86-90

Chapter 86: Insight Rune—Nanjiroh Gets Played  

(Author’s Note: Some readers are fixated on age discrepancies. Officially, all character ages are given as ranges—e.g., Ryoma is 12–13 at the start of the series, Tezuka 14–15, Mori 15–16. Exact months aren’t specified, so just focus on their grade level.)  

[Congratulations, Master! Leading Seigaku to victory in the Metropolitan Tournament! Reward: Random Rune ×1!]  

[Claim?]  

"Claim."  

Winning any major tournament awarded a rune.  

This time, Yoru was especially curious.  

[Insight Rune Acquired!]  

[Insight Rune]:  

• All members gain +20% dynamic vision.  

• Regular members: +5% reaction speed.  

• Regulars: +10% reaction speed.  

• Master (Yoru): +15% reaction speed. 

Damn.  

Another game-changing rune.  

Dynamic vision and reaction speed were huge.  

Against speed-based players, this was a hard counter.  

If you can see it and react but still can’t return the shot? That just means your physical stats aren’t keeping up.  

Kiriharu’s about to get nerfed before he even gets to flex.  

He hasn’t even played a single match with Swift Strike Rune, and now Insight Rune drops.  

But to outsiders? It’ll just look like another power-up.  

Luckily, this rune didn’t need much setup.  

I’ll just teach them "eye exercises" to explain the vision boost.  

(The tennis world had never heard of eye calisthenics.)  

Reaction speed? No need to explain. It’s subtle until critical moments—and even then, they’ll chalk it up to training.  

"Final score: 3–1! Seigaku wins the Metropolitan Championship!"  

The referee’s whistle echoed as cheers erupted.  

"WOOOO!"  

"We did it! Seigaku’s first Metropolitan title in years!"  

"HELL YEAH!"  

While Yoru, QP, and Kiriharu remained stoic, Yamato and the other veterans were ecstatic.  

The Seigaku supporters in the stands roared.  

QP was unfazed.  

Kiriharu, though?  

He’d dreamed of this moment.  

His body trembled slightly as he muttered, "Not bad, huh, Buchou?"  

Yoru nodded. "Not bad at all."  

His gaze drifted to the stands—specifically, the section packed with fangirls now jumping in celebration.  

QP followed his line of sight and deadpanned: "......"  

Nanjiroh vs. Tōyama: The Prank War 

"BAHAHAHA!"  

Nanjiroh pointed at Tōyama, cackling. "How’s it feel, old man? My kid’s team CRUSHED yours! You only got a point ‘cause they forfeited!"  

He was relishing this.  

"Hey! Fossil! Say something!"  

"C’mon, did you croak mid-match?"  

When Tōyama stayed silent, Nanjiroh waved his hands in front of his face—  

—only to freeze.  

Tōyama wasn’t ignoring him.  

He was clutching his chest, face pale, sweat beading.  

"M-My heart…"  

"H-Hey! Don’t die on me!" Nanjiroh panicked, grabbing his shoulders. "You got meds?!"  

"B-Back pocket…" Tōyama wheezed.  

Nanjiroh frantically reached for his pants—  

PFFFT.  

A sudden blast of air ruffled Nanjiroh’s hair.  

Then… the stench hit.  

Nanjiroh’s brain short-circuited.  

"HAHAHA! Still falling for that, eh, Nanjiroh?"  

Tōyama bolted, leaping onto Nakagauchi’s back.  

"RUN, NAKAGAUCCHI! HE’S GONNA KILL ME!"  

"YES, SIR!"  

Confused but obedient, Nakagauchi sprinted off, carrying his cackling coach.  

Nanjiroh’s scream shook the stadium:  

"TOOOOOYAMAAAAA!! I’LL SKIN YOU ALIIIIVE!!"  

Meanwhile—Wimbledon, England 

A stunning woman polished her racket in a luxury hotel suite, her bag adorned with the Swiss team emblem.  

Joanna Langman.  

The current #1 ranked women’s singles player.  

With Wimbledon approaching in July, top seeds had arrived early—Joanna included.  

"Joanna, here’s the confirmed player list. A few strong contenders, plus a dark horse."  

Her assistant—a wealthy, middle-aged woman—handed her a folder.  

Joanna didn’t glance up. "No need. They’re all losers. Boring."  

