126-130

Chapter 126: Oni’s Demonic Power / Sealed Pinnacle  

"NO—!"  

A roar—unhuman, unearthly—shook the stadium.  

Dust exploded outward as an oppressive aura blanketed the court. From the haze, a monstrous black-purple silhouette erupted, wielding an axe-like shadow that slammed down toward Byoudouin.  

Death.  

The thought flashed through Byoudouin’s mind. His body instinctively recoiled—a single step back that saved his life.  

The Glowing Shot, now infused with destructive force, rocketed past Byoudouin’s forehead. A spray of blood arced through the air.  

The spectral figure vanished as quickly as it appeared.  

As the dust settled, Oni Juujirou stood with crimson eyes, his expression twisted into something feral. Then—  

The children.  

He whirled around.  

Yoru and QP stood before the kids, their bodies shrouded in a ghostly light, having intercepted the shockwaves. The ground around them was shattered—proof of the force they’d absorbed.  

Oni exhaled.  

The glow around Yoru and QP faded. A silent nod passed between them.  

Then Oni turned back, voice guttural: "I won. Leave. Now."  

He knew Byoudouin hadn’t meant to endanger the kids. The racket’s break had sent the ball wild. Anger burned in his chest—but he held it back.  

Across the net, Byoudouin was a mess. Blood streamed from his forehead, staining his face. Fuwa, now off the referee stand, looked pale.  

If Yoru and QP hadn’t arrived in time…  

Destruction.  

This wasn’t just a Glowing Shot. It was an unfinished technique—one that combined the sweet spot with an SSS-tier impact point. The result? A ball that erased everything in its path—concrete, flesh, even organs from delayed internal trauma.  

For adults? Survivable. For children?  

Lethal.  

"Tch."  

Byoudouin snatched his bag and left without another word. Fuwa followed, casting one last haunted glance at the cracked court.  

Yoru pulled up Byoudouin’s stats:  

[Name]: Byoudouin Houou 

[Age]: 15 

[Techniques]:  

• Personal Stats (10)  

• Tennis Fundamentals (10)  

• Glowing Shot (7)  

• Destruction (3)  

• Birdshot Strikes (9)  

• Pirate’s Thrust (7 variations) 

[Talent]: Phoenix Rebirth 

[Power Level]: 10★  

[Phoenix Rebirth]: Grows stronger with every defeat or injury.  

Yoru whistled.  

No wonder the original Byoudouin could eventually topple Volk. This man thrived on pain. Hell, in canon, he’d survived a lightning strike mid-match, died briefly, and came back stronger—unlocking Arayashiki (Alaya-vijnana), the deepest layer of Asura’s Path.  

Even if he destroyed his body to win, this talent ensured he’d always return.  

But right now?  

His mental and technical stats were peaked at 10, while the rest lagged.  

Yoru then checked Oni’s updated data:  

[Name]: Oni Juujirou 

[Age]: 15 

[Techniques]:  

• Personal Stats (11 in Power)  

• Tennis Fundamentals (9)  

• Center of Gravity Jump Smash (9)  

• Pinnacle of Perfection (SEALED)  

• Asura’s Path: Demonic Power (UNCONTROLLED) 

[Talent]: Peerless Strength 

[Power Level]: 10★  

[Asura’s Path - Demonic Power]: Massively amplifies strike force. (UNCONTROLLED)  

"Why ‘uncontrolled’?" Yoru frowned.  

But before he could ponder further—  

"WAAAH—!"  

The kids, now sobbing, demanded attention. It took forever to calm them down.  

Later, outside the orphanage:  

QP broke the silence. **"Oni. Your Pinnacle…"**  

"Gone." Oni flexed his hand. "When I panicked for the kids, something else awakened. Now… I can’t feel Pinnacle at all."  

Yoru sighed. "Next time, call us first. If Sakura hadn’t reached us today—"  

Oni’s grip tightened. He didn’t need the rest spelled out.  

"That Glowing Shot technique…" Oni scratched his spiky hair. "It’s a sweet spot thing, right?"  

