Mori Juzaburo (Sixth Update)
Hyotei Academy wins doubles, making the overall score 1-1.
"Hyotei Academy! Hyotei Academy! Hyotei Academy!"
"Hyotei Academy has won..."
Seeing that Oshitari and Mukahi had brought victory back to the Hyotei Academy, Atobe's face also showed a confident smile.
Meanwhile, Rikkai Dai was much quieter.
"I'm sorry, Yukimura..."
After the match, Niou Masaharu and Marui Bunta approached Yukimura Seiichi with guilty expressions and whispered apologies.
"It's alright, Niou, Bunta. This was just a minor mishap. We will still emerge victorious in the end."
Yukimura's words were filled with strong confidence; he didn't seem to care about their defeat and simply smiled faintly.
As the minister, he was well aware of the players' fighting spirit on the field, never giving up until the very last moment, and he would not blame them for such a spirit.
"Hmph! We actually lost to the Hyotei Academy. This is the first time we've lost like this all the way. We've been too complacent. We need to triple our training when we get back."
Unlike Yukimura's gentleness, Vice-Commander Sanada was much stricter, and his tone was very stern.
Although both players gave their all and battled it out until the very last point, a loss is a loss.
For Sanada, who was so dedicated to carrying the team's pursuit of victory to the very end, this was unforgivable.
"Okay, I understand."
Niou Masaharu and Marui Bunta both nodded. They had gotten used to Sanada's personality during their time together in the Tennis Club.
Sanada nodded, then picked up his racket and walked onto the court.
Rikkai Dai's third singles player Sanada Genichirou.
"Go, and bring victory back, Genichiro."
Ten minutes later.
"Game, Rikkai Dai Genichiro Hyotei Academy Akutagawa Jirou, Rikkai Dai wins, the score is 6-0."
"In the singles match, Rikkai Dai won, bringing the overall score to 2-1."
Sanada's swift and decisive victory, coupled with his incredibly unrestrained playing style, completely drowned out the cheers from the Hyotei Academy.
"The difference is so huge..."
"As expected of Rikkai Dai, the perennial champions."
"Rikkai Dai, Sanada Genichirou!"
"Such an overbearing playing style, just like an emperor."
"Emperor? Sanada Genichirou?"
The loss in the doubles match infuriated Sanada, so he quickly won the game.
However, the discussion about him did not stop after the game ended; on the contrary, it became even more heated.
Of course, there were also dissenting voices in the discussion.
"Hmph, what kind of emperor is he? Does he even deserve such a title?"
"Exactly! It's only 2-1. Hyotei Academy certainly has a chance to win, so what's with the boasting!"
Fan groups from Rikkai Dai and Hyotei Academy started attacking each other, hurling insults at each other.
Meanwhile, in the area where the Seigaku members were located.
"Sanada, your strength has improved again..."
Tezuka watched Sanada, who was defeating Kamui on the field, and his gaze flickered.
After being defeated by him, Sanada's strength increased at a terrifying rate.
Meanwhile, Akutsu stared intently at Sanada's retreating figure, constantly calculating his chances of winning against him.
Finally, he angrily grabbed the iron fence in front of him, his emotions far from calm.
Fuji's eyes were also wide open. He had always been quiet and confined to his small circle, and could only see the people around him.
Even with Muneyoshi's previous advice, it didn't have much effect.
However, after witnessing Sanada's strength, he began to doubt his own tennis career once again.
I don't know if continuing like this is good or bad...
The match between the Hyotei Academy and Rikkai Dai has reached the fourth inning, and the true strength of both sides is now on full display.
The audience members outside the stadium began to discuss the event during their break.
Will Hyotei Academy be able to overthrow Rikkai Dai's Kanto dominance, or will Rikkai Dai continue its reign of supreme power?
Everyone started to look forward to it.
Ten minutes later.
"The Singles 2 match is about to begin."
"Atobe Keigo from the Hyotei Academy versus Mori Juzaburo from Rikkai Dai High School."
"Whoosh..."
"What!?"
"Singles 2 is actually the captain of the Hyotei Academy! Not Singles 1."
"But who is Mori Juzaburo? Does Rikkai Dai even have a person like him? This is his first appearance, isn't it!"
"Poor thing, he ran into Atobe on his very first appearance..."