Her icy gaze locked onto the assistant. "And I told you—call me Nalan in private."  

The woman flinched. "S-Sorry, Nalan! I forgot!"  

She couldn’t afford to anger her.  

As Nalan’s manager, she’d earned more money than most people saw in a lifetime.  

Losing this job? Financial ruin.  

Angering Nalan? Something worse.  

Nalan resumed cleaning her racket. "What about the other task?"  

The assistant tensed. "N-Nothing yet. Daxia is too vast. No leads."  

"Useless."  

The woman didn’t dare retort.  

Nalan’s voice turned steel-cold. "After my 10th Grand Slam, I’m going back to Daxia. I’ll find him."  

"B-But—!" The assistant paled. "If sponsors find out you have a child—or if the media catches wind—endorsements will plummet! And your goal is 20 Slams! You’re only halfway—"  

"GET OUT."  

The room’s temperature dropped.  

The assistant fled.  

Alone, Nalan pulled a photo from her bag—  

—a younger Yoru and his father.  

Her fingers traced the image as she whispered:  

"Are you mad at me? Hiding so well…"  

"Wait for me, Yoru. Mommy’s coming home soon."  

Once, she’d dreamed of being the greatest.  

20 Grand Slams.  

She’d made sacrifices—mistakes—for that goal.  

Now? After dominating every woman on tour, the fire was gone.  

All she wanted was to fix what she’d broken.  

Chapter 87: A Chance Encounter Mission; Departure for Okayama Oku  

After the Metropolitan Tournament ended, Yoru taught everyone the "Eye Exercises."  

Having done them thousands of times in his past life as a student, he couldn’t possibly forget them.  

To convince everyone of their training effectiveness, he waited a few days after teaching them before equipping the "Insight Rune."  

Once the Insight Rune took effect, many club members were amazed by the "magical" results of the eye exercises. Some even went home and taught them to their elders with poor eyesight—though, unsurprisingly, it only provided basic eye care without any miraculous improvements.  

Yoru’s explanation? "Everyone’s constitution is different."  

With that settled, Yoru moved up his plan to seek out Oni Juujirou in Okayama Oku.  

Originally, he intended to go after the Kantō Tournament, but the day after the Metropolitan Tournament ended, QP brought up the topic of the "Pinnacle of Perfection" (矜持之光, Kyouji no Hikari). Immediately, a Chance Encounter Mission popped up:  

[Chance Encounter Mission: Watch QP vs. Oni Juujirou. Reward: Skill Evolution Card x1] 

[Chance Encounter Mission: Play a Match Against Oni Juujirou. Reward: Skill Upgrade Card x1.]  

Two missions at once, with rewards so tempting Yoru couldn’t resist.  

He immediately declared they’d set off to find Oni Juujirou.  

The next day, the two boarded a train, speeding toward Okayama Prefecture.  

In the original series, Oni Juujirou had plenty of backstory.  

He attended Okayama Oku Middle School, near an orphanage where he single-handedly cared for a group of children—though he himself wasn’t an orphan. His family was actually well-off, but his father passed away early, leaving behind a sizable inheritance and business managed by his mother and grandmother.  

As a result, Oni always had ample pocket money. Combined with his part-time jobs, he often treated the kids to extra meals.  

After hearing Yoru’s explanation, QP couldn’t help but admire Oni Juujirou.  

"Someone who’s been through hardship and still chooses to shield others from the rain… That’s worthy of respect."  

"You seem to know a lot about him. Are you close?" QP asked.  

Yoru shook his head. "Never met him."  

QP: "???"  

Yoru shrugged. "I have a friend who…"  

The universal excuse—"I have a friend"—at least temporarily satisfied QP’s curiosity.  

QP frowned. "So you’re saying you deduced his potential to awaken the Aoi and Gouki (愛知と剛毅) Pinnacle just from secondhand descriptions?"  

He suddenly felt like he’d boarded a pirate ship.  

Yoru grinned. "Nah, I’ve seen him before—just never formally met. You know I can see people’s latent talents, right?"  

QP had no choice but to accept it.  

At this point, even if it was a scam, it was too late to back out. Besides, he had grown noticeably stronger since following Yoru.  

"Okayama Station, arriving now!"  