QP nodded. **"Use a cross-gut string racket with steel wires. Aim for the junction points—that’s where—"**  

He stopped mid-sentence.  

A memory surfaced: Yoru, after the match against Ralph, sketching a cross-gut pattern to a store clerk.  

QP’s eyes narrowed. "Yoru. You ordered those rackets… for Ryoma, didn’t you?"  

Silence.  

Yoru’s smirk was all the answer QP needed.  

"You madman," QP muttered.  

*Chapter 127: The Asura Path and the "Other Dimension" *  

( Some of the data comes from the "New Prince of Tennis Bar" analysis, which perfectly explains the relationship between the Asura Path and the "Other Dimension." I’ve simplified it so it’s easier to understand.)  

By the time Yoru got home, it was already night.  

One thing made him smack his thigh in frustration—he hadn’t gotten a clear look at Phoenix’s Destruction technique. If he had, he could’ve copied it.  

Don’t underestimate just one move.  

The benefits were huge. Destruction was an extension of the Glowing Shot. Copying Destruction would mean mastering the Glowing Shot by default—essentially grasping the perfect sweet spot without Ryoma having to put in the effort.  

For a second, he felt like rushing to Mochinofuji to find Phoenix.  

But before that, there was something else Yoru wanted to figure out.  

After dinner, QP started catching up on his training for the day.  

Yoru sought out Nanjiro and asked, "Old man, I need to ask you something."  

Nanjiro, who had been stuffing a magazine into his waistband, blinked. "Huh?"  

"Something happened today..."  

Yoru explained how Oni Juujirou had stepped into the Asura Path and mentioned the unstable factors he’d observed.  

"Losing control is normal," Nanjiro shrugged, completely unfazed.  

"There are two ways to enter the Asura Path."  

"The first method is for those whose base five stats meet the requirements. If their mental strength is high enough, they can open it through meditation."  

"There’s a master in Gyoshuu Town named Magatou who teaches a meditation method to find a cave in the spiritual world. At the deepest part of that cave is a gate."  

"Only those with the right qualifications can push open that gate—and it’s hard. And by qualifications, I don’t just mean talent. It’s about playing style, understanding of tennis, and unbreakable determination."  

"Opening this gate grants the ability to freely activate the Asura Path, which is also a core element of deeper Zone-level divine techniques."  

Nanjiro paused before continuing.  

"As for the second method, it’s what you saw today—realizing the existence of hell but still pushing forward with unwavering resolve. The intense mental stimulation temporarily boosts the spirit, forcing open the gates of the Asura Path."  

"But without meditation training, this kind of Asura Path remains uncontrollable. It only activates when mental stimulation reaches a peak."  

So that’s why!  

Yoru finally understood the connection he hadn’t pieced together before.  

No wonder, in the original series, only Byoudouin Phoenix, Duke Watanabe, and later Tokugawa could freely use the Asura Path.  

Because only Phoenix and Tokugawa had undergone meditation training, they could activate it at will to aid their battles.  

As for Duke Watanabe—though the series never showed him meditating, as Phoenix’s right-hand man, he’d probably trained in it too. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to freely enter the Asura Path.  

Players like Ryoma, Oni Juujirou, and Akutsu Jin? Their Asura Path was purely situational—only activating when mentally stimulated.  

Yoru pressed further:  

"So, only those who’ve trained in meditation can freely use the Asura Path to summon their Other Dimension in battle?"  

Nanjiro blinked. "What Other Dimension?"  

"You know, that effect I described—like a spectral projection, a ghostly influence."  

Yoru gestured vaguely.  

Nanjiro rolled his eyes. "Kid, you’ve got it all wrong. The Asura Path’s manifestation is a mental projection, not some Other Dimension. Other Dimension is just a term for sheer power!"  

"Huh?!"  

Yoru froze.  

Nanjiro explained:  

"Other Dimension refers to a title for overwhelming strength or technique. For example, your Supreme Zone could be considered Other Dimension-level power."  

"Wait, what?!"  

Yoru’s mind reeled. His entire understanding had just been flipped upside down.  

But if he thought about Nanjiro’s explanation…  

Everything that didn’t make sense in Prince of Tennis suddenly clicked.  

