It's hilarious how the lineup is constructed to at least give Hyoutei a chance.
The lineup is;
Marui - Tamagawa vs Oshitari - Mukahi
Sanada - Yanagi vs Ootori - Kabaji
Yagyuu vs Shishido
(with Kirihara vs Hiyoshi and Yukimura vs Atobe likely played in part 2, coming out in April.)
Atobe gets a message from his father to hold some exhibition matches at the newly erected Shounan Arena. Noting that this is in Kanagawa, Atobe immediately gets an idea.
Meanwhile, Hiyoshi, Ootori, and Kabaji have mostly taken up the leading roles in Hyoutei, since the third years are almost retiring. Kabaji suggests playing against the 3rd years because of this, but before Hiyoshi can make plans for that Atobe barges in, saying he has set the perfect stage for just that.
Hyoutei's order is made by Hiyoshi and Atobe, and Rikkai also submits their order. Yagyuu reveals that since the Germany matches, Niou has went on a trip to break from his Illusion, and apparently he hasn't returned since. He is not present during Hyoutei vs Rikkai.
When the first match begins, immediately the question is asked why Jackal doesn't play instead of Tamagawa, since it's the retirement match of the 3rd years.
Jackal responds that it was his own suggestion, since this match is also about passing the baton to the 2nd years.
Marui and Tamagawa start off strong due to Tamagawa's mastery of lobs, but due to Oshitari and Mukahi's doubles play as well as Mukahi's jump height, his lobs are soon rendered ineffective. In the second game, he doesn't hit lobs when Marui would expect him to. In reaction, Marui activates Wonder Castle and doesn't let a single ball get to Tamagawa.
However, after a few games of this, Marui asks if Tamagawa isn't getting frustrated. Tennis is about hitting balls, after all. Tamagawa is worried, because his lob technique is still imperfect, that he'll drag Marui down, and Marui tells him to drag him down all he wants.
Tamagawa challenges Mukahi's jumping with his lobs, lobbing higher and higher. But, some of Tamagawa's high lobs go out. Marui tells him to not mind it.
Mukahi and Oshitari have a flashback to when they were first years, atop of Hyoutei's water tower on the school roof. Mukahi's asks him what he's doing there, Oshitari replies with that he likes high places. Mukahi finds him unsociable, but responds that it isn't bad at all, taking the top.
Due to Oshitari becoming a spring plank for Mukahi, Mukahi manages to hit the highest lob back. They win the match.
Sanada - Yanagi vs Ootori - Kabaji goes about as well as you'd expect. It takes about 3 games before Kabaji starts hitting Yanagi's kamaitaqchi and Sanada's fuurinkazan back. Shishido reveals that Ootori's strength lies in controlling the flow of the doubles match.
However, Yanagi tells Sanada about the data he's gathered. Sanada activates the Black Aura and uses it to shroud Yanagi's movements. Kabaji and Ootori are no match for the Black Dragon Strikes.
In response to Ootori's loss, Shishido says he'll show him 'what reckless is like.'
Shishido is shocked when he hears he is to play singles, but takes the opportunity fiercely. However, even though he is good at counters, he doesn't manage to return Yagyuu's Laser Beam. He takes points with his Rising Counter and Dash off Yagyuu's next Lasers, though. He's the one who can return Ootori's Scud Serve, after all. Inspired by Niou's performance in the Germany match, Yagyuu reveals that he, too has been improving himself. When he next hits the Laser, it bounces irregularly. However, this is not because of the court.
Yagyuu reveals his new technique, 'Reflection Laser.'
For the normal Laser, you can predict the trajectory, and with Shishido's Rising Counter return it. But when you control the angle of the bounce, even Shishido can't lay a hand on it. That one second where you don't know where it's going causes hesitation, which slows Shishido's reaction speed.
This continues for a few games.
Atobe asks Shishido if he's gonna let it end here. He asks if he's gonna let it end here, as a singles player. Are you really satisfied with just conquering doubles? After all, the one who'd pick up your balls is no longer here.
However, at 4-1, Ootori tells Shishido he shouldn't be misled. After all, by controlling the bounce angle of a shot as fast as the Laser Beam, there's no way Yagyuu can maintain that speed. Yes, it's a trick (peten, see also Niou's 'petenshi' nickname)
Now that Shishido knows that, he starts being able to hit the reflected Laser back. Since Shishido had assumed the Reflection Laser would keep being as fast as the original Laser, he had hesitated, but that's no longer the case.
Shishido comments how he's been picked up by Ootori, and asks Yagyuu if his doubles partner had gone on a trip. Shishido tells him (while looking at Ootori) that even if his doubles partner is no longer there, he'll still be there in his heart.
Yagyuu scores a point off Shishido with his Laser, and challenges him to a Laser vs Rising Counter battle. However, Shishido returns the next, and Hyoutei keeps winning games. Yagyuu responds to this by alternating his Laser with Reflection Lasers. Although Shishido is played around by the two Lasers like a toy, he's still hanging on. Shishido wins by returning the Laser I *think* before it's bounced.