After roughly three hours, the train announcement rang out, and the two stepped onto the platform.  

Yoru had done his research beforehand. Okayama Oku wasn’t far from the station, but the school itself was… less than impressive.  

Okayama Prefecture was economically stable, but Okayama Oku had a reputation as a dumping ground for delinquents.  

When they arrived at the middle school’s gates, the broken entrance and graffiti-covered walls gave Yoru serious "Suzuran High" vibes (from Crows Zero).  

No wonder someone as strong as Oni Juujirou stayed under the radar before high school.  

A school like this wouldn’t even qualify for regular tournaments—just like Moriya’s old school.  

"You sure we’re in the right place?" QP asked flatly.  

"Pretty sure…?"  

The two stepped inside.  

Before long, they reached the schoolyard—where a massive brawl was underway. Punches flew, bodies crashed, and the atmosphere was anything but scholarly.  

Two guys with tennis bags stood out like sore thumbs.  

QP frowned. "Should we leave? Or ask someone for directions?"  

Yoru smirked. "Nah, let’s watch. How often do you get to see a live-action gang fight? We’ll ask after they’re done."  

With his Ten Sense Control, he wasn’t worried about getting caught in the crossfire.  

Back in his past life, middle school fights usually ended with empty threats—actual all-out brawls were rare.  

"Someone’s coming," QP said calmly.  

THUD.  

A body flew their way, landing unconscious at their feet.  

"Perfect."  

Yoru grabbed the guy’s collar, slapped him twice, and jerked him awake.  

"Ow… ow—!"  

Ignoring the groans, Yoru cut straight to the point: "Where’s Oni Juujirou?"  

"O-Oni… boss?" The guy winced. "He’s… at the orphanage… near the school…"  

Then he passed out again.  

Mission accomplished.  

Yoru dropped him and turned away.  

On their way here, they’d passed "Warm and Cozy Alley" Orphanage, but Yoru assumed Oni wouldn’t be there during school hours.  

Turns out, he’d underestimated how chaotic Okayama Oku was.  

Leaving the school behind, they headed for the orphanage.  

In Japan, abandoned infants were sadly common—statistically, the highest rate in Asia.  

High societal pressure led to reckless couples ditching newborns, leaving them at orphanages like this one.  

Warm and Cozy Alley lived up to its name.  

The gate, covered in ivy, was adorned with handmade plush toys—strangely heartwarming.  

Yoru suddenly had a thought. "Did Oni make these?"  

Despite his rough, grizzled appearance, Oni was known for crafting stuffed animals for the kids.  

"Can I help you two?"  

A middle-aged security guard stepped out of the booth.  

Yoru smiled. "We’re here to see Oni Juujirou."  

The guard’s expression tightened. His hand drifted toward the baton at his waist.  

"What business do you have with Juujirou?"  

Yoru wasn’t surprised by the reaction.  

Given Okayama Oku’s reputation and Oni’s "demon boss" nickname, the guard’s caution made sense.  

He lifted his tennis bag. "No worries—we’re just here to play tennis."  

"Tennis?" The guard relaxed, sliding the baton back.  

Most Okayama Oku students had a certain look—these two clearly weren’t troublemakers.  

"Juujirou’s inside helping the kids clean up. You’ll spot him right away."  

The guard chuckled. "But fair warning—that boy’s tennis is monstrous. Don’t let him smash your rackets!"  

"Back in his first year, he led his old school to a national championship. But he transferred to Okayama Oku for these kids… gave up the spotlight."  

Pride dripped from the guard’s voice, as if Oni were his own son.  

Yoru nodded. "Thanks, sir. We’ll head in now."  

Working security at an orphanage was a labor of love—the pay sure wasn’t the draw.  

The man’s dedication alone deserved respect.  

Chapter 88: A Warm Welfare Home  

The welfare home wasn’t very large.  

Yoru and QP strolled along a shaded path, listening to the birds chirping, feeling an inexplicable sense of comfort.  

A childhood without parents always left deeper scars than most.  

Welfare homes were places meant to heal those scars—at least, most of them tried their best. The people who worked here deserved respect.  

To be honest, Yoru deeply admired Oni Juujirou.  

In the original Phoenix Memories arc, it was mentioned that Oni had displayed extraordinary talent from a young age, sweeping through junior tournaments and even winning national championships.  

