**Chapter 149: Oshitari Turns the Tide, the Trickster’s Smile (2nd Update)**  

"What?" 

The spectators outside the court were stunned by Oshitari's words. 

"That Yanagi is actually Yagyu?" 

Mizuki, Hiyoshi, and others couldn't believe it. "Could Oshitari-senpai be mistaken?" 

"No, he's not." 

Atobe shook his head. 

Even though he couldn't tell who was Yagyu and who was Yanagi, he knew Oshitari well enough. There was no way he'd lie about something like this. 

"As expected of Hyotei's genius… *puri*!" 

At that moment, Yanagi, standing at the baseline of Rikkai, let out a strange syllable after his remark. 

Then, to everyone's astonishment, he removed his wig and glasses, revealing silver-blue hair. It was Yagyu all along. 

On the other side, the person pretending to be Yagyu—Yanagi—also took off his wig, looking at Oshitari with surprise. "To think you figured out our identities just by noticing the difference in the speed of our Laser Beams… You're truly a dangerous man." 

At that moment, the two Rikkai players became even more determined. If they wanted to defeat Hyotei's pair, they'd have to take down Oshitari first. 

"Huh?" 

Meanwhile, Ryoh and the others finally caught on. "They actually swapped identities? When did that happen?" 

"Probably during the court switch," Ishikawa explained. "Their movements were subtle, likely trying to catch Oshitari-senpai and the others off guard. Unfortunately for them, they've been exposed." 

"Tsk, this Oshitari guy… he's pretty impressive," Marui remarked, glancing at Oshitari before shaking his head. "Too bad, though. Our seniors only need one more point to win this game. Figuring out our strategy now won't change anything." 

Or would it? 

Hearing this, Yanagi, standing behind Sanada, raised an eyebrow. He glanced at the scoreboard, which read "15-40," and his expression shifted. 

"Could it be…?" 

As if realizing something, Yanagi's gaze fell on Oshitari. The latter calmly turned around, tapped the tennis ball twice at the baseline, and served with composure. 

*Thud!* 

The ball landed and bounced with a sharp spin. 

"Not bad," Yagyu muttered to himself. 

This Oshitari truly had the demeanor of a leader—calm, collected, and mentally steady. His skills were impressive, leaving no obvious weaknesses to exploit. 

"So, we'll have to target the other guy instead." 

Yagyu's eyes shifted toward Mukahi. 

The softest target was the easiest to crush. While Oshitari was troublesome, taking out Mukahi would leave Oshitari alone, and he wouldn't be able to turn the tide by himself. 

*Thud!* 

With that thought, Yagyu sent the ball toward Mukahi. 

Both Yagyu and Yanagi moved in unison,默契十足地决定同时对向日出手. 

*Swish!* 

But to their surprise, Mukahi, who was usually straightforward and reactive, sidestepped the ball and let it pass. 

*Whoosh!* 

In the next moment, a Laser Beam shot across the court. 

The incredible speed of the shot disrupted Yagyu and Yanagi's plans. 

*Thud!* 

"30-40!" 

"Hmm." 

Yanagi raised an eyebrow. 

He could see clearly that Oshitari's Laser Beam had improved. It didn't look like the work of a beginner at all. 

"Is this the learning ability of Hyotei's genius?" 

Yagyu also looked at Oshitari with surprise. 

The pressure he felt from Oshitari's talent was real. After all, he hadn't seen many players who could mimic a top-tier technique so quickly. Oshitari was definitely one of them. 

"Great shot!" 

Oshitari's counterattack energized the Hyotei team. 

The use of the Laser Beam disrupted Rikkai's strategy. Over the next two points, Oshitari scored consecutively, turning the score around. 

"He's really strong," Yanagi adjusted his glasses, his gaze filled with caution as he looked at Oshitari. "The more he uses the Laser Beam, the more proficient he becomes. We have to stop him!" 

With that, Yanagi got serious. 

After a series of baseline exchanges with Oshitari, he seized the opportunity and unleashed his own Laser Beam. 

*Whoosh!* 

The pale yellow beam shot across the court. 

The speed was so fast that Mukahi at the net could only catch a glimpse of it. He didn't even have time to react. 

"That's too fast!" 

The players from other schools watching from outside the court were equally shocked. 

Compared to the Laser Beams from Yagyu and Oshitari, Yanagi's version was on a completely different level. 

"Heh," Marui sneered from the sidelines. "When Yanagi-senpai goes all out with his Laser Beam, there are very few who can return it." 

With this technique, Yanagi had secured his place among Rikkai's elite. The power and precision of his Laser Beam were unmatched. 

In Rikkai, only the captain, Yukimura, and vice-captain, Sanada, could return it. Even Yanagi, with his data-driven playstyle, had less than a 30% chance of returning it. 

*Hum!* 

But at that moment, a faint blue aura, emitting a cool sensation, enveloped Oshitari. 

*Swish!* 

In this state, Oshitari's eyes, now tinged with a faint blue, locked onto the incoming ball. 

From his perspective, the ball's speed seemed to slow down significantly. 

