The words clung to Ren's ears long after Ryuji's footsteps faded.
Substitutes belong on benches.
They echoed like a cruel mantra, each repetition slicing deeper.
Ren sat slumped by the baseline, sweat cooling into his shirt, breath jagged. His wrist still throbbed from forcing the Dragon Smash, his pride throbbed even harder.
Shizuka stood in silence a few paces away, gaze still fixed on the exit where Ryuji had disappeared. Her jaw was tight, eyes burning with a fury Ren had never seen in her before.
Finally, she snapped, voice trembling with heat.
"He doesn't even look at you, Tachibana. That's how far apart you are. To him, you're not even worth crushing."
Ren flinched, but she wasn't finished.
"He's already leagues above us. And if you keep chasing his shadow recklessly, you'll die before you even set foot on the same court."
Her hands clenched, knuckles pale. "...He hasn't changed."
Ren blinked. "You... know him?"
Shizuka froze, lips pressing tight. For a heartbeat, her mask cracked. Then she turned sharply, ponytail whipping. "None of your business."
She stormed toward the exit.
Ren sat there in the silence, chest heavy.
She hates him. Fears him. And still... he doesn't see me at all.
The bitterness swelled, threatening to choke him. But somewhere inside, it shifted—burned—twisted into something sharper.
Good. Let him ignore me. Let him laugh. Because if he's not looking, then I can climb without him noticing until the day I stand in front of him.
His hand tightened on the racket, shaking but firm. If I'm just a substitute... then I'll use every loss, every jeer, every bruise as fuel. Until even he has to look at me.
The HUD flickered faintly:
[Mental +1]
The next day, Daigo tossed him an envelope across the training bench.
Ren opened it with trembling fingers. Inside, gleaming in silver letters, was the crest of the National League.
Invitation: National League Entry Trials.
Ren's breath caught. His hands clenched tighter.
Shizuka glanced over, her expression unreadable. "...Try not to humiliate me on a bigger stage."
Ren's lips curved into a crooked grin. "I'll only humiliate myself a little, then."
Meet The Characters :
Kazama Ryuji (風間 龍司)
Role: Antagonist / Supreme Rival Candidate
Age: 24
Nationality: Japanese (born in Aurelia Multiverse)
Background: The undefeated No.1 ranked padel player in the multiverse. Nicknamed "The Dragon of the Glass Court." Raised in Aurelia's most prestigious academy, trained from childhood by the Priests of Padel as the "chosen."
Personality: Arrogant, ruthless, but frighteningly disciplined. A genius who trains as hard as he is gifted. Sees padel not as a sport, but as the ultimate law of survival.
Appearance: Tall (185 cm), muscular lean build. Piercing golden eyes, black hair with crimson streaks tied back. Always walks with aura of dominance.
Signature Style:
· Overwhelming Smash Game → Dragon Smash, a shot so powerful the ball carves trails of heat in the glass.
· Consistently finishes matches 6–0, 6–0.
· Absolute control of tempo, stamina, and mental dominance.
Special Traits:
· "Pressure Aura" (Passive): Opponents' stats feel diminished when facing him.
· Dragon Smash: Trademark overhead that can't be copied without breaking the wielder.
· Has never once dropped a set.
Motivation:
· Believes only the strongest deserve existence.
· Considers Ren, "The Substitute," a cosmic error — a stain on Aurelia's destiny.
· Dreams of becoming the Supreme Champion, rewriting Aurelia's laws under his rule.
Quirks:
· Never speaks more than necessary on court.
· Always leaves immediately after matches — no celebrations, no interviews.
· His victory signature: walking off while scoreboards still glow 6–0.
Birthday: February 29 (Leap Year Child → rumored to be "born outside time").
Goal: Crush every rival, erase the idea of "weak hope," and ascend to become the absolute law.
Fun Fact: Fanbase calls him "Perfect Zero," because every match ends with the opponent scoring nothing.
Racket Name: 「Ryūga」 (Dragon Fang)
· Black diamond-shaped racket with crimson flame etchings.
· Trait: Unmatched smash amplification, aura of fire. The symbol of his absolute dominance.