When he entered middle school, he turned down offers from prestigious schools and instead led an unknown team to victory in the national tournament.  

At first, Yoru assumed this happened when Oni was in his second or third year.  

But no—it was something he accomplished as a first-year.  

After proving himself by winning the national championship, he transferred to Okayama Oku, abandoning glory just to have more time to care for the children here.  

That kind of selflessness was something Yoru respected deeply.  

If not for his rough appearance, Oni could’ve easily been a protagonist-type character.  

A man with that much love in his heart…  

Yoru suspected Oni had already unlocked the Pinnacle of Perfect Harmony—specifically, the Light of Love within the Aura of Chivalry.  

After all, his current persona was that of a kind-hearted "uncle."  

Before long, a cheerful voice reached their ears.  

"Alright, kids! Time for a leaf-collecting contest! Whoever gathers the most leaves gets this muscle-bear plushie I made!"  

Following the voice, they saw a young man with a rugged appearance waving a handmade stuffed toy.  

"No way! Oni-nii’s plushies are too ugly! I want a panda!"  

"Another muscle bear? It looks just like Oni-nii! Lame~"  

"Hey, you guys were just complaining! Why are you stealing my leaves now? Cheaters!"  

The children laughed as they swept up fallen leaves, their joy washing over the scene like waves.  

Watching this, Yoru suddenly stopped walking, feeling something stir inside him.  

"QP…"  

He smiled. "Let’s go buy something."  

"Hm?" QP tilted his head, confused.  

Without explaining, Yoru pulled QP along, rushing out of the welfare home.  

At the gate, he left his tennis bag in the security booth.  

"Uncle, could you watch our bags? We’ll be back soon."  

About fifteen minutes later, they returned, carrying four large bags full of snacks.  

"Snacks for the kids?" The security guard smiled knowingly.  

"Thanks for your help."  

Carrying the bags, Yoru and QP walked straight to where the children were playing.  

"Wow~ So many snacks!"  

"Are these big brothers volunteers?"  

"They’re way cooler than Oni-nii!"  

"Look, they have my favorite chips~!"  

Their arrival drew everyone’s attention.  

The kids weren’t surprised by strangers—volunteers often came to help with repairs or bring treats. But rarely did anyone bring this much.  

Still, the children waited politely, not grabbing anything until Yoru and QP started handing the snacks out.  

"Go on, don’t you want some?" Yoru grinned.  

The kids erupted into cheers, and even QP’s lips twitched into a faint smile.  

Oni’s furrowed brows relaxed. Seeing the two distribute snacks, the wariness in his eyes faded.  

He walked over and bowed slightly. "Thank you. This must’ve cost you a lot."  

"Worth every yen for those smiles," Yoru replied, shaking his head.  

He wasn’t just being polite. In his past life, he’d been an orphan too—luckier than most, thanks to social welfare programs.  

In this world, he was an orphan again—his father died early, and his grandfather passed not long after. His mother might as well not exist.  

If not for Nanjirou and Rinko Echizen, his life here would’ve been even harder than before. That’s why seeing Oni and the kids had struck a chord.  

At the children’s insistence, Yoru and QP joined the leaf-collecting contest, laughter filling the air.  

By the time they finished cleaning up, the sun was setting. The three of them lay on the grass with the kids, watching the sunset in peaceful silence.  

As night fell and crickets began chirping, Oni—who’d been dozing off—finally stirred.  

Glancing at Yoru and QP, he said, "First time I’ve seen kids my age come here."  

Yoru opened his eyes, his expression softening. "I’m an orphan. So is he."  

Oni froze. "...Sorry."  

"It’s fine. I got lucky—I have foster parents who care for me."  

Yoru wondered what it’d be like to be raised by his birth parents.  

The Echizens treated him like their own, but it wasn’t quite the same.  

Not that they loved him any less—in fact, they doted on him more than Ryoma or Ryoga. Nanjirou and Rinko never scolded him, especially Rinko, who spoiled him endlessly.  

Yoru knew it was because they feared they wouldn’t be enough.  

It made his heart ache. Would his real parents have loved him this much too?  

A faint wetness gathered at the corners of his eyes.  

