Asuna couldn't stand watching the situation on the court anymore and prepared to enter the match.
Ryuji feeling he had no other choice since he was clearly outmatched by Ryunosuke, finally gave up his position to be finished by his stronger classmate.
Seeing Asuna take the court, Yukino who had been sitting in the rest area also wanted to join, but Ryunosuke raised his hand to stop her.
"Rest properly. Wait until you've truly recovered, then I'll let you play."
Yukino furrowed her brows, forcing her body to stand and walk toward the match area. She seemed insistent on continuing to compete even though her body was very tired.
Ryuji, who had already gone down, seeing Yukino return to the court, finally also came back. He couldn't let Asuna face two people alone; after all this was a doubles match, not singles.
Only now remembering this was doubles, earlier you all played like it was singles...
Seeing all members of both teams in their respective positions, the referee announced the match would continue. This time it was Ryuji and Asuna's team's turn to serve.
Ryunosuke set up a defensive position, as did Yukino.
Asuna threw the ball high, made a strong drive shot, then immediately moved forward to find the best position for a return.
Right when Yukino was about to move, Ryunosuke preceded her. He positioned his racket above the court surface, swung it with needle-hole accuracy, and aimed for the opponent's dead corner with a high floating shot.
That was Shuichiro Oishi's Moon Volley technique!
That ball flew too high, almost impossible to reach!
Asuna tried to chase it, but no matter how high she jumped, she couldn't touch that Moon Volley. The ball landed in the back area, right near the court line.
Because the position was too close to the line, it was difficult to determine whether the ball was out or not. After video review, it was confirmed the ball was in. The referee announced the score.
"Point for Akasaka Ryunosuke and Yukinoshita Yukino, score 15-15!"
Asuna wiped the sweat on her temple. This was the first time she felt this much pressure from a peer.
Asuna was a genius in all fields. Whether it was martial arts, academics, or sports, she had almost no weaknesses. This was also what made her tend to be lazy and prefer to spend free time playing games with her best friend.
This was the first time in her life feeling pressure, and she intended to give everything without holding back anymore.
Both sides fiercely exchanged attacks.
Ryunosuke tried the same trick again by releasing Moon Volley. The ball floated high toward the back; so high, it was impossible to return normally.
Asuna shouted loudly, "Kanzaki-kun! Lend me your shoulder!"
Before Ryuji could react, he felt a weight on his shoulder.
Asuna stepped on Ryuji's shoulder as a springboard to jump high into the air. Her graceful figure floated in the sky, long reddish-brown hair fluttered in the wind. With a strong racket swing, she successfully hit back that five-meter-high Moon Volley.
This time Ryunosuke didn't expect at all that ball could be returned. Without any preparation, the ball shot past his body toward the back area.
"Oh no!"
Right when Ryunosuke was about to chase, Yukino moved. She, who was in the back, intercepted that smash shot and returned it toward the opponent.
Because Ryuji's right hand was still affected by temporary paralysis from Ryunosuke, he didn't have time to hit back properly. They lost one more point.
"Point for Akasaka Ryunosuke and Yukinoshita Yukino, score 30-15!"
Asuna landed stably from the air, then immediately ran to Ryuji anxiously. "Are you okay?"
Ryuji felt his right hand which still felt numb. "Sorry, it seems I can't help much. My hand still can't move properly until now."
Asuna answered it was okay and told him to just rest on the side; she would think of the rest herself. However, Ryuji felt conflicted; if he left, Asuna would have to face a one versus two situation.
Ryunosuke saw their difficulty and gave advice with good intentions.
"How about a mid-set break for 15 minutes? My temporary paralysis move usually only affects for 15 minutes. I can give you time, besides I don't want to win in an unfair way."
At the same time, he also wanted to give time for Yukino to rest because her condition hadn't fully recovered.
This 15-minute break benefited both sides. Asuna and Ryuji looked at each other then nodded in agreement while giving thanks.
Yukino could finally rest peacefully for 15 minutes. After time was up, both teams returned to the court in full stamina condition.
Asuna served with a hard smash shot. When Ryunosuke was about to meet it, Yukino preceded him.
Yukino clearly wanted to avenge her defeat in the previous round; this time whatever happened she had to win, she wouldn't lose again!
The two girls fiercely attacked each other. Now it was the turn of the two men on the court who could only watch unable to interfere.
Ryunosuke and Ryuji looked at each other as if having telepathy, both shrugged as if saying: [War between women, it's best for men not to interfere, right?]
The two girls fought for almost half an hour. However the pattern remained the same; Yukino's stamina ran out first again, and she sat down weakly.
Ryunosuke approached Yukino who sat on the ground from exhaustion, then said in a resigned tone.
"Yukino-chan, I don't mean to lecture you, but this is a doubles match, not singles... Can you have a bit of team awareness?"
Yukino didn't answer, but she also didn't show signs of acknowledging her mistake.
As a Yukinoshita Yukino, even if wrong, she would remain firm on her own path.
Ryunosuke didn't say much more and said, "Next I'll buy time for you. Recover your energy as much as you can."
Yukino pressed her lips tightly shut, clenched her hands tightly before finally going limp. In a somewhat listless tone she said, "Then I'll leave it to you, Akasaka-kun. Give me 10 minutes, I can recover."
Ryunosuke sneered in his heart: (Charge 10 minutes, can it be used for 10 minutes?)
As if sensing negative aura from his thoughts, Yukino glared sharply at him and gave a warning, "If you lose before I recover, I won't forgive you!"
Ryunosuke just shrugged his shoulders, signaling that Yukino might not get a chance to enter again, because he would finish this match alone.
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