With Higashikata Masami and Minami Kentaro's victory over Niō Masaharu and Yagyu Hiroshi, Yamabuki and Rikkaidai would play every match in the national finals to its conclusion.
The singles one victory would determine this tournament's champion - either a new king would ascend the throne, or Rikkaidai would cement their reign.
"Looks like the battle between Tezuka and Yukimura is inevitable!"
Gustave watched the court with mounting excitement. The showdown between middle school tennis's two strongest players would begin again today.
"Amazing! Anya can already feel the intense pressure from both big brothers on the court!"
Anya put on her most serious expression, clenched her fists, and gazed expectantly at Tezuka and Yukimura warming up below.
Both players had removed their jackets and were performing simple stretching exercises.
Tezuka and Yukimura had similar builds - both lean and tall - but completely different temperaments. Tezuka wore rimless glasses and maintained perpetual seriousness; combined with his mature features, he resembled an austere young god. Yukimura carried a faint smile and possessed a somewhat melancholy air; his more neutral features gave him the aura of gentle beauty.
However, the defined muscle lines on their arms and calves revealed their true strength.
Tezuka Kunimitsu and Yukimura Seiichi stood at the absolute pinnacle of middle school tennis, their abilities far exceeding all others.
Even if thrown directly into the U-17 training camps, both were strong enough to stand out among the first string. With minimal targeted training, either could easily secure spots in the U-17 starting lineup.
"I'm so nervous!"
Watching Tezuka stretch, Eiji visibly shuddered.
"Eiji, why are you nervous? You're not the one playing. If you were taking this singles match, Yukimura would definitely shut you out 6-0."
Sengoku patted Eiji's shoulder teasingly.
"Hey, Sengoku! Could you please stop with the sarcasm right now?"
Eiji raised his fist to show his displeasure.
"Okay, okay! I get it!"
Sengoku immediately surrendered and stepped back several paces.
Didn't this guy collapse from exhaustion earlier? Why is he bouncing around like nothing happened?
Sengoku grumbled internally as he retreated.
The brief waiting period passed quickly, and the singles match that would decide both Yamabuki and Rikkaidai's fates finally began.
Tezuka and Yukimura approached the net for their handshake.
"I never imagined we'd meet again on the national finals stage, but this time, our respective schools' destinies rest on our shoulders."
Tezuka spoke with his characteristically serious expression.
"I didn't expect we'd face each other again either. I knew Yamabuki would be our finals opponent, but I hadn't anticipated you'd be my specific matchup, Tezuka."
To avoid a Yukimura-Tezuka confrontation, Rikkaidai had run countless pre-finals simulations. However, they hadn't expected Coach Banji to maintain his regular lineup at this critical moment. After all their strategic maneuvering, Yukimura still ended up facing Tezuka. What should have been tactical positioning had evolved into a pure battle of powerhouses.
"Give it everything you have, Yukimura!"
"I'll definitely defeat you this time, Tezuka!"
They shook hands, tossed the coin, and Tezuka won the serve.
"That Sengoku's luck really is abnormal."
Yukimura shook his head helplessly. Even as a composed person, he couldn't help but complain at this moment.
At the match's opening, Tezuka displayed fierce determination and started with his Zero-Shiki Serve. Serving with the Zero-Shiki was essentially a game-breaking move. If it were a Zero-Shiki slice, Yukimura could still rush the net and return the ball before it hit the ground. But facing the Zero-Shiki serve, even sliding his racket along the court surface, Yukimura couldn't force a return of the tennis ball.
So in the first game, Tezuka won easily thanks to his devastating Zero Serve.
"Tezuka, the Zero Serve puts tremendous strain on your wrist. If you keep using it like this, especially with me deliberately targeting that weakness, can your left hand endure the entire match?"
Before the second game began, Yukimura addressed Tezuka directly.
"Thank you for the warning. I'll consider it."
Tezuka acknowledged this, gripped his racket with both hands, and waited for Yukimura's serve.
"Why did Yukimura have to warn Tezuka?"
In Rikkaidai's seating section, Marui Bunta looked confused about why Yukimura would kindly alert Tezuka to his vulnerability. Wouldn't it be better to simply target Tezuka's left hand weakness directly?
"Maybe Yukimura wants a fair fight with Tezuka."
Yanagi offered his speculation.
In the second game, Yukimura served.
Though Yukimura lacked a game-breaking move like Tezuka's Zero Serve, his ball placement control had reached unparalleled levels. Otherwise, he couldn't paralyze opponents' bodies with precise shots to achieve his Five Senses Deprivation.
Therefore, when serving, Yukimura didn't attempt a difficult return - instead, he aimed directly at Tezuka's left wrist. He intended to target Tezuka's left hand exactly as he'd warned.
Tezuka's expression remained unchanged. He simply stepped back with his right leg, swung his racket, and counterattacked.
The two exchanged shots, and Tezuka's Domain gradually began forming.
"There it is - Tezuka Domain!"
Though Conan had witnessed this technique many times, he grew excited every time he saw it. The person who created this move was truly a genius.
"Tezuka Domain? What's that?"
Anya looked at Conan with her "wise" expression.
"Tezuka Domain is an incredibly powerful technique that puts special spin on the tennis ball so that no matter how the opponent hits back, the ball gets pulled toward Tezuka!"
Conan explained excitedly to Anya.
"What does that mean?"
Compared to Conan and Ai, Anya was genuinely a "normal" child, so she didn't quite grasp Conan's explanation.
"Tezuka Domain means if you just stand still, the ball will fly right to you. It's a very energy-saving move."
Ai better understood how to communicate with a real child like Anya and immediately clarified the technique's power.
"Waaaaaaaa!"
"If you stand still, the ball flies to you!"
"Brother Gustave, Anya wants to learn this move!"
Hope gleamed in Anya's eyes as she looked at Gustave expectantly.
"Why does Anya want to learn everything she sees..."
Hearing Anya's request, Gustave felt somewhat tired. This child wanted to learn every technique she witnessed. Eventually, she might end up like someone trying to carry too many things at once - dropping everything.
"Anya, if you want to learn, that's fine, but don't try learning too many things at once. Otherwise, you won't master any of them properly."
Gustave explained patiently to Anya.
"Is that so... Then Anya has to learn, has to learn... Anya wants to learn digital tennis!"
After thinking for a long time, Anya decided on data tennis. After all, learning data tennis would make her smarter and help her assist Papa with his missions.
"It's data tennis, Anya!"
Gustave corrected her mistake and continued:
"Since Anya has decided, I'll take you to learn data tennis with Inui later."
"Thank you, Brother Gustave!"
Anya thanked him loudly with obvious delight.