Noticing this, Oni scratched his head, quickly changing the subject. "I thought you two came to play tennis."  

He’d noticed their tennis bags earlier but assumed they meant no harm.  

Their sudden snack run had surprised him, though.  

"......"  

QP didn’t understand their conversation, but he savored the moment.  

He hadn’t spent much time in orphanages, but playing with the kids today felt… nice.  

For once, he forgot why they’d come here.  

"Actually, you’re right."  

Yoru sat up, gazing at the rising moon. "We did come to challenge you to a match. But spending the afternoon with the kids was good too."  

"So… Oni. Will you play against both of us?"  

"Sure."  

"…Huh?"  

The immediate answer caught Yoru off guard, leaving his prepared arguments stuck in his throat.  

It was like catching your girlfriend cheating, ready to explode—only for her to toss you 500 million yen and tell you to shut up.  

"Surprised?"  

Oni grinned, clearly enjoying Yoru’s reaction. "Normally, I’d refuse. But the kids had fun today, so I’ll play one match with you."  

"Thanks."  

Only now did Yoru think to check Oni’s stats.  

[Name]: Oni Juujirou. 

......  

Chapter 89: Absurd Stats; QP vs. Oni Juujirou  

(A reader pointed out that in Japan, age is counted by full years—only after passing a birthday does the "panel age" increase. So no need to overthink age discrepancies; it’s just a matter of whether someone’s birthday has passed.)  

[Name]: Oni Juujirou 

[Age]: 15 

[Techniques]: Personal Five Stats (Lv. 9), Tennis Fundamentals (Lv. 7), Center of Gravity Vertical Jump Style (Lv. 7), Pinnacle of Perfection: Aoi Hikari (愛知光輝) (Lv. 7) 

[Talent]: Peerless Strength 

[Combat Power]: 9 Stars  

[Peerless Strength]: Born with monstrous physical power, far exceeding ordinary people. Strength increases by a percentage during matches based on condition.  

What the hell?!  

Yoru’s eyebrow twitched. He nearly choked on his own breath at the stats displayed before him.  

"System, what kind of joke is this? How are his stats so high?!"  

A Lv. 9 Five Stats—two whole levels above QP’s!  

In the original series, Oni Juujirou had lost to QP. How could his stats be this exaggerated?  

[Reminder: Two reasons. First, Oni Juujirou possesses innate superhuman strength. Check his detailed Five Stats—only his Power is Lv. 9; the rest are Lv. 7 or below.] 

[Second, Oni Juujirou has entered a rapid growth phase. His physical talents are now fully emerging.]  

Hearing this, Yoru quickly expanded the Five Stats breakdown. His racing heart settled slightly.  

Aside from Power at Lv. 9, the rest of Oni’s stats weren’t that much higher than QP’s—just his raw strength.  

The system displayed the highest single stat level as the overall rating. Since only Power reached Lv. 9, his Fundamentals hadn’t crossed into Lv. 8 territory.  

"Still… compared to Schneider, Tokugawa, and Ralph, his stats are insane," Yoru muttered.  

[Master, as previously mentioned, this is a critical growth period. Physical disparities will widen dramatically now. Early and late bloomers will show stark differences. Stats only stabilize around age 18.] 

[You can’t compare current developmental stages to the series’ timeline.]  

"Uh… I know. Just a small complaint."  

Yoru awkwardly rubbed his nose.  

Oni’s 9-Star Combat Power was largely due to his monstrous strength. If he fully unleashed his power and entered peak condition, he might even touch the upper limits of 9-Star.  

Glancing at QP, Yoru sighed inwardly.  

QP’s gonna have a rough time.  

In the original series, QP had already fully matured physically by high school, and his stats had no glaring weaknesses. Coupled with absorbing the three Pinnacle paths to evolve his talent, his victory over Oni made sense.  

But right now?  

This won’t be pretty…  

Okayama Oku had a tennis court—surprisingly well-maintained, likely thanks to Oni. It was a hard court, though lacking the usual chain-link fencing.  

The orphanage kids eagerly dragged over small stools, lining up to watch.  

"Took a breather, so I’m good to go. Which of you wants first?"  

Oni rested his racket on his shoulder, grinning.  

Pre-U17 Oni smiled often—though his grin was more intimidating than friendly.  

