281-285

Chapter 281: Ishikawa Appears, Tohno Stunned at a Glance 

“That is…” 

At that moment. 

Mouri’s sharp eyes caught the glint of a golden badge on the opponent’s collar, shimmering under the sunlight. 

“No. 8?” 

“So, this guy is the 8th-ranked player in the first string?!” 

Hearing this, Genji’s expression turned serious. 

The No. 8 of the first string! 

Someone like that was definitely not an opponent that players from Court 1 could handle. 

“Hey, kid.” 

The purple-haired youth narrowed his eyes, his voice turning cold. “I’m talking to you. Did you not hear me?” 

As soon as he spoke, the surrounding high schoolers’ expressions changed. 

Recalling the guy’s violent temperament, they quickly distanced themselves from Mouri and Genji. 

“Now, now, Tohno.” 

At that moment, a silver-haired youth stepped out from the first string’s lineup with a smile. 

He stopped the purple-haired Tohno and looked at Mouri and Genji with a friendly expression. “Let me introduce myself. I’m Kiyoshi Yukito. You two, do you happen to know a newcomer named Ishikawa Shin?” 

His tone was gentle, like a spring breeze, making it easy for anyone to feel a sense of goodwill. 

Mouri and Genji were about to answer him instinctively. 

But just then. 

The badge on his collar gleamed under the sunlight, the golden light snapping them back to reality. 

Upon closer inspection, the badge on his collar clearly read “No. 7”! 

His rank was even higher than the previous guy. 

And someone like that was definitely not as simple as he appeared. Especially since both of them were asking about Ishikawa, which made Mouri and Genji instinctively wary. 

“Sorry.” 

Not knowing their intentions, Mouri shook his head. “We can’t tell you anything about him.” 

“Tch.” 

The purple-haired Tohno clicked his tongue in annoyance. “See? Your approach doesn’t work. I’ll have to persuade them properly!” 

With that, he stepped past Kiyoshi and faced the two again. “You’ve got nothing to say, huh? I’ll give you one more chance to think carefully about your words!” 

“Hmm.” 

Feeling the hostile aura emanating from Tohno, Mouri and Genji’s hearts sank. 

Was he really going to resort to force? 

But this was the U-17 training camp, right? The coaches’ rules were supposed to be strict. 

Or were those rules only for the second string? Did first-string players like this guy, wearing that badge, not have to follow the coaches’ orders? 

Thoughts raced through their minds. 

But Mouri and Genji didn’t back down. They refused to believe that he could do anything too extreme. 

And if it came to tennis… 

They were confident. Even against a first-string representative, they weren’t afraid! 

“Good.” 

Tohno, his patience completely worn out, sneered as he picked up his racket and walked onto the court. “Even if you beg me on your knees later, the execution won’t stop!” 

Whoosh! 

Hearing this, Mouri and Genji didn’t think much of it. 

But the other high schoolers, like Yamato and Nakagauchi, visibly paled. 

Execution! 

When that word came from Tohno, it carried a terrifying meaning. 

After all, aside from his nasty personality, his tennis style was the most brutal in the entire U-17! 

Thinking of this, the others couldn’t help but look at Mouri and Genji with pity. 

“Boss.” 

On the other side, among the first-string representatives, a fair-skinned, chubby guy with a pompadour smirked. “Aren’t you going to stop this?” 

“Stop it?” 

The bearded blond guy chuckled lightly. “I’m not like that fool Oni. I don’t have the time for that.” 

In fact, this was exactly what he wanted to see. 

Before returning, he’d heard about the big incident at the training camp. Oni had been defeated by a newcomer! 

This shocked Byoudouin. 

At the same time, he was curious about who this newcomer, Ishikawa, really was. 

With Tohno taking the lead, he was more than happy to see Ishikawa forced to show himself. 

“That’s enough!” 

However, just as Tohno was about to step onto the court, a stern voice rang out from afar. 

Everyone looked up. 

Kurobe, Saito, and Takuzo, the three coaches, were standing on the second-floor platform. Kurobe held a megaphone, his gaze cold as he looked down at them. 

“Oh, it’s the coaches.” 

Seeing Kurobe and the others, Tohno’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “What’s the matter? Did you crawl out of your little dark rooms to come outside?” 

Hearing this, the other high schoolers’ hearts sank, while Mouri and Genji’s faces filled with disbelief. 

Was he serious? 

How could he talk to the coaches like that?! 

“Tohno Tokugawa, watch your tone.” 

Kurobe’s expression grew colder. Seeing that Tohno ignored his warning and continued walking down the steps, he said sternly, “It’s not too late to stop now.” 

“Idiot.” 

Tohno spat out the word coldly. 

He didn’t care about Kurobe at all. After his outstanding performance in three consecutive matches in Southeast Asia, he believed that aside from the head coach, these three had no right to speak to him in such a tone. 

In fact, it wasn’t just him. 

Even Byoudouin, the strongest in the first string, referred to Kurobe and the others as “second-rate coaches.” 

With the momentum of his recent victories, Tohno refused to believe that he couldn’t even teach two newcomers a lesson. 

Moreover, Tohno’s personality was inherently rebellious. 

