"Seigaku! Seigaku! Seigaku! Seigaku..."
The match between Seigaku and Yamabuki had already begun.
To play it safe, Coach Ryuzaki had paired Kawamura and Fuji for Second Doubles.
Kawamura's solid backcourt play and Fuji's nimble net skills, combined with the fact that the two were seasoned doubles partners, seemed like a reliable choice.
But that cautious strategy didn't seem to be helping much. The score was already 5–3, with Yamabuki leading by two games.
By now, Kawamura and Fuji were both drenched in sweat, with little stamina left.
Thwack...
"Point to Yamabuki. Game, set, and match, 6–3 to Yamabuki."
At the umpire's announcement, the Second Doubles match ended with Yamabuki defeating Seigaku 6–3.
"Those two still aren't cut out for doubles. They're both too strong-willed, and they just don't have enough coordination. That's our weakness."
"Yamabuki's doubles are as strong as ever. But aside from Oishi and Kikumaru, Seigaku doesn't have anyone else who can form a doubles pair. Things don't look good."
Seeing that Yamabuki's winning strategy was still proving effective, Coach Ryuzaki couldn't help but admire them from the coaches' seats.
In the stands, the Golden Pair, who were about to start the next match, didn't stop to wait. They headed straight onto the court.
"Long time no see, Oishi. Let's have a good match."
On the court, Minami Kentaro, the spiky-haired player from Yamabuki's First Doubles team, spoke to Oishi.
Oishi's expression darkened at Minami Kentaro's words. Seeing that his partner was still lost in the shadow of last year's defeat, Kikumaru promptly flicked him on the forehead.
"Don't worry too much, Oishi. You've still got me."
"Right! Thanks, Eiji! Let's just play the way we usually do."
Seeing the two of them back in form, Coach Ryuzaki, who had been worried, finally relaxed.
"Coach Ryuzaki, our First Doubles will win this year, too."
Coach Ryuzaki frowned when the Yamabuki coach suddenly spoke to her.
Then, thinking of how he had let Akutsu join Yamabuki's tennis club, she asked, "Banrou, didn't you say tennis should be fun? Why would you let someone like him join your team?"
"Of course I still believe that. I haven't changed my mind. But even if it's unfair to Oishi, I still want to remind you of what happened last year."
As they spoke, Minami Kentaro served.
Kikumaru read the ball's path and drove it back with a flat shot. Yamabuki's other doubles player, Higashikata Masami, seized the chance while Oishi was distracted and hit the ball into his blind spot, scoring outright.
Oishi stared at the ball on the ground, too stunned to react.
"His technique has improved since last year. He's got his timing down perfectly. If Oishi can't keep up with his changes of pace, this match will be tough."
Over the next few points, Minami Kentaro and Higashikata Masami kept targeting Oishi while he was off his game, scoring again and again.
"They've scored several points in a row. It's like they know exactly what Oishi-senpai is thinking."
Yamabuki Middle School's strategy was simple: target Oishi. Even Katsuro and Katsuo had noticed. Inui Sadaharu, standing nearby, explained, "They're using the same approach they used to beat Oishi and Senpai last year. Oishi must still be shaken by it."
"Damn it! Using such a cheap trick? I'll show you!"
Kikumaru, irritated, served the ball. Minami Kentaro moved as though he were about to return it.
Seeing Minami Kentaro take up a return stance, Kikumaru immediately prepared to intercept.
Just then, Oishi, who was standing at the net, turned around.
"Eiji, don't move."
"Last year, I lost my composure, so Senpai came up to help me at the net. That broke our formation and gave them an opening."
"The only thing I can do now is stay calm and not let them get to me."
He ran toward the ball and sent a short backhand shot that landed just within reach of Minami Kentaro's racket.
Then Oishi turned smoothly and hit a Moon Volley.
The ball soared into the sky, then dropped straight down onto the baseline.
"Point to Seigaku, 15–0."
"Did you think you could beat me by using the same trick as last year? That's ridiculous."
Minami Kentaro and Higashikata Masami were astonished by Oishi's change. Once their surprise faded, excitement appeared on their faces.
"So this is Seigaku's Golden Pair. Looks like this match is going to be fun."
"Hey, Momoshiro-senpai, I think you can go warm up. That guy from Yamabuki, Sengoku, will be a tough opponent for you."
Seeing Oishi come out of the shadow of last year's defeat, Horio knew the match would be over soon, so he told Momoshiro to warm up early.
"Really? If you say so, then I'd better give him a good match."
Hearing Horio say Sengoku would be tough to handle, Momoshiro didn't hesitate. He grabbed his tennis bag and went to warm up.
Watching Momoshiro walk away, the curious Katsuro and Katsuo couldn't help asking Horio, "Horio, is Sengoku really that good? From the way you talk, it sounds like Momoshiro-senpai will have a hard time winning."
"He can definitely win. Momoshiro-senpai isn't the same as before. With his right leg fully recovered and all the intense training he's been doing lately, he's improved a lot."
"And that guy from Yamabuki, Sengoku, is just a talented player who doesn't take tennis very seriously. They call him Lucky Sengoku, but luck doesn't exist when you're up against real skill."
"'Luck doesn't exist when you're up against real skill.' Only you, Horio, would say something like that so confidently."
Horio had just finished explaining things to Katsuro and Katsuo when he suddenly turned to look in another direction. His gaze instantly turned icy.
"If you're in such a hurry to die, I'll make sure you get to experience despair firsthand."
Seeing Akutsu beneath the trees not far from the court, tearing up the notebook he had taken from his fanboy Taichi, Horio felt all the more certain that he had no reason to hold back.
On the other side, Oishi held the baseline while Kikumaru unleashed a barrage of Special Skill Shots at the net. Together, they kept scoring.
Even after the Yamabuki pair changed their tactics, Oishi and Kikumaru handled them well.
It didn't take long for them to win First Doubles.
After the two doubles matches, Seigaku and Yamabuki had each won one point.
Next came the singles matches. Momoshiro, who had gone to warm up, returned just as Oishi and Kikumaru won.
Everyone saw that Momoshiro was in great shape, with only a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead, and felt sure Seigaku would win Third Singles as well.
As they saw it, with Horio as their safety net, Seigaku only needed to win one more match.
That would mean they had effectively secured the championship of the Tokyo Metropolitan Tournament, and would enter the Kanto Tournament as a seeded team.
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