Boom!
"Game!"
"Hyotei's Ishikawa, 1-0. Change sides!"
A moment later, the referee announced the score.
Ishikawa had taken the first game.
"How… how is this possible?"
The Rikkai team was stunned. They never expected their seemingly invincible captain, Yukimura, to be completely outclassed in terms of tennis technique.
Swish!
Ishikawa's return shot swept across the court like a whip. The powerful spin shot landed precisely near the baseline and kicked off with intense force.
Tap! Tap!
Yukimura rushed to save the ball, but as he desperately flicked it back, Ishikawa, already prepared, leaped into the air and finished the point with a smash.
Boom!
"0-15!"
"No way…"
Kikumaru's eyes widened. "Even on Yukimura-senpai's serve, he can't score a point?"
This was too much.
This was Yukimura's serve game. By all logic, the momentum should have been on his side.
Yet, Ishikawa from Hyotei had firmly seized control of the match!
"His insight is incredible," Yukimura thought as he lightly bounced the ball at the baseline. "Whether it's speed, power, or spin technique, he's exceptional. If I keep defending passively, I'll only fall further behind. Waiting for him to make a mistake is wishful thinking!"
Boom!
Having made up his mind, Yukimura served the ball.
With his decisiveness and ability to act, he immediately shifted to an aggressive stance.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Yukimura launched a relentless offensive, one shot after another, his attacks flowing seamlessly. Ishikawa seemed to have no chance to counter.
Tap!
Perhaps due to the constant pressure, Ishikawa's form faltered, and he hit a high ball.
Yukimura seized the opportunity, leaping into the air and smashing the ball down with perfect precision.
Boom!
The crowd held their breath as the ball rocketed toward the court.
"Beautiful!"
The Rikkai team was about to cheer when—
Swish!
A gray figure turned his back to the smash, crouched low, and swung his racket forward. With a crisp boom, the smash was perfectly deflected.
"Bear Hunt?!"
The Rikkai team's expressions changed dramatically.
"Wow!"
Shiraishi, Chitose, and Tachibana were equally stunned. This return was flawless in every way—timing, angle, and control. It was a masterclass in tennis!
Swish!
What was even more astonishing was that Ishikawa'sBear Hunt was different from Fuji's or Mitsui's. As the ball flew over Yukimura's head, it accelerated its spin mid-air.
Tap!
When it landed, it hugged the ground, spinning rapidly.
"This spin…"
Yukimura, who had just landed and turned to chase the ball, seemed to realize something, his expression shifting slightly.
Sizzle…
To the audience's amazement, the ball came to a complete stop after spinning, remaining motionless on the ground.
"0-30!"
The referee's voice broke the silence.
The crowd was utterly speechless.
Those who had doubted Hyotei's decision, believing Ishikawa stood no chance against Yukimura, now stared in stunned silence at the ball resting on the baseline.
"This technique…"
Yanagi took a deep breath, his expression grave. "The same move, but in his hands, it's on a completely different level!"
This was true for Exploding Dance and now Bear Hunt.
Ishikawa's understanding of tennis techniques wasn't just beyond other middle schoolers—it seemed to surpass even Yukimura's!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The third point began.
Yukimura continued his aggressive strategy. After Ishikawa scored with his special move, Yukimura became even more convinced of his approach.
Against an opponent like this, he had to maintain a fast pace and keep control of the match's rhythm.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
But as Ishikawa continued to use precise volleys, Yukimura's initial advantage from serving began to fade.
Boom!
Suddenly, Ishikawa struck.
With a level of skill that defied understanding, he sent the ball to Yukimura's backhand, completely outmaneuvering him.
"0-40!"
"Again!"
Sanada's expression grew even more serious.
Half-volleys, volleys—these seemingly ordinary techniques became devastating in Ishikawa's hands. It was as if he had the ability to turn the mundane into the extraordinary.
Even the simplest shots became terrifyingly effective when he used them!
Tap!
Under the stunned gazes of the crowd, Ishikawa knocked Yukimura's racket out of his hand, then leaped into the air and smashed the ball down.
Boom!
"Game!"
"Hyotei's Ishikawa, 2-0!"
"Destruction's Waltz?!"
The Rikkai team was dumbfounded.
No one expected Ishikawa to successfully use a move like this, which was essentially created for show, to knock Yukimura's racket out of his hand.
"His techniques are unbelievably strong."
Yukimura, bending down to pick up his racket, felt a wave of indescribable shock.
Just moments ago, when Ishikawa had hit the ball, he thought it was a standard drive. But the ball's trajectory was unpredictable, completely beyond his expectations.