If Kurobe hadn’t said anything, he might have let it go. But now that he had, Tohno was even less likely to back down. 

Step. 

Step. 

Step. 

Tohno descended the steps. 

His footsteps weren’t heavy, but each one seemed to echo in the hearts of the surrounding high schoolers, making them shiver instinctively. 

When Tohno entered the court, and Kurobe and the others didn’t issue any further warnings or take action, the other high schoolers felt that the coaches were powerless to stop him. 

“Heh.” 

Standing at the baseline, Tohno glanced at Kurobe and the others, then turned his gaze toward Mouri and Genji. 

“You two… come at me together!” 

“Huh?!” 

Hearing this, Mouri and Genji’s hearts sank. 

They could feel the overwhelming pressure Tohno was radiating. If even the coaches couldn’t stop him, it seemed like no one here could restrain him anymore. 

However, neither Mouri nor Genji considered teaming up against him. 

They exchanged a glance, both ready to step onto the court. 

“I heard you were looking for me?” 

But just then. 

A calm voice came from behind Mouri and Genji. 

Whoosh! 

Everyone turned to look. 

A black-haired boy in a gray-white jacket had appeared on the other side of the court. 

Ishikawa? 

Seeing the boy, Mouri and Genji immediately felt relieved. 

“So, you’re Ishikawa Shin?” 

Tohno’s gaze fell on the boy. “You don’t look like much. How could someone like you defeat Oni?” 

“Whether I can or not isn’t for you to decide.” 

Ishikawa shook his head, glancing at Tohno indifferently. “I’ll give you a chance. I’m right here. You can hit the ball anytime.” 

“You’ve got guts, kid!” 

Tohno’s eyes flashed coldly. Provoked by Ishikawa, he immediately tossed the ball into the air. 

Then, he raised his racket, preparing to secretly use his technique to unleash his execution move and teach the boy a lesson. 

Whoosh! 

However, just as Tohno’s eyes locked onto Ishikawa’s position, they met his gaze. 

“Huh?!” 

In the next moment. 

He seemed to sense something, his pupils contracting sharply. 

Then, to everyone’s astonishment, his raised racket froze mid-air. The ball fell, but Tohno didn’t react. 

Thud. 

The ball hit the ground. 

Tohno stood there like a statue, muttering to himself as if he’d been struck by something. “What… what kind of gaze was that?!” 

“What… what just happened?” 

The scene left the surrounding high schoolers stunned. 

Even some of the first-string representatives were baffled. 

“Tch.” 

Ishikawa couldn’t help but shake his head lightly. “I gave you a chance, but you couldn’t take it… senpai.” 

Chapter 282: Atsushi Tohno's Aerial Show 

"Damn it!" 

Ishikawa's words had thoroughly enraged Tohno. Or perhaps, such a humiliating statement had ignited the pride of this U17 representative. 

Immediately, he tossed the tennis ball into the air once more. Then, under the stunned gazes of the high schoolers, he angrily swung his racket down. 

Bang! 

A loud explosion echoed. 

Known for his skill, Tohno's shot this time was surprisingly rough. However, lacking finesse, the shot was all the more violent. Upon closer inspection, the target of this serve was none other than Ishikawa, who stood behind毛利 and原哲也. 

Under normal circumstances, someone would surely have shouted, "Danger!" 

But whether it was the representatives of the first string, the second string players, or even the three coaches, everyone remained relatively calm. 

The first string believed Ishikawa was about to be taught a lesson. Meanwhile, the second string players quickly recalled the astonishing match between Ishikawa and Oni just a few days prior. In their eyes, the power of this shot was nowhere near Oni's demonic strikes. 

"The speed is decent," Ishikawa remarked calmly from the baseline, as if the situation had nothing to do with him. "But, senior, your anger has caused you to lose control of your body, leaving you full of openings." 

Swish! 

As soon as he finished speaking, Ishikawa's racket swiftly cut through the air in front of him. With a thud, Tohno's serve was sent flying back. 

This shot seemed utterly ordinary. 

Those who knew Ishikawa's strength were puzzled, while many first-string representatives frowned, thinking he wasn't all that impressive without understanding the full context. 

"Hmm?" 

However, among the crowd, the scruffy blond young man's eyebrows instinctively raised, and the chubby guy with the pompadour, who had been squinting, suddenly opened his eyes wide. Behind them, the towering young man's eyes also flashed with a glint of realization. 

"Huh?!" 

Seeing this, Tohno instinctively taunted, "Is that all you've got? Kid, you talk big, but you're nothing special!" 

Step! 

With that, he took a decisive step forward and swung his racket, intending to smash the ball back. 

After all, in Tohno's eyes, this shot was nothing special. It was something he could easily return with a casual swing. 

Bang! 

But the moment the ball met his racket, Tohno's confident expression suddenly changed. 

His pupils contracted, and he instinctively looked down in disbelief at the tennis ball trapped by his racket. 

Heavy! 

It was too heavy! 

An unimaginable force was spreading from the point of contact, radiating outward. But before Tohno could react, that heavy sensation turned into searing pain. 

Crack! 

A crisp sound, like bamboo splitting, echoed. 

Tohno's face twisted in pain. 

But it didn't end there. 