Borg—someone who walked a completely different path from the Asura Path—was called an Other Dimension powerhouse.  

In the original series, during Phoenix and Oni’s first match, Phoenix said:  

"Through this life-or-death match with you, I’ve attained power from the Other Dimension."  

At that time, Phoenix hadn’t even started meditation training, let alone opened the gates to the Other Dimension.  

Additionally, Tokugawa’s Black Hole technique was also labeled Other Dimension.  

There were plenty of other examples.  

Putting it all together, Other Dimension was just a term for overwhelming power—not the mental projection itself.  

If Other Dimension was the projection, then Tokugawa’s later projection (which wasn’t Black Hole but the Buddhist Asura) wouldn’t make any sense.  

"Damn… so that’s how it is."  

Yoru finally understood.  

Once he stepped into the Asura Path, he wondered what his mental projection would be. The thought made him curious.  

But Nanjiro gave him a strange look.  

"Kid, you’re not thinking of trying to open the Asura Path, are you? Even if your path could lead there, wouldn’t that be spreading yourself too thin?"  

"Nah, nah. In this world, more skills mean more options~"  

"Tch…"  

Seeing Yoru’s carefree attitude, Nanjiro swallowed his warnings.  

Maybe he sensed it too—whether he advised against it or not, Yoru would walk this path eventually.  

All that was left was to see how fate played out.  

Time flew.  

A month passed in the blink of an eye. The National Tournament was now less than three days away.  

Everyone was ready.  

After a month of intense training, the Seigaku team had undergone a dramatic evolution.  

Starting with doubles—  

Yamato and Kawasaki had mastered numerous advanced positioning tactics, and their synergy had improved significantly.  

Lately, they’d been crushing Kaido’s doubles pair in practice.  

Of course, Kaido’s team wasn’t weak either. Rumor had it they were on the verge of unlocking the Synchro state—they just needed the right trigger.  

As for Kiriya—  

Thanks to growth spurts and relentless training, his base stats had reached the upper tier of 8-star, with actual combat ability easily surpassing 9-star.  

QP, also benefiting from physical development, had broken into the upper 9-star range, with real combat power breezing past 10-star.  

Yoru had put in some effort too, refining all his techniques.  

Aside from Muga no Kyouchi and Hyakuren Jitoku no Kiwami, every other skill had reached Lv. 10 (the former two were at Lv. 9).  

Unfortunately, his base stats only rose to mid-tier 11-star. Most techniques didn’t contribute much to growth past 10-star.  

The gap between each star rank had widened significantly.  

QP’s progress no longer gave Yoru the same explosive boosts as before—proof of that.  

One more thing worth mentioning—  

Ryoma had returned to the U.S.  

Before leaving, under Nanjiro’s stunned gaze, Yoru handed Ryoma a cross-shaped racket and gave him solemn instructions.  

Since QP pursued Perfect Tennis, he’d never train for sweet spots.  

That responsibility fell squarely on Little Ryoma’s shoulders.  

Even if Yoru could copy the technique later, he’d likely need Ryoma’s practice to refine the mastery.  

Why?  

Because sweet spot training was a lifelong endeavor.  

You could get infinitely close to the perfect point—but never 100%.  

Yoru didn’t have the patience for that. 

Chapter 128: The Approaching Nationals  

Makinofuji 

After a month of threats, bribes, and relentless persuasion, Byoudouin "Phoenix" Houou and Tetsuhito Fuwa finally managed to recruit some strong players.  

First was Atsushi Tohno from Aomori.  

Tohno was… a special case. Obsessed with some kind of religious ideology, he made Phoenix go through hoops—buying Bibles, procuring torture tools—before finally being convinced after getting blasted by a barrage of Lightning Strikes.  

Next was Ryuji Oshitari from Gunma Middle School.  

His recruitment was surprisingly easy—just a bowl of dandan noodles and a taiyaki was enough to lure him in. Cheaper than a girl swayed by malatang.  

To counter Seigaku’s overwhelming singles strength, Phoenix paired Oshitari and Tohno as a doubles team, letting them sharpen their synergy.  