As the referee's voice faded, a huge murmur erupted from the crowd.
Even after facing Seigaku twice, Atobe Keigo's displayed strength wasn't his full potential...
Now that they're facing Rikkai Dai, will they be able to uncover more information? Many people from other schools outside the stadium showed excited expressions.
"Hyotei Academy is on the brink of disaster... Atobe Keigo just the right person to step in."
"I've never heard of Mori Juzaburo from Rikkai Dai. Is he some nobody?"
"Can he force Atobe to reveal his full strength?"
All the intelligence gatherers took out their cameras, ready to document the strength of the Hyotei Academy captain, but upon hearing about his opponent, they all became somewhat worried.
However, their concerns were quickly drowned out by the Hyotei Academy's cheerleaders.
Hyotei Academy!
"Atobe!"
"Hyotei Academy won..."
"The winner is Atobe!"
"Hyotei Academy won... Atobe is the Atobe!"
The Hyotei Academy cheerleaders chanted slogans rhythmically, their massive cheers rising in waves.
Snap!
"The winner is... me!"
With Atobe's exit and the snap of his fingers towards the sky, Hyotei Academy's momentum reached its peak!
"Oh... I didn't expect to run into such a big fish so soon after arriving in Tokyo. Captain Yukimura, he's the captain of the Hyotei Academy! I don't know a thing about him, so I'm not entirely confident of winning this fight."
Mori Juzaburo lazily stood up from his seat, a smile on his face, and spoke to Yukimura in a relaxed tone.
"Hehe... We have complete confidence in your abilities, senior. You just need to do your best."
Yukimura smiled gently, ignoring Mori Juzaburo's lazy and negative tone.
Although both Sanada and he were somewhat dissatisfied with their opponent's attitude towards tennis, as well as their passive training and squandering of talent.
However, the opponent's strength is truly formidable.
In Rikkai Dai today, even he and Sanada might not be able to control Mouri.
Therefore, they can tolerate the Mouri being somewhat casual.
"The opposing team's Atobe didn't go to Singles 1, but instead went to singles match two. Did they initially plan to finish the match in singles match two?"
Sanada stepped forward and asked in a deep voice.
"I don't know what they're thinking either... Oh well... In the face of absolute power, everything is meaningless..."
"Don't worry, Sanada, I'm here!"
Yukimura patted Sanada Genichirou on the shoulder. Even if Mouri- senpai couldn't win, he was very confident in his own abilities.
On the field.
Please give me your guidance!
Please give me your guidance~
Atobe glanced at Mori Juzaburo, who was much taller than him. The man had a half-smile on his face, seemingly quite interested in him.
This expression displeased him greatly; the way he looked at her was like he was looking at a relative's child.
The other person is treating him like a child.
"How dare he Mori Juzaburo? He's just a nobody."
"Hmph, I'm going to teach this kind of guy a lesson!"
Atobe scoffed inwardly.
"For or against?"
"Anti~"
Snap!
After glancing at the sign, the two turned around and stood in their respective positions.
"The match begins, with Atobe Keigo Hyotei Academy serving. End of set."
With the referee's loud announcement, the second singles match officially began!
"Such an indifferent personality, how unglamorous! Well then... let me see what you're made of."
Bang!
With a light tap of the tennis ball in his hand, Atobe glanced at Mouri across from him, who seemed completely nonchalant, and raised an eyebrow.
With a cold snort, Atobe sent the tennis ball flying from his hand.
Snap!
The tennis ball wasn't fast, but it was incredibly powerful, landing precisely on the edge of the service line.
"As expected of the captain of the Hyotei Academy Tennis Club who reached the top in just one year, his strength is indeed impressive!"
Mori Juzaburo's eyes lit up, and he felt a surge of joy.
He hadn't expected his opponent to be so strong in his very first match in Tokyo Metropolis.
Although it was just a serve, Atobe his simple overhead serve.
Atobe Keigo is not just a simple arrogance.
Seeing his prey, Mori Juzaburo was overjoyed. He lowered his arm slightly, pulling the racket head down, and then slammed the racket into the bouncing tennis ball.
The tennis ball was caught directly by the racket, and under his control, the front of the racket rolled rapidly a short distance.
Seeing that his trick had worked, a smile appeared on his lips. Then, with a deft flick of his wrist, the tennis ball came into his comfortable hitting zone.
