King of Tennis (POT)

"Fuji-senpai, he actually..." 

Seeing Fuji lose two consecutive games, the Seigaku team's expressions turned grim. 

As Seigaku's genius, Fuji had always been the team's second-in-command, his singles prowess second only to Tezuka's. In the eyes of everyone, including Coach Ryuzaki, Fuji was the most likely candidate to secure a victory after Tezuka. 

But the current situation was worrying. Would Seigaku suffer two consecutive losses? 

Thud! Thud! Thud! 

At the baseline, Fuji gently tapped the tennis ball. 

Losing two games had indeed affected his mindset. However, recalling the crushing defeat during the prefectural tournament, he quickly regained his composure. 

Yes, Akutsu was strong. 

But wasn't this exactly what Fuji wanted? A powerful opponent to test the progress he had made over this period. Ordinary national-level players couldn't even spark Fuji's fighting spirit. A top-tier player like Akutsu was the perfect whetstone to sharpen his skills. 

Whoosh! 

With that thought, Fuji tossed the ball into the air, rose onto his toes, and swung his racket with precision. 

Crack! 

The ball shot forward like a bullet. 

Whoosh! Whoosh! 

As if by coincidence, a gust of wind swept across the court, causing the net to sway. The ball, flying over the net, descended sharply toward the service line. 

Sizzle... 

The ball landed, spinning fiercely before suddenly accelerating to one side. 

"Hmph, boring tricks!" Akutsu sneered, swiftly swinging his racket and smashing the ball toward Fuji's backhand corner. 

The shot was clean and decisive, showcasing Akutsu's formidable physical prowess. 

Thud! Thud! 

On the other side, Fuji chased after the ball. He had been diligently working on improving his speed. After all, if he couldn't even reach the ball, there was no question of returning it. 

Crack! 

Fuji swung his racket, tilting it so the edge made contact with the ball. He then leveled the racket, allowing the ball to accelerate as it rubbed against the strings. As the ball reached the other edge, Fuji quickly twisted the racket, causing the ball to roll upward. Simultaneously, he adjusted his grip, ensuring the ball continued to spin against the racket. 

Whoosh! 

When the ball made contact with the edge a second time, Fuji flicked his wrist, sending the ball slicing across the court. 

"This is..." 

Seeing the ball's trajectory, the Hyotei team members seemed to recall something, their eyes filled with doubt. 

"Oshitari," Hiyoshi frowned, "if I remember correctly, this is the fourth counter Fuji developed during his match with Ishikawa, right?" 

"Useless!" Mukahi shook his head. "Ordinary counters won't work against Akutsu!" 

Phoenix Return, Kirin Drop, White Dragon... No matter how Fuji's techniques evolved, Akutsu's sheer physical strength allowed him to overpower any finesse, rendering Fuji's tricks ineffective. 

Thud! Thud! 

Sure enough, Akutsu dashed forward, catching up to the ball. He raised his racket and smashed it back without hesitation. 

As he returned the shot, Akutsu's eyes gleamed coldly. "Fuji, if this is all you've got, you're really disappointing me!" 

Boom! 

With a loud crack, Fuji's return was effortlessly blasted back by Akutsu. 

"Is that it?" Mukahi chuckled dismissively. "If this is all the so-called 'genius of Seigaku' has to offer, it's a bit overhyped, don't you think?" 

Thud! 

But as soon as he finished speaking, the ball hit the net. 

"15-0!" 

The umpire announced the score, and the court fell silent. 

"The fourth counter... Hundred-Handed Giant's Guard!" Fuji declared, holding his racket with one hand, his usually calm eyes now sharp and focused on Akutsu. "Your returns... will never make it over the net." 

Never make it over the net? The audience was stunned. Was this Seigaku player really that arrogant? 

"Interesting," Atobe mused from the Hyotei side, raising an eyebrow. "By utilizing the friction on both sides of the racket and adding his own unique spin, he's created a double-spin effect, hasn't he?" 