Thud! 

The ball easily tore through the strings of Tohno's racket and, under his horrified gaze, spiraled into his abdomen with intense rotation. 

Bang! 

A sickening thud resonated. 

Under the stunned gazes of the onlookers, Tohno's body flew through the air like a broken kite. 

Thump! 

Coincidentally, he landed right in front of the first-string representatives. 

For a moment, the entire court fell into dead silence. 

"Ahhh!!!" 

Then, Tohno let out a blood-curdling scream. 

"My hand! It's broken! It's broken!!!" 

As they watched Tohno writhing on the ground in agony, many of the first-string representatives' eyes filled with deep fear. 

One move! 

With just one move, Ishikawa had reduced Tohno to this state! 

Ishikawa Shin... 

Immediately, whether they knew him or not, all the first-string players gazed at Ishikawa with profound intensity, etching his name deeply into their memories. 

"Notify the medical team," Kurobe said from the second-floor platform, his expression unchanged as he watched Tohno rolling on the ground like a scalded dog. 

Standing beside him, Saito and Takuzo couldn't help but shake their heads. 

From an outsider's perspective, Kurobe's earlier words seemed to protect毛利 and原哲也. But in reality, Kurobe wasn't protecting the newcomers—he was protecting Tohno himself. 

However, Tohno hadn't realized this. 

"So... who's the real fool here?" thought Tokugawa, the manager of Court 1, as he watched from a distance, a cold smile forming in his heart. 

Tohno seemed to have figured something out. 

But precisely because of that, he appeared even more foolish. After all, no matter how you looked at it, Ishikawa was someone who had defeated Oni in a direct match. 

Someone with that kind of strength wasn't someone a mere No. 8 could provoke! 

"Or perhaps, the overseas matches have made them lose themselves, forgetting the most basic sense of respect?" 

Thinking this, Tokugawa's gaze shifted to the blond young man among the first-string representatives. 

It had been a while since they last met, and the pressure he exuded had grown even more intense. As for Tohno's miserable state, it seemed as thoughByoudouin Houou hadn't even noticed. 

Swish! 

As if sensing Tokugawa's gaze,Byoudouin Houou turned his head slightly and glanced at him. 

Then, his eyes locked onto the black-haired boy on the court. 

"Interesting,"Byoudouin Houou murmured, a hint of surprise on his slightly weathered face. "I didn't expect someone like you to emerge among this year's newcomers." 

That last shot had been quite impressive. 

Others might not have noticed, butByoudouin Houou had sensed that Ishikawa had utilized the super sweet spot in his return. However, it hadn't escalated to the level of a light strike. 

Moreover, Ishikawa's technique was exceptional. 

By using spin to conceal the ball's destructive power, he had caught Tohno completely off guard. 

This level of calculation wasn't something an ordinary newcomer could achieve. 

And that piquedByoudouin Houou's interest. 

"Second-rate coaches," he called out, looking up at the trio on the second-floor platform. "Can we get this ranking match started soon?" 

"No problem," Kurobe replied calmly, as if this ranking match was no different from any other—just a simple duel. 

"Well?"Byoudouin Houou's gaze returned to Ishikawa. "You're not going to back out, are you?" 

It was a low-level provocation, but it had no effect on Ishikawa. 

However, he too was looking forward to the ranking match that would begin tomorrow. 

Under the tense gazes of the second-string high schoolers around him, Ishikawa smiled and said, "I'm also looking forward to facing the No. 1 of the first string!" 

"Huh?" 

The onlookers felt the atmosphere grow heavier, a thick sense of tension filling the air. 

But Tokugawa, who had been watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but narrow his eyes in disbelief as he looked at the two. 

What just happened? 

How did the ranking match suddenly turn into a private duel between these two? 

I was here first, wasn't I?! 

Chapter 283: Tokugawa's Resolve, The Eve of the Decisive Battle (Part 1) 

The first team has returned.  

No. 8, Tōno Atsukyo, provoked Ishikawa and was sent flying with a single ball. Meanwhile, Ishikawa challenged Byoudouin for a match.  

The sudden turn of events completely overshadowed the results of the rookie matches. It was like a drop of water falling into a pot of boiling oil—everything exploded into chaos.  

As a result, the top three court players unanimously reduced their training intensity in the afternoon. Everyone was on edge, preparing for tomorrow's shuffle match from this very moment.  

After the first team left, at the No. 3 court training ground, the atmosphere lightened with Ishikawa's return. The pressure from the first team had weighed heavily on everyone, but now their spirits were lifted.  

At this moment, the players were gathered in small groups, discussing the possibilities of tomorrow's shuffle match.  

"Ishikawa," Genichirou Sanada, sitting on the steps, looked at the young man with a cloth bag on his back and asked curiously, "Where have you been these past few days?"  

Marui also turned to look at him. He had already guessed that Ishikawa had gone to the same place as Oni and Irie. He was curious about what could attract three such skilled players to that place.  

"The back mountain," Ishikawa replied without hesitation. "Behind this base, on a steep cliff, there's a remarkable person. If you can receive his guidance, your skills could undergo a dramatic transformation!"  

"I knew it!" Marui and Sanada exchanged glances, their faces showing a hint of excitement.  

