Chapter 43 — A Promise Made Quietly
The call came in the late afternoon.
Not official.
Not announced.
Just a message passed through a coach who knew another coach.
"FTS is leaving today," Coach Prakash said. "If you want to say goodbye, now's the time."
Rudra didn't rush.
He packed his shoes anyway.
The Bus Stand
The FTS bus waited near the far gate of the stadium complex.
Bags were being loaded.
Parents stood nearby, already talking about the next tournament.
Varun Khanna stood a little apart.
No phone in hand.
No laughter.
Just watching the bus like it was another field to be studied.
Rudra approached.
Varun noticed him immediately.
He always did.
The Goodbye
"Did you learn something?" Varun asked, skipping pleasantries.
Rudra nodded.
"Yes."
"Good," Varun said. "Losing is useful only once. After that, it's lazy."
Rudra smiled faintly.
"I don't plan to repeat it."
Varun's mouth twitched—almost a smile.
The Promise
They stood in silence for a moment.
Then Varun spoke again.
"Next year, I'll be stronger. Not smarter. Stronger."
Rudra met his eyes.
"Then I'll still be here," he said. "Just heavier on my feet."
Varun laughed quietly at that.
"Finals," he said. "State level. Not school."
"Not watching," Rudra replied. "Playing."
The words weren't dramatic.
They didn't need to be.
Competitive Awareness
Lv 01 (31 / 100 EXP) → (40 / 100 EXP)
No Handshake
They didn't shake hands.
They nodded.
Equals didn't need ceremony.
Varun turned and climbed onto the bus.
As it pulled away, he looked out the window once.
Two fingers raised.
Not victory.
Acknowledgment.
After
Rudra walked home alone.
The evening felt lighter than it had in weeks.
Not because something ended.
Because something had been set.
A reference point.
A future meeting already scheduled by effort.
That night, when he opened the panel, nothing flashy appeared.
No new skills.
No sudden EXP spikes.
Just one quiet line at the bottom:
Rival Registered: Varun Khanna
Growth comparison enabled
Rudra closed the panel.
Some promises didn't need witnesses.
They just needed time.
RUDRA — TOURNAMENT PERFORMANCE REPORT
Age: 12 Years Old (2001)School: NITK English Medium School, BangaloreRole: Middle-order Anchor (4–6), Boundary Fielder (Long-off / Deep Cover)
MATCH-BY-MATCH BATTING SUMMARY
Match Opposition Position Runs (Balls) Result
Impact Group A – M 1 NAA Academy 4 Down16*(8) WIN calm
finisher Group A – M 2 SAM Public 3 Down38 (30) LOSS
Top scorer Group A – M 3 PIS Intl 4 Down58*(33) WIN MVP
winner Group A – M 4 FTS Sports 4 Down11 (13) LOSS Technique
power Group A – M 5 NNS School 5 Down24*(17) WIN Stabilizer
Group A – M 6 St. Merry's4 Down78*(77)WIN MVP
pressure innings Group A – M 7 NAA (Rotation) 4 Down17 (13)LOSS Low
urgency Semifinal St. Merry's4 Down41*(38) LOSS Anchor in collapse
TOTAL BATTING
Matches: 8
Innings: 8
Runs:283
Not Outs: 4
Average:70.75
Strike Rate: Match-situational (controlled, not explosive)
50+ Scores: 3
MVP Awards: 2
Assessment:Rudra consistently absorbed collapses, stabilized innings, and finished chases.No reckless dismissals. No panic batting.
FIELDING PERFORMANCE
Catches: 4 (including semifinal key catch)
Direct Impact Run-outs: 2
Boundary Saves: 6+
Missed Chances: 0 recorded under pressure
Fielding Trait:High positional awareness, early movement, efficient throwsSaved runs consistently against stronger teams
MENTAL & PRESSURE PERFORMANCE
Entered during collapses in 6/8 matches
Remained not out in 50% of innings
Best innings came in highest-pressure games
No emotional drop after losses
SYSTEM GROWTH SUMMARYLEVEL & TITLE
Overall Level: 03
Title: Apprentice (Upper Threshold)
KEY STAT PROGRESSION
Body
Stamina: Lv 03 → Lv 04
Reflex: Lv 04 → Lv 05
Flexibility: +14 EXP
Mental
Focus: Lv 06 (95 / 100 EXP)
Emotional Control: Lv 05 → Lv 06
Decision Speed: +13 EXP
Skills
Batting Timing: +53 EXP (Lv 01)
Shot Selection: +36 EXP
Fielding: 71 / 100 EXP (Lv 01)
Running: +34 EXP
Static Vision: Unlocked & stabilized (Lv 01)
Hidden Traits
✔ Pressure Acclimatization
✔ Competitive Awareness (Rival: Varun Khanna)
COACH & PEER ASSESSMENT
"Plays older than his age"
"Doesn't leak runs"
"Reliable under collapse"
"Needs physical power, not technique"
FINAL VERDICT (SYSTEM NEUTRAL)
Rudra was not the most explosive player.He was the most dependable.
Did not dominate weaker teams unnecessarily
Did not disappear against stronger teams
Performance scaled upward with pressure
Projection
If physical growth catches up:
Top-order capable by U-16 State level
Long-format anchor profile
High survivability in knockout matches