The others also looked intrigued. They remembered Fuji using this move during the prefectural tournament. Back then, Ishikawa had easily countered it, leading many to believe it wasn't particularly powerful. But now, it seemed the counter wasn't weak—it was just that Ishikawa had been too strong! 

"Hmph!" Akutsu, recalling the same match, snorted coldly. 

Then, he adopted a serious stance. But instead of launching a fierce attack as before, he simply returned Fuji's serve. 

"This shot...?" Some Seigaku members were puzzled, but Inui quickly realized what was happening. "He's planning to break Fuji's counter head-on, isn't he?" 

Boom! 

In the next moment, Fuji executed the Hundred-Handed Giant's Guard again. Akutsu, already prepared, moved swiftly, angling his racket to send the ball flying. 

Whoosh! 

A faint yellow streak shot across the court. 

But to everyone's astonishment, the ball's trajectory visibly shifted, ultimately crashing into the net. 

Thud! 

The ball was trapped like a fly in a spider's web. 

"30-0!" 

"Tch." Akutsu clicked his tongue in frustration but quickly reset his stance, returning Fuji's serve once more. When Fuji used his fourth counter again, Akutsu attempted to break it but failed once more. 

Thud! 

The ball hit the net again. 

"40-0!" 

"I don't believe this!" Akutsu's anger flared, his eyes narrowing with determination. 

Boom! 

When Fuji executed the Hundred-Handed Giant's Guard once more, Akutsu slammed the ball high into the air. 

"This shot..." Everyone's eyes widened as the ball rocketed upward. 

Mukahi smirked. "This one's definitely going over, right?" 

Whoosh! 

But as soon as he spoke, the ball suddenly changed direction, plummeting straight into the net. 

Thud! 

The crowd was stunned. 

"Game! Seigaku Fuji, 1-2! Change sides!" 

"What the hell?!" Mukahi shivered, unnerved by the bizarre scene. 

"Looks like this technique can't be countered with ordinary returns," Oshitari remarked, shaking his head. 

"A near-impenetrable defense, huh?" Shishido nodded thoughtfully. "This Seigaku genius is no ordinary player." 

During the prefectural tournament, Fuji had suffered a crushing defeat—not because he was weak, but because Ishikawa was simply too strong. After all, every player who faced Ishikawa, including the "Child of God," had been utterly defeated. 

And Akutsu was no ordinary player either. Seeing him struggle against this counter only highlighted how formidable Ishikawa truly was. 

Boom! 

In the fourth game, Akutsu served. Hearing the murmurs from the sidelines, his expression turned icy. But now, he had calmed down. 

Fuji's technique clearly countered non-technical players. If he continued to charge in like a bull, he'd only become a laughingstock. Besides, Akutsu was far from simple-minded. 

"If it's a double spin..." A thought struck him. As he swung his racket, he subtly flicked his wrist. 

Sizzle... 

This shot lacked the previous power, but on Seigaku's side, Tezuka and Inui's expressions changed. 

Whoosh! 

The ball flew low over the net. 

Boom! 

Before Fuji could react, it landed in his court. 

"15-0!" 

"Only one game of advantage?" Fuji's eyes narrowed as he watched Akutsu break his technique. 

He had never believed his counter could maintain an advantage indefinitely. After all, Akutsu hadn't even entered his first transformation yet. But being broken so quickly made Fuji anxious. 

After all, Akutsu was a top-tier player who had defeated Rikkai's Sanada. The pressure was undeniable. 

Boom! 

Akutsu served again, and Fuji responded with his fourth counter, this time adding even more spin. The double friction created an intense rotation, making the ball gleam as if coated in light. 

"Hmph!" Akutsu snorted, smashing the ball back with force. 

Whoosh! 

Under the watchful eyes of the Seigaku team, the ball sailed over the net once more. 

Momoshiro clenched his fist, his expression conflicted. "Fuji-senpai's fourth counter has been completely broken." 

Thud! Thud! 

But this time, Fuji was prepared. He dashed to the ball's landing spot, swung his racket, and attempted to execute his technique again. 

Boom! 

However, the moment the ball met his racket, Fuji's expression changed. 

