The scoreboard burned: 4–5. One more game and Toru Minase would walk into the final.
Ren's lungs rattled, every inhale sharp as glass. Beside him, Shizuka stood tall, her expression sharp but unreadable. Across the net, Toru adjusted his wristband with calm precision, while his partner—Kenta Sudo, ranked just behind him—waited steady, unflinching.
They weren't flashy. They weren't loud. But together, they were a machine.
Ren gritted his teeth. Every move I make, Toru's already written the answer. If I read him straight, I lose. If I fight fair, I drown.
The next rally began. Toru floated a soft lob—bait. Ren overreached, slamming it wide. The crowd groaned.
Toru's eyes narrowed, calm voice carrying across the court. "Predictable."
Ren wiped his sweat with a trembling hand. No. That wasn't a mistake. That was bait.
Changeover. Shizuka leaned in, eyes flashing. "You're thinking something stupid, aren't you?"
Ren forced a crooked smile. "What if... you miss on purpose?"
Her eyes widened, then narrowed to slits. "Do you want me to kill you?"
"I need him to think he's three steps ahead. Then I'll be on the fourth."
For a moment, she glared, breath sharp. Then, slowly, she exhaled. "...Fine. One chance."
The rally began. Shizuka lunged at the net, then "accidentally" overreached—ball sailing higher than it should.
Toru's eyes glimmered. He moved before Ren swung, already setting the third-layer trap: a lob angled into the open corner.
But Ren was already running.
The HUD pulsed, vision bending.
[Tactical Forecast Lv.1 — Activated]
The ball arced—perfect into his strings. Ren cut it crosscourt, soft and surgical. Winner.
The crowd gasped, half in disbelief.
Toru froze mid-step. Just for a second, his mask cracked.
Tie-break. Every point a knife's edge. Shizuka at the net, Ren reading cones of light, Toru weaving traps, Kenta absorbing pace like a wall.
6–5. Match point.
Ren's breath steadied, chest burning but eyes sharp. One more forecast.
The serve came. Cone flicker. Toru shifted early.
Ren swung opposite. Ball kissed the line.
Point. Game. Match.
The crowd erupted. Ren collapsed to his knees, chest heaving, vision buzzing. The HUD glowed:
[Tactical Forecast Lv.1 — Unlocked]
Beside him, Shizuka stood tall, racket twirling. She didn't smile, but her lips moved just enough for him to hear. "...Not bad, Messiah."
Across the net, Toru collected his racket, mask calm once more. But his eyes were sharp, cutting, alive.
"You don't just read," he said evenly. "You forecast."
He turned and walked away, Kenta following in silent discipline.
Ren's heart pounded. For the first time... I won a battle that mattered.
Padel Knowledge Break #5 — Strategy & Positioning
In padel, raw power means little without positioning. The strongest teams dominate the net, forcing opponents to lob under pressure. From the baseline, players rely on defense, using the glass walls to reset rallies. Good pairs move like dancers: both forward, both back, never leaving open gaps. In Aurelia's world, mastering position isn't just skill—it's survival, because even one step too slow can decide careers, or lives.
Meet The Characters :
Daigo Kenzaburo (大悟 健三郎)
Role: Legendary Coach
Age: 58
Nationality: Japanese
Appearance: Gruff, scarred, unshaven, always with a cigarette.
Personality: Harsh, no-nonsense on court; secretly kind off it.
Signature Shot: "Iron Wall" Defense
Known For: First World Padel Champion. Survivor of the Lost Court Era.
Quirks:
Calls everyone "brat" or "weakling." Hates technology, prefers analog drills.
Love Language: Acts of Service (like throwing balls at your head).
Birthday: January 1
Goal:
Short-term: Toughen Ren. Long-term: Unveil the truth about the Lost Court.
Fun Fact: Once defeated an entire squad of ranked players alone... wearing sandals.
Racket Name: 「Tetsu no Kabe」 (Wall of Iron)
An old wooden racket with carved kanji, in a world where everyone else uses carbon fiber. Trait: Absolute defense — opponents' smashes lose spirit against its relentless returns.