(Author's Note: Can't please everyone. Some plot points were planned early—like joining Seigaku to fix regrets from the original series and crush a certain old hag. As for the "system," I never specified multipliers, only "doubling effects," to avoid breaking the balance.)
(About the hag: Her personality isn't changed. The reform arc made it clear—she wanted Yoru as a scapegoat. If reforms failed, she'd cling to her rules. And let's not forget the Nanjirou connection. No one else would get this treatment.)
---
To catch the last train,
Yoru didn't give Oni Juujirou room to breathe. The final three points?
Ten Senses Overdrive.
Oni was obliterated before he could react.
[Ding! Quest completed: Match vs. Oni Juujirou. Reward: Skill Upgrade Card unlocked!]
"NICE!"
Yoru mentally fist-pumped. "System, I could kiss you."
He'd worried exploiting the "four-point rule" would void the quest. Turns out, it counted.
[This time, I'll pretend I didn't see it. Next time, play a full set.]
"Roger that. Hearts~"
Excited, Yoru pulled up the card's details:
[Skill Upgrade Card]: Permanently syncs one skill to your base level (Note: Scales with base stat growth. Cannot be used on core attributes.)
"Holy— This is OP!"
Yoru's eyes sparkled. He'd expected a basic "+1 level" card, but this was a free max-level pass!
"Use it on Zone! Go all out!"
[Not saving it?]
"Hell no! If not for the temptation of 'Supreme Zone,' I'd have used that Evolution Card too!"
[System: ...]
[Ding! Zone upgraded to Lv. 9!]
[Ding! Reverse Zone upgraded to Lv. 9!]
(Evolution Card binds new techniques to original skill levels.)
"Ahhh, that upgrade high~"
Yoru shuddered in bliss, then checked his updated stats:
[Name]: Yoru
[Age]: 12
[Techniques]:
- Core Stats (Lv. 9)
- Tennis Fundamentals (Lv. 9)
- Twist Serve (Lv. 8)
- Zone (Lv. 9)
- Reverse Zone (Lv. 9)
- Muga no Kyōchi (Lv. 8)
- Pinnacle of Hard Work (Lv. 7)
- Sharp Angle Drive (Lv. 8)
- Super Speed Vertical Serve (Lv. 8)
(Collapsed: 2 lesser skills)
[Power]: 10 Stars
[Talents]: Ten Senses Control, Perfect Copy, Ultra-Perfect Quality (2/3 Auras Unlocked)
"Broken. Absolutely broken."
Before he could celebrate, QP tapped his shoulder.
"What?"
"Release Oni."
QP gestured ahead.
Yoru turned—and choked.
Oni's face was flushed, his expression a mix of rapture and mortification. A trickle of blood threatened to escape his nose.
"Oni-nii! What's wrong?!"
"He's not responding! Is he sick?!"
The kids panicked, tugging at Oni's sleeves.
QP frowned. "What did you make him see?"
"A legendary documentary—Tian Boguang and Zhu Yingtai's Forbidden Love."
"…What?"
"Kids shouldn't ask. You'll understand when you're older."
"You're younger than me."
"…"
Bickering aside, Yoru snapped his fingers in front of Oni.
Reality shattered the illusion.
Oni gasped, sucking the blood back into his nose. He quickly soothed the kids: "I'm fine! Just… distracted."
A seasoned player, he recognized a mental technique—but the vividness had trapped him.
Once the kids calmed, Oni stormed toward Yoru.
QP's hand flew to his racket.
Oni's hulking frame radiated menace—like an oni wielding a battle-axe.
"Move."
His English was rough but clear.
QP tensed, but Yoru waved him off: "Let him through."
Oni seized Yoru's hand—
"Brother."
"Brother."
"For life."
"Absolutely."
"Can I… visit you often?"
"Anytime~"
QP nearly snorted his own sinuses out.
---
Post-Match Shenanigans
With night deepening and trains nearing their final runs, Oni insisted on escorting them to the station.
"Okayama's unsafe after dark—especially near Okayama Oku. Plenty of delinquents shaking kids down for 'protection money.'"
True to his word, shadowy figures lurked in alleyways along their route. Yoru rolled his eyes at memories of cherry-blossom-obsessed travel bloggers.
"You'll be safe once you're on the train," Oni mumbled, scratching his nose awkwardly. Not exactly proud of his hometown's rep.
Studying Oni, Yoru felt a pang.
This version of Oni—goofy, kind, a little ugly-cute—was far better than the broken man post-Match vs. Ryoma.
The thought sparked an impulse: "Hey, Oni. Transfer to Seigaku. Let's win Nationals together."
"Another championship…"
For a second, Oni's eyes burned—then dimmed. "Nah. The kids need me more."
"Mm."
Yoru expected this. After today, he got it.
"Then visit us at Seigaku. Bring the kids."
"You come back too. They adored you."
A beat. Then Oni leaned in, cheeks pink:
"And, uh… bring more of that… documentary."
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