Their playstyles complemented each other perfectly.  

Tohno’s brutal Execution Tennis relied on relentless offense, but it left gaps in defense. Oshitari, however, specialized in defensive counterattacks, covering those gaps with his Two-Sword Style and wide-range retrievals.  

Then came the doubles duo from Kyushu—Danjiro Date and Rikiya Ban, a traditional powerhouse pair.  

Their original school was too weak to make Nationals, so after wasting two years, they jumped at Phoenix’s offer for a shot at glory.  

With that, Makinofuji’s roster was complete.  

Phoenix swiftly kicked out the weaker original members. Some protested, but after witnessing Tohno and the others in action, they shut up fast.  

This new Makinofuji was stronger than ever—more dominant than last year’s team.  

The only regret?  

Failing to recruit Jujiro Oni. If they had him, their singles lineup would’ve been unstoppable.  

Still, there was a silver lining.  

After that crushing defeat and severe injury, Phoenix hit rock bottom—only to rise again, stronger than ever. His body had matured, and his skills had sharpened.  

Shitenhouji 

A green-capped teen and another with bangs hanging over his forehead walked to a shady tree—where a certain idiot was napping.  

They exchanged glances, then hoisted him up and sprinted toward the school’s only swimming pool.  

The jostling woke the sleeper.  

"Eh?!"  

His eyes widened as the pool grew closer. "Captain?! Tetsuya?! What are you—YAMEROOOOO!!!"  

Ignoring his screams, the two raised him high, their expressions as solemn as soldiers on a mission.  

Green Cap (Captain): "Sorry, Mouri. Nationals are coming, and I’m under pressure. This is the only way to wake you up."  

"Tetsuya—FULL SPEED!"  

"YES, SIR!"  

Eyes burning with determination, they sprinted faster, then—  

SPLASH!!!  

All three plunged into the water, sending waves everywhere.  

Two minutes later, they floated belly-up—three drowning idiots.  

Luckily, the swimming club was used to this. They fished them out, dried them off, and dumped them back at the tennis courts.  

By the time Mouri Koshiro woke up, he was furious.  

"You could’ve just asked me to train! Why drag me into the pool?!"  

Enraged, he delivered a "Crow Takes Flight" straight into the captain’s gut—  

"BLARGH—!"  

Captain: "M-Mouri… you traitor…!"  

Mouri: "Who’s the traitor?! You can’t even swim!!"  

Captain: "T-Tetsuya… help…!"  

But Tetsuya Hiroshi lay peacefully on the ground, already in the afterlife.  

The rest of Shitenhouji’s team barely blinked. Some even placed white flowers beside them before continuing practice.  

Meet Shitenhouji’s Big Three:  

• Yukimura Seiichi (Green Cap): The (unhinged) captain.  

• Hiroshi Tetsuya: The (often unconscious) vice-capt.  

• Koshiro Mouri: The (lazy but OP) sleeping ace. 

Since the seniors graduated, the second-years had to carry the team. Though new coach Watanabe Shu helped keep morale high, the gap in strength was obvious.  

Mouri, their strongest player, hated training and hid to nap daily—hence the "pool wake-up calls."  

Nearby, Coach Watanabe turned over in his sleep, completely unfazed.  

Maiko Academy 

"Atsushi Tohno, Ryuji Oshitari, Danjiro Date, Rikiya Ban…"  

"These are Makinofuji’s new recruits."  

The bespectacled teen closed the report and sighed. "Shuuji… we’re screwed."  

Shuuji Tanegashima, pale-haired and slightly tanned (which, unfortunately, dulled his otherwise sharp looks), propped his chin on his hand.  

"They reinforced before Nationals… we didn’t think of that. But let’s be real—no one would join our broke school anyway."  

Tanegashima Shuuji and Kanata Irie—Maiko’s two pillars.  

But beyond them and Kaji Kazuya, the rest of the team was weak.  

Tanegashima yawned. "Winning Kansai was enough. At least we’re graduating with something. Did you see the news from Kanto?"  

