A group of Basketball Club members stood together, still looking at Ryan with disbelief.
"Did you see those dribbling techniques?"
"I've never seen anything like that."
"They looked strange... but incredibly effective."
"President Ethan actually had to adapt during the game."
"I thought the freshman would lose in ten seconds."
Another senior nodded.
"He still lost..."
"But he definitely isn't an ordinary freshman."
Inside the court.
Ethan walked toward him while holding the basketball in left hand.
There was no mockery in his eyes.
No arrogance experience on his face.
Only respect.
He extended his hand towards him to shake.
"Good game." He said with smile.
Ryan looked at the offered hand then smiled.
"Good game."
They shook hands firmly.
Ethan spoke quietly so only Ryan could hear.
"Those techniques…I've never seen them before. Where you learn these techniques."
Ryan smiled mysteriously.
"I learned them from... an old coach."
Ethan studied him for a moment 'old coach, if their any person who play with these techniques then his name should I hear…okay everyone has their own secret.' he thought
Then he gave a small nodded.
"Keep practicing. When your body catches up to your skills..."
He glanced toward the basketball hoop.
"...you'll become a troublesome opponent to handle."
Ryan chuckled.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"You should."
Ethan turned toward the club members and tell them.
"Ryan Carter…He passed."
Everyone looked confused after hearing this because according to bet Ryan loss in match, he can't join basketball club.
One student couldn't help asking,
"But... President, he lost."
Ethan looked back calmly.
"The condition was to score against me." Then he looked at the Ryan and said with smile. "He did."
The student blinked.
Only then did everyone remember.
During the match, Ryan had managed to score once before Ethan adjusted to his unfamiliar techniques.
Ethan had won the game—
But Ryan had fulfilled the challenge.
Ethan crossed his arms.
"Our Basketball Club doesn't only need players who win."
"It needs players who can make their opponents improve."
His eyes briefly met Ryan's.
"And today..."
"You made me think."
Ryan smiled.
Perhaps Ethan Vale wasn't the simple villain the novel had portrayed.
On the basketball court...
He was first and foremost—
A true sportsman.
After completing the registration process. Ryan was standing in front of his friends.
Jack stared at Ryan with his mouth wide open.
"..."
"..."
Ryan waved a hand in front of his eyes.
"Are you still alive?" He asked
Jack suddenly grabbed Ryan's shoulders dramatically and shook him.
"Brother! You can actually play basketball?!"
Ryan laughed.
"A little."
"A LITTLE?!"
Jack pointed his finger toward the court.
"You almost made the Basketball Club President sweat!"
Ryan smiled awkwardly.
"I'm still lost."
Jack shook his head.
"No."
"You earned everyone's respect."
Lucas was standing there listen them talking then he walked towards them.
"Well played man." He said with smile.
Far away in crowd of students two girls had witnessed the entire match.
Sophia Laurent.
And her best friend—
Emily Hart.
Emily crossed her arms.
"I honestly thought Ethan would crush him immediately."
Sophia nodded slightly.
"He has skills but his body is weak."
Emily looked toward Ryan again.
Sophia's eyes quietly followed Ryan.
She had noticed something the others hadn't.
Ryan never once looked frustrated after losing. Instead, he smiled as he shook Ethan's hand, as if he'd won something more valuable than the match.
'Interesting,' Sophia thought. Most boys she knew hated losing—especially in front of a crowd.
Emily grinned mischievously. "Don't tell me you're interested in him."
Sophia looked away calmly. "No."
Then she got up from chair and said in a calm voice.
"Let's go from here, the match is over now."
Across the basketball court...
Ethan watched Ryan talking with Jack and Lucas.
A Basketball Club member approached him.
"President."
"What do you think of him?"
Ethan folded his arms.
"He has excellent basketball instincts."
The senior blinked.
"Then why did he lose the match?"
Ethan answered without hesitation.
"Because instincts alone don't win games. He lacks strength and his stamina isn't enough. And his body can't fully support the techniques he uses."
Ethan looked toward Ryan again. "But—"
"If he trains seriously..." A faint smile tugged at Ethan's mouth. "...he'll become one of the strongest players in this university."
The club fell silent. That was high praise—especially coming from Ethan Vale.
Meanwhile...
Ryan laughed as Jack exaggerated every moment of the match.
"You almost made me think you were a The Zenith Convergence superstar!"
Ryan smiled helplessly.
'The Zenith Convergence this like a NBA Championship. Rule are same but skill are different because this romance novel. So, author didn't given so much attention on world structure.' he thought.
Lucas nodded in agreement.
"I think so too."
Ryan looked around the court many students were still secretly looking at him.
Some of them with curiosity about his technique that he used in match.
Some of them with admiration even after lost get acknowledged by Ethan.
Some of them with surprise because they didn't expect that he could play this well against the Ethan Vale.
He smiled inwardly.
"Perfect."
He had no intention of becoming famous this fast but if losing gracefully earned him respect...
Then today's defeat had been worth it.
Sometimes...
A good loss could leave a stronger impression than an easy victory.