Yoru turned to QP. *"You go first. He hasn’t awakened Gouki (剛毅光輝) yet, but he’s already mastered Aoi Hikari (愛知光輝). He’s strong."*  

"He’s awakened Aoi?!"  

QP’s eyes lit up. "Alright. I’ll start." He pulled his racket from the bag.  

With no umpire chair, Yoru stood courtside to referee.  

"Oni, QP’s German. He doesn’t understand Japanese, so I’ll translate if needed."  

"Germany, huh."  

Oni’s eyes narrowed slightly. He knew enough about global tennis to recognize Germany’s elite training environment—far beyond Japan’s.  

"Rough or smooth?" QP asked in broken Japanese.  

Oni chuckled. "Yoru, tell him to take the first serve. Guests get privileges."  

After translating, QP nodded and moved to the baseline.  

Thud… thud… thud…  

The rhythmic dribble of the ball sharpened his focus.  

QP didn’t dare underestimate Oni.  

Just the fact that Yoru called him "strong" meant he was at least in the same tier.  

Yoru, meanwhile, was curious—could QP, after absorbing Aoi Hikari, actually compete with current Oni?  

Ignoring rune buffs, QP’s Perfect-grade talent boosted his stats by a percentage mid-match. After recent training, his effective Five Stats should’ve reached Lv. 8 baseline.  

If he could absorb Aoi Hikari mid-match, further amplifying his talent’s effects…  

This might not be one-sided after all.  

PANG—!  

A crisp strike echoed.  

QP’s serve was textbook—mechanical precision, blistering speed.  

The ball blitzed to the outer corner, kicking off the court and ricocheting past the fence before Oni could react.  

When QP treated a match seriously, he started at full throttle.  

Oni stood frozen for a second, then laughed as the ball embedded itself into a tree trunk behind him.  

"15–0, QP leads!" Yoru announced, then added, "He’s strong. Probably the toughest opponent you’ve faced yet."  

Oni nodded, finally discarding any lingering underestimation.  

That serve’s sheer kinetic force proved QP’s lean frame packed terrifying power.  

"Whoaaa! That big brother’s amazing!" 

"He made Oni-nii miss completely! First time ever!" 

"Go, Oni-nii! Don’t lose!" 

"Look at the tree—it’s dented! Is that normal?!" 

"If that hit someone, they’d die…" 

"Shh! Oni-nii says never joke about death!"  

The kids buzzed with excitement, realizing this wasn’t just a casual game.  

For QP, though, it wasn’t raw strength—just flawless technique maximizing force efficiency.  

Plus, his serve was boosted by First Strike and Swift Shot runes, leaving Oni no room for carelessness.  

"Can’t let the kids see me lose face~"  

Oni’s grin widened as his aura shifted violently.  

The real match had just begun.  

Chapter 90: A Clash of Middle School's Strongest  

"Getting serious now, huh?"  

Noticing the shift in Oni Juujirou's aura, QP's gaze sharpened, his own razor-sharp intensity rising to meet it.  

"Interesting."  

Oni narrowed his eyes, fully focused now that he recognized his opponent's caliber.  

Swish—!  

QP tossed his racket lightly, drawing everyone's attention.  

His last serve had been too fast for the kids to follow, and their curiosity was piqued.  

The ball left his fingertips.  

Bending his knees, he leaped, his body unfolding gracefully as his racket arm arced overhead.  

At the peak of the toss—BAM!  

His arm blurred, and the tennis ball vanished.  

THUD!  

By the time the sound of impact registered, the ball had already crossed the net.  

"T-That's... too fast!"  

The children gaped in disbelief.  

Even Oni, who'd braced himself, was caught off guard by the sheer speed—but his reflexes didn't fail him.  

Just as the ball was about to sail out of bounds—  

A massive figure intercepted it, his racket swinging with enough force to whip up a gust of wind.  

CRACK!  

The moment the strings connected, the ball flattened like a pancake against the racket face.  

"What monstrous power..." QP's pupils contracted.  

The ball rocketed back with terrifying momentum.  

It wasn’t the fastest return, but the sheer force behind it was overwhelming.  

QP analyzed the trajectory—  

Instead of stepping forward, he retreated, positioning himself deep behind the baseline. Only after the ball bounced and lost some of its initial momentum did he swing.  