"Both of you," Ishikawa said with a smile, "if you have the time, you should give it a try. However, that person has a peculiar personality, and the training intensity there is extremely high. Be mentally prepared."  

"Understood," the two nodded in gratitude. They were already considering going to the back mountain for special training after the shuffle match.  

"Sanada!" A voice called from a distance. Sanada turned and, upon recognizing the person, a smile spread across his face. "Captain Heishirou!"  

"Come here for a moment," the young man in a military-green cap beckoned.  

"Uh, I'll go over for a bit. You two chat," Sanada said to Ishikawa and Marui before heading toward the captain.  

"Do you know him?" Ishikawa asked, pretending not to recognize the newcomer.  

"Yeah," Marui nodded. "That's Heishirou Hirakoba, the former captain of Shitenhouji Middle School's tennis team. When I was in my second year, he was already a national-level player!"  

"Long time no see, Captain," Sanada greeted Hirakoba with a smile.  

"Hmm?" Sanada noticed something and his gaze fixed on the No. 18 badge on Hirakoba's collar. "Captain... are you also a representative of the first team?"  

Earlier, Tōno had been too flashy, and Byoudouin's presence was overwhelming, so Sanada hadn't noticed his senior among the first team.  

"Correct," Hirakoba replied with a grin. "If you like, I can give this to you."  

"Give it to me?" Sanada raised an eyebrow, narrowing his eyes. "Captain, I don't think you mean 'give' in the way I'm thinking, right?"  

"Who knows?" Hirakoba chuckled. "Why don't you try and see?"  

"Uh..." Seeing Hirakoba's playful expression, Sanada shook his head. "No thanks. If I want it, I'll take it myself in tomorrow's shuffle match."  

"Ambitious," Hirakoba nodded in approval. "I didn't expect you to have changed so much in just over a month. You're right. I also suggest you participate in tomorrow's match, but..."  

At this point, his expression turned serious. "In tomorrow's match, it's best to challenge players ranked 11 to 20 in the first team. If you can win their badge, it will greatly enhance your skills."  

Hirakoba paused, then added, "That's about it. From now until tomorrow, we're opponents. I look forward to experiencing your 'Tiger Shot'!"  

"Captain..." Sanada sensed a hint of杀气 in Hirakoba's words, but instead of backing down, he smirked. "I will definitely break through your 'Bullet Serve' head-on!"  

"You brat," Hirakoba shook his head. He had thought Sanada might be intimidated by today's events, but it seemed the opposite was true. Sanada was not only unfazed but also eagerly anticipating the shuffle match.  

"Good," Hirakoba nodded. "I look forward to your challenge."  

With that, he turned to leave.  

"Wait," Sanada suddenly called out. "Captain, do you know about the remarkable person at the back mountain of U-17?"  

"Huh?" Hirakoba turned back sharply, his gaze locking onto Sanada. "How do you know about that place? Have you been there?!"  

"Uh..." Sanada was taken aback by Hirakoba's intense reaction. "Is it... forbidden to go there?"  

"That's a place for failures," Hirakoba said gravely. "Going there means you've lost the competition here."  

He continued with a stern warning, "It's a terrifying place, no less than hell. It could very well destroy your tennis career!"  

"Hell?" Sanada's eyelids twitched uncontrollably. But then he frowned, "Yet, our teammate returned safely from there!"  

"Your teammate..." Hirakoba's gaze shifted to the black-haired young man standing on the steps not far away.  

"That guy?" A hint of awe flashed in Hirakoba's eyes. Then, looking back at Sanada, his tense expression softened.  

"Sanada, you've found a trustworthy companion!"  

With that, he turned and left.  

"Captain..." Sanada watched Hirakoba's retreating figure, puzzled. His senior seemed to be warning him, yet there was an undertone of envy in his words.  

Meanwhile, the first team members returned to their dormitories.  

In one room, a brown-haired young man with a white cap and a small mustache lay down on the lower bunk as soon as he entered.  

"It's good to be back!" He stretched comfortably, then looked at the silver-haired young man across from him. "By the way, Kaneshiro, aren't you going to check on Tōno?"  

"It's fine," Kaneshiro shook his head. "At most, he has a fractured arm. The abdominal injury isn't serious. Besides, he probably doesn't want anyone visiting him right now."  

"Ah," the mustached young man, Oomagari Ryūji, No. 6 of U-17, nodded. "You're right. Given Tōno's pride, he'd likely refuse any visitors during such a low point."  

Tōno Atsukyo was known for his arrogance. In his most vulnerable and humiliating state, the more people who visited, the more it would wound his pride.  

However, the towering young man with blue-white hair standing nearby gave Kaneshiro a meaningful look. Kaneshiro noticed and smiled back.  

"Speaking of which," Oomagari recalled the scene of Tōno being sent flying, his tone serious. "That rookie, Ishikawa, is ridiculously strong. He took down Tōno with just one ball!"  

"Yeah," Kaneshiro's expression was equally grave. As Tōno's partner, he knew Tōno's strength well. Even a captain-level player from another country might not be able to defeat Tōno in a single shot.  

"However," Kaneshiro shook his head with a smile, "he's still just a rookie. How dare he challenge Byoudouin!"  

