The stadium wasn't as large as the national courts, but to Ren, the polished floors and glowing screens made it feel like an entirely different world. The hum of the crowd tightened his chest. His name—Tachibana Ren—flashed on the entry board, beneath a mocking subtitle:
"The Substitute Messiah."
Laughter rippled through the stands.
Ren's fingers shook as he tightened the tape on his racket. They're still laughing. No matter what I do, I'm just the joke that won't die.
Beside him, Shizuka Amane adjusted her wristband in silence. She didn't look at him, didn't speak. But the air around her burned with focus, as if the jeers didn't exist.
Ren stole a glance. She's not afraid. Not even a little. How can she stand so tall... while I just want to disappear?
The first match began. Their opponents—a rank ~450 pair—smirked, clearly expecting an easy sweep.
Ren's opening serve double-faulted. The crowd erupted in laughter.
Shizuka sighed audibly. "Pathetic."
Ren's cheeks burned. I knew it. I'm dragging her down again.
But when the rally began, Shizuka darted forward, intercepting volleys with ruthless precision. "Yours," she snapped, and Ren, scrambling, managed to push the ball back just enough to keep the rally alive.
The HUD flickered faintly: [Team Sync: 12 → 13].
They lost points. They made ugly errors. But slowly, painfully, Ren began to move with her rhythm instead of against it.
The scoreboard crept closer—5–5.
At set point, Shizuka's smash tore through the defense, and Ren barely caught the rebound to finish the rally. The ball kissed the sideline.
6–5. Game.
The crowd went silent, then murmured in disbelief.
"Did they just... win?"
"No way. That was luck."
Shizuka spun her racket, unfazed. "Took you long enough not to embarrass me," she muttered under her breath.
Ren gasped for air, but a tiny smile tugged his lips. We actually won together...
The HUD glowed faint: [Team Sync: +2 → 15]
As they left the court, the giant bracket lit up above them.
Next round: Toru Minase (Rank ~280).
Ren's stomach dropped. Toru's calm, calculating eyes were already waiting from the opposite side of the hall.
He challenged me. And now... I can't run.