King of Tennis (POT)

"Is this... Synchro?" 

Seeing the white whirlwinds emanating from their opponents, Yūshi Ōshitari's expression changed. 

Synchro! 

A technique hailed as the miracle of doubles! 

This move enhances doubles play even more than the top techniques of singles players! 

No one expected it. 

At this critical moment, Shūsuke Fuji and Eiji Kikumaru had awakened this state. 

"Amazing!" 

In contrast to the tense atmosphere on the Ice Emperor's side, the Seigaku team, after a brief moment of shock, erupted in joy. 

"Shūsuke-senpai, Eiji-senpai..." 

Momoshiro was so excited he could barely contain himself. 

Their breakthrough gave Seigaku, who had been pushed to the brink, a glimmer of hope for victory! 

"Hmph!" 

However, on the court, Mukahi's sharp gaze locked onto his opponents as he said coldly, "It's just Synchro. We only need one more point to win. You two... awakened it too late!" 

Nearby, Ōshitari nodded in agreement. 

Mukahi was right. At such a critical moment, there was no room for complacency or hesitation. Synchro merely enhances the players' existing abilities. 

No matter how strong Shūsuke and Eiji were, how much stronger could they really be? 

Thud! 

At that moment, Shūsuke served the ball. 

"Huh?" 

Mukahi, who was receiving the serve, noticed Shūsuke moving to the left after serving, while Eiji moved to the right. His eyes narrowed. "The Australian Formation? These two just won't give up!" 

Immediately, Mukahi raised his racket, aiming to hit the ball right between the two. 

Like Ōshitari, Mukahi had trained specifically to counter the Australian Formation in preparation for the finals. He was 80% confident he could pull it off. 

Thwack! 

However, when the ball bounced off the ground and collided with his racket, Mukahi's expression changed abruptly. "This power...?" 

His eyes flashed with shock and unease. 

The power behind the serve was far greater than he had anticipated. Without a second thought, Mukahi gripped his racket with both hands, using all his strength to return the ball. 

Tap tap! 

On the other side, Eiji had already turned around, dashing to intercept the ball. 

Crack! 

With a crisp sound, the ball landed on Ōshitari's backhand side, scoring a line drive. 

"15-40!" 

"Hmm." 

Looking at the mark left by the ball, Ōshitari frowned. "Not just their reaction speed, but even their control has improved?" 

Synchro! 

This mysterious state, which only Shishido and Ōtori had entered before, was something even Ōshitari, with his sharp mind, couldn't fully grasp in such a short time. 

"It's fine." 

Taking a deep breath, Ōshitari quickly calmed down. "We're still leading by two games. Even if they take this one, we still have the advantage." 

With that thought, he looked up at his opponents with a more scrutinizing gaze. 

As the match progressed, Ōshitari and Mukahi switched to a defensive strategy, fending off Seigaku's attacks while trying to gather crucial information about their opponents. 

They were determined to crack the secret of Synchro. 

"So composed!" 

On Seigaku's side, Inui couldn't help but nod in admiration. "Even at a time like this, he's still thinking from the most advantageous perspective. Ōshitari of the Ice Emperor... truly a formidable opponent." 

"Yeah." 

Next to him, Fuji nodded solemnly. 

Although he and Ōshitari shared many similar techniques and were both skilled players, their styles were completely different. 

Fuji relied on his own skills, occasionally unleashing flashes of brilliance that left audiences in awe. 

Ōshitari, on the other hand, was a player who could perfectly balance movement and stillness, achieving near-flawless execution. 

Gradually, as the score changed, Ōshitari began to piece together some clues about Synchro. 

"They're in perfect sync, moving swiftly, and their coordination is impeccable." 

Watching his opponents, Ōshitari's expression grew more serious. "Moreover, Synchro enhances their abilities. Shūsuke's speed and explosiveness have improved, while Eiji's technique and power have been amplified." 

The more he observed, the more wary Ōshitari became of Synchro. 

In a way, this state compensated for each player's weaknesses while amplifying their strengths. Combined with what seemed like a telepathic connection, there was no obvious way to break through. 

Thwack! 

At that moment, Eiji suddenly struck, scoring with a quick interception. 

"Game!" 

"Seigaku, 4-5, change sides!" 

The score had reversed. 