He knew Ishikawa had defeated Oni, but no one knew the circumstances—whether Oni was sick or injured during the match. Moreover, in a way, Oni was already a thing of the past.  

Once, Oni had dominated U-17. But after Byoudouin returned from the back mountain, Oni was relegated to No. 5 and participated in the French Tennis World Cup.  

Now, Oni couldn't even hold onto the No. 5 position, having been overtaken by Kajimoto Kazuya.  

If not for the record of defeating Byoudouin, the first team, having undergone remarkable transformations through continuous远征 matches, would have long stopped regarding Oni as a threat.  

At that moment, the towering young man with the No. 4 badge on his collar spoke up, "He's strong."  

"Huh?" Oomagari and Kaneshiro turned to him in surprise. They hadn't expected the usually silent and aloof Mouri to say such a thing.  

"Mouri, do you... know that Ishikawa?" Oomagari asked in astonishment.  

"That's right," Kaneshiro realized. "He's wearing Hyotei's regular uniform!"  

"Ah," Oomagari nodded in understanding. "That explains it. But Mouri, your junior from Hyotei has quite the guts, daring to challenge Byoudouin!"  

"He's always been bold," Mouri said, recalling how Ishikawa, as a first-year middle schooler, had challenged him, a third-year, during the Kantō Tournament.  

"Too bad," Kaneshiro shook his head. "Boldness alone won't help. He's challenging Byoudouin. Given Byoudouin's personality, tomorrow's shuffle match... might not end well."  

As he spoke, he glanced at Mouri. Oomagari nodded in agreement. "If Byoudouin gets serious, that kid is in trouble. At that point..."  

He trailed off, glancing at Mouri. They all knew the vast difference in strength between Byoudouin and Mouri. If Byoudouin showed no mercy, Mouri wouldn't be able to stop him.  

"I think you've misunderstood," Mouri said, giving Kaneshiro a meaningful look. "I meant his serve is strong."  

"His serve?" Kaneshiro and Oomagari's pupils contracted in shock. Mouri actually praised someone else's serve?!  

Mouri set down his tennis bag and began changing his jacket, preparing to go out.  

Kaneshiro and Oomagari exchanged glances, suddenly feeling that tomorrow's shuffle match might not be as straightforward as they thought.  

Evening soon arrived.  

In Room 102 on the first floor of the dormitory, the four-person room felt somewhat empty. A shirtless young man was performing a one-handed handstand, supported by just three fingers.  

Drip... drip...  

Sweat dripped steadily from his body.  

However, the young man's thoughts grew clearer amidst this intense upper-body training.  

"Ishikawa Shin," the young man, Tokugawa Kazuya, the No. 1 court leader and roommate of Oni and Irie, recalled Ishikawa's image.  

Unconsciously, Ishikawa had transformed from a highly talented rookie in his mind to someone who surpassed Oni Jūzaburō, standing as tall as a mountain.  

Originally, Ishikawa had no connection to him.  

Although Ishikawa was strong, Tokugawa felt no jealousy. Even after Irie and Oni left, he continued his training as usual.  

But now, just as he was preparing to challenge Byoudouin, Ishikawa had stepped in.  

"So..." As sweat continued to drip, Tokugawa's thoughts became even clearer. "Was the premonition I had back then actually about this shuffle match disruption?"  

With that thought, Tokugawa gracefully flipped back onto his feet, wiped off his sweat, and walked over to the hamster cage on the table. After feeding the little creature, he changed his clothes, picked up his racket, and walked out with determination.  

By now, the training grounds were mostly empty.  

At the No. 3 court, due to tomorrow's shuffle match, Yamato and Nakagauchi had left early. Only Ishikawa and his two companions remained, wrapping up their training.  

Thwack!  

As Marui's return hit the net, Sanada, acting as referee from the high chair, announced, "Game over. Ishikawa wins, 6-0!"  

"Lost again," Marui sighed, lowering his head.  

Over the past few days, they had been practicing with Ishikawa daily. Yet, they had never managed to score a single point against him. Today was no exception.  

The champion and runner-up of the rookie matches had both been utterly defeated.  

However, they didn't feel humiliated.  

On the contrary, playing practice matches against a high-level player like Ishikawa allowed them to clearly identify their weaknesses. By addressing these flaws and improving their habits, their skills had visibly improved.  

Without Ishikawa, their abilities would undoubtedly be a notch lower.  

"Let's call it a day," Ishikawa glanced at the sky and said to the two. "Let's grab dinner. Cancel tonight's training. Tomorrow's shuffle match opponents are incredibly strong!"  

"Right," the two nodded.  

Unconsciously, they had formed a trio with Ishikawa as their de facto leader.  

"Hmm?" Just as they were about to leave, a figure approached from the distance.  

"Ishikawa!" The figure stopped in front of them, raising his racket and pointing it at Ishikawa. "Before tomorrow's shuffle match, we must settle this between us!"  

It was Tokugawa.  

He had made up his mind. Before tomorrow's shuffle match, he would determine the winner between himself and Ishikawa.  

The victor would face Byoudouin in tomorrow's shuffle match!  

