The Gloomy Lead Secures the First Win

"In the Singles 1 match between Japan Team and South Africa, Japan Team serves first."

"The match begins!"

As soon as the referee announced the start of the match, the entire venue fell silent.

Tap tap... tap...

Tezuka pressed down on the tennis ball a few times to adjust his hitting rhythm.

After a month-long intensive training camp, and matches against a variety of players with different styles but all formidable skills, Tezuka's match experience was further enriched.

Tezuka was already very calm, knew very well that, especially at such a crucial moment, the calmer he remained, the more opportunities he would have.

Faced with such a formidable and unfamiliar enemy, a general of a nation, his top priority should be to avoid making any mistakes.

Call!

Taking a deep breath, Tezuka raised his eyes and glanced at the movements of Shapoka Golfer on the other side of the net.

With his body slightly crouched, he moves up and down and sways slightly from side to side, a movement that allows him to respond well to any ball trajectory.

Since we haven't identified the opponent's weaknesses, we need to strike first.

A hint of determination appeared on Tezuka's face.

Swish!

With a flick of his arm, he tossed the ball down, without any jumping motion, Tezuka's silver-rimmed racket fell to the ground.

Bang!

A slightly muffled sound rang out, and a pale yellow light flew across the net.

"Haha, is that all you serve is? It's really easy!"

Shapoka was slightly taken aback, then burst into laughter and ran quickly towards the net, ready to teach his opponent a lesson as the tennis ball bounced up.

However, the tennis ball did not bounce after landing; it only brushed against the ground for a moment before slowly rolling back towards the center of the net with a hissing sound.

"What?! That serve?!"

Shapoka Golfer stopped, looked up at Tezuka across from him, and his eyes showed a hint of shock.

Tezuka's move not only shocked Shapokka, but also the people of Australia and America.

This type of serve, which doesn't bounce, is practically unsolvable on the international stage, unless it's on clay courts.

"Wow, this kid from Japan is amazing! He actually has world-class ball skills."

Reinhardt wasn't surprised. He calmly replied, "That's Tezuka Kunimitsu's Zero Style Serve!"

"Type Zero?"

Echizen Ryoga, standing to the side, muttered a repeated comment, then chuckled, "Not bad."

Bang!

"Game, Tezuka Kunimitsu Japan Team, Score 1-0."

After the scene change, Shapoca finally showed Tezuka some seriousness:

"You Japanese brat, well then I'll get a little serious too!"

Bang!

A beam of golden light exploded right at Tezuka's feet.

"ACE, South Africa, 15-0."

"So fast!"

Tezuka's eyes narrowed suddenly, and he stood frozen in place.

Meanwhile, in the rest area by the court, the other middle school students watching also changed their expressions. Few of them had seen the ball clearly from the side.

"Is this the true strength of a nation's commander-in-chief?"

Suddenly, a pressure enveloped their hearts, and Tezuka felt this most acutely.

From Saeki Muneyoshi in the beginning, to Tanegashima Shūji in the training camp, and now the captain of the South Africa, Tezuka has always felt the gap between himself and the top players, no matter where he is.

An overwhelming sense of disappointment enveloped him.

This enormous gap once again showed him his limits.

Bang!

"ACE, South Africa scores, 30-0."

As the light shone brightly, the tennis ball gleamed in the sunlight, once again piercing the expectations of everyone on the court.

Saeki Muneyoshi sat calmly in his seat, intently watching Tezuka's struggle on the court.

He had actually considered that having Tezuka face Shapocardo so early might not have any effect.

Although Tezuka would have indeed won the World Tournament in the original timeline, that would have been after Tezuka had grown stronger and reached Supreme Domain.

Right now, he hasn't even gotten close to that level.

Shapokka, on the other hand, is a true world-class player.

Although his performance as the team's main player was somewhat questionable, he did reach world-class speed.

When the formation was initially set up, the Kurobe had questioned this arrangement, but they only agreed because Muneyoshi and Tanegashima insisted on it.

Although Tezuka no longer possesses the Supreme Domain, he did not use the Cloudbreak when he fought Shapogar.

Tezuka, though he himself is unaware of it.

When it first launched, Tanegashima forcibly suppressed it.

But once it's activated, it's activated. As long as Tezuka realizes this, he can definitely close the gap between himself and Shapouka.

Bang!

Bang!

The game is over.

Facing a fully-powered Zapoca, even on the last ball, Tezuka could only barely keep up with his opponent's rhythm by using his spin and technique to return the ball.

6-2.

Tezuka lost the first game cleanly and decisively.

After a short break, the game continued.

"Hahaha, you Japanese, your arrogance will cost you a genius. Let me dedicate one last song to him!"

Bang!

"This feeling of oppression..."

A milky-white aura rose from his body, and Tezuka Zone reappeared. At this moment, Tezuka no longer wanted to think about anything else.

If he can't even overcome the person opposite him, can he really achieve the career goals he set at the beginning?

Buzz~

The spiraling vortex once again drew the tennis ball in front of Tezuka.

Bang!

With a muffled thud, the tennis ball flew out.