Bang!
All the movements happened in that split second, the tennis ball being pulled up in the air by a sharp gust of wind.
Using a slice shot to generate powerful backspin, the tennis ball hurtles diagonally towards the baseline boundary of the Atobe.
"Nice shot!"
An expert's skill is immediately apparent; an outsider might not be able to discern it clearly.
However, Atobe's amazing eyesight proved to be of great help at this moment. In Atobe's eyes, Mori Juzaburo's return of the ball was quite perfect.
The opponent's counterattack appeared to be a straight line, and at that height, it seemed more like the ball was flying out of bounds.
However, Mouri uses a slice shot, and the backspin attached to the ball causes it to drop earlier as it approaches the baseline.
If he's even slightly careless, the opponent will take this point directly.
This kind of meticulous and subtle handling of details in tennis is something that not everyone can achieve.
And the other party acted completely casually.
Is it innate?
Or is it just a facade?
"It seems we can't judge a book by its cover; this person really does have some skills..."
Tap tap...
Atobe ran quickly towards the other side of the baseline.
As he expected, the tennis ball suddenly dropped the moment Atobe took his position, and Mouri's return shot hit the baseline precisely.
Thud...
Atobe scooped the tennis ball high into the air with his racket, the ball bouncing at a very low angle.
The tennis ball has just crossed the center line.
Step... step... step...
From Atobe's perspective, Mori Juzaburo had already moved quickly to the front of the net.
"I got this point, Atobe- kun from the Hyotei Academy..."
With a soft chuckle, Mouri rushed to the net, leaped high, and smashed the tennis ball that had just flown over the net.
The tennis ball crashed down with a powerful gust of air and a captivating force.
"Bang!"
The tennis ball sailed over Atobe's head as he tried to save it, landing steadily near his baseline.
"Rikkai Dai's Mori Juzaburo scores, 15-0."
The referee's announcement rang out.
Atobe glanced back at the tennis ball on the baseline, then looked at Mori Juzaburo was standing at the net with a very casual and relaxed posture.
"Rikkai Dai Mori Juzaburo...?"
Atobe's eyes flickered, his gaze fixed intently on the other person's body, scanning them repeatedly, as if trying to see through their weaknesses.
"What?! Atobe lost his first point!"
"That guy isn't someone to be trifled with either."
The cheers from the Hyotei Academy's cheerleaders, which had been rising continuously, fell silent after Mouri scored his first point.
On the stands, several figures from Seigaku had deep, thoughtful gazes.
Tezuka, his arms crossed, gently clenched his fists. In the matches between the Hyotei Academy and Rikkai Dai, he had witnessed the underlying strength of a top team.
Furthermore, considering their demonstrated strength, besides him, only Fuji, Akutsu, and Yamato Yūdai are roughly on par with Seigaku.
The others haven't trained for long enough, so there's a significant gap compared to them.
Moreover, Sanada's strength has improved a lot compared to a few months ago, and the captain of the Hyotei Academy is also very strong.
"I was right after all, there will definitely be a lot of rivals in junior high!"
"Tezuka is right. Whether it's that senior from Rikkai Dai, Atobe from the Hyotei Academy, Sanada from before, or those who appeared in doubles, they are all formidable opponents..."
Fuji, with a gentle smile on his face, murmured softly beside Tezuka.
On the field.
"Hmm? Is this minister on the other side getting serious?"
Seeing that Atobe Keigo's smile had vanished and a chill had settled over him, Mouri's interest also piqued.
Although he disliked training, he was still quite happy to defeat top opponents.
Snap... Snap...
Atobe lightly tapped the tennis ball twice, then looked at Mori Juzaburo again.
"Now that we know your strength, there's not much point in testing you anymore... You didn't maintain a serious competitive mindset, and you exposed too many weaknesses."
Atobe's lips curled into a smile. He didn't know if Mori Juzaburo's relaxed demeanor was an act, but in Atobe's eyes, these were all loopholes that he had already seen through.
"Let your arrogance revel in my magnificent ball skills!" Atobe murmured softly.
Swish...
Atobe tossed the tennis ball high into Atobe air, then bent his knees slightly and stretched his body backward, striking a somewhat exaggerated pose.
