"Didn't expect to lose to you even after I evolved this far. But next time, the winner will definitely be me, Akashi!" Atobe stood up and said with a carefree tone.
Akashi slowly walked to the net. Watching Atobe like that, an interesting idea popped into his head. With a seemingly kind expression masking overwhelming pride, he said meaningfully, "Reaching this level means you've grown. I'm glad. But I'd advise you not to push too far. It's hard to control the power to step over ants without killing them, Atobe!"
"You...!!!" Atobe was momentarily at a loss for words. Somehow, that didn't sound like something Akashi would say. But by the time he reacted, Akashi had already turned and was heading back toward Fudomine's bench.
"Bastard! Just you wait! Next time I'll make sure you regret this, Akashi!" Atobe finally exploded in anger, but there was nothing he could do except walk back to Hyōtei's bench with an annoyed look.
"Looks like I don't need to say anything. Just keep walking your path, Atobe," Sakaki Tarō said calmly as Atobe approached him.
"I understand. Thank you for allowing me to act so selfishly this time," Atobe replied, unusually respectful.
"No need to thank me. This was your own decision. Go rest first." Sakaki nodded.
"You really dumped all the pressure on us, huh~ Atobe!" Oshitari Yūshi's voice came from behind as Atobe was heading back to the player seats.
"Hmph! Go get that win for me, Oshitari!" Atobe didn't look back, just replied as he walked off.
"Whatever. In the end, it's all on us now~" Mukahi Gakuto clicked his tongue, though he was probably the most worried about Atobe just now.
"That's enough, Gakuto. This was expected. I doubt there's anyone in all of middle school who can beat Akashi Seijurō," Oshitari said in a gentle tone.
The crowd had snapped out of their trance and erupted into loud cheers. The match had been a thrill to watch—especially the last two games, where Atobe's sudden breakthrough had caught everyone off guard. Although, many spectators couldn't actually see the alternate dimension phenomenon.
"Up next is the Doubles 2 match! Representing Fudomine Middle School—Tachibana Kippei and Chitose Senri! Representing Hyōtei Academy—Oshitari Yūshi and Mukahi Gakuto! Players, please enter the court!"
"Tachibana, are you okay? You seem distracted lately," Chitose asked with some concern before they stepped onto the court.
"I'm fine, Chitose. It's just that some relatives sent me old family records recently. Gave me a bit of inspiration!" Tachibana replied cheerfully.
"Good. Don't overthink it. It's our turn to play now," Chitose said, reassured by his partner's reply.
Following the umpire's direction, both pairs approached the net. Seeing familiar faces on the other side didn't surprise anyone. This clash between the strongest doubles teams from both schools was expected in the finals. Judging by the lineup, Sakaki hadn't made any strategic changes—just a straight head-on battle.
"Knew it'd be you two again. Honestly, that kills all the suspense," Mukahi started with his usual trash talk.
"And you're still rocking that bob cut. What kind of taste is that?" Tachibana shot back without hesitation.
"Tch~ You've got no right to talk with that yellow mop on your head!" Mukahi was clearly used to people calling him out over his hair.
Chitose and Oshitari exchanged a glance as their teammates sniped at each other, a hint of helplessness in both their eyes. Still, neither stepped in—they looked more amused than anything.
Thankfully, the umpire spoke up just in time to cut off the banter, signaling them to complete the pre-match handshake and coin toss. They all quieted down, exchanged handshakes at the net, and Chitose won the serve.
From the start, both teams moved in sync. But while Oshitari and Mukahi entered normal synchronization, Tachibana and Chitose activated Beast Synchronization, stacking an extra layer of power over the standard one.
That's what made them the most terrifying doubles team in all of middle school. Others had tried it—especially Kamio Akira and Ibu Shinji—but none had succeeded. It was a god-tier doubles skill seemingly exclusive to Tachibana and Chitose.
"GAME! Fudomine! 2-0!"
Two games flew by in a flash. Tachibana and Chitose held serve and broke with overwhelming advantage. Oshitari and Mukahi had no answer. While both teams had great coordination, the individual strength gap was too large—especially for Mukahi, who was barely keeping up with the pace of the other three.
"Damn it! Did those two power up again?! They weren't this terrifying last time!" Mukahi panted heavily, clearly frustrated.
"Maybe they've gotten a little stronger, but something's different today. Tachibana seems unusually aggressive," Oshitari replied, frowning as he kept a close eye on Tachibana.
