A Second Victory

The opening victory in the first match put the Japan Team at ease.

After a short break, the referee's voice came over the loudspeaker again.

"The doubles match between the Japan and Australia teams is about to begin."

"The Japan Team, consisting of Niou Masaharu (second-year middle school student) and Fuji Shusuke (second-year middle school student), will face off against Australia's John Fitzgerald (second-year high school student) and Mark McGregor (second-year middle school student)."

"Please bring both players to the stage."

As soon as the referee finished speaking, many spectators outside the court saw the two boys walk onto the court together from the Japan Team's area. Many viewers who follow junior high school tennis were very familiar with them and kept exclaiming in surprise.

"Oh my god, it's a combination of Rikkai Dai and Seigaku!"

"And they're all ace players from their respective teams, yet they're playing together in doubles..."

"Although Fuji played doubles at Seigaku, does he have any chemistry with Rikkai Dai's Niou?"

"The Fuji, known as the genius Fuji and the con artist Niou, I wonder how strong they really are..."

As the two walked hand in hand onto the court, Fuji opened his squinted eyes and looked at Niou with a smile on his face.

"Niou, I never expected to team up with you in a doubles match..."

However, if it's you, Niou, you should be able to fulfill my long-held dream of standing on the court alongside Tezuka and fighting side by side."

Feeling the gentle breeze blowing around the court, Fuji Shusuke's open, deep blue eyes seemed to be shining.

He paid no attention to his opponent, but focused his gaze intently on Niou.

"Puri~ Okay, Fuji, this is really tiring for me..."

A faint white aura appeared around Niou, and before the Australia could react, his blue-white hair vanished, replaced by brown strands on the court.

"Let's go all out, Fuji."

At this moment, Niou had transformed into Tezuka's likeness, perfectly mimicking Tezuka 'Niou icy face and aloof demeanor.

It really felt like Tezuka had appeared.

Upon seeing this, a gentle smile appeared on Fuji's face.

"Okay, Tezuka!"

Upon seeing this, the Australia athletes were in an uproar, as Tezuka's presence yesterday had left a deep impression on them.

And at this moment, someone in Japan is actually able to transform into his appearance again.

For some reason, an eerie atmosphere was rising between the players on the court.

Meanwhile, off the court, watching Niou's Tezuka become increasingly realistic, Saeki Muneyoshi couldn't help but murmur:

"It seems Niou's phantom is getting stronger and stronger. I wonder how much of Tezuka's power it can use. If it can use seven or eight tenths, then Rikkai Dai is truly blessed..."

After Saeki Muneyoshi finished speaking, the junior high school students present all looked grim, especially those from the Hyotei Academy and Seigaku.

Everyone looked towards Rikkai Dai with apprehension. After carefully examining the area, they all nodded in agreement.

The two teams stood on opposite sides of the field, but due to the language barrier, they did not communicate much.

After communicating with the referee and flipping a coin to determine which side would win, everyone returned to their respective positions.

When everything was ready, the referee, seated on his high chair, stretched out his hand toward the Japan lights and shouted loudly:

"The match begins, with the Japan team serving first."

Tap... tap... slap...

"Tezuka, should we strike first and give them a taste of their own medicine?"

Fuji, who was preparing to serve from the baseline, grabbed the tennis ball and suddenly asked, "Tezuka."

Although "Tezuka" was just a phantom of Niou, he didn't hesitate at all and nodded slightly.

"Alright!"

Fuji held the tennis ball in his palm, feeling the texture of it, Fuji turned his gaze to the two people opposite him.

"So this feeling... is this what it feels like to be in contact with the world...?"

Just as Tezuka said to him before the match, there is no room for luck at any time on the World Tournament, and he must go all out from the very beginning.

"Mark, don't underestimate them just because they're all middle school students like you. Remember, the guy who just defeated Gorgia was also just a middle school student."

"Don't worry, John."

Mark McGregor, also a middle school student, felt a competitive urge to rival Tezuka and Fuji after seeing their serious expressions.

However, the loss in the singles match made him wary; at least the Japan high school students on the other side didn't seem like easy opponents.

He needs to take this match seriously.

Just as Mark was mentally encouraging himself, Fuji began his serve.

