"The match will be best-of-three sets."
The referee glanced at the players taking their positions and announced, "First set, second team's Shiraishi to serve. Game start!"
Tap… Tap… Tap…
As soon as the words were spoken, all eyes turned to the baseline, where a figure was lightly bouncing the tennis ball.
"Shiraishi Kuranosuke…"
One of the high schoolers narrowed his eyes. "Does anyone else feel like there's something hidden under the bandages on his left wrist?"
"Yeah." Others nodded in agreement.
To them, it seemed almost arrogant—wearing what appeared to be weights in such a crucial match.
But the middle schoolers, especially those from Shitenhouji, knew better. They remembered clearly: during the Nationals, Shiraishi had already returned the golden wristband beneath those bandages to Coach Watanabe.
After all, that thing had been Watanabe's entire life savings. None of them would've dared to keep carrying it around once exposed.
Whoosh!
Shiraishi tossed the ball into the air, his body stretching upward as his racket snapped forward with precision.
Bang!
A crisp impact echoed as the ball bulleted toward Harada's right service box.
"Not bad."
Harada smirked inwardly.
From this serve alone, it was clear Shiraishi's fundamentals had improved significantly. That only made him more eager for what was to come.
Bang!
Harada returned the shot with a sharp, aggressive drive—aimed straight at Shiraishi's left corner.
Thud! Thud!
Shiraishi reacted instantly, dashing to intercept and firing back another baseline shot.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In moments, the two were locked in a blistering baseline rally—fast, precise, and relentless.
"Are these two… planning to settle this one-on-one?"
The spectators quickly caught on. Meanwhile, Mouri and Yanagi stood calmly, neither interfering.
It was clear—this was intentional.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Twenty exchanges in, neither Shiraishi nor Harada showed any sign of fatigue. Their footwork and control remained flawless.
"Should we wrap this up, senpai?"
Shiraishi grinned as he returned another shot. "This is a doubles match. It'd be rude to keep ignoring our partners."
"True."
Harada chuckled. "Guess warm-up's over."
Warm-up?!
The crowd stiffened.
That intense rally… was just a warm-up?! Just how strong were these two?
Tap!
Suddenly, Harada flicked a drop shot.
"Hm?"
Yanagi's eyes sharpened.
His gaze locked onto Mouri, who was already edging forward. So they're starting now?
Bang!
Yanagi reacted instantly, slicing a sharp crosscourt return—forcing Mouri to either halt his advance or watch the ball sail past.
But Mouri didn't stop.
Whoosh!
Harada suddenly appeared behind him, perfectly positioned to intercept Yanagi's shot.
"A trap?!"
Yanagi's pupils contracted.
He realized too late—Harada's drop shot had been bait.
Thud!
Yanagi backpedaled, adjusting his stance just in time to block Harada's powerful drive. But the moment his racket connected—
Clang!
A jolt of force rattled through his arm, sending his racket clattering to the ground.
Smash!
Mouri didn't hesitate—he leaped into the air and crushed the ball into the open court.
"0-15!"
"YES!!"
The high schoolers erupted in cheers. Even the middle schoolers nodded grudgingly—that had been a brilliant play.
"Tch."
Yanagi picked up his racket, flexing his wrist. As a technical player, he knew when to let go rather than force a return. It might look weak, but it was smarter than risking injury.
"You good?"
Shiraishi walked over, concerned.
"Fine."
Yanagi shook his head. "Our serve game. Let's not let them break us."
Shiraishi nodded and returned to the baseline.
Bang!
This time, his serve was even sharper.
As a left-hander, his natural spin made the ball curve viciously to the right after the bounce.
"Solid serve."
Mouri's focus sharpened. Underestimating Shiraishi now would be a mistake.
Bang!
He returned with a deep drive, but Yanagi was already moving—his eyes locked onto Harada's positioning.
Smack!
A body shot—aimed straight at Harada's advancing foot!
"A jammer?!"
The high schoolers gasped.
This middle schooler had some nerve! Harada, forced into an awkward stance, barely managed a weak return.
Tap!
Yanagi answered with a drop shot of his own.
"Huh?"
The crowd blinked—was he mimicking Harada's earlier play?
Whoosh!
As Harada rushed forward, Yanagi feinted a jump—
SMASH!
—and spiked the ball downward with a vengeance.
"He turned their own strategy against them!"
But before the ball could land—
Bang!
Mouri appeared like a shadow, blasting the ball past Yanagi in a flash.
"Nice try. But this is doubles."
Yanagi's lips thinned.
He'd underestimated them. These two were stronger than the twins he'd faced yesterday.
Bang!
Shiraishi intercepted Mouri's return, keeping the rally alive.
"Don't worry, Yanagi."
Shiraishi's voice was calm but firm. "Focus on attacking. I'll handle the back."
Yanagi exhaled and nodded.
No more distractions.
Bang! Thud! Smash!
The match intensified.
Mouri and Harada targeted the baseline relentlessly, but Shiraishi stood unshaken—returning every shot with machine-like precision.
"There's… no opening."
Mouri's brow furrowed. No matter how he analyzed Shiraishi's stance, he couldn't find a weakness.
"That's Shiraishi's tennis."
Harada smirked. "Flawless fundamentals. The only way past him is to overpower him."
No tricks. No shortcuts. Just perfect, unwavering tennis.
Fwip!
Then—
A golden streak shot between them.
"15-15!"
"What?!"
Mouri and Harada stiffened.
Yanagi lowered his racket, his piercing gaze locking onto them.
"Did he just… read our weak point?"
The two exchanged glances.
This wasn't good.
Bang!
They tightened their defense, but—
Fwip!
Another golden flash.
"30-15!"
"How?!"
Harada's eyes narrowed. "His vision's that sharp?"
Mouri's grip tightened. Between Shiraishi's impenetrable defense and Yanagi's razor-sharp insight, this duo was far deadlier than expected.
"Yanagi (senpai)…"
Even Sanada and the other Rikkai members were stunned. Yanagi's perception had reached another level.
"Wait."
The twins, Uesugi Haru and Uesugi Aki, frowned. "He feels stronger than yesterday."
Had he been hiding his true ability?
"Interesting."
Byoudouin, watching from above, suddenly spoke. "Didn't expect him to have this kind of power."
"Him?"
The other U-17 elites followed his gaze—but instead of Yanagi, Byoudouin was staring at Shiraishi.
"Shiraishi?"
They exchanged confused glances. Wasn't Yanagi the one scoring points?
"As expected of Shiraishi-senpai."
Ishikawa, standing at the core of the U-17 team, smiled.
"That unshakable presence—the absolute reliability that boosts his partner's focus and sharpness."
He crossed his arms.
"You could call it…
The Realm of the Bible."