CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 38: FACING THE PAST LIFE RIVAL AGAIN

A new day started after that event.The academy posted the announcement without warning.It was early morning. Most players were still tired and sleepy from cultural event rehearsals and late-night team bonding.

Raj was walking toward the stitching hall when a junior sprinted past him, holding a printed sheet.

"Trial squads are up!" the boy shouted, voice echoing across the corridor.

Raj paused.He wasn’t expecting another match so soon.Especially not after delivering a full glove order, finishing a system quest, and watching Spandana reveal her heart through dance.

But the board didn’t care about emotions.It only listed names and his name was on it.

Squad B – Match 2 (Main Trial Field)

3rd Batsman: Raj Pavan (RajCraft)

Bowler to Watch: Aditya S. (Delhi South Division)

Raj’s eyes paused on that name.

Aditya.

That name was nothing special to most players at the academy.Just another fast bowler from Delhi. Tall, lean, confident. Known for his precision, his calm anger, and his never-miss yorkers.

But for Raj?,That name wasn’t just a name.

It was a memory.From another life.From a match he never finished.

In Raj’s past life, Aditya wasn’t just a rival,he was the bowler who had ruined Raj’s only shot at national selection.Back then, Raj was tense, overthinking, and trying too hard to prove himself.Aditya bowled him out first ball and Raj never got a second chance.

He won’t remember me, Raj thought now. But I remember everything.

As he stepped away from the board, the air felt heavier.Not because of fear but because of unfinished history.

Back in the stitching room, Raj didn’t work.He just sat on the stool, staring at the glove he had used last match.It was worn now. Faded. But solid.He ran his fingers along the seam.Then opened his notebook.

At the top of the page, he wrote:

"Aditya."And under it:

"This time, I swing different."

A system window popped up:

[System Alert: Rivalry Triggered – Past Life Match Event]

Opponent: Aditya S.

Timeline Memory: Match 14 (First Round Knockout, Old Path)

New Personal Quest Unlocked:

"One Ball Revenge"

Task: Face Aditya in this life

Outcome: You decide

Optional Reward: Past Title Recovery: "The One Who Swings Back"

Later that afternoon, Raj met Priya

near the mess hall.She had heard the news.

"So it’s him?" she asked quietly.Raj nodded.

"I don’t want to make it personal," he said.

"But it already is," Priya finished.

He smiled, small and tired."I just want to swing with peace. Not rage."

"That," she said, "is exactly why you’ll win."

That night, Raj went to the nets.Not to practice shots.Just to stand at the crease.

He closed his eyes and imagined Aditya standing at the other end.Imagined the first ball.

The silence before it.The spin of the seam.

Last time, I froze.

He opened his eyes.

This time, I won’t.

As he walked back, someone tapped his shoulder.I was a tall boy in a dark hoodie, tossing a cricket ball up and down.

"Pavan Raj, right?" the boy asked.

"Yes."

"I’ve heard about your gloves. Your bats. Your system."

Raj froze slightly."How do you know about the system?"

The boy smiled faintly."I didn’t say your system."

Then he walked away.

The time for the trial squad match is about to begin.The sky was overcast by the time Squad B stepped onto the trial field.

It wasn’t raining, but the clouds are low thick and grey, as if waiting for the first bad swing to open up.

Raj stood on the edge of the boundary rope, glove on, pads snug, helmet hanging from one hand.He stared at the pitch.Then at the far end of the field,,,Aditya S.

He was tall. Broad-shouldered. Hair buzzed short. Calm face, unreadable eyes.He looked exactly the same as Raj remembered in the past life.

Aditya tossed the ball casually in his palm, stretching his arm back and forth like he’d done this a thousand times.Maybe he had.Raj felt the faint tightening of breath in his chest.

This time, he doesn’t know who I am.

But I know exactly what he did.

He shook it off.Walked toward the center.Raj was the third batsman.The openers played three overs.One went down quickly.Now, it was his turn.

He walked in.Took guard.Settled his grip.

The crowd was silent, except for the sound of cleats crunching on gravel and the murmurs from a few scouts seated under the tents.

First ball.

Aditya stepped up.Ran in smooth, controlled.The ball flew.Short and fast.

Raj didn’t swing the bat ,he just leaved it.

I need to see one first.

Always see one.