Bang!

The tennis ball flew in a slight arc, striking Mark at a considerable speed.

"Is this a beginner's low-hand serve?"

Mark was puzzled. In such an important match, how could someone serve a serve that only beginners use?

He hadn't encountered a serve like that in years.

However, he also felt a sense of relief when he saw Fuji serve like that.

It seems that Akutsu Jin is probably an exception; the opposing doubles pair might not be as strong as we thought.

However, in the instant he relaxed, the tennis ball began to bounce higher and higher off the ground.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh...

The rising tennis ball made its trajectory unpredictable. Mark swung his racket, the ball missed its mark, and he could only watch helplessly as it disappeared into his net.

"ACE, Japan Team scores, score 15-0."

"Focus, Mark!"

John shouted and then switched serves with him.

Seeing that he had hit the target successfully, Fuji continued with the Vanishing Serve.

Bang!

However, John is much stronger than Mark. Although Fuji's serve is exquisite, it can only be used to catch people off guard.

With proper preparation, it's easy to crack.

"So it wasn't a simple underhand serve, but Cut Serve. Your ball didn't disappear. Not bad, but it won't work on me. Watch how I counter it."

John smiled slightly. Although the first ball had caught them off guard, he only needed one glance to find the weakness in this serve.

Bang!

John completely ignored the rising ball and swung his ball towards a spot further behind its shadow.

He swung his racket incredibly fast, and with a clear touch, John returned Fuji's serve with apparent ease.

However, as the tennis ball flew towards the Japan Team's half of the court, Tezuka, who was standing in the frontcourt, also moved his racket at the same time.

Bang!

"Damn it, everything on the other side was planned."

Seeing this, Mark thought to himself, "This is bad!" and quickly moved to chase after the tennis ball.

However, it was impossible for him to catch up with the ball in the attacking third at that point, but fortunately there was John in the backcourt.

John took two steps to the left and caught up with the ball just as it was about to fly out of bounds.

A backswing, a powerful smash, and the tennis ball flies back again.

Whoosh!

The tennis ball flew across the other half of the court on the other side of Tezuka, heading straight for the baseline.

Tezuka glanced at him only once before looking away, knowing that Fuji would definitely catch up.

Fuji certainly lived up to expectations. He quickened his pace, caught up with the tennis ball, and pulled his racket upwards to return a Lob that looked like a mistake.

"Hey, what an obvious opportunity!"

The Australia found this amusing.

Seeing this, the Australia doubles pair naturally wouldn't let the opportunity to score pass them by.

John sprinted forward from the backcourt, then leaped high into the air and smashed the tennis ball as it flew over the net.

Bang!

The tennis ball drops very fast and with great force.

But all of this was part of Fuji Shusuke's plan.

He's fast, Fuji is even faster!

After confirming the landing point of the tennis ball, he turned halfway around, squatted down, gripped the racket tightly with both hands, and as the tennis ball fell, he swung it hard backwards before it hit the ground.

"The Kirin Drop with five different ball return techniques!"

"Inbounds, the Japan Team scores."

"What?! He actually scored with a smash!"

"The White Dragon of Five Return Balls!"

Bang!

"Game, Japan Team scores, score 1-0."

"That guy from the Japan Team, is he a magician?! He has so many dazzling techniques."

"The Phoenix Flash: One of Five Types of Return Balls!"

"Game score: Japan Team wins, score 5-3."

"Damn it, John and Mark are completely tied down by him!"

Bang!

"Game score: Australia wins, score 1-2."

Sizzle~

"Damn it, that slice shot didn't bounce at all!"

"Game score: Japan Team wins, score 4-2."

"Game over, score 6:2, Japan Team's Niou Masaharu and Fuji Shusuke win."

"In the doubles match 2, the Japan Team won with a score of 6-3, 6-2."

"That guy always hits a serve that's completely unreturnable at crucial moments..."

The loss in doubles 2 left the Australia team somewhat silent; they hadn't expected to lose two consecutive matches against the Japan Team high school students.

P. S.: "Does this count as fulfilling Fuji's wish to play against Tezuka? Does it count as helping Fuji realize his dream? Please vote with monthly tickets~"