Seigaku's morale was soaring. 

Everyone cheered enthusiastically, while the Ice Emperor's side fell into an unusual silence. 

All eyes turned to Ōshitari. They believed in his ability to find a weakness in Synchro. 

Thwack! 

But soon, Seigaku continued their relentless assault. After a series of points, Shūsuke delivered a precise Moon Volley, landing the ball right on the baseline. 

"Game!" 

"Seigaku, 5-5!" 

"Vice-captain!" 

Having lost two consecutive games, Hiyoshi couldn't contain himself and turned to Ishikawa. "You must know the weakness of Synchro, right? Tell the seniors!" 

Whoosh! 

At those words, everyone's gaze shifted to Ishikawa. 

The Ice Emperor team looked at him with hope, while the Seigaku players tensed up. 

Everyone knew that if Ishikawa revealed the weakness of Synchro, Seigaku's chances of winning would plummet. 

"A weakness?" 

Ishikawa shook his head. "Synchro is full of flaws to me. But weaknesses and flaws are relative." 

"Huh?" 

The others looked confused, but Hiyoshi, Shishido, and the rest quickly understood, their expressions turning complex. 

"Hmph!" 

On the court, Mukahi's expression darkened. 

He couldn't understand why Ishikawa, who clearly knew the weakness of Synchro, wouldn't just say it outright. 

What was the point of speaking in riddles? 

Ōshitari, however, seemed to have an inkling of what Ishikawa meant. 

The eleventh game began with Eiji serving. 

In this state, Shūsuke at the net once again activated his zone. Under the effects of Synchro, the power of the [Shūsuke Zone] had increased significantly. 

Thwack! 

Thwack! 

Thwack! 

The match continued. 

Seigaku completely dominated the Ice Emperor. 

Mukahi gave it his all, but his weaknesses were fully exposed to Shūsuke. And with Eiji telepathically connected to Shūsuke, there was no need for any signals or gestures. Eiji quickly capitalized on Mukahi's vulnerabilities, scoring point after point. 

Thwack! 

"Game!" 

"Seigaku, 6-5, change sides!" 

In the blink of an eye, Seigaku had won three consecutive games. 

The speed of their scoring and the variety of their plays left even the top doubles pairs from other schools in awe. 

"That Ōshitari... is being suppressed to such an extent?" 

Marui and Jackal were stunned. 

Recalling how dominant Ōshitari had been during the semifinals just three days ago, and now seeing him completely overwhelmed by Seigaku's duo, they couldn't help but feel a deep respect for [Synchro]. 

This doubles technique was simply too powerful! 

At this rate, the Ice Emperor's defeat was inevitable. 

However, Ōshitari didn't give up. 

He activated his Day and Night mode, perfectly balancing movement and stillness. Fighting one against two, he struggled to hold his ground against Seigaku's Golden Pair. 

Thwack! 

Thwack! 

Thwack! 

The three of them battled fiercely. 

Mukahi, unable to keep up, wisely retreated to the baseline, covering for Ōshitari. 

Thwack! 

"0-15!" 

Thwack! 

"0-30!" 

Thwack! 

"0-40!" 

The score continued to change. 

But unlike before, it was now the Ice Emperor who was on the brink of defeat. 

Ōshitari fought desperately. 

He still hadn't given up on cracking Synchro. 

"I will... I will find their weakness!" 

Sweat pouring down his face, Ōshitari focused all his energy and concentration. His eyes locked onto his opponents, searching for any hint of a flaw. 

Whoosh! 

Suddenly, the images of his opponents seemed to magnify, as if he were examining them under a microscope. 

Eiji moved forward, Shūsuke retreated. 

The two seemed to share a telepathic connection, moving in perfect harmony without needing to communicate. 

"A telepathic connection?" 

"So if I attack one, the other will come to their aid. Fighting one against two is beyond my abilities..." 

"But!" 

Whoosh! 

Suddenly, Ōshitari's eyes snapped open, locking onto a spot to Eiji's right. 

Thwack! 

He struck the ball. 

Then, a fiery red aura erupted from his body. 

[Daylight Mode]! 

Ōshitari channeled all his remaining stamina into this explosive state. 