The tension in his body generated tremendous explosive power. Atobe suddenly swung his arm, and the force of his entire body surged out from his elbow and wrist.
A powerful force twisted the racket in his hand, slamming it down hard on the falling tennis ball.
Bang!
With a sharp whistle, the tennis ball, under a powerful and heavy impact, followed an irregular trajectory, heading towards Mori Juzaburo's half of the court.
Hiss hiss hiss...
After the tennis ball landed, it did not bounce as expected, but instead skimmed along the ground like a streak of light.
"This is!?"
Watching the tennis ball kick up a cloud of dust at his feet, Mori Juzaburo looked up at Atobe across from him, his face showing shock.
"15-15!"
Theirs Serve, making his first appearance on the court.
One shot, one point!
"Hyotei Academy's captain's serve didn't bounce at all!"
"What a terrifying serve!"
"Fuji, it's very similar to your 'Returning Swallow' technique..."
Fuji shook his head, opened his azure eyes, and rejected Oishi's opinion.
No, they are not the same!
Fuji didn't offer much explanation, but his eyes were fixed intently on Atobe's retreating figure.
Swish!
With a loud bang, the battle resumed.
Bang!
"30-15."
Bang!
"40-15."
Bang!
"Game, Hyotei Academy, Atobe Keigo, 1-0, change of scenery."
Relying on his powerful serve, Atobe held serve first.
"As expected of the Hyotei Academy's captain, he possesses such strength in just his first year."
During the scene change, Mori Juzaburo smiled and said to Atobe with a touch of emotion.
Mouri has exceptional tennis talent; in terms of physical gifts alone, he could be considered on par with Akutsu among Japan high school students.
Moreover, they can utilize many special talents and abilities that ordinary people wouldn't even dare to imagine.
For this reason, since he started playing tennis, no one of his peers has been able to easily defeat him.
This also fostered his dislike of training; compared to those movements that required arduous and strenuous training to complete, he could easily do them without training.
Therefore, he is confident that his talent will make him Regular wherever he goes.
This was true of Shitenhoji in Kansai, and it was also true of Rikkai Dai, the dominant force in Kanto.
This will remain true even in future U-17 training camps.
If Akutsu in the original work possessed talent but didn't cherish it, then Mori Juzaburo wasted his talent for nothing.
But when it comes to crucial moments, he only needs a little practice to keep up with his teammates.
"My serve is coming up, Atobe- kun..."
Bang!
Mouri's movements were leisurely, but his swing was extremely fast. Before he could even finish speaking, the tennis ball in his hand was already flying towards Atobe's half of the court.
"Ha... a childish trick..."
Atobe chuckled softly. Ever since Saeki Muneyoshi opened up his "Ren and Du meridians," Atobe's strength had also been rapidly improving.
At this time, he also needs to fight against all kinds of opponents. The stronger the opponent, the happier he is. The experience of defeating the strong and crushing the weak are never on the same level.
Mori Juzaburo was a strong man.
Bang!
With a flick of the wrist, a sharp smash sent the opponent's serve back, the tennis ball landing squarely on Mouri's opposite baseline.
Returning such a serve was incredibly easy for Atobe.
"The speed is good, but it's too slow..."
Mori Juzaburo moved with lightning speed, catching up with the tennis ball in the blink of an eye.
Bang!
With a flick of his wrist, the tennis ball was traced in a perfect straight arc by the racket.
15-0.
"Is this speed and movement... just an illusion?"
Atobe stared intently at Mori Juzaburo's feet as he swayed them from side to side; the other man was much faster than him.
"It's coming soon!"
Mouri was unfazed by Atobe's cautious demeanor; this wasn't even his full strength yet.
Bang!
"Game! Rikkai Dai's Mouri scores, score 1-1."
Bang!
"Rikkai Dai's Mouri scores, the score is 2-2."
The two players played fiercely, each holding their serve, and the score remained close.
On the sidelines, at Rikkai Dai's rest area.
"Sanada, what do you think?"
"A very strong opponent."
Upon hearing Yukimura's question, Sanada frowned. He had originally thought that no one could pose a threat to Rikkai Dai in such a small Kanto Tournament.
However, the level that Atobe Hyotei Academy showing now is enough to make him take it seriously, and judging from the situation on the field, Atobe seems to be suppressing Mori Juzaburo.
