The national arena's main hall buzzed with energy. Floating holo-screens updated live rankings, names scrolling in golden light. Ren stood at the back of the crowd, still in his sweat-stained warm-ups, clutching the Fallen Star like a lifeline.
Why am I even here? I barely survived Chen Liang. I'm not ready for this stage.
The screen flickered. Names shifted. And then—
99. Tachibana Ren — "The Substitute Messiah"
The crowd erupted in mixed reaction.
"Who? That loser from the street duel?"
"No, the one who blocked Chen Liang's smash!"
"Did you see him with Maria Luz? They actually synced!"
Ren's throat tightened. Ninety-nine. I'm... on the board.
From the benches, Haru bawled loud enough to shake the rafters. "BROOOO! YOU'RE OFFICIALLY NOT INVISIBLE!" He waved a half-empty cup of ramen like a victory torch.
Ayaka's commentary feed boomed through the arena speakers, her voice warm and dramatic:
"From a man who once vanished in the crowd... to the player now written in gold. Tachibana Ren—your story begins here."
Shizuka stood beside Ren, arms crossed. She didn't look at him, but her voice was low, almost grudging.
"...Don't let it get to your head. Top 100 is nothing. But..." Her ears flushed faintly. "...It's a start."
Maria swooped in, looping an arm around Ren's shoulder, flashing a grin for the cameras.
"¡Mira, chico! You're famous now. Smile! The world is watching."
Ren stammered, his face burning as flashes blinded him. I-I can't breathe...
Then, Daigo's hand clamped down on his shoulder, grounding him. The old coach's voice was gruff, but steady.
"Enjoy it. You earned it. But remember—every brat who gets written up there... eventually gets erased."
Ren looked up at the glowing list again, his pulse pounding in his ears. His HUD flickered, a faint distortion crawling across the corner of his vision.
[Warning: Substitution Protocol—Anomaly Detected.]
His chest tightened. ...It's not just about matches, is it?
The PA system chimed, breaking the silence.
"Attention: National Main League invitations have been issued. Prepare your partners."
The crowd roared. Maria squeezed his shoulder, Shizuka glared, and Daigo smirked like a man watching a storm form.
Ren staring at the glowing board, his name shining faintly at rank 99, while behind him two heroines stand on either side, and the distorted HUD whispers secrets only he can see.
I finally climbed onto the board... but whose game am I really playing?
Padel Knowledge Break #8 - "Padel Shot Names You Should Know (and Why They Sound Cool)"
· Bandeja → Defensive overhead, soft but steady. Means "tray" in Spanish, because the racket face looks flat like serving tea.
· Chiquita (Chikita) → Cute name for a sharp, slow shot at the feet. Annoying but effective.
· Víbora (The Snake) → A spinning smash that curves wickedly, biting like a serpent.
· Globo (The Lob) → Not glamorous, but a perfectly-timed lob can flip defense into instant offense.
Padel inherits its spicy shot names from Spain/Latin America, giving it flair compared to tennis's plain "forehand/backhand."