Fuji's Heart's Eye Shattered the Nightmare

"Eiji!"

Inui Sadaharu hurriedly grabbed an ice pack and placed it on Eiji's knee. Kaidou Kaoru and Momoshiro Takeshi helped Oishi sit down.

Though Seigaku had lost the second doubles match, no one blamed Eiji and Oishi.

They'd even activated Synchronization and still lost. There was truly nothing to regret.

And the sight of Oishi and Kikumaru's badly swollen knees was proof enough that they'd given it everything they had.

"Sorry, Tezuka, Fuji. We still lost!"

After catching his breath for a moment, Oishi was the first to recover. He took the towel off his head and spoke with an apologetic look.

"Oishi, there's no need to apologize. We're already happy to see how much stronger you've become!"

"That's right, Oishi. Get some rest. I'll win the next match for us!"

Fuji Shusuke's gentle voice came from nearby.

"Fuji, we're counting on you. You have to win!"

Kikumaru shifted his upper body, seeming to want to say something more.

"Don't worry, Eiji. You and Oishi gave it everything you had. Leave the rest to me."

Fuji Shusuke glanced down at Eiji's knee. He truly felt sorry for his usually cheerful friend.

"Good luck, Fuji-senpai!"

As everyone cheered him on, Fuji Shusuke came to stand in front of Tezuka. Tezuka turned his face slightly and quietly looked at him, his eyes full of trust.

"Tezuka, leave everything to me!"

Fuji looked at Tezuka gently. He knew exactly how much effort Tezuka had put in so Seigaku could defeat Fudomine.

Tezuka wasn't invincible, and he'd even lost to Saeki Muneyoshi before, but that didn't change Tezuka's place in Fuji's heart.

"Mm! Good luck! It's up to you, Fuji!"

Unlike Akutsu, who was fiercely competitive, Fuji and Tezuka Kunimitsu got along very well. After all, they were one of the series' official pairings.