"Genichiro, don't rush. Mouri- senpai shouldn't fail so easily; he's still holding back."
Yukimura remained calm, as he was the strongest person in the spiritual realm at Rikkai Dai.
Besides him, Niou was the strongest in terms of mental strength among the original Rikkai Dai.
This newcomer, Senior Mori Juzaburo, is quite lazy, but his mental talent is equally impressive.
Although we haven't fought each other and don't know the exact stage, it's definitely not limited to what it is now.
On the field.
Atobe scored again with a Theirs Serve, Mori Juzaburo glanced once more at the spot where the tennis ball had landed.
Turning towards the receiving area, Mouri lowered his eyelids, a thoughtful look in his eyes.
In singles matches, if an opponent possesses a powerful serve, and you cannot break their serve, then they will be invincible.
But there is no ball in this world that is absolutely unbreakable.
At least, Mouri hasn't encountered this before.
Bang!
30-0.
Bang!
40-0.
In the following balls, Mori Juzaburo watched Atobe use the Tannhäuser technique without moving, seemingly giving up completely, and showing no reaction to Atobe's serve.
But as he continued to observe, the light in Mouri's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
This looks like a tennis ball that slipped away, not actually touching the ground...
Bang!
"Game, Hyotei Academy Atobe Keigo, 3-2."
Atobe once again unleashed a spectacular four-serve, easily winning his service game.
Seeing Atobe unleash his full power, the Hyotei Academy cheerleaders outside the arena started shouting wildly.
The situation that followed seemed to unfold exactly as the Hyotei Academy team had predicted. After Atobe won his service game, he used his superior Insight to relentlessly attack Mouri's weaknesses.
For the first time, Atobe broke Mori Juzaburo's serve, extending Atobe's lead to 4-2.
"Heh, as I've said before, your weaknesses are crystal clear to me."
With one hand crossed over his chest and the other supporting him, his fingers gently resting on the bridge of his nose, Atobe's eyes shone brightly with unwavering confidence.
Because he didn't exercise often, Mouri, despite his exceptional talent, developed many bad habits.
For example, his horizontal movement is very powerful, but his forward and backward movement is a level below that.
There are also some unconscious little movements when moving, and the breathing rhythm is also different.
Such a flaw might not be so easily noticed by others, and Mouri could use his overwhelming strength to cover it all up.
But for Atobe, whose Insight had reached National Level, these actions and weaknesses were as obvious as day.
"I'll finish you off, Mori Juzaburo!"
In Atobe's serve, the tennis ball was once again tossed from his hand.
"Here it comes! It's Theirs Serve again."
"That's an unbeatable serve."
Outside the arena, in the Hyotei Academy waiting area, everyone was excited, and a hint of anticipation flashed in Anahira Ryo.
If Atobe can win this game, they will be back on the same level as Rikkai Dai!
Bang!
The same movements, the same powerful force— Atobe's formidable stamina was fully displayed at this moment.
Even in his fifth game, his serving posture remained unchanged, and the tennis ball flew past the Hyotei Academy players with the same speed as before, under their expectant gazes.
Sizzle...
With another slight bounce, the tennis ball was about to travel low to the ground.
Step... step... step...
At this moment, Mori Juzaburo, who had been silent all along, suddenly moved.
What is he going to do!?
A gasp rippled through the crowd upon seeing Mori Juzaburo's action.
This time, Mouri didn't give up immediately like he did in the previous game.
At this moment, he unleashed his full speed, his legs almost leaving a trail of afterimages as he chased after the tennis ball that had just landed.
"Oh, you want to crack my beautiful technique?"
Atobe's expression changed slightly, showing curiosity and anticipation.
As the developer of this move, he was well aware that the serve had flaws, but he had yet to meet anyone who could find and crack it.
After all, he hadn't even been able to use this move when facing Muneyoshi.
Not only this serve, but also the dance music for "moving towards" has not been developed.
These were all Atobe developed after his defeat, reflecting deeply on his experience, and preparing to deal with Muneyoshi.
At that moment, Mouri was completely focused and didn't care about the surprised looks from others.
His originally scattered mind, under the control of his powerful focus, was like another arm to him.
The moment he caught up with the tennis ball, a glint of light flashed in Mouri's eyes, and he forcefully suppressed the soreness in his arm.