Otherwise, with Yukimura's insight and skill, there was no way his racket would have been knocked away.
"Hmm."
Outside the court, Atobe's eyes gleamed with interest.
Even he, the creator of Destruction's Waltz, hadn't imagined the move could be used like this!
Ishikawa's wrist and racket had given the technique a whole new dimension!
For everyone else, the match only deepened their awe of Ishikawa. These two games made it clear that while both players were considered to be above other middle schoolers, there was a clear difference in their levels.
Ishikawa was clearly stronger!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
As the match continued, Ishikawa maintained his dominance, scoring point after point. The one-sided nature of the game left the audience in awe and the Rikkai team increasingly anxious.
Boom!
"Game!"
"Hyotei's Ishikawa, 3-0!"
Boom!
"Game!"
"Hyotei's Ishikawa, 4-0!"
In what felt like no time, Ishikawa had won two more games, leading 4-0.
Such a large gap left the Rikkai team feeling hopeless, while the Hyotei team cheered, sensing victory was within reach.
"Hyotei will win! Ishikawa will win!"
"Hyotei will win! Ishikawa will win!"
"Hyotei will win! Ishikawa will win!"
The cheers echoed throughout the stadium.
Meanwhile, the Rikkai side was tense, the atmosphere heavy with pressure. Kikumaru, sitting in the coach's seat, was sweating profusely, his breathing uneven.
Tap!
Tap!
Tap!
At the baseline, Ishikawa lightly bounced the ball.
With a commanding lead, he glanced at Yukimura, who was visibly sweating and breathing heavily.
Boom!
He served the ball.
Tap! Tap!
On the other side, Yukimura moved quickly.
Despite being at a severe disadvantage, he forced himself to stay calm. However, his body, facing such a formidable opponent, was beginning to betray him.
Boom!
He returned the ball, taking a deep breath to steady himself.
Tap!
This time, the ball landed near the baseline but lacked the precision and pressure of his earlier shots.
"He's reaching his limit."
Mitsui, watching Yukimura's declining condition, narrowed his eyes. "Even a machine would show signs of wear after constant use. Yukimura is human, not a god."
"True."
Atobe nodded.
He had noticed this as well.
There was no denying that Yukimura's fundamentals were among the top 0.1% of players nationwide.
But unfortunately, Ishikawa was the 0.1% above that—perhaps even the one standing above all others!
If Atobe hadn't witnessed Ishikawa's growth firsthand, he wouldn't have believed a middle schooler could reach such an insane level of skill.
Swish!
At that moment, Ishikawa swung his racket.
The racket cut through the air with a sharp, dazzling arc. With a crisp snap, the ball shot toward Yukimura's backhand corner.
"Is this guy a monster?!"
Kikumaru's eyes were filled with fear.
If this continued, their captain, the so-called "Child of God" of middle school tennis, might not even score a single point!
Boom!
Ishikawa's return landed, and the referee's voice followed: "Out! 0-15!"
"What?!"
The entire stadium was stunned. No one expected Ishikawa to make a mistake!
"Is… is this for real?"
Kikumaru was equally shocked.
His first thought was that the referee had made a mistake. If not, then Ishikawa must be planning something.
"Wait, could this be…"
Behind Kikumaru, Yanagi's eyes widened as if he had realized something. He looked back and forth between Ishikawa and Yukimura, his expression uncertain.
"Touch?"
Sanada also caught on, his eyes filled with surprise. "That guy's sense of touch has been taken away by Yukimura!"
Sense of touch?
The Destruction of the Five Senses?!
In an instant, the rest of the Rikkai team understood.
They recalled the match between Sanada and Yukimura the previous afternoon, where Sanada's touch, sight, and hearing had been stripped away one by one, leaving him at a severe disadvantage.
"Phew…"
At the baseline, Yukimura let out a sigh of relief as he glanced at the ball mark just one centimeter from the boundary line. "As expected of you. Even without your sense of touch, you can still make such precise shots based on experience alone."
But then, a faint smile appeared on his face.
Although it had taken four games for the Destruction of the Five Senses to take effect, once it did, it would continue to wear down his opponent.
It was a vicious cycle.
Touch, sight, hearing—all five senses would eventually be stripped away by Yukimura!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The match continued.
Without his sense of touch, Ishikawa's returns became noticeably less precise. Yukimura, on the other hand, began to turn the tide, launching a counterattack!
"What's going on?"
The Hyotei team, noticing the change, looked puzzled.
"Ishikawa's control has dropped significantly," Mitsui said, frowning. "But Yukimura's shots don't seem to have that much spin or power."
"True."
Mukahi, Hiyoshi, and the others nodded in agreement.
