While the singles match between Japan and Germany was heating up, the game between the United States and Spain was also about to begin. Both teams had already arrived at the stadium.
However, most of the spectators had gone to watch the Germany match, so only a few players from other teams were in the stands. Among them was Australia's John, who had promised Mares the day before that he would come to cheer for her.
The American players stared at Ryōga in silence, their expressions mixed. No one seemed to know what to say. Ryōma pulled down the brim of his cap, hiding his eyes, clearly unwilling to even look at his brother.
Ryōga, on the other hand, looked completely at ease. Standing casually in the corner of the court, he began checking his gear. Just then, Ralph Reinhardt walked over to him.
"Ever since I found out you joined Spain, I've been trying to understand why you left the U.S. team," Ralph said gently, his voice calm. "And I finally came to a self-satisfied conclusion… you left because you didn't want to destroy the team yourself, didn't you?"
Ryōga blinked, then suddenly burst into laughter. "Hahahaha~ And how did you come up with that one, Ralph?"
"Whether you admit it or not, I still want to say this—thank you," Ralph replied without reacting to the laughter. After that, he simply turned and walked back toward the U.S. bench.
Ryōga stood there for a while, watching Ralph's back. His smirk remained, but a complex emotion flickered in his eyes. He couldn't quite tell what Ralph was really thinking when he said that.
"Ah la~ Ryōga, were you just catching up with an old teammate?" Mares had appeared beside him at some point, her tone playful and teasing.
"Hardly catching up—just saying hi, that's all~" Ryōga shrugged, answering casually.
"Is that so? Well then, I won't hold back later. Let's hope the American team's Singles Three can last a little longer~" Mares said with a light laugh, her voice gentle yet mischievous, like a friendly neighbor teasing across a fence.
"The U-17 World Cup semifinals now officially begin! Spain versus the United States!"
"First up is the Singles Three match! For Spain—Mares di Colon, third-year high school! For the United States—Alan Hopkins, third-year high school! Players, please enter the court!"
"They're really sending Mares out as Singles Three? What are you thinking, Antonio?" Julio asked, puzzled, glancing toward Antonio da Medanoré.
"Nothing special," Antonio replied with a smirk. "I just want to finish off the U.S. team quickly. They're too weak to waste time on."
Julio stared at him, slightly stunned. There was something off about Antonio's tone—he didn't sound like his usual self at all.
As Julio pondered that, Mares and Hopkins walked onto the court. After their handshake at the net, Mares smiled playfully and said, "I heard your specialty is triggering old injuries in opponents, making their whole body seize up in paralysis?"
"So you're saying you've studied my data already?" Hopkins replied evenly, showing no emotion.
"Oh my~ You've got it wrong. I just meant that I'm also quite good at making people go numb~" Mares winked, her eyes full of charm.
Hopkins frowned but didn't respond. At the umpire's signal, the two began the coin toss. Mares won the serve, and the crowd burst into cheers—apparently, appearance mattered more than gender when it came to popularity.
"The match will be best of three sets! Spain to serve first!"
"Well then~ since I'm the one serving first, why not say hello to the handsome guy across the net?" Mares murmured softly as she stepped to the baseline. In a men's tennis match, seeing a woman in a short skirt with long, graceful legs was clearly a rare treat for the audience.
With a bright smile, Mares tossed the ball high and struck it sharply with her right hand. The racket met the ball with a crisp sound, sending it spinning hard toward the U.S. side of the court.
"Spot Serve!"
'The speed and angle are solid, but not unreturnable,' Hopkins thought as he ran to the landing spot.
He returned it cleanly—but the moment his racket connected, a strange tingling shot through his left arm. A wave of tiny pinpricks began spreading rapidly across his skin.
"Oh my~ that was a nice return~ but just so you know, you'll be numb for about five seconds~" Mares said sweetly as she moved to meet the ball, smiling like she'd just played a harmless prank.
When Hopkins heard Mares's words, he instinctively tried to move his left hand—but to his shock, it wouldn't respond at all. At that exact moment, Mares's return shot whizzed past him, the ball landing cleanly beyond the baseline.
"15–0!"
"Bang★! Right on target~" Mares made a playful gun gesture and winked, pretending to fire at Hopkins.
——————————
"Game! Japan leads! 1–3!"
Meanwhile, over at the Japan vs. Germany match, Tezuka once again claimed a game with four consecutive Zero Shiki Serves. The crowd roared with excitement—after all, their opponents were the reigning champions, Team Germany.
Yet, while the cheers filled the arena, Tezuka's unease only grew stronger. During those last four serves, QP hadn't even tried to return them—he hadn't moved a single step. He just stood there, watching silently.
Now, as QP prepared to serve again, Tezuka deactivated his Ten'i Muhō no Kiwami. The faint azure light that had surrounded him faded, then reignited—brighter and steadier this time. Even from the stands, spectators felt a strange sense of calm wash over them.
"Radiance of Love!"
"So, you're finally using it at full power, huh? Just as planned~" QP said flatly, his eyes locked on Tezuka.
QP tossed the ball high. In the next instant, his body erupted in his own intense blue light—the unique Radiance of Pride that only he possessed. The serve flashed like lightning, and before anyone could blink, it landed at Tezuka's feet and shot straight past the baseline.
"Ace! 15–0!"
Tezuka's pupils contracted sharply. He hadn't reacted in time at all. Despite having activated the Radiance of Love, he was completely outsped.
Before Tezuka could recover from his shock, QP tossed another ball and fired off another serve—so fast it nearly vanished. This time, however, Tezuka barely managed to move in time. Boosted by the Radiance of Love, his full potential burst forth, and he intercepted the rising ball just before it passed.
A massive white whirlwind roared to life around him again. The ball, infused with the dual spin of the Ultimate Zone, screamed across the court. QP slid forward and blocked with a backhand, sending it high toward the Japanese side.
But even as the ball soared, QP's special technique dissolved the reverse spin on it completely. Tezuka didn't wait for the Zone to pull the ball back—instead, he sprinted toward the net, leapt into the air, and smashed down with his left hand.
The ball shot toward the German baseline, spinning violently. Just as it was about to hit, QP suddenly appeared in front of it, meeting it with a clean half-volley and sending it straight back.
The ball streaked past in a blur, and by the time Tezuka landed, it had already struck the baseline and bounced out of bounds. The Japanese bench stared in disbelief.
"30–0!"
"When you use that Zero Shiki technique, you can't maintain your Zone's special spin, can you?" QP said calmly, his gaze cold.
"You dragged out that long rally earlier… you did that on purpose, didn't you?" Tezuka asked quietly, his tone flat but heavy.
"You already know the answer, don't you?" QP replied simply, turning away toward the baseline. Tezuka fell silent, gripping his racket tighter.
QP served again. This time, Tezuka had adjusted to his speed, cleanly returning the ball with a shot charged by the Ultimate Zone's twin spins.
But before anyone could blink, QP's blue light flared blindingly bright—so intense it swallowed his entire figure. A thunderous sound erupted, and the ball exploded forward like a beam of blue light. The overwhelming power shattered the Zone's layered spin in an instant.
Tezuka barely had time to brace before meeting it head-on with both hands. The moment their rackets clashed, the impact sent Tezuka's racket flying from his grip. The sheer force was beyond anything he could handle.
"40–0!"
"If your power isn't enough, no amount of spin will matter. That's the second weakness of your Ultimate Zone," QP said evenly, still holding his follow-through as the ball bounced away.