Irie nodded. "Seigaku’s sudden rise was unexpected. Rikkai’s lineup last year was mostly second-years and first-years, so they shouldn’t have weakened…"  

"I wonder if we’ll face them at Nationals. Not that we can win, but fighting strong players sounds fun. Rumor says they even have a German prodigy transfer!"  

Though they’d won Kansai, Maiko’s team had glaring weaknesses. Their victory relied heavily on luck—like Irie slotting Kazuya into doubles and avoiding Phoenix in singles.  

But luck wouldn’t take them to Nationals glory.  

Thankfully, Tanegashima and Irie were chill. Even Kazuya, the library committee member, was zen about it.  

No obsession with championships here.  

The Nationals were coming—and every school was making their final preparations. 

Chapter 129: National Tournament Draw – The Annihilation of the Echizen Household  

Kansai Region – Mochinofuji Middle School  

Similar to the Kanto tournament, the draw ceremony for the National Championships was held at the previous year's champion school.  

Teams that had earned their spots in the national tournament gathered here for the draw.  

Though called the "National Championships," only 24 schools made the cut—smaller in scale compared to regional qualifiers, but with far greater prestige.  

After all, these were the elite teams that had survived district preliminaries, prefecturals, and regionals.  

As one of Kansai’s prestigious schools, Mochinofuji had gone all out for the ceremony. The draw was held in the largest lecture hall on campus, capable of seating hundreds.  

A screen behind the stage displayed the names of all 24 participating schools.  

Among them, the most notable were:  

• Kanto: Seigaku, Rikkai Dai, Yamabuki, Hyotei  

• Kansai: Maizono Academy, Mochinofuji, Shitenhouji, Shishigaku 

…and others. 

Most were established powerhouses—except Seigaku, the dark horse that had ended Rikkai Dai’s 13-year reign. Naturally, they drew the most attention.  

"Shishigaku’s lineup is so weak this year. Even if they made it to Nationals, they’re just cannon fodder. Hope we draw them."  

The speaker was Inoue from Maizono Academy.  

Shishigaku, the perennial Kyushu champions, had always been a Nationals regular. But this year was different—their strongest players had all graduated, leaving only Washio Kazuya and Suzuki Shun to carry the team.  

Shiraishi didn’t mince words: "And they still won Kyushu like this…"  

The two bantered shamelessly, earning an eye-roll from Kajimoto, their teammate.  

…Especially since Shishigaku’s team was sitting right next to them.  

Washio, their captain, shot them a dry look. "Hey, hey. You guys realize we’re right here, right?"  

Beside him, Suzuki slumped like a dead fish. "Don’t bother. We’re probably getting eliminated in the first round anyway."  

Surprisingly, Washio and Suzuki weren’t angry. In fact, they seemed on decent terms with Shiraishi’s group.  

Before the Nationals season, Maizono and Shishigaku had played a practice match.  

Having known each other since last year, their relationship was friendly enough for light teasing.  

Most importantly—Shishigaku had already accepted their fate.  

This year’s team was weak.  

No comparison to last year, let alone the year before.  

Yet they’d still won Kyushu, a testament to the region’s declining strength.  

"Yo~ Shiraishi-senpai, Inoue-senpai! Long time no see!"  

A cheerful voice cut through the chatter.  

Everyone turned to see Shitenhouji’s team arriving.  

Thanks to their school’s easygoing reputation, Shitenhouji was always well-liked. Hirakoba and Tetsuya were already familiar with Shiraishi’s group.  

Shiraishi raised an eyebrow. "Where’s Mori? Didn’t he come?"  

Hirakoba and Tetsuya exchanged a wry look.  

"We tried to drag him along, but he disappeared somewhere to nap again."  

Shiraishi remembered Mori’s "sleepwalking tennis" vividly. During the Kansai finals, they’d faced off in Singles 1—an unforgettable match.  

Hirakoba suddenly leaned in, lowering his voice.  

"Hey, have you heard? Mochinofuji expanded their roster. Recruited some top players from other regions—especially one doubles pair that’s making waves."  

Washio snorted. "That’s not even a secret anymore."  