Even so—  

The impact was brutal.  

The shockwave traveled from his racket straight up his arm, vibrating through his entire frame.  

After half a second of resistance, he managed to redirect the ball—  

A decent return, but the sluggish speed gave Oni all the time he needed.  

Gripping his racket with both hands behind his waist, Oni launched off one foot—  

BOOM!  

A thunderous strike sent the ball screaming back.  

A visible shockwave rippled outward from the point of impact.  

QP instantly recognized the technique:  

"Vertical Jump Smash!"  

A staple among power players in the pro circuit.  

By coiling his entire body into the swing, Oni had unleashed a devastating counter.  

The ball shot forward in a straight line—faster than before—aimed straight at the frontcourt.  

QP had no time to adjust.  

Forced into a one-handed block—  

BANG!  

The moment the ball connected, his arm shook from the force.  

Without hesitation, he let go of his racket.  

Holding on would’ve risked injury.  

This wasn’t an official match—no need to push that far yet.  

His racket clattered to the ground as the ball torpedoed past him—  

THWACK!  

It embedded itself into a tree trunk behind him, sending a shower of leaves fluttering down.  

The impact left a visible dent in the bark—more dramatic than QP’s initial serve.  

"Oni Juujirou scores! 15-15!"  

"Whoaaa—!"  

"That was awesome!"  

"See? I told you Oni-nii’s the strongest!"  

"Don’t you dare lose, Oni-nii~!"  

The kids erupted into cheers.  

As cool as QP was, Oni was their hero.  

"Heh, one point back!"  

Oni flashed them a thumbs-up, though internally, his guard was up.  

He’d expected to end the rally with his first return.  

Yet QP had not only returned it—he’d adjusted to Oni’s power mid-match.  

And that second smash?  

QP had chosen to drop his racket.  

That meant he could’ve held on.  

"I’ve got a real fight on my hands."  

(If Yoru knew what Oni was thinking, he’d have laughed.  

The "Counter Rune" effect didn’t just improve returns—it reduced damage taken by 10%.  

A direct counter to power players.)  

Meanwhile—  

QP picked up his racket, eyeing the slight warp in the frame.  

Today’s match wouldn’t be easy.  

Oni’s raw strength was staggering.  

To force out his "Light of Love," QP would need to go all out.  

BAM!  

Another serve—  

Even faster this time, with a vicious topspin that kept the bounce low.  

Oni swatted it back casually, yet the sheer force behind it was undeniable.  

But QP was ready.  

A crisp return, minimizing contact time.  

Another low shot—  

Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!  

Oni charged forward, immediately grasping QP’s strategy:  

"Suppressing my Vertical Jump Smash by keeping the ball low."  

Smart.  

The technique required a certain height to execute perfectly.  

As the rallies continued, QP found himself straining—  

Oni’s power kept escalating.  

BANG!  

"Oni Juujirou scores! 30-15!"  

...  

BANG!  

"QP takes the game! 1-0!"  

...  

BANG!  

"Oni Juujirou leads! 2-1!"  

...  

The scoreboard flipped rapidly as the duel intensified.  

QP had hoped to leverage his adaptability to shift the momentum—  

But Oni’s strength seemed limitless, an abyss that kept deepening.  

Power players typically had weaknesses.  

Their training prioritized raw force, often at the expense of versatility.  

Oni was no exception—his shots lacked variation, making them predictable.  

But his sheer might enforced a brutal simplicity:  

"Overwhelm all technique with pure strength."  

QP was locked into pure defense, unable to seize control.  

And the pressure only mounted as time passed.  

"No more waiting."  

QP exhaled sharply—  

His entire presence shifted, his focus condensing into something sharper.  

"Here it comes." Yoru observed silently.  

QP had absorbed the essence of the *"Light of Solitude"*—discarding its flaws, honing its strengths.  

His mind was now a precision instrument, dissecting every moment for its absolute potential.  

Across the net—  

Oni felt the change.  

His grip tightened, the racket handle creaking under the pressure.  

He hadn’t expected QP to push him this far.  

Even with the advantage, he couldn’t afford to relax.  

"This kind of match... takes me back."  

A nostalgic smile tugged at Oni’s lips.  

For the first time in years, he remembered the joy of tennis in its purest form.