The third game was Tachibana's service game. Standing at the baseline, the beastly aura around him suddenly surged. The color deepened, and a kingly presence radiated from him.
"Beast King Aura!"
Then Tachibana Kippei tossed the ball high into the air. His entire racket was wrapped in a blood-red aura, and just as he smashed the descending tennis ball, a massive lion's roar echoed across the stadium. Some unaware spectators instinctively covered their ears.
"Roar of the Lion King!"
That's right—the original "Roar of the Lion" had now been evolved by Tachibana into the "Roar of the Lion King". Compared to before, the force was even more overwhelming. It even affected the surrounding spectators, stirring fear in their hearts.
The tennis ball, coated in a blood-red aura, flew straight across to the opposite court. As it moved, a lion's head phantom faintly appeared, following its path!
Though Oshitari knew how dangerous this move was, he had no choice but to face it head-on. As he reached the landing spot, a rainbow-colored glow rose from his body, converging in his right hand—clearly activating the perfected Thousand Forge Limit.
But the moment his racket touched the ball, an image of blazing eyes flared in his mind. Suddenly, Oshitari felt completely intimidated and froze in place. His racket was instantly knocked from his hands, spinning through the air and falling nearby.
"ACE! 15-0!"
Faced with the evolved technique, Oshitari had no counter. Fortunately, this was doubles—Tachibana wouldn't get too many service chances. But he didn't go easy; after scoring the first point, he unleashed three more Roars of the Lion King, again knocking the racket from Oshitari's grip each time.
"GAME! Fudomine! 3-0! Change court!"
During the break, Oshitari returned to the bench and pulled out a spare racket from his bag. His original one was slightly warped and had several snapped strings—proof of how devastating Tachibana's move was.
The fourth game began quickly, with Oshitari serving this time. Just as Chitose focused completely, preparing to receive a Tannhauser serve, Oshitari made an unexpected move. After tossing the ball up, he drew his racket back and began to sway it like a violin bow.
Instantly, the area around him dimmed into darkness, hiding his figure entirely. A soft violin melody drifted through the air, so faint it was barely audible. Just as Chitose was distracted, the sound of a ball landing echoed behind him.
"Melody of the Night!"
"ACE! 15-0!"
Oshitari Yuushi, violin in hand.
"Not bad, Oshitari. You actually tricked even me!" Atobe commented with amusement from the sidelines.
"Using Closed Heart combined with violin-like motion and a touch of spiritual energy—quite the creative setup," Yukimura said with some interest.
'Seems like the original manga really buried Oshitari's potential…' Akashi mused from the bench, visibly intrigued.
"ACE! 30-0!"
"ACE! 40-0!"
"GAME! Hyoutei Gakuen! 3-1!"
"Still had that up your sleeve, huh? That's just like you, Oshitari Yuushi!" Chitose shook his head with a grin. Though he'd lost a game, he had already figured out the trick behind the serve.
Unfortunately for Hyoutei, the fifth game offered no relief. Even with the help of Melody of the Night, the gap in strength between the pairs remained. But Akashi, watching closely, noticed something strange in Tachibana's aura.
'So fast… I didn't expect Tachibana Kippei to grow this much already. Still, he's missing something. I should guide him a little after the Nationals end,' Akashi thought to himself.
"GAME! Fudomine! 4-1!"
"GAME! Fudomine! 5-1! Change court!"
As both sides hydrated during the interval, Sakaki Tarō didn't say anything. He could see that Oshitari and Mukahi had already given everything, but the gap in raw power couldn't be crossed with a few instructions.
"Tachibana! Your aura's getting too intense. It might disrupt your synchronization!" Akashi suddenly called out from the sideline.
"I got it! Akashi!" Tachibana nodded. Chitose, meanwhile, seemed to be pondering something, and then cast a long, thoughtful glance at his partner.
The seventh game began shortly after, and it was Oshitari's serve again. Just then, Chitose suddenly broke the Beast Synchronization from the backcourt. That surprised Tachibana in the front.
"I think I get what you're trying to do, Tachibana! Don't hold back. Go for it! I'll support you in my own way!" Chitose said calmly.
Tachibana didn't reply, but a bright smile crept across his lips. His aura suddenly flared as fire-like energy erupted from him, blazing like an inferno.
In the backcourt, Chitose let out a low cry. A dazzling blue light burst from his body and gradually expanded until it enveloped the front court and wrapped around Tachibana completely.
"Perfect Harmony? No… that's… Radiance of Love!" Yukimura exclaimed from the stands.