(Note: In the other semifinal match, I originally had Shishido Gakuen vs. Yamabuki, but I changed it to St. Rudolph vs. Yamabuki. Earlier chapters have been corrected—I forgot Shishido is from Kansai, not Kanto. But it doesn't affect much.)
"Game start! Seigaku serves first!"
The referee blew the whistle, signaling the beginning of the Doubles 1 match.
Kaedechi and Imishi stepped onto the court, their confidence boosted by the +0.8 buff.
BANG—!
The moment the call ended, Imishi fired off a textbook Bullet Serve.
Thanks to the First Strike Rune, the serve's power increased while its error rate decreased. The ball shot over the net and slammed into the ground with force.
"Hm?"
Takei Toshio frowned slightly.
Without a word, he dashed into position and swung his racket to intercept.
The moment the ball connected, a shockwave of power rippled through his grip.
This serve… looks ordinary, but the weight behind it is unexpected.
His return lacked precision.
At the net, Kaedechi swiftly moved for the volley—but instead of a standard intercept, he crouched low, his racket arcing upward in a wide swing, imparting heavy spin on the ball.
Gyro Snake Shot!
Boosted by the Counter Rune, the shot's quality increased by 10%, indirectly raising its success rate.
This was a technique Yoru had suggested based on the Kaede family's natural talent.
In the original series, what was Kaoru Kaedechi's defining trait?
Freakishly long arms—like Kevin Durant's—giving him a natural advantage for curve shots.
Kaedechi Juu was the same.
Yoru half-suspected the Kaede bloodline had some mixed heritage. So, he modeled his advice after Kaedechi's little brother's playstyle.
At first, the Gyro Snake Shot had a high failure rate.
But with the Training Rune and the Counter Rune's success rate boost, Kaedechi could now execute it flawlessly.
And in doubles?
Doubles sidelines are wider than singles, giving the Gyro Snake Shot even more room to dominate.
SWOOSH—!
The ball curved around the net, bypassing front-court player Kishimoto Mashou, before sharply dropping at the sideline and flying out of bounds.
"Imishi Senzui, Kaedechi Juu score! 15-0!"
Ever since mastering the Gyro Snake Shot, the duo's entire strategy revolved around it.
Imishi would apply pressure with his opening shots, then maneuver to create gaps, allowing Kaedechi to finish with the Gyro Snake.
While their overall strength didn't match Yamato and Kawasaki's pair, their tactical synergy and chemistry more than made up for it—and their in-game execution was sharper.
BANG—!
"Imishi Senzui, Kaedechi Juu score! Game 1-0!"
---
Using their "Decoy Snake" tactic, they easily secured their service game.
"This strategy… is a pain to deal with!"
Takei Toshio and Kishimoto's expressions darkened.
From Matsudaira's scouting reports, they knew about this deceptive playstyle and had discussed countermeasures.
But in practice?
No real solution.
If they didn't chase Imishi's setups, they left the other side wide open.
But if they did follow, they gave Kaedechi the perfect opening for his Gyro Snake Shot.
Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
The match quickly turned into a scoring spree for Seigaku.
BANG—!
"Imishi Senzui, Kaedechi Juu score! 2-1!"
...
BANG—!
"Takei Toshio, Kishimoto Mashou score! 3-4!"
...
BANG—!
"Imishi Senzui, Kaedechi Juu score! 5-3!"
---
After half an hour, Seigaku held a commanding lead—match point.
"Dammit! Their entire game revolves around that Gyro Snake Shot. You can't defend against both at once!"
Takei and Kishimoto were gasping for air.
Even with preparation, facing a "one-trick pony" this effective was exhausting.
Midway, they had countered the Decoy Snake by adjusting their positioning—
Only for Kaedechi and Imishi to pull out a reverse variation of the same tactic.
If not for Takei's solid serves, the score would've been even worse.
BANG—!
Finally, Kaedechi delivered a perfectly disguised drop volley, fooling both opponents.
The ball landed cleanly on the centerline, bouncing out of bounds.
After an entire match of Gyro Snake domination, they ended it with the simplest shot possible.
"Game set! Seigaku wins, 6-3!"
"Haaah…"
Kaedechi and Imishi exhaled, bumping fists.
With their captain back, the pressure had eased—their performance was far sharper than in the quarterfinals.
Flawless execution. Minimal errors.
CLAP CLAP CLAP—!
The duo blinked, looking up.
The crowd was applauding—louder than before. The semifinals had drawn a bigger audience.
"Kaedechi…"
"Hm?"
Kaedechi turned to see his partner's eyes reddening.
"Do you think… just maybe… we could become the doubles pair that wins Nationals?"
"I want to hear what that applause sounds like."
A tear trailed down Imishi's cheek.
Kaedechi gazed back at the stands… and smiled.
"Me too."
---
Match over.
As both teams walked off, Munehiro Kabaji's expression darkened.
1-1.
For Hyotei, this was bad.
Aside from him, their remaining singles players were weaker.
The only confirmed threat was Kirihara Akaya—he was confident against him, but what about the other two unknowns?
That mysterious captain, Yoru, and the towering foreigner?
Hyotei was on the brink.
"Good work."
Yamato handed towels to Kaedechi and Imishi as they returned.
"Well played."
Yoru pulled his racket from his bag, stepping onto the court. A breeze ruffled his jacket as it fluttered behind him.
"My turn."
The moment Seigaku's captain stood, Hyotei's team tensed.
"That's the guy they call 'Captain,' right?"
The mood grew heavier.
If Seigaku's members respected him as leader, his skill had to be formidable—especially with their rise this year.
Scout Matsudaira Chikara adjusted his glasses.
"I have almost no data on Seigaku's captain. Just basics."
"Name: Yoru. First-year. Took over Seigaku's tennis club by sweeping its members upon enrollment. The team's improvement this year is largely due to him."
"Captain… don't underestimate him."
The lack of intel only deepened the unease.
But as morale wavered, Coach Sakaki spoke up sharply:
"Trust your captain."