"This power..." Feeling the immense force transmitted through the racket, Fuji didn't hesitate. He quickly brought his other hand to the racket, gripping it with both hands to return the shot. 

Boom! 

But Akutsu, already at the net, smashed the ball down without mercy. 

Thud! 

The ball landed like a cannonball. 

"30-0!" 

"Hmm." Inui's expression turned grave. "If I'm not mistaken, Akutsu is now using a deeper level of tennis—what's known as 'profound tennis.'" 

"Surface and inner layers?" Oishi realized. He was familiar with Ishikawa's theories on tennis, but as someone still at the surface level, he couldn't fully grasp them. 

"Tezuka's Supreme Domain is a form of profound tennis, right?" Kikumaru asked. 

"Yes," Inui nodded. "The Supreme Domain unifies two types of spin. In Seigaku, only Tezuka, with his exceptional slicing skills, has mastered it." 

"From what I've heard," Kaido added, "Akutsu's profound tennis combines power and spin to create a unique effect." 

"Exactly," Inui agreed. "During the national semifinals, Akutsu used this technique to break Sanada's 'Forest.'" 

"A technique that counters skill-based players?" The Seigaku members' expressions darkened. 

Fuji was the epitome of a technical player. His reputation as a genius was built on his elegant and varied techniques. Without his skills, Fuji was effectively disarmed. 

"Profound tennis, huh?" On the court, Fuji fell into deep thought. 

But then, he looked up, his gaze locking onto Akutsu. 

His match with Ishikawa had taught him that no matter how strong the opponent, he couldn't afford to be intimidated. Facing a powerful adversary head-on was the only way to find a chance at victory. 

Boom! Thud! Boom! 

The match continued. 

Akutsu pressed the attack, while Fuji shifted to defense. Against Akutsu's profound shots, Fuji was at a severe disadvantage. 

Boom! 

"Game! Hyotei Akutsu, 3-1!" 

In no time, Akutsu had secured another game. Fuji, on the other hand, struggled to keep up. 

"This isn't even a fair match," Sanada remarked from Rikkai's side, crossing his arms. "That Seigaku genius is, at best, a low-tier national-level player." 

"Fuji, huh?" Yukimura smiled slightly, his gaze resting on the brown-haired boy. "I think his potential might be greater than that." 

Boom! Thud! Boom! 

But as the match progressed, it seemed to prove Yukimura wrong. Fuji still couldn't find a way to counter Akutsu's attacks. As time went on, he was on the verge of losing his serve. 

"If profound tennis refers to the internal spin or power of the ball..." Through continuous exchanges, Fuji began to piece things together. 

Watching the ball fly toward him, Fuji's eyes snapped open, and he swung his racket with renewed focus. 

Boom! 

The ball slammed into Fuji's racket, the impact nearly forcing it down. But to everyone's surprise, Fuji held firm with one hand. 

Whoosh! 

With a flick of his wrist, Fuji sent the ball spinning back. 

Thud! Thud! 

But Akutsu charged forward, raising his racket for a smash. 

Boom! 

The ball landed in Fuji's backhand corner. 

"It's over!" Kachiro scratched his head in frustration. "Akutsu's too strong! Fuji-senpai can't stop him!" 

Whoosh! 

But to everyone's amazement, the ball suddenly curved back toward Fuji, who chased it down and returned it. 

"Is that... Tezuka's Zone?" The Seigaku team was stunned. 

The ball's spin resembled Tezuka's Zone, but Tezuka, Echizen, and Inui seemed to realize something more. 

Boom! Thud! Boom! Thud! 

On the court, Fuji, who had been on the back foot, now held his ground, matching Akutsu shot for shot. 

"No way!" Hiyoshi exclaimed in disbelief. "Just by using the Zone, he's countering Akutsu's profound shots?" 

"It's not that simple," Atobe said, watching Fuji return another shot. "This Seigaku genius has cleverly applied a unique spin to neutralize Akutsu's power." 

"Exactly," Ishikawa added with a smile. "His technique is ingenious. To adapt and create such a skill on the fly—he truly is a tennis genius." 

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