*Chapter 284: Nullifying Techniques—The Terror of Sensory Deprivation! *  

What?!  

Both Marui and Ōtsuka stared at Tokugawa in shock. Neither had expected that the leader of Court 1 would challenge Ishikawa the night before the ranking matches.  

Weren’t they both part of the second string? Shouldn’t they be allies?  

"No problem."  

Yet, to everyone’s surprise, Ishikawa accepted the challenge without hesitation.  

Others might not understand, but Ishikawa knew—Tokugawa’s goal was never the badge or a spot among the top players. His target had always been Byōdōin.  

After witnessing Ishikawa defeat Oni, Tokugawa feared that Ishikawa might also defeat Byōdōin. If that happened, all his training over the past year would become a joke.  

So, he had to play this match—regardless of the outcome!  

"Hey..."  

Marui, standing nearby, spoke up. Seeing that the two were serious about the match, he volunteered, "If you’re really going through with this, I’ll be the referee!"  

"Sure, thanks."  

Ishikawa smiled, and Tokugawa nodded in agreement.  

"Damn, too slow!"  

Ōtsuka inwardly cursed. Being the referee would have given him the best vantage point to analyze their techniques and strategies. But Marui had beaten him to it.  

With a sigh, he stepped back to the sidelines.  

Meanwhile, Ishikawa and Tokugawa took their positions at the baseline. Since this was an unofficial match, they skipped the usual coin toss for serve.  

"Senior," Ishikawa said, "this is Court 3, so you should serve first."  

"Fine."  

Tokugawa didn’t argue. At their level, who served first hardly mattered.  

Tap… Tap… Tap…  

He pulled a tennis ball from his pocket, bouncing it a few times before tossing it high into the air.  

With a sharp flick of his wrist, he struck the ball with precision.  

"Game start, first to six!" Marui announced from the umpire’s chair. "Tokugawa to serve!"  

Whoosh!  

The ball shot forward at blistering speed—then, mid-flight, it vanished.  

"What?!"  

Marui and Ōtsuka stiffened in disbelief. The ball had disappeared mid-trajectory, leaving no trace of its path.  

"Starting off serious, huh?" Ōtsuka muttered, his expression darkening.  

Thwack!  

But then—a crisp return.  

Ishikawa had intercepted the invisible serve with ease, his racket barely twitching as he sent the ball rocketing back toward Tokugawa’s backhand corner.  

"That control…" Tokugawa’s eyes narrowed.  

Watching from the sidelines was one thing, but facing Ishikawa directly was entirely different. His serve had been fast—fast enough that Tokugawa had half-expected Ishikawa to misjudge it and lose the point.  

But reality proved him wrong.  

Thud!  

Tokugawa reacted instantly, darting to the side and slamming a return toward Ishikawa’s own backhand.  

"An eye for an eye?" Ōtsuka mused.  

The captain of Court 1 was nothing if not direct. There would be no warm-up—this match was going straight into high gear.  

Bang! Bang! Bang!  

The rallies grew faster, the exchanges more intense. Soon, the ball was moving too quickly for Ōtsuka’s eyes to track. He blinked—and when he opened them again, he could no longer see the ball at all.  

"Impossible!" His heart pounded.  

Even in the dimming light, his vision had always been sharp. Yet now, all he could perceive were their swinging rackets and the echoing thwacks of impact.  

Crack!  

Tokugawa’s next strike carried even greater force, the ball kicking up a storm of dust as it landed, obscuring Ishikawa’s figure.  

"Tch."  

Marui wiped sweat from his brow. For a moment, he regretted volunteering as referee.  

But the thought passed quickly. His eyes locked onto the swirling dust clouds—proof of the sheer power behind their shots.  

"So this is what happens when high-level tennis pushes beyond normal limits…"  

Marui had long surpassed national-level play, reaching the realm of elite high schoolers. But he still lacked direction. Maybe this match would show him the way forward.  

Thud! Thud! Thud!  

On the court, Tokugawa gritted his teeth. Each return from Ishikawa felt heavier than the last. Even his grip, hardened by years of training, was starting to ache.  

"His strength is unreal…"  

Watching Ishikawa battle Oni had been one thing. Facing him was another.  

Tokugawa switched tactics, unleashing a barrage of spins, slices, and power shots—anything to break Ishikawa’s defense.  

Yet no matter what he tried, Ishikawa returned everything flawlessly.  

Crack!  

A sudden misstep—and Ishikawa’s return landed squarely on the baseline before ricocheting off the wall.  

"0-15!" Marui called.  

Tokugawa’s expression tightened.  

Ōtsuka sighed. Losing the first point on his own serve was a bad sign. The gap between them was already clear—and if Tokugawa couldn’t even hold serve, this match would be over before it began.  

But Tokugawa remained composed. Unlike others, his skills were perfectly balanced. If technique and strength failed him, he’d rely on stamina and sheer will.  

Boom!  

Another serve. Another rapid-fire exchange.  

"Nothing’s working…"  

No matter how Tokugawa varied his shots, Ishikawa countered them all. Worse, the numbness in his hand was returning.  

"I can’t keep this up."  

He had to escalate—now.  

Thwack!  

But the moment his racket connected with the next ball, Tokugawa froze.  