Mouri's face was expressionless as the tennis ball almost slipped past his feet.
The next moment, it was as if his racket had been extended by several centimeters, and he scooped up the serve while skimming the ground.
"What?!"
"I actually received it!"
Unlike the panic of the Hyotei Academy team members, the Rikkai Dai team members were energized.
Just as the tennis ball was about to fly out of bounds, Mori Juzaburo miraculously saved it.
"You actually caught it! I acknowledge your ability. Now, on your way to a disheartening escape..."
Even as Mouri made his move, Atobe was already prepared, seeing that the tennis ball was indeed being hit.
Atobe, unhurried and unhurried, strode to the net, and as he spoke, leaped into the air, delivering a powerful smash to Mori Juzaburo's backcourt.
And the path of this smash was exactly the same as the way the ball was served—sliding along the ground.
15-0!
"A retreat into despair... What beautiful ball skills, Atobe- kun."
Ignoring the loss of that goal, a smile appeared on Mori Juzaburo's face.
He also praised Atobe's tennis with great interest.
At this moment Oishi Mouri felt relieved and was confident in how to break Atobe's serve.
Tennis is a sport where you hit the ball back and forth.
Once he gets the call, the second and third times won't be a problem; it will only get easier and easier for him.
"This guy's mentality has completely changed."
Sensing the surging spiritual power of Mori Juzaburo, Atobe showed no joy at scoring another point.
He couldn't possibly not understand by now that his opponent hadn't revealed their true strength.
But wasn't he the same?
"If you can crack it, then give it a try!"
Bang!
The tennis ball flies through the air, the racket swings.
Atobe used the Theirs Serve again.
This time it was even faster than before; Mori Juzaburo finally stopped holding back and increased his speed even further.
The instant the tennis ball bounces off the ground...
His eyesight caught the bounce of Theirs Serve.
Bang!
Swish!
This time, Mouri pulled the tennis ball off the ground in a B Drive arc, quickly sweeping it over the net.
"What was that just now... a complete dislocation?"
Atobe, who had been watching Mori Juzaburo's movements closely, noticed something was wrong almost the instant the other man made his move.
He was shocked to see the other person's arm suddenly grow a centimeter longer!
"To be able to do something like this, is he even human? Or is it just a skill he possesses, or a coincidence?"
The shocking scene before him made Atobe stop his swing.
The tennis ball flew directly across his half of the court.
"15-15."
This was the first time Mori Juzaburo had scored a point on his Theirs Serve.
Are you sure your hand is okay? Can you continue playing?
Atobe stood there, his tone filled with surprise and uncertainty.
"What amazing Insight! How did you discover it so quickly?"
Mouri's pupils contracted, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
The captain of the Hyotei Academy was surprisingly Insight at this moment.
"Hehe... Thanks for your concern, Atobe, but I'm fine. Of course, the match will continue."
After slightly moving his elbow, the dislocated joint returned to its original position. Mouri gently waved his racket, declining Atobe's offer.
Dislocating his shoulder on impulse is one of his unique physical talents.
"Heh... that's an interesting ability."
Although Atobe was shocked, his face remained adorned with an elegant smile.
"Even if this is a natural gift from your body, the pain of such a short-term dislocation should still be quite intense... The fact that you were able to suppress it with your willpower shows that your mental strength is not bad either."
Seeing that Mouri's arm had returned to normal, Atobe probably had a guess in mind.
Atobe stopped using the Theirs Serve after that; he had been doing it for almost four games, and even with his current physical condition, he was starting to feel the strain.
A special move is a special move because it can score points if used.
Previously, they were only able to persevere because of the power of that shot, but now their opponent has figured it out.
If the fight continues, he might not be able to withstand it, and it would be a losing proposition.
After a brief exchange, the two returned to a contest of tactics and basic skills.
However, this also gave Atobe another ability a stage to be displayed.
Bang!
"Mori Juzaburo scores, 30-15."
"That's enough, your blind spot has appeared in my eyes again!"
A cold glint instantly spread across Atobe's eyes, even though his grasp of the rudimentary form of the Ice World was still immature and he couldn't maintain it for long.
But this is already the fifth game; he can still manage to hold on for one more game.
A chill enveloped the court, and an icicle shot out from Atobe's eye, embedding itself in Mouri's court.