This shot is the Fuji Phoenix Flash!

Hiss hiss hiss...

The tennis ball landed and sped across the ground in an instant.

However--

"Oh, your tennis system is really interesting. Well then, you'd better try defending this ball!"

A loud, arrogant laugh came from in front of the net.

Shapoka Golfer's dark skin and dreadlocks at the back of his head stood out prominently at that moment.

"Sunshine Sparkle!"

Swish!

A dazzling display of light shone once more in the half of the court, and the tennis ball flew back to Tezuka's half of the court at an even faster speed.

"The rotation has been largely canceled out... but it's enough!"

Tezuka's eyes seemed to be flowing with molten lava. He raised his arm halfway back, and a rich, five-colored aura instantly enveloped his entire left arm.

Boom!

A fiery red light shimmered, and the tennis ball returned with double the force.

"Oh?"

Shapoka raised an eyebrow. "Double? You Japanese kid, you're really amazing."

"This goal is different from the last one, Sunshine Diamond!"

Shapogara easily countered with double the power of his Hundred-Refinement Limit, tearing through Tezuka Zone's defenses.

"Game! South Africa scores, score 2-0."

Bang!

30-0.

Bang!

40-0.

Forced into a Tezuka had no choice but to use Zero Style again to win back a round.

"Game, Japan's Japan Team Tezuka Kunimitsu, 1-2."

"Change venues."

Snap!

A crimson field appeared, and the tennis ball streaked through the air with a transparent white light, bouncing directly off the edge of Tezuka's half of the court.

"Out of bounds, Japan Team leads, 15-0!"

"It's appeared! It's Tezuka Phantom!"

Tezuka has been driven to the brink of desperation.

"Is it already over?"

Seeing Tezuka struggle so much on the court, the previously optimistic junior high school students truly felt the strength of their world-class opponent.

However, if even the top students in their junior high school are no match for the other side, then they will probably be the same.

This result left the junior high school students feeling very dissatisfied!

Bang!

"Game! South Africa scores, score 3-2."

"Change venues!"

Tezuka walked somewhat dejectedly through the rest area. The series of defeats made him truly feel his own weakness, that feeling of always falling just short.

It's really so painful.

"Tezuka! Is this all you're capable of? If so, do you still want to become a professional player? You might as well give up on this unrealistic idea!"

Suddenly, Muneyoshi's voice reached everyone's ears.

Everyone was somewhat surprised. They hadn't expected that at the critical moment when Tezuka's mentality was on the verge of collapse, Muneyoshi would not offer comfort but instead continue to attack him.

At this moment, they all truly felt Muneyoshi's coldness, and even Fuji's eyes revealed a trace of reluctance.

However, upon hearing Muneyoshi's words, Tezuka seemed to be awakened, and Tezuka suddenly raised his eyes to look at the tennis ball flying towards him.

"No! My dream is to become a professional tennis player, how can I fall here!" Tezuka shouted in his heart, and his aura of selflessness surged once again.

"The 37th goal!"

With his mouth slightly open, Tezuka's calm voice rang out.

"Tezuka"

Sensing an aura of selflessness unlike anything before, Chitose Senri's eyes lit up, and his face showed an expectant expression.

"The 37th goal!"

Tezuka lowered his elbow by half a racket position and lightly sliced the returning tennis ball.

Bang!

The tennis ball spun over the net and fell toward Shapokka's front court.

However, while such a tactic might be effective against others, it would be ineffective against Shapokka, who had mastered the Speed Extreme and understood Tezuka's tennis.

"I've already seen through this play."

Snap!

He lobbed the tennis ball high into the air.

"Even Brilliant Talent absolute predictors are no good?"

The middle school students' faces darkened, and the small flames that had just risen were extinguished once again.

However, Tezuka did not give up.

"Since this is my limit, then I'll break through it!"

With this roar, the last door that had been hidden within him was slowly pushed open.

A dazzling blue light rose from Tezuka's body.

A cyan glow instantly filled everyone's vision.

The light was so dazzling that people instinctively shielded their eyes with their hands.

"The Cloudbreak Limit?"

"It's actually the Light of Restraint!"

"Tezuka really did it!"

"Hey, this kid already had it activated when he competed against me, he just didn't know it."

The middle school students were in an uproar, especially Chitose Senri, who greedily devoured the light with his eyes; it was the radiance he craved most.

"Tezuka!"

Tezuka's rivals, on the other hand, once again felt immense pressure.

On the coach's bench, Kurobe was also very happy. The game, which he thought was doomed to be lost, had taken another turn for the better.

Bang!

A loud bang.

"Game, Tezuka Kunimitsu Japan Team, score 6-3."

"In the Singles 1 match, Tezuka Kunimitsu of the Japan Team won with a score of 2-6, 7-5, 6-3, for a record of two wins and one loss."

"In the friendly match between the South Africa and Japan teams, the Japan team won with a total score of 3-2."

"The match between the Australia team and the America Team will begin in half an hour."

P. S.: "This match is actually a sequel to the match against Tanegashima, so I won't go into too much detail. Please vote with your monthly tickets!"