From the sidelines, Sanada watched Yukimura walk off the court with a bitter smile. He still couldn't believe it. The one he'd been chasing since childhood had just lost. And not to anyone—but to someone their own age.
"Yukimura, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Just drained mentally. But Sanada, looks like we really underestimated the others. We were too arrogant. I guess this loss is a lesson for us."
"Yeah... no doubt about that. Once we're in middle school, we'll train even harder. We'll definitely meet them again. And next time, we won't lose!"
After speaking, the two of them couldn't help but glance toward Akashi and Tezuka. Their eyes showed frustration and refusal to accept defeat. Then they turned to head for the resting area.
With that, both semifinals of the Tokyo Youth Tennis Open came to an end. The finals were scheduled for the afternoon. The impact of these two matches on the audience was massive. Many felt it was absolutely worth the trip. Seeing this tournament gave them a glimpse of the future of tennis in Japan.
Time flew by, and soon the lunch break ended. The finals that everyone had been waiting for were about to begin. The crowd buzzed with excitement. Yukimura and Sanada were also seated in the stands, waiting to witness the clash between their destined rivals.
After resting, both Akashi and Tezuka had fully recovered and adjusted their conditions. They stood on opposite ends of the court, waiting for the referee to signal the start.
"The final match of the Tokyo Youth Tennis Open is about to begin! Akashi Seijurō and Tezuka Kunimitsu, please enter the court!"
At the sound of the announcement, Akashi and Tezuka walked onto the court with their rackets. Akashi still wore his white jacket. Tezuka stood across from him, face calm. Even after seeing Akashi's outfit, he said nothing.
"Coin toss!"
"Front," Akashi said quietly.
"Then I'll go with back," Tezuka replied without hesitation.
"Tezuka Kunimitsu will serve first! The match begins!"
Tezuka took a ball from his pocket, tapped it against his racket a few times to check the bounce, then tossed it high. With a sharp sound, the ball flew over the net into Akashi's court. Akashi didn't hesitate. He read the bounce instantly, moved fast, and sent the ball back.
The two began their rally with textbook strokes.
Sharp angles, drop shots, lobs, half volleys, net approaches—one technique after another dazzled the crowd. Even Yukimura and Sanada couldn't help but praise what they saw.
But even with all of Tezuka's skills, the gap in their base stats—and especially the cheat-like Emperor Eye—soon showed. He started to feel overwhelmed and Akashi took the first point.
"0-15"
Tezuka showed no change in expression after the point. He silently walked back to the baseline to prepare his next serve. He had expected this. After all, during the match between Akashi and Yukimura, he saw how tightly Akashi controlled the game. But even so, he didn't want to abandon the battle of fundamentals so soon.
After the next serve, the match got even more intense. Tezuka read one of Akashi's returns and rushed the net. He lifted his racket behind him and sliced down lightly. The ball flew with intense spin, drifting slowly over the net and heading to the front of Akashi's court.
But the moment Tezuka began that movement, Emperor Eye picked it up. Akashi saw a subtle shift in Tezuka's swing. The angle of his racket had dropped 3 millimeters lower than a normal drop shot. That could only mean one thing—Zero Shiki Drop.
Countering it was simple. Just don't let the ball hit the ground.
Akashi dashed forward at high speed, trailing a faint afterimage behind him. Just before the ball landed, he scooped it up and smashed it back toward Tezuka's baseline.
Tezuka sprinted after it, surprised. He hadn't expected his Zero Shiki Drop to be read and broken so easily. Caught off guard, he couldn't reach it in time. The ball flew past the baseline.
"0-30"
Tezuka steadied his breath and served again. He tried everything to find a weakness in Akashi and earn a point. But it was all in vain. With the Emperor Eye in effect, no matter what Tezuka did, Akashi predicted it. On top of that, the difference in their five core attributes meant Akashi steadily held the upper hand.
"0-40"
"Game! Akashi Seijurō! 1-0!"
As the first game ended, loud applause erupted from the stands. Everyone was clapping for the brilliant play between these two boys. For tennis fans, this match between Akashi and Tezuka was a feast for the eyes.
"That Akashi kid's fundamentals are insane. It's like he can return any shot!"
"Right? I felt the same way watching his match this morning. It's like he always controls the match."
"Don't jump the gun. Tezuka hasn't even gotten serious yet. Think about those outrageous moves of his. I don't believe any kid their age can handle that."
The spectators buzzed with conversation—some rooting for Akashi, convinced he had full control. Others backed Tezuka, believing in his professional-level skills. Even Yukimura and Sanada were deep in discussion.
"Sanada, it looks like Tezuka's basic tennis isn't beneath mine. But he still can't hold off Akashi. That feeling of being completely seen through… I still can't shake it."
"Yukimura, I admit both of them are stronger than I am right now. But I've decided. I'm doubling my daily training starting tomorrow. No matter what, I'll beat them. I won't slack off!"
"Yeah… let's push ourselves. For our dreams!"
Meanwhile, it was Akashi's turn to serve. Standing behind the baseline, he paused for a moment. He was debating whether to start using more of his real power to end the match quickly. At the same time, he hesitated—concerned it might crush Tezuka's spirit too soon. But then he shook his head.
'With Tezuka's mindset, there's no way he'd crumble from one defeat. Alright then. I'll let him feel the brutal truth of absolute strength. Better he learns it now than be ruined by Seishun Academy later!'
With that thought, Akashi stopped hesitating. He tossed the ball high and used a powerful wrist motion to slice downward on the toss. The serve gained insane spin and cut sharply. The ball flew over the net, and Tezuka quickly moved to intercept it. But as soon as it hit the ground, it spun like crazy and barely bounced. It skimmed across the surface and shot out past the baseline.
"Ace! 15-0"
"Tezuka, enough with these boring tests. Show me your full strength. Your loss is certain, but at least you won't have regrets, right?"
"That's a good serve. What do you call it?" Tezuka ignored the tone and calmly asked.
"Tannhauser Serve."
"Tannhauser, huh? Good name. Then let's go all out."
Seeing Tezuka stay calm even after witnessing the Tannhauser Serve, Akashi nodded quietly. 'That's the Tezuka Kunimitsu I remember—confident, calm, and strong.'
"Since I was young, I've never lost at anything. And I never will. Tezuka Kunimitsu, get ready to taste defeat!"
With that, Akashi served again—another Tannhauser Serve. The ball crossed the net and once again barely bounced. It sped forward just above the surface. Even Tezuka couldn't counter it in time. He could only watch as it flew past the baseline again.
"Ace! 30-0"
"Ace! 40-0"
"Game! Akashi Seijurō! 2-0!"
Four consecutive Tannhauser Serves let Akashi secure his service game easily. Tezuka had no way to respond. But at that moment, the energy around Tezuka suddenly shifted. This loss made him realize just how powerful and terrifying Akashi truly was. He knew now—he had to go all out if he wanted any chance of taking the championship.