"Freeze in the ice!"
Atobe laughed freely, his racket gleaming with a cold light as he swung it heavily down at the tennis ball.
Bang!
The deadly blind spot made Mori Juzaburo freeze. When he tried to dislocate his arm to catch the ball, his body seemed to be frozen and he couldn't take a step.
Snap!
The tennis ball flashed, shattering the ice shards and scattering ice crystals everywhere.
A magnificent but imperfect Ice World unfolds before everyone's eyes for the first time.
"Within the realm, Hyotei Academy, Atobe Keigo, 30-30."
Arriving in the frigid, icy world, Atobe flaunted his power with unbridled abandon.
At that moment, Tezuka on the high platform, Yukimura, Sanada, and Mitsuya in the Rikkai Dai region all had the same thought.
"National Level!"
Sensing Atobe's power, Mouri wasn't intimidated; instead, he scratched the back of his head.
Somewhat embarrassed, he said, "Atobe- kun can actually do that? I knew it was wrong to underestimate my opponent; it seems I had to show my true strength!"
"Um?"
Mouri's words surprised not only Atobe, but also the Rikkai Dai students.
Yukimura exchanged a glance with Sanada and Mitsuya.
Could it be that...?
On the field, Mouri surprisingly closed his eyes in front of everyone, and quickly fell into a state of sleep.
This left everyone watching completely bewildered.
"Is this guy planning to give up? He actually closed his eyes on the field?"
"Judging from his appearance, it seems like... he's asleep?"
Sleeping on the spot? No way!
Mouri's move immediately drew gasps from the entire audience.
Atobe's lips curled into a mocking smile, "I thought you'd do something, but it turns out you'd just sleep. How unglamorous!"
With that, Atobe unleashed a powerful serve.
Call out!
The tennis ball flew out, about to pass over the closed-eyed Mori Juzaburo.
However, Mouri, who Sleep State just a second ago, suddenly unleashed an astonishing speed the next second.
With just a few simple steps back, before everyone could recover from their surprise, the tennis ball had already hit Atobe behind him.
"Within the boundary, Mori Juzaburo, 40-30."
The ball landed, immediately causing a stir among the crowd.
Many people stared wide-eyed at Mouri, who had fallen asleep again.
"What's going on? How can I play ball after falling asleep?"
"Not only that, but his strength and speed were also greatly enhanced in that instant of explosion!"
How exactly did he do that?
Exclamations of surprise rang out from the audience.
At this moment, Atobe was also shocked, because he hadn't found a blind spot around Mouri.
"How is this possible?!"
Bang!
Bang!
Having entered Sleep State, Mouri unleashed a speed and power far exceeding that of Atobe Keigo.
Furthermore, because the opponent's movements disappear when Sleep State, and in the incomplete Ice World, Mouri's blind spots are also nowhere to be found.
Atobe was put on the defensive.
The two players on the court moved swiftly and skillfully, the sound of their shots like a sudden storm.
"Game, Mori Juzaburo, 5:4."
"Tezuka, do you know what's going on? Why is it that Mouri- senpai became stronger after closing his eyes?!"
The optimistic and studious Kikumaru found himself completely baffled, so he used his special talent and asked Tezuka with a surprised look.
Upon hearing Kikumaru's question, Fuji, Akutsu, Oishi, and Inui, who were standing nearby, also looked at Tezuka with great curiosity.
After pondering for a moment, Tezuka said, "It should be a state, similar to my State of Selflessness,' where one enters a state of amplification after activation."
"With this increase, one's speed, strength, and even mental concentration will all improve to some extent."
"I see..."
The group nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
"Let's go, Atobe has already had a tough time. Next up is the awards ceremony."
Seeing Atobe's defenses breached once again by Mori Juzaburo, Tezuka turned and walked out of the stadium.
When Mouri enters Sleep State, his strength has indeed surpassed that of Atobe at present.
In this peculiar state, Atobe's Insight was weakened to the extreme, and the outcome was no longer in doubt.
Rikkai Dai secured their 14th consecutive victory in the Kanto Tournament, once again emerging victorious.
Meanwhile, at this time, Muneyoshi...
I'm in Spain, just got off the plane.
Please subscribe to this 9400-word post. It's not filler; I generally won't go into detail about characters and battles that appeared early on.