Then, like a tiger pouncing on its prey, he launched a fierce assault, forcing Eiji into a defensive position. But soon, Shūsuke realized his partner was in trouble and rushed to assist. 

Now fighting two against one, Eiji's pressure eased. 

However, Ōshitari had used the last of his stamina, temporarily pinning Shūsuke and Eiji to one corner of the court. 

"So strong!" 

Seeing Ōshitari holding his own against two opponents, the spectators from other schools were stunned. 

Incredible! 

This level of singles ability undoubtedly placed Ōshitari among the top national-level players! 

If this were a singles match, Ōshitari could easily overpower either Shūsuke or Eiji. 

"But... this is doubles." 

Inui adjusted his glasses and sighed softly. "In this match, he can't turn the tide alone." 

Whoosh! 

As if to confirm his words, Eiji suddenly struck, but Ōshitari seemed to freeze, watching the ball pass him by without reacting. 

"It's over." 

Momoshiro, Kaidō, and the others breathed a sigh of relief. 

Ōshitari's earlier intensity had been terrifying, giving them the impression of a ferocious gray tiger. 

But in the end, even this powerhouse from the Ice Emperor couldn't change the inevitable outcome. 

"No, wait!" 

Suddenly, as if realizing something, Inui's expression changed. "That wasn't a mistake. He let the ball pass on purpose. The one who's really returning this ball is... Mukahi!!!" 

Whoosh! 

At those words, everyone looked up to see a figure darting from the baseline—Mukahi. 

Seeing the ball coming his way, his eyes gleamed with excitement. 

During Ōshitari's earlier assault, Mukahi had picked up on a crucial signal. Sure enough, Ōshitari had lured the Golden Pair into a trap. 

Now, with Ōshitari keeping them occupied, the weakness of Synchro was laid bare before Mukahi. 

"This point... is mine!" 

Whoosh! 

With that, he swung his racket with both hands, aiming for the opponents' weak spot. 

Thwack! 

But the moment the ball connected with his racket, Mukahi's confident expression turned to shock. 

"This power... how?!" 

His eyes widened in disbelief. 

Despite Ōshitari holding his own against Shūsuke and Eiji, Mukahi felt an overwhelming force from the ball, far greater than before. 

Thud! 

In the end, his return shot hit the net. 

Whoosh... 

At the same time, Eiji's agile form leaped forward like a wildcat. 

Tap tap tap... 

The ball landed. 

The entire court fell into an eerie silence. 

"No way..." 

The Ice Emperor team stared in disbelief at the ball on the ground. No one had expected the match to end like this. 

"Sigh." 

At the front of the court, Ōshitari let out a soft sigh. 

"So... that's how it is." 

At the baseline, Mukahi, frozen in place, finally understood Ishikawa's cryptic words. 

"Ōshitari... he really could hold his own against these two in Synchro. But in the end... I was the one who dragged him down." 

With that thought, Mukahi smiled bitterly. 

He had trained as hard as he could, but he still couldn't keep up with Ōshitari. 

"Maybe..." 

Looking up at his partner, Mukahi sighed inwardly. "This is why we could never awaken Synchro." 

One was too strong. 

The other was too weak. 

Their abilities were on completely different levels. What Ōshitari could conceive, Mukahi couldn't even begin to grasp. 

Their thoughts, movements, and actions were out of sync. How could they ever hope to awaken [Synchro]? 

"Game over." 

At that moment, the referee confirmed the final point and announced, "Seigaku's Shūsuke Fuji and Eiji Kikumaru win, 7-5!" 

"Woohoo!!!" 

Seigaku erupted in cheers, celebrating their come-from-behind victory. 

"Shūsuke, Eiji, thank you." 

On the bench, Coach Ryūzaki said with emotion, "You two have shown us the infinite possibilities of doubles." 

Against all odds, Seigaku had seized their last chance for victory. 

But... it was only by a hair's breadth! 

"Hmm." 

With that thought, Ryūzaki's gaze shifted to the Ice Emperor's side, landing on the handsome, black-haired boy. 

"Next up, the singles 1 match will begin." 

The announcer's voice echoed through the stadium. "Ice Emperor's Ishikawa Shin versus Seigaku's Ryōma Echizen. Both players, please prepare!" 

Whoosh! 

As the announcement ended, the entire stadium fell into complete silence! 

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