Nanjirou's calculations were, of course, unknown to Ishikawa.
At this moment, Ishikawa was intently observing Fuji, who was rapidly evolving.
"Not bad," Ishikawa thought to himself, nodding slightly as he noticed Fuji's movements becoming increasingly unpredictable. "As expected of a tennis prodigy whose talent ranks among the top in the original story!"
In the original story, Fuji had undoubtedly secured a place among the nation's elite during the national tournament. And by the time of the U-17 World Cup, he had surpassed his own limits, developing a series of stunning techniques.
Now, under the immense pressure Ishikawa had brought to bear, it was only natural that Fuji's abilities were undergoing a transformation.
"He's caught up in speed," commented Tachibana, who had lost to Ishikawa just the previous week, nodding in approval. "Now it's a matter of skill."
Tachibana attributed his loss to Ishikawa to his own lack of technical refinement. If it had been his former partner and close friend, Chitose Senri, from their days in Kyushu, the outcome might have been different. After all, tennis wasn't just about raw power and speed—it was also about the interplay of different playing styles.
An evolved Fuji might still have a chance at victory.
"But," Kamio, one of Tachibana's teammates, couldn't help interjecting, "Tachibana-senpai, Fuji-senpai's Triple Counters have already been completely neutralized!"
Ibu and Ishida nodded in agreement. In their eyes, without the Triple Counters as his trump card, Fuji's chances of turning the tide in this match, especially with such a significant score deficit, were slim to none.
*Thud!*
At that moment, Fuji suddenly made his move.
To the surprise of the onlookers, he sent the ball soaring high into the air once again.
"Is that... White Whale?!"
Realizing Fuji was attempting his signature move again, the crowd's expressions shifted. Meanwhile, the Seigaku team members couldn't help but feel a pang of anxiety. Fuji's Triple Counters held no secrets from Ishikawa anymore.
*Whoosh!*
As the ball reached its peak, it suddenly accelerated downward.
"It's coming!"
The Hyotei team members perked up. They remembered all too well how easily Ishikawa had dismantled this move earlier.
"Heh."
Seeing the confident looks on the Hyotei players' faces, Fuji couldn't help but smile. "This shot is completely different from before."
*Tap, tap!*
But just then, Ishikawa, who had been positioned near the net, suddenly retreated to the back of the court.
"Huh?"
The Hyotei team was baffled.
Even the Seigaku players looked puzzled.
Only Fuji, upon seeing Ishikawa's movement, felt his smile freeze.
*Thud!*
The ball landed and began spinning fiercely on the ground.
Once it had built up enough momentum, it rebounded. However, instead of flying back toward Fuji as everyone expected, this time, the White Whale shot veered off the court.
*Swish!*
But just as the ball began to rise, a flash of silver light erupted.
*Crack!*
A crisp sound followed.
Fuji's newly evolved technique—White Dragon, which he hadn't even had time to name—was effortlessly returned by Ishikawa.
"15-0!"
"H-how is this possible?" Horio and the others were stunned.
"Didn't they say Fuji-senpai's new form could avoid being read and predicted?"
"There's no such thing as a flawless technique," Inui said gravely. "Besides, Fuji's intent with that shot was too obvious. It's only natural Ishikawa saw through it."
This was the most logical explanation. But for the Seigaku team, who had just begun to feel a glimmer of hope, it was hard to accept.
"It's not as bad as it seems," Echizen chimed in. "Look at Fuji-senpai's eyes. They're completely different from before."
"Hm?"
The others instinctively turned to look.
Sure enough, Fuji's eyes now radiated a cold, steely determination that was almost intimidating.
"He's finally awakened, Fuji Syusuke," said Mizuki from St. Rudolph with a smile.
He knew better than anyone how formidable Fuji was in this state. Back in their match, Mizuki had also been leading 5-0. But when Fuji's eyes took on that look, no amount of advantage could save him.
*Thud!*
Ishikawa served again.
Fuji, in his return, added a heavy underspin to the ball.
"Oh?"
The crowd began to speculate. "Is he going for that shot again?"
*Thud!*
*Thud!*
*Thud!*
After several exchanges, Fuji, having kept the ball low, finally saw his chance when Ishikawa returned with a topspin.