They didn't believe Yukimura had been holding back earlier. As a top player, there was no need for him to play such mind games.
"So…" Mukahi frowned. "Is Ishikawa up to something?"
If Yukimura wasn't the cause, then Ishikawa must be planning something.
"It's not that simple."
Atobe placed his hand on the bridge of his nose, his fingers spread as he observed Ishikawa's movements. "His returns have become more conservative. He must have realized his control is slipping. My guess is that Yukimura's mental power is affecting him…"
In fact, Atobe'sEmperor's Aura was also a form of mental pressure.
Yukimura, known as the "Child of God," likely possessed a similarly terrifying ability!
Boom!
On the court, Ishikawa returned the ball once more.
"So this is what it feels like to lose your sense of touch," he thought, gripping his racket. The usual feedback from the racket was gone.
Boom!
He hit the ball again.
Although the racket clearly made contact, and he could see the ball's trajectory, there was no corresponding sensation in his wrist.
Without his sense of touch, it was like playing a video game without vibration feedback—he couldn't fully grasp the nuances of the ball's movement.
As a result, his previously precise techniques became ineffective.
However, Ishikawa was no novice.
Even without his sense of touch, he could still rely on his experience to make solid returns.
Swish!
But as he prepared to hit the ball again, the light at the edge of his vision dimmed. The court became blurry, as if he had suddenly developed nearsightedness.
Then, without warning, his vision went completely dark.
"Is this the loss of sight?"
Ishikawa's mental fortitude kept him calm even as his vision disappeared.
Boom!
He swung his racket and returned the ball.
"Huh?"
The Hyotei team, noticing the sudden drop in Ishikawa's performance, grew concerned.
"Is he serious?"
"This shot… is he joking?"
"No, wait!"
Suddenly, Mitsui's eyes widened. "Ishikawa's pupils… what's going on?!"
Pupils?
The others quickly looked.
"Wait, that's…"
Hiyoshi, with his sharp eyesight, was the first to notice something unusual. "The vice-captain's eyes… they're unfocused?!"
"No way!"
Mukahi shook his head in disbelief. "If someone's eyes lose focus, doesn't that mean…"
"He can't see," Atobe said gravely. "It's clear that Ishikawa's movements have become even slower. If his vision is affected now, then earlier… it must have been his sense of touch."
Vision?
Touch?
The Hyotei team was stunned.
If it weren't for Ishikawa's obvious decline and Atobe's credibility, they wouldn't have believed it.
This was Ishikawa!
Even against Yukimura, he had been dominating, not allowing a single point.
Now, they were being told that his sense of touch and vision—critical abilities for any player—were gone?
Who had ever heard of a blind person playing tennis?
This was… unbelievable!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
On the court, Ishikawa, now without touch or sight, remained remarkably composed.
In truth, rather than having his senses stripped away by Yukimura, he had allowed it to happen.
The Destruction of the Five Senses was Yukimura's ability to overwhelm an opponent's mind by constantly returning their shots, creating a sense of helplessness.
But Ishikawa's mental strength was formidable.
He had never been overwhelmed in this match. Under normal circumstances, losing his senses wouldn't have been possible.
This was an experiment.
He wanted to experience what it felt like to lose his five senses completely.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
As Ishikawa swung his racket, he realized he couldn't hear the sound of the ball hitting the strings.
"So now it's hearing?"
With his three most important senses gone, Ishikawa felt the world grow silent.
Soon after, his sense of pain and smell also disappeared.
He was like an isolated island, cut off from the world.
Everything was dark, devoid of color, temperature, or scent. If not for his strong will, he might have broken down.
"So this is what it feels like to lose the five senses."
As the world fell completely silent, Ishikawa's mind grew even calmer. He didn't scream or panic, nor did he wander around like Ryoma or Taneda had in the past. Instead, he simply stood still, closed his eyes, and allowed himself to experience this strange, unfamiliar world.
At the same time, Ishikawa recalled the yoga meditation techniques that Old Man Tachibana from Rokkaku had taught him. In this state, the effects of meditation were amplified many times over.
His mental energy expanded repeatedly, and the pores on his body naturally relaxed. He entered a profoundly mysterious state.
Gradually, it felt as though his consciousness had detached from his body. In his mind's eye, his physical form began to shrink, smaller and smaller, until it was almost insignificant.
Around him, the court, the spectators, and his opponent all came into view. The air, humidity, and temperature also became part of the "world" he was simulating in his mind.
And then, just as his perspective reached its peak, the five senses he had lost returned to him in a different form.
[Ding!]
[Through yoga meditation training, the player's secondary profession, Yoga, has leveled up! Current level: Lv4.]