"This feeling… Huh?!"  

His grip felt… empty.  

He glanced at his left hand, a chilling realization dawning.  

"My… my sense of touch is gone?!"  

The impact of the ball—the vibrations, the pressure—none of it registered.  

Crack!  

Ishikawa’s return shot past him, landing cleanly.  

"0-30!" Marui announced.  

Tokugawa’s face paled.  

Marui and Ōtsuka exchanged glances. The usually unshakable Tokugawa looked… rattled.  

"His ability… is this part of it?" Tokugawa’s voice was barely a whisper.  

Touch—one of a player’s most critical senses. Losing it mid-match was catastrophic.  

And if Ishikawa could strip that away…  

"Again!" Tokugawa snarled, hurling another serve with reckless fury.  

His calm had shattered. Now, he swung with desperate, wild strikes—each one carrying enough force to make Marui and Ōtsuka flinch.  

Yet Ishikawa returned them all effortlessly, as if swatting away flies.  

Swish!  

Then—darkness.  

Tokugawa’s vision blurred, the edges shrinking inward until everything went black.  

"My… sight?!"  

He stood frozen, the world around him swallowed by shadows.  

Thump.  

Ishikawa’s next return hit the court—Tokugawa didn’t need to see it to know it had landed perfectly.  

"Not just touch… Now my vision too?"  

A strange calm washed over him. Without sight, his focus sharpened. He could still rely on sound, on instinct—  

Silence.  

All at once, the world went mute.  

No ball bounce. No wind. No voices.  

Just… nothing.  

Tokugawa’s breath hitched.  

He was alone.  

Trapped in a void where nothing existed.  

*Chapter 285: Shattering the Black Hole – A Power Beyond Their Dimension *  

Darkness.  

Endless darkness surged toward Tokugawa like a tidal wave, swallowing him whole.  

In that single moment…  

Time stretched into what felt like an eternity.  

Drowning in the overwhelming black, Tokugawa gasped for air, his senses smothered by an unbearable suffocation.  

"The annihilation of the five senses…"  

At this moment, his mind reeled with shock. He never imagined Ishikawa had been hiding such a terrifying trump card.  

The five senses—the foundation of human existence.  

Losing even one could drastically alter a person’s life, let alone a tennis match.  

Yet now, Tokugawa had lost all of them.  

Panic and fear gripped him—but only briefly. His iron will quickly forced him to steady himself.  

Here, in this void, he could do nothing.  

By the terms of their agreement, this meant forfeiting his right to challenge Echizen.  

Of course, Tokugawa knew the gap between them was vast—an insurmountable chasm.  

But to lose before even giving his all… Could he truly accept that?  

The question burned inside him.  

Then, in the next instant—  

A blazing determination ignited in his unfocused eyes.  

No.  

He refused.  

After over a year of relentless effort, how could he surrender so easily?  

—BZZT!  

Outside, in the real world, Marui and Oshitari stared in disbelief as an explosive aura erupted from Tokugawa’s body.  

"This feeling…?"  

It was eerily similar to the terrifying presence Ishikawa had exuded during his match against Oni.  

"As I thought."  

On the other side of the court, Ishikawa—who had sealed Tokugawa’s senses—shook his head lightly.  

"His willpower is too strong."  

Perhaps Tokugawa’s innate mental fortitude wasn’t extraordinary, but his burning desire to defeat Echizen had pushed him beyond his limits.  

—CRACK.  

Invisible to the naked eye, fractures spiderwebbed through the dark void imprisoning Tokugawa’s consciousness.  

—SHATTER!  

The illusion collapsed.  

His five senses returned in a rush.  

"Hah…!"  

Gasping like a drowning man breaching the surface, Tokugawa sucked in desperate breaths, sweat pouring down his face.  

"I did it!"  

His heart pounded—not just from breaking Ishikawa’s technique, but from surpassing his own limits.  

A cool breeze brushed against his skin, sending a shiver of relief through his body.  

"Again!"  

He glared at Ishikawa, tossing the ball high.  

—THWACK!  

The serve blazed across the court, its speed doubled, trailing a dazzling rainbow streak.  

"He got faster?!"  

Marui and Oshitari stiffened.  

Had he been holding back before? Or had he just evolved mid-match?  

If it was the latter… then this Tokugawa Kazuya, the top player of Court 1, had terrifying potential.  

—THUD!  

Yet Ishikawa effortlessly returned it.  

"Not bad."  

His tone was almost… approving.  

Under normal circumstances, Tokugawa might’ve taken offense. But after experiencing the Annihilation of the Five Senses, he knew—this wasn’t condescension.  

This was genuine acknowledgment from a far stronger opponent.  

—ZZZT!  

Then, under the stunned gazes of the spectators, Tokugawa raised his right hand.  

A golden glow gathered in his palm.  

—BOOM!  

The next instant, he fused the light with the ball and launched a devastating strike.  

A comet of pure energy shot toward Ishikawa, its radiance cutting through the night.  

"The Lightning Strike!"  

A technique that harnessed the sweet spot of the racket—its power dwarfed ordinary shots. Even advanced techniques paled in comparison.  

—THWAP!  