*Thud!*
With a sharp, downward slice of his racket, Fuji struck the ball with incredible speed. The intense friction caused the ball to shoot forward even faster than before.
"Triple Counter: Phoenix Return!"
Fuji's eyes burned with confidence.
This evolved version of his technique was faster and hugged the ground even more closely. There was no way his opponent could counter it like before.
*Thud!*
But just as that thought crossed Fuji's mind, Ishikawa once again swung his racket with ease, effortlessly smashing the evolved Phoenix Return back.
*Crack!*
"30-0!"
"Not bad. Your level has definitely improved," Ishikawa remarked approvingly.
However, compared to Tezuka's Zero-Shiki Serve from the original story, Fuji's Phoenix Return still fell short. And even the Zero-Shiki Serve had been broken by Yukimura during the World Cup, proving that no technique was truly invincible.
Of course, Ishikawa's current overall strength didn't match Yukimura's during the World Cup. But by the same token, Fuji was nowhere near the level of Tezuka, who had unlocked the Door of Muga and the Supreme Zone.
"Even the Phoenix Return was...?"
For a brief moment, Fuji felt a flicker of panic. But he quickly regained his composure.
His opponent was strong—incredibly strong.
Fuji reminded himself that even his evolved techniques might not be enough to threaten this formidable foe.
But he also knew that in moments like these, maintaining a calm and focused mindset was crucial.
"Not bad," Nanjirou, watching from the sidelines, nodded in satisfaction. "He hasn't lost confidence despite the strength of his opponent. This kid has found his path."
He was eager to see what kind of spectacular plays this Seigaku prodigy could produce, especially with only two points left to turn the tide.
*Thud!*
The third point began with Ishikawa's serve. Fuji hesitated for a moment before swiftly countering.
After several exchanges...
Still unwilling to accept defeat, Fuji finally decided to hit a high lob.
"A high lob?"
"Is this the Giant Bear Counter?"
"No, definitely not. Just like the last two shots, this return is definitely not the original Giant Bear Counter!"
The crowd buzzed with speculation.
Meanwhile, the members of the Hyotei team wore serious expressions.
Yes, Fuji was being completely suppressed by Ishikawa.
But that didn't mean they had the right to look down on him, let alone mock him. After all, even Hyotei's top players, like Jirou, Shishido, and Hiyoshi, had all been crushed by Ishikawa at some point.
Only Fuji.
Even in the face of such a hopeless situation, he still managed to unleash such astonishing potential.
For most people, any thought of underestimating this genius from Seigaku had completely vanished.
"An upgraded version of the Giant Bear Counter?"
Jirou, watching Fuji's serious and cold expression, couldn't help but feel a strong sense of curiosity.
*Swish!*
And then, as expected, Ishikawa leaped into the air.
"A more powerful Kirin Drop?"
Seeing Fuji's confident demeanor, a faint smile flashed in Ishikawa's eyes. Preparing for a smash, he channeled his kendo techniques, infusing the shot with even more force than usual.
*Bang!*
A loud explosion echoed as the tennis ball shot down like a cannonball.
*Swish!*
Seeing this, Fuji decisively turned his back. But unlike during the Giant Bear Counter, he switched to a two-handed grip, using his "Heart's Eye" ability to judge the ball's trajectory, completely avoiding the risk of having his racket handle hit again.
*Thud!*
However, the moment the ball landed on Fuji's racket, a look of pain flashed across his handsome face.
Heavy!
Too heavy!
The power of this smash was at least twice as strong as the one that had broken his Giant Bear Counter earlier!
*Clatter!*
In the next instant, to everyone's shock, Fuji's racket was knocked clean out of his hand.
*Clang!*
The unstoppable smash hit the wire fence, leaving a fist-sized dent.
"Whoa!!"
Spectators nearby instinctively stepped back in fear.
As for the others, they all looked at the black-haired boy who had landed steadily on the court with a mix of awe and respect.
"He's still holding back!"
Inui's expression was grave.
Unlike the others, even after Fuji's evolution, he had never thought the match would change so easily.
And he was right.
Ishikawa had never been truly serious from the start. Inui even suspected that Ishikawa might be wearing lead weights on his ankles, just like Shishido and the others.
*Sigh...*
Meanwhile, Fuji picked up his racket and let out a deep breath.
The strings of his racket had been partially torn apart by the smash.