Mochinofuji’s aggressive recruitment had been the talk of Kansai. They’d scouted talent from Kyushu, Gunma, and beyond—impossible to miss unless you lived under a rock.  

Washio smirked at Shiraishi’s group. "If you face them again, Maizono won’t have it so easy."  

"Don’t worry. We’re prepared."**  

Inoue adjusted his glasses, the picture of confidence. Shiraishi mirrored his calm, while Kajimoto just rolled his eyes.  

Hirakoba blinked. "Wait… did you guys recruit too?"  

Before they could answer, Kajimoto exploded:  

"Recruit?! They’re just planning to lose gracefully!"  

Silence.  

Everyone stared as Shiraishi and Inoue nodded proudly, as if this were a brilliant strategy.  

Inoue sighed. "What else can we do? With Mochinofuji’s new lineup, we’re outmatched. Winning Kansai was already a fluke."  

No one argued.  

The Kansai finals had been a strategic gamble—Maizono’s victory hinged on a risky lineup shift. Without it, Mochinofuji would’ve crushed them.  

"Seigaku’s here!"  

Suzuki’s sudden whisper cut through the chatter.  

The room hushed instantly, all eyes turning to the entrance.  

But the arrivals were… not what anyone expected.  

Instead of Yoru and QP (the faces plastered all over tennis magazines), two unfamiliar figures walked in:  

• A glasses-wearing guy with a sleazy grin  

• A serious-looking middle schooler 

It was Yamato and Tezuka.  

Gulp.  

Under the weight of everyone’s stares, Yamato broke into a cold sweat. Tezuka, however, remained unfazed.  

Yamato hurriedly dragged Tezuka to Seigaku’s assigned seats.  

The moment they sat down, Mitsuya (Yamabuki’s data specialist) leaned over curiously.  

"Yamato, why are you two the only ones here? Where’s Yoru?"  

"Uh… slight mishap."**  

Yamato laughed awkwardly.  

The original plan was for Yoru, QP, and Tezuka to attend—a chance for Tezuka to observe the national stage.  

But disaster had struck that morning.  

With Echizen Rinko and Nanako away on vacation, Nanjiro was put in charge of breakfast.  

After much deliberation, he decided on:  

• Grilled saury  

• Raw beef 

…A combination he’d always wanted to try but never dared.  

Shockingly, Yoru didn’t refuse. In fact, he looked excited.  

QP hesitated, but with the other two already digging in, he reluctantly joined.  

Result?  

A triple case of explosive food poisoning.  

Rumor had it the ambulance arrived to a symphony of flatulence—none of them were in any state to attend the draw.  

With Kiriya managing practice back at Seigaku, Yamato and Tezuka were the only ones left to represent the team.  

"Mochinofuji’s here!"  

The crowd’s attention shifted to the entrance, where Byoudouin Phoenix and his revamped squad strode in.  

The Kansai teams collectively grimaced.  

No one had expected Phoenix to pull such a dirty move—stacking his roster right before Nationals.  

It was like bringing a rocket launcher to a sword fight.  

Phoenix scanned the room, frowning when he didn’t spot Yoru.  

With all teams present, the draw began.  

Seeing Yamato’s hands shake uncontrollably, Tezuka silently steadied him as they approached the stage.  

Yamato drew their slot—  

"Seigaku… C Block!"  

The announcer’s voice echoed through the hall.  

Yamato froze.  

"C Block… Oh no." 

Chapter 130: The Nationals Begin – Clever Kirihara  

After the draw ceremony concluded, the matches were set to begin on Saturday—tomorrow.  

QP, now fluent enough to converse smoothly, laid out his analysis:  

"Based on Yamato’s draw, I’ve run simulations. If things go as predicted, our path is:  

1. First match (after bye): Shishigaku  

1. Quarterfinals: Shitenhouji  

1. Semifinals: Likely Maiko Academy (Kansai champions)  

1. Finals: Either Rikkai or Makinofuji." 

"In short, we’ll be fighting through the Kansai gauntlet."  