Second ball.

Good length. Nipped inward.Raj defended gently.Clean Shot.Straight to mid-off.

The echo of leather on bat vibrated through the field.

Aditya paused. Tilted his head.He hadn’t expected a soft hand.Not first time.

Third ball.

He changed the angle.Came around the wicket.This one bounced faster.Raj instinctively lifted the bat.

Edged.

The ball tapped the top edge, flew up, landed between keeper and short third man.

No run.

Raj exhaled.

Settle, Raj.You didn’t come here to win the over. You came to win the story.

[System Notice: Emotional Surge Detected]

Heartbeat: +12 bpm

Focus Field Narrowing

Temporary System Feature Unlocked:

Memory Recovery – Swing Analysis Mode

Every ball you face from Aditya restores 1% of confidence lost in your old timeline.

Fourth ball.

Raj took a step forward early.

Aditya saw it.Bowled short.

Raj pulled.Cracking shot.

It didn’t reach the rope.But it passed the fielders.

Two runs.

And the weight in his legs lessened.Just a little.

On the sideline, Spandana watched quietly.

She wasn’t seated with the crowd.She stood near the equipment shed, arms folded, eyes locked on the pitch.She didn’t blink when Raj swung.She didn’t smile when he defended.But when he looked her way during drinks break, she gave the smallest nod.

A nod that meant:

Keep going. You’re doing fine.

Raj returned for the second half of his over.

Aditya hadn’t said a word yet.But his eyes narrowed slightly now.

Fifth ball.

Slower and tempting ball.

Raj waited and then drove.

Straight.No spin.No edge.

It passed the bowler clean like a scale mark.

[System Notification: Confidence Level Restored – 42%]

You’ve crossed the run score from your last match against Aditya.

That version of you lost. This version is still swinging.

From the opposite corner of the field, under the farthest tent, a man sat with a cap pulled low over his face.

He didn’t cheer.He didn’t speak.But he noted one thing in a small black notebook.

"RajCraft vs Aditya S. (Reversal Match)

Observed: Player regains composure faster than projection model."

His shirt sleeve bore a small emblem stitched into the cloth.A fire wrapped around a gear.

The finalover of the trial was up.

Raj was still on the crease.

Aditya had bowled tight,fast, accurate, relentless. But Raj had played steady.

No big shots.Just control and Timing.

And rhythm flow.

But now, the coach gave the signal.

"Last ball!"

Scouts leaned forward.Everyone knew Aditya wouldn’t throw a soft one.

Raj adjusted his grip on the bat.The air around him slowed.Not because of pressure.But because something inside him was changing.

This isn’t the same match.

This isn’t the same me.

He looked up.

Aditya didn’t look tired.Just focused.He ran in.Smooth, sharp, fierce.

Raj saw the seam spin.

A system notification popoed out saying:

[System Activation – Swing Without Fear Mode: ON]

Your hands know the shot.

Let your heart guide it.

Raj didn’t plan the shot.He didn’t analyze.

He just stepped forward and swung the bat.

Cracking Sound....

The sound echoed across the trial ground.

The ball gies up in the air.

Flewing towards the covers,Over the covers.Over the rope.

It’s an Maximum.

No one cheered loudly.But the crowd stood.

Because they’d seen it.Not a power shot.

A clean strike.

Perfect timing.

Raj lowered his bat.Didn’t raise it.Just looked at Aditya.

For a second, the bowler paused.Their eyes locked.

Aditya tilted his head.

A flicker of recognition?

Maybe.Maybe not.

But he nodded once and then walked off.

[System Quest Complete: One Ball Revenge]

Old score settled. But the new journey continues.

Reward: Past Title Restored – "The One Who Swings Back"

Passive: Bounceback Bonus (+5% performance after failure)

After the match, Raj sat on the ground near the pavilion.Not talking.Not celebrating.Just breathing.Spandana approached but didn’t speak.She simply sat beside him, legs crossed, elbows on knees.They looked at the field together.

She finally whispered:"You swung with memory."

Raj replied:"No. I swung with peace."

In another city, a video clip from the match reached a private Discord group of regional cricket mentors.

The short title read:

"Unknown Glove Brand Hits System-Level Timing"

Someone responded:

"Who is this RajCraft kid?

Get his data. Quietly."

To be continued...