court 5 didn't seem that large.
However.
The level of this match was already beyond his reach!
Thud!
In the end.
Toshinobu, fighting two against one, still lost to the combination of Suzuki and Washio.
"What a pity!"
Seeing this, a player from Court 5 sighed, "If Toshinobu-senpai were just a bit stronger, he could have taken on both of them."
Hearing this.
The other high schoolers from Court 5 nodded in agreement.
"Naive."
Only Toshinobu, who had lost, knew the truth. Even if he were twice as strong, he still wouldn't be a match for these two. After all, they were still hiding their ultimate move, the so-called "Miracle of Doubles"!
Back then.
Mouri and Hara, the two newcomers, had only won because the shuffle battle was a singles match, not doubles.
Otherwise, with their doubles skills, they would never have lost!
"But... I'm still far from their level."
Toshinobu looked down at his hands, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.
He knew.
If it were that person, even if Washio and Suzuki used their ultimate move, they still wouldn't stand a chance.
During this time, he had been training with all his might to become stronger. But in private, Toshinobu had also observed the training at Court 3.
He realized that the gap between him and that person wasn't shrinking—it was only growing wider!
"Ugh!"
Thinking of this, Toshinobu's gaze turned cold. Under the surprised eyes of others, he continued his training by running laps around the court.
Seeing this, Suzuki and Washio gritted their teeth and followed suit.
Not far away.
A tall figure watched them intently.
Evening.
The setting sun stretched the shadows of Toshinobu and the others across the court.
By now, they were drenched in sweat and nearing their limits.
Huff... Huff... Huff...
With each step, their legs felt as heavy as lead. The exhaustion was taking a toll on their minds, making them feel dizzy.
Vaguely, a figure seemed to appear before them.
"You've done well."
A deep, powerful voice rang out.
Whoosh!
Hearing this familiar voice, the three instinctively tensed up, their expressions changing.
"G-G-Ghost-senpai!"
They looked up.
At the red-haired young man who, despite being the same age as them, commanded their respect and fear.
鬼十次郎 (Oni Juujirou)!
The supervisor of Court 5!
Known as the "Gatekeeper of Hell," he was a terrifying player!
In some ways, the pressure he exerted on them was far greater than that of the three coaches.
"I've seen your progress."
Oni looked at them, his tone serious. "Do you want to return to Court 3?"
Court 3?
The three were stunned.
After exchanging glances, Toshinobu replied, "Of course we do, but... the coaches haven't arranged any shuffle battles for us."
In the past, they hadn't paid much attention to the coaches.
But now, things were different.
As the defeated, they were naturally at a disadvantage. Especially when facing Court 3, if they challenged them without permission and lost, it wouldn't just be a matter of losing face.
Under U17's rules and the personalities of the three coaches, they would definitely be expelled!
"That's not important."
Oni stared at them. "All I need to know is, do you have the confidence to win?"
"Yes!"
This time, the three answered without hesitation.
"Good."
Oni nodded in satisfaction. "Training ends here for today. Remember to rest well. Be here tomorrow at 8 AM sharp!"
"Understood."
The three nodded.
They had a vague idea of what was coming.
But out of respect for Oni, they didn't ask. After finishing their training, they obediently went back to rest.
Meanwhile.
Inside Court 3.
石川 (Ishikawa), the supervisor of Court 3, was training by hitting against the wall. Mouri and Hara, having reached their physical limits, had already left.
Bang!
A loud crash.
The tennis ball slammed into the wall and rebounded at an astonishing speed.
"Hmm?"
At that moment.
As if sensing something.
Ishikawa caught the ball and turned around. A staff member in a black jacket approached him and said respectfully, "Hello, Ishikawa-senpai. This is something Coach Kurobe asked me to deliver to you."
With that, he handed over a letter.
"Thank you."
Ishikawa smiled as he took the letter. After the staff member left, he opened it, and a glint flashed in his eyes.
"A group shuffle battle, huh? Interesting..."
Ishikawa raised an eyebrow, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. "I wonder if this was arranged by the three coaches... or if it's that person's idea?"
Whoosh!
Thinking this.
Ishikawa narrowed his eyes, spread the fingers of his left hand, and a dazzling light burst forth.
Bang!
With a swift swing of his racket, the tennis ball spun like a bullet, shooting straight toward the opposite wall.
Boom!!!
A loud explosion echoed.
The wall was blown open, leaving a visible hole!
[Ding!]
[Player's advanced technique, "Light Strike," has leveled up. Current level: Lv2]
"Leveled up?"
Turning his back to the thick smoke, Ishikawa's eyes gleamed with thought. "If the final opponent is that person, then I really need to step up my game!"
He hadn't expected.
To face that person so soon.
But.
Despite the suddenness of the upcoming match, Ishikawa remained calm. Since the encounter was unavoidable and he couldn't stick to his original plan of gradual training and improvement.
He accepted it and prepared to accelerate his evolution.
And now.
He was entering a realm that even he could only speculate about, one that couldn't be measured by data!
Thinking of the opponent he was about to face.
Even the usually composed Ishikawa felt his blood heating up, his heart racing with anticipation!
The next day.
8 AM.
The expected individual shuffle battle didn't happen.
Under the surprised gazes of the other high schoolers, Ishikawa's Court 3 and Oni's Court 5 met at the central court of U17!
It was then.
That everyone realized today's event was a group shuffle battle between the two courts!