Since the Kanto Tournament, QP had solidified his role as Seigaku’s strategist, handling data analysis and tactical adjustments—though final decisions rested with Yoru.  

(Not that Yoru ever overruled him. He just pretended to for the sake of not looking like a total slacker in front of the system.)  

Kirihara grinned. "Nice one, Yamato! Who knew someone so obsessed with cleanliness could have such rotten luck?"  

Yamato sighed. When he saw Seigaku placed in Group C—essentially the Kansai death zone—he’d been stunned.  

QP reassured them: "No need to worry. Data shows both Shishigaku and Shitenhouji are weakened this year due to generational gaps. We’ll handle them easily."  

The team gulped.  

Kawakami blinked. "QP… you analyzed all this overnight?"  

QP: "Yes."  

Team (internally): …Monster.  

The Nationals – Opening Day 

As the pinnacle of Japanese middle school tennis, the Nationals drew massive crowds, especially during summer break.  

Seigaku had arrived early, staying at a high-end hotel—fully funded by the school board, thanks to their long-awaited return to the Nationals.  

(Yoru begrudgingly admitted: "Guess the old hag did do something decent for once.")  

Before matches began, Makinofuji returned the Nationals banner to the committee.  

(*Fun fact: A school could keep the banner permanently—but only by winning three consecutive Nationals. So far, no one had done it.*)  

Round 2 – Seigaku vs. Shishigaku 

Just as QP predicted, their first opponent was Shishigaku.  

Washio Kazuya, Shishigaku’s captain, sighed. "Well… at least we didn’t get eliminated in Round 1."  

Still, as captain, he had to rally his team.  

"Everyone! We’ve fought hard to get here! Let’s believe in miracles!"  

Team: "YES, CAPTAIN!"  

(The louder the cheer, the harder the fall.)  

With Shishigaku’s roster in shambles, Washio and Suzuki Shun—normally a doubles pair—were forced into singles, facing Yoru and QP.  

The result?  

Three straight wins in under an hour.  

But per tournament rules, all five matches had to be played—so Suzuki had to suffer through a 6-0 demolition by QP in seven minutes.  

Then came Washio vs. Yoru.  

Before Yoru could even step on court, Washio clutched his stomach dramatically.  

"Ref! I… I forfeit! cough wheeze!"  

The referee—a seasoned veteran—saw right through the act but let it slide.  

Final score: Seigaku 5-0.  

Shishigaku hadn’t even scraped three games total across all matches.  

Washio and Suzuki exchanged a tired smile.  

"Well… we saw it coming."  

Back at the Hotel – Preparing for Shitenhouji 

The team gathered in Yoru’s room—including Tezuka, who was being groomed as Seigaku’s future leader.  

QP flipped through notes.  

"Tomorrow’s match: Shitenhouji. Three players to watch."  

He displayed profiles of Hira Yoshimitsu and Hara Tetsuya—Shitenhouji’s undefeated doubles pair, known for their comedy tennis (but don’t underestimate them).  

"Their teamwork and individual skills are top-tier. Yamato and Kawakami, you’ll face them in Doubles 1—use this to gauge elite doubles play."  

"Kaido, Imai—Doubles 2 is yours."  

"As for the third threat…"  

Mouri Koshiro.  

Shitenhouji’s sleeping ace, who’d dominated in Kansai.  

QP: "But we’ll handle him."  

(Translation: Yoru or QP will vaporize him.)  

Yoru smirked. "Kirihara, want to switch spots tomorrow? You can fight Mouri."  

Kirihara’s eyes lit up. "REALLY?! FINALLY, A REAL MATCH!"  

The rest of the team stared at him with pity.  

(*Yoru and QP were nationally feared. Any sane opponent would avoid them at all costs—meaning Mouri would likely be placed in Singles 3, far from Kirihara.*)  

But Kirihara, blissfully unaware, pumped his fist.  

"THANKS, CAPTAIN! YOU’RE THE BEST!"  

Yamato sighed, recalling Yoru’s words:  

"I recruited Kirihara because he’s smart and fun to mess with."  

(Mission accomplished.)  

Next: The Battle Against Shitenhouji’s Comedy Duo!