"What's that?!" 

Marui was shocked. 

Yanagi narrowed his eyes. "This is Oshitari's Shadow Moon state, also known as Moon Mode. In this state, his insight is greatly enhanced, allowing him to make the most rational and accurate judgments." 

"So…" Sanada raised an eyebrow. "Even Yanagi's Laser Beam can be seen through?" 

"Hmph," Marui snorted dismissively. "So what if he can see it? Yanagi-senpai's Laser Beam isn't something you can return just by seeing it." 

The rest of Rikkai nodded in agreement. 

As Marui said, Yanagi's Laser Beam was too fast. Seeing the ball's trajectory was one thing, but actually returning it was another matter entirely. 

*Hum!* 

But at that moment, the faint blue aura around Oshitari disappeared, replaced by a faint red, flame-like aura. 

*Step!* 

In the next instant, Oshitari moved. 

With the boost from the red aura, his speed increased dramatically. In the blink of an eye, he was in position to intercept the ball. He swung his racket and smashed it back. 

*Whoosh!* 

The ball shot back with even greater speed, passing right between Yagyu and Yanagi. 

*Thud!* 

"Game!" 

"Hyotei, 1-1!" 

The entire court fell silent. 

The spectators, especially the Rikkai players, stared at Oshitari in disbelief. 

Not only had he countered Yagyu's Laser Beam, but he had also just returned Yanagi's full-powered Laser Beam?! 

"What is this?!" Marui exclaimed, staring at Oshitari as the red aura around him faded. 

"Daylight state, also known as Sun Mode," Yanagi explained. "In this state, Oshitari's explosiveness, speed, and even strength are enhanced. I didn't expect him to be able to switch between his two modes so seamlessly." 

"Mastering both stillness and motion, huh?" Sanada, from the coach's position, nodded in approval. "This guy has truly reached national-level skill." 

At that moment, he felt even more wary of Hyotei. 

Compared to last year, Hyotei's players had improved significantly. Both their singles and doubles lineups were formidable. 

"Too bad," Sanada shook his head, a cold glint in his eyes. "This year's Rikkai has no weaknesses!" 

Even without Yukimura, Sanada was confident in his team's strength. 

"Oshitari's gotten stronger!" 

From Seigaku's side, Oishi and Kikumaru murmured in awe. 

"Indeed," Fuji agreed. "Compared to the last round, his control over his two modes has improved. If this were a singles match, he'd be a tough opponent." 

"Like Rikkai's Marui, Oshitari is an exceptionally skilled individual player," Inui added. "Now that he's showing his true strength, Hyotei has at least a 70% chance of defeating Rikkai in this match." 

"That high?" Momoshiro and Kaidou exclaimed in surprise. 

"Actually, Oshitari hasn't even shown his full potential yet," Inui said thoughtfully. "You remember the turning point in this game was when they were down 0-40, right?" 

"Yeah, but what does that… Wait!" Kikumaru suddenly realized something and looked at Oshitari in shock. "He did that on purpose?" 

In the previous game, Rikkai had also turned the tables after being down 0-40. 

Now, Oshitari had chosen the same score to make his comeback. Given how decisively he scored, it was clearly no coincidence. 

"This Hyotei genius really holds a grudge, huh?" Yagyu remarked with a hint of admiration. 

"Yeah," Yanagi nodded, his expression serious as he looked at Oshitari. 

There weren't many who could return his Laser Beam, and now, Oshitari Yuushi had joined that list. 

However, despite Oshitari's strength, Yanagi remained calm. 

*Thud!* 

*Thud!* 

*Thud!* 

The match continued, with both sides giving it their all. They showcased their skills, executed brilliant plays, and held their serves. 

Rikkai, in particular, was formidable. With Yagyu also mastering the Laser Beam, the two of them together were a force to be reckoned with. 

On Hyotei's side, while Mukahi did his best to support Oshitari, his individual skills weren't on par, leaving him mostly on the sidelines. 

But Oshitari held his own. 

He constantly switched between Sun and Moon modes, single-handedly taking on Rikkai's two powerhouses. 

The match was intense, with the score tied at 5-5. 

"We've got a chance!" 

On Hyotei's side, Shishido clenched his fist. 

Although the situation was still unclear, if the match went into a tiebreaker, Hyotei's advantage would become apparent. 

After all, Mukahi hadn't been fully involved in the match. If it came down to endurance, he'd be the freshest player on the court. 

Seemingly aware of this, Mukahi remained calm throughout the match, only occasionally assisting Oshitari. 

*Thud!* 

At that moment, Rikkai won the eleventh game, taking a 6-5 lead. 

"It's about time I take the spotlight," Mukahi said with a confident smile. 

The rest of the Hyotei team also began to feel hopeful. 

"Is that so?" 

Meanwhile, Ishikawa, who had been closely observing the Rikkai pair, focused on Yagyu. "This trickster from Rikkai isn't going to sit back and let this crucial game slip away." 

*Swish!* 

Sure enough, Yagyu's lips curled into a faint smile. 

**(End of Chapter)** 

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