"Up next is the doubles match. Representing Japan, Shūji Tanegashima and Kanata Irie will face Switzerland's Albert Federer and Randy Puga."
As the referee's announcement rang out, both teams began preparing to enter the court.
In Japan's players' area, Muneyoshi heard the opponents' names and realized they must be the famously powerful pair.
Although he had confidence in his own team's strength, just before Tanegashima and Irie took the court, Saeki Muneyoshi smiled and said to them, "You two better watch out, seniors. That pair is incredibly powerful. Don't let them outdo you in the match."
"Oh? If Saeki-kun is personally warning us about them, they must be quite strong. I'll have to rely on Tanegashima-kun completely, then!"
Irie Kanata, already prepared, pushed up his glasses and smiled, dimples showing.
At that, Tanegashima rolled his eyes and scratched his head helplessly.
Still, hearing Muneyoshi describe the opponents as a power-focused pair gave Tanegashima Shūji some confidence. A faint smile crossed his face.
"Don't worry. The only people who can beat Irie and me are ourselves."
After saying that, Tanegashima slipped one arm out of his sleeve, waved to Muneyoshi, and headed onto the court with Irie without looking back.
Muneyoshi didn't dispute Tanegashima's claim. That was why he hadn't arranged for Duke to face the pair.
Duke's sheer power could certainly hold its own against them, but they could also use Ability Resonance. In terms of strength alone, that ability surpassed Duke.
Tanegashima, though, was different. He was especially effective against power players, and Irie wasn't particularly intimidated by strength either.
On the other side, after losing the singles match in such a humiliating fashion, Switzerland's morale had clearly sunk.
But Switzerland was about to send out its secret weapon: its strongest doubles pair. That reassured them somewhat.
Although