There was no choice.
He had to switch to a backup racket.
"Fuji-senpai..."
Watching Fuji step back onto the court with unwavering determination, the Seigaku team felt as though they were witnessing a lone warrior facing an unwinnable battle, yet choosing to press forward without hesitation.
"Fuji-kun."
Kikumaru and Oishi sighed softly.
This was a match with no chance of victory. Even though Fuji had achieved a personal breakthrough, he still couldn't score a single point against his opponent.
Ishikawa Shin... this first-year from Hyotei was simply too strong!
"Hmm?"
Meanwhile, Nanjiroh, who had been observing quietly, seemed to notice something. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. "Judging by his expression, it seems he still has another card up his sleeve? Interesting. This genius from Seigaku is truly bold!"
However, Nanjiroh was somewhat mistaken.
It wasn't that Fuji hadn't revealed his hidden card yet. In fact, it was only in the moment when Ishikawa had knocked the racket out of his hand that Fuji had finally grasped that flash of inspiration.
*Boom!*
Ishikawa served again.
This time, Fuji was more proactive. After returning the ball, he quickly moved to the center of the court.
*Boom!*
*Boom!*
*Boom!*
He continuously adjusted the angle of his racket, getting used to the feel of the backup. When Fuji felt the timing was right, he finally made his move.
*Swish!*
Suddenly, a silver glint flashed.
Fuji's racket perfectly caught the ball Ishikawa had sent over.
*Sizzle...*
Then, he leveled the racket but kept it at a slight angle, allowing the ball to roll and spin rapidly on the strings.
*Whoosh!*
Just when everyone thought the move was over, Fuji suddenly flipped the racket, using the backside to further accelerate the ball's spin.
*Swish!*
Finally, with a calm flick of his wrist, Fuji sent the ball flying.
"My fourth counter..."
Fuji said calmly as he watched the ball soar, "Hundred-Armed Giant's Guard."
"H-Hundred-Armed Giant?"
Kachiro and the others looked utterly confused.
Inui and the rest of the team were equally puzzled, curious about what special effect Fuji's fourth counter might have.
"This ball..."
Fuji said with a smile as he watched Ishikawa prepare to return it, "is impossible to—"
"Impossible to clear the net, right?"
But before Fuji could finish, Ishikawa interrupted him. Raising his racket, Ishikawa faced Fuji's fourth counter and said with a grin, "Senpai, that's what you were going to say, wasn't it?"
What?!
In an instant, Fuji's pupils contracted sharply.
"How does he know?"
This was a move he had just come up with, using the friction of both sides of the racket to create a unique shot.
How could Ishikawa possibly know about it?
Could he read minds?
At that moment, Fuji, who had just found his path and regained his composure, felt as though a tidal wave had crashed over him.
"No, it's impossible."
Fuji narrowed his eyes. "My fourth counter is absolutely impossible to clear the net. No matter how skilled he is, he can't possibly do it."
But then, as the ball came within a meter of him, Ishikawa, holding his racket with one hand, flashed a sharp glint in his eyes. "This final shot will let you truly experience my tennis, senpai."
*Swish!*
With those words, Ishikawa's racket came down like a thunderbolt, striking with incredible speed.
*Bang!*
A loud explosion echoed.
In the blink of an eye, the ball transformed into a streak of blue-purple lightning, shooting across the court.
"It cleared the net?!"
The Seigaku team was stunned.
No one had expected Fuji's fourth counter to be broken the moment it was created.
Even Fuji himself felt as though his world had been turned upside down.
"No!"
"It's not over yet!"
Seeing the ball heading straight for his right side, Fuji's fighting spirit flared. He swung his racket with all his might, determined to return the shot.
*Boom!*
But the moment the ball made contact with his racket, Fuji felt as though a thunderclap had exploded in his ears. At the same time, an overwhelming force erupted, giving Fuji no time to react.
His racket was sent flying.
*Crash!*
The ball, still carrying immense momentum, tore through the wire fence behind Fuji and, along with the racket, slammed into a tree trunk several meters away.
*Sizzle...*
The ball continued to spin violently against the tree, refusing to stop.
Meanwhile, Fuji's racket, now twisted and nearly destroyed, was deeply embedded in the trunk.
For a moment, the entire court fell into dead silence.
---
(End of chapter.)