Yet Ishikawa met it with the same ease, his racket barely trembling as he absorbed the impact.  

The destructive force that should’ve erupted…  

…merely rustled the hem of his shirt.  

—BANG!  

The ball rocketed back, slamming into the ground before Tokugawa could react.  

"Game!"  

Marui’s voice rang out. "Ishikawa takes the game, 1-0! Change sides!"  

Less than two minutes had passed.  

Tokugawa hadn’t scored a single point.  

"This pressure…!"  

His calm shattered.  

Now, he finally understood what Oni had faced.  

His Rainbow Serve, his Lightning Strike—neither had fazed Ishikawa.  

At this point, victory was impossible.  

All he could hope for now… was to score even once.  

—THWACK!  

Ishikawa’s next serve was ruthless—a bullet aimed straight at Tokugawa’s backhand.  

"15-0!"  

The sheer speed left Marui momentarily speechless.  

Still, it wasn’t nearly as fast as the serves Ishikawa had used against Oni.  

"Tch."  

Tokugawa clenched his racket.  

He’d resolved to take at least one game—but now, even that seemed hopeless.  

—THWACK!  

"30-0!"  

—THWACK!  

"40-0!"  

Marui and Oshitari exchanged glances.  

"Is this match really ending already?"  

They’d expected a fierce battle—not a one-sided slaughter.  

Just as Marui opened his mouth to call the game…  

—ZZZMM!  

A swirl of black energy materialized in front of Tokugawa.  

Time itself seemed to freeze.  

"The Black Hole?!"  

Marui and Oshitari gaped.  

They hadn’t expected Tokugawa to master this technique.  

In truth, while Oni and Irie had taught it to him, Tokugawa’s compatibility with the Black Hole surpassed theirs.  

His innate foresight allowed him to predict opponents’ moves—and this Black Hole was a trap he’d set before Ishikawa even served.  

"Hah…!"  

Relief flooded Tokugawa as the ball halted mid-air.  

But then—  

—CRACK.  

A hairline fracture split the darkness.  

Then another.  

And another.  

In seconds, the Black Hole—an impenetrable defense—shattered like glass.  

—THUD!  

The ball landed perfectly on the baseline.  

"Game! Ishikawa leads, 2-0!"  

"He broke through the Black Hole?!"  

"No—" Oshitari’s eyes widened. "Ishikawa knows the Black Hole himself. He must’ve predicted this!"  

The realization hit Tokugawa like a truck.  

When their eyes met, he felt exposed—as if Ishikawa had seen straight through him.  

"No…"  

A chill ran down his spine.  

"That wasn’t an illusion."  

The Black Hole was a defensive technique, reliant on predicting the opponent’s moves.  

But if the opponent already knew what you’d predict…  

Did the future even exist?  

With this, nearly all of Tokugawa’s weapons had been rendered useless.  

"Only one move left."  

Steeling himself, he inhaled deeply—his emotions vanishing, his presence fading into neutrality.  

Then—  

—BOOM!  

A monstrous aura erupted from him.  

"This is…?!"  

Marui and Oshitari recoiled.  

There was no mistaking it.  

This was the same overwhelming force Oni had wielded.  

"The Asura Path!"  

A true master’s domain.  

Among the second-string players—no, even compared to the No.8, Tohno—Tokugawa’s power now stood at the pinnacle of the U-17 elites.  

This was his true strength.  

—THWACK!  

His serve tore through the air, the sheer pressure distorting the court before it even landed.  

"Good."  

For the first time, Ishikawa’s expression shifted slightly.  

Finally, Tokugawa had earned his full attention.  

—THUD!  

The rally that followed was a blur of speed and power.  

Tokugawa, enhanced by the Asura Path, matched Ishikawa shot for shot—  

—until, gradually, the weight behind each return grew heavier.  

"Why… is his power increasing?!"  

Tokugawa’s arms strained.  

Logically, Ishikawa shouldn’t have overwhelming physical strength—especially not against the Asura Path.  

Yet every impact felt like striking a mountainside.  

"What is happening?!"  

Then—  

—SHIIING!  

The dust parted.  

A colossal tennis ball—more like a meteor—hurtled toward him.  

"An otherworldly technique?!"  

Tokugawa’s instincts screamed.  

Behind him, a golden figure materialized—a towering, divine warrior radiating righteousness.  

His otherworldly manifestation: Asura, the Embodiment of Benevolence.  

—SWISH!  

As Tokugawa swung, Asura mirrored his motion—  

—only for the racket to rip apart on contact.  

—CRACK!  

The divine warrior’s forehead split as the ball pierced through.  

Then, like a sand sculpture in the wind, Asura disintegrated.  

—CLATTER.  

Tokugawa’s racket hit the ground.  

His left wrist throbbed—likely fractured.  

When he looked up, his gaze locked onto Ishikawa.  

In that moment, in a realm only he could see…  

…a monstrous silhouette loomed behind his opponent.  

One shot.  

That was all it took to obliterate the Asura Path.  

Now, Tokugawa understood.  

Their strengths weren’t just different.  

They existed in separate dimensions.  

With a slow, resigned exhale, he lowered his head.  

"This match… I concede."  

(End of Chapter.)