Bang!
"Spain Team scores, 1–0."
After a few exchanges, Antonio claimed the first point of the tiebreak through sheer skill.
The players switched ends, and it was Tokugawa's turn to serve twice.
Tap, tap... Smack!
Tokugawa caught the tennis ball in his hand, and the light of benevolence shone from his palm once more.
His Stage Two Shining Shot had been imbued with his own will.
"Hmph! Still so naïve and foolish."
Byōdōin scoffed from the sidelines.
Still, it wasn't hard to hear the trace of approval in his seemingly displeased words.
After all, Tokugawa's ability to develop his Shining Shot to Stage Two in such a short time proved just how firmly he stood by his own path in tennis.
Everyone had their own path. Byōdōin didn't agree with Tokugawa's, but he wouldn't stop him from choosing it.
At that moment, the people from Spain were far more relaxed than the Japan Team, whose members were on tenterhooks.
They were confident they would win.
Tokugawa's gaze remained resolute. He wasn't distracted by the atmosphere around the court.
His journey here had never been easy.
He had made it onto this stage.
And at last, he'd had the chance to face his friend on the world stage. How could he give up so easily?
"Antonio, I won't give up!"
Tokugawa roared inwardly and rushed forward, sweeping his left arm across. Once more, he forcefully drove down a golden streak of light.
Thud!
"Japan Team's Tokugawa Kazuya scores. The score is 10–11."
The tiebreak had already lasted half an hour.
Neither player gave an inch, especially Tokugawa, who refused to back down.
As the two battled back and forth, the tiebreak score climbed into double digits.
"This is only the first match. How much longer are they going to play?"