As soon as the sixth game began, Eiji and Oishi were enveloped in a faint, shimmering light.
"Amazing! They're glowing!"
Anya was mesmerized. Though she didn't understand the principle behind the luminescence, she thought it looked incredibly cool. When she learned data tennis in the future, would she be able to glow like Eiji and Oishi too?
Back on the court, after Eiji and Oishi entered their synchronized state, the pressure on Marui Bunta and Yanagi Renji increased dramatically. While Yanagi could still make predictions based on his data, during synchronization, virtually every return from Eiji and Oishi landed right at the optimal limit. Even when Yanagi and Marui positioned themselves perfectly in advance, they still lost numerous points.
The weakness of breaking up Marui and Jackal's original partnership became apparent now. Facing synchronized opponents, Marui and Jackal had been able to respond with their own synchronization. However, with Jackal replaced by Yanagi, even their excellent cooperation couldn't match true synchronization.
But Yanagi wasn't to be underestimated. He pushed his computational abilities to their maximum, directing Marui's every movement as they battled against Eiji and Oishi's perfect coordination. After three intense games, Eiji and Oishi claimed two victories while Yanagi and Marui managed one.
The current score stood at 5-3, with Eiji and Oishi temporarily ahead. If they could win just one more game, Yamabuki would take the doubles match.
However, the gap between victory and defeat was widening with each point, because Eiji's physical reserves were rapidly depleting.
After the special training aboard the Bamboo Staff, Eiji's stamina had improved significantly, but synchronization doubled energy consumption, leaving him unable to maintain the pace.
Meanwhile, though Marui's endurance wasn't much better than Eiji's normally, he'd undergone intensive conditioning after their previous loss. Combined with Yanagi's predictions allowing him to return shots in the most energy-efficient manner possible, his current physical state far exceeded Eiji's.
"Eiji!"
Seeing his partner's legs trembling visibly, Oishi called out with worry.
"I'm fine, Oishi! Keep going!"
Eiji flashed an OK sign, indicating he could still maintain synchronization and continue the match.
Oishi hesitated - they were only one game away from victory, and since Eiji insisted he was alright, he maintained their synchronized state.
"Bunta, target Eiji Kikumaru!"
Yanagi observed Eiji's deteriorating condition, his mental data model confirming that Eiji's stamina had reached its limit. He instructed Marui to focus their attack on the weakening player.
"Got it!"
Marui's excitement was palpable. Rikkaidai's second counterattack was beginning.
Oishi served, but regardless of whether Marui or Yanagi received the ball, they directed every shot toward Eiji. Under their deliberate targeting, the synchronization between Eiji and Oishi suddenly collapsed.
"Huff... huff... huff..."
Eiji dropped to one knee on the court, completely spent.
"How is this possible?"
Conan stared at Eiji, his expression mixing worry and disappointment. He was concerned about Eiji's physical condition, but also frustrated - they'd been just one game away from defeating Rikkaidai, and with Eiji's current state, victory was clearly impossible.
"Player, can you continue the match?"
Seeing Eiji kneeling and unable to rise for an extended period, the referee inquired about his status.
"Referee, we forfeit—"
Just as Oishi was about to concede, he watched Eiji use his racket as support to force himself upright.
"Referee, the match continues."
Despite being drenched in sweat, Eiji managed a strained smile to show he could still play.
"Hey, Eiji! Your body can't handle any more! Don't push yourself!"
Though they were opponents, Eiji's indomitable spirit moved even Marui to express concern, but Eiji rejected the gesture:
"I'm fine! Let's continue!"
Seeing Eiji's unwavering determination, the referee announced the match would proceed.
But Eiji was truly at his limit. He'd already exhausted every reserve when he'd collapsed moments before. Now he stood purely through willpower alone.
Facing each shot from Yanagi and Marui, Eiji desperately tried to drive his body forward, but physical limitations couldn't be overcome by determination alone. Eiji and Oishi's lead was finally capped at five games, with Yanagi and Marui winning the match 7-5.
Rikkaidai claimed the doubles two victory, adding to their previous singles three win. If Rikkaidai could secure just one more match, they would successfully defend their national championship.
Yamabuki now teetered on the edge of elimination - they couldn't afford to lose a single game in the remaining three matches.
However, Yamabuki's team had no time to consider win-loss scenarios, because the moment the doubles match ended, Eiji collapsed unconscious to the court.
"Eiji!"
"Eiji!"
The instant Eiji hit the ground, Yamabuki's entire team rushed onto the court to check his condition.
"Doctor! We need a doctor!"
Coach Banji was calling for medical assistance. He refused to sacrifice his players for any single match. There would be other chances for championships, but if something serious happened to Eiji, that would be irreplaceable.
"Everyone step back! Give Eiji space to breathe!"
Noticing the crowd gathering around the fallen player, Inui shouted loudly, though everyone continued pressing close.
"You heard Inui! Everyone disperse immediately!"
At this critical moment, Captain Tezuka's authority proved most effective. With just that single command, he cleared the circle around Eiji.
"The doctor's coming! The doctor's here!"
Someone announced as the tournament's emergency physician arrived with a first aid kit.
The doctor immediately began a comprehensive examination of Eiji. Everyone - whether from Yamabuki, Rikkaidai, or the entire stadium - waited anxiously for the results.
"He's alright. Just fainted from exhaustion, but for safety, we should monitor him for a while."
After completing his examination, the doctor stood and delivered his assessment.
"Thank goodness!"
Everyone breathed collective sighs of relief hearing that Eiji would be fine.
Medical staff brought a stretcher to carry Eiji off the court, with Oishi accompanying his partner.
The remaining Yamabuki members returned to their positions, preparing for the next battle against Rikkaidai - the singles two match.
Tezuka approached Fuji without saying a word.
"Don't worry, Tezuka. I'll definitely bring victory back to Yamabuki."
Fuji smiled with his usual calm confidence.
"Fuji, give it everything you have. But I don't want you ending up like Eiji."
More than any championship, Tezuka valued his teammates' physical wellbeing above all else.
"Don't worry - my stamina is much better than Eiji's!"
With that assurance, Fuji stepped onto the court.
Rikkaidai's singles two player was Mori Jusaburo.
"Fuji, be careful! That guy is most dangerous when he's sleeping!"
Having faced Mori in the Kanto Tournament, Sengoku immediately called out a warning.
"Don't worry, Sengoku! I've got this!"
Fuji waved acknowledgment that he understood.
A match that would determine Yamabuki's fate was about to begin.