The atmosphere around the Basketball Club suddenly became tense.
Several club members quietly stopped practicing.
Even students from nearby clubs began looking toward the court.
Everyone had noticed the strange atmosphere between their club president and the freshman.
Ethan Vale looked directly into Ryan's eyes.
His expression remained calm.
Then, with a faint mocking smile, he spoke.
"So...you are the one who is blind despite having eyes."
"You want to join our club?"
His voice wasn't loud but everyone nearby heard it every word he said.
Ryan smiled politely and replied.
"Yes, Senior."
He looked at him with cold eyes, then he raised both of hands and looked at the other members of the club.
"But I don't think our club will accept a person who can't see anything." He said in a cold voice.
He was openly threatening everyone that was present at the basketball court.
Several students exchanged glances. Some members whispered among themselves.
"What should we do?"
"We should agree with Ethan otherwise…"
"He clearly offended young Master Ethan, that's why he targeted him like this today."
After discussing among themselves some students/members spoke.
"Yes, you can't see properly."
"You are unfit to join the basketball club."
Inside, however, Ryan was anything but calm.
'Stay composed...Don't show weakness. You're standing in front of Ethan Vale. If he senses fear, he'll completely dominate the conversation.'
'These side characters are really annoying how you need to suck him.' he thought.
Ryan knew Ethan's personality well.
He wasn't the type of villain who bullied innocent students but he loved torture one who offended him.
Many people are lick his foot and do sweet talk to gain benefits from him. But he always ignores them like we ignore dogs who bark.
Very few people in the country match his status.
Ethan folded his arms.
"You want to join the Basketball Club?" His voice was soft but it cut through the quiet like a knife.
Ryan said. "Yes," His voice was calm but his hands trembled from nervousness.
Ethan sighed. He advanced the soles of his shoes scuffing the court.
"I don't accept weak members."
Around them, the other players shifted closer, eager to watch.
Ryan nodded.
"I understand."
A faint smile appeared on Ethan's face.
"Good."
He picked up a basketball and casually bounced it once.
Thump.
The sound echoed through the court.
Thump.
"Let's make a bet."
Thump.
He spun the ball on one finger before tossing it toward Ryan.
Ryan caught it instinctively.
"If you can score even one basket against me..." Ethan said.
"I'll personally approve your membership."
The surrounding students gasped.
"What?"
"Against President Ethan?"
"That's impossible."
"Even second-year students struggle to score on him."
Ryan looked down at the basketball in his hands.
Then back at Ethan.
"...Just one basket?" He asked.
Ethan gave a small nod in agreement with Ryan.
"Only one."
"No tricks."
"No interference."
"A fair one-on-one."
Ryan's eyes narrowed slightly.
He appreciated that.
Despite being considered a villain in the novel...Ethan respected competition. That was the spirit of a true sportsman.
But still we can't deny his obsession with Claire is dangerous. Still he is the villain of the novel.
On the basketball court—
Persons' status didn't matter, only skills can dominate this entire court.
Ryan smiled.
"I accept."
The court immediately became lively.
Students from nearby clubs gathered around.
Even Jack and Lucas, who had finished registering for their own clubs, hurried over the basketball court after hearing the commotion from other students.
Both sat together in chairs and saw Ethan and Ryan standing in front of each other.
Jack's eyes widened.
"Ryan is playing against Ethan?"
Lucas quietly crossed his arms.
"This won't be easy."
"You also think like that." He asked Lucas.
"No, because I didn't know how much better Ryan was in basketball but hearing those conversations make one thing clear that Ethan Vale was a difficult opponent."
"You're right , we can't judge someone without knowing them." He said in a serious voice but he suddenly asked Lucas, "by the way which club you joined."
"I joined a martial arts club."
Meanwhile...
Ethan walked toward the center of the court.
Students start cheering for him.
The boys were shouting to crush Ryan and the girls were hyped by his handsome face.
"Go, crush him."
"Ethan, Ethan."
"He was so handsome in a blazer."
"Why does Claire ignore handsome men like him?"
He removed his blazer and handed it to another club member.
Underneath was a simple athletic shirt.
His movements were relaxed.
Confidence.
The confidence of someone who had spent years on the court.
Ryan also removed his blazer.
Unlike Ethan…
When students saw him they became silent and nobody was cheering for him.
He hadn't seriously played basketball since his previous life.
Still...
He remembered enough techniques of basketball from his previous life that he learned from television watching famous basketball players.
These techniques are different from this world but still speed and strength of Ryan (original body) can't compare to Ethan body was like basketball player's body structure is highly optimized for agility, explosive power, and endurance
A senior student stepped forward.
"I'll referee."
Both players nodded.
The referee raised one hand.
"One point needs to win."
"Both of you know the rules right."
"Yes we know the rules." both of them said together.
"Play fair."
Ethan extended his hand toward Ryan.
Ryan looked slightly surprised.
Then he shook it.
Ethan smiled faintly.
"On this court..."
"We're just basketball players."
Ryan returned the smile.
"Agreed."
The handshake ended.
The referee tossed the ball into the air.
The game… between the Villain and Side Character of the novel has begun.