The sun crept up over Maibadh, casting a golden light over the dewy cricket ground. Raj stood near the practice nets, twirling the cricket ball in his hand. Today felt different.
He could feel it in the air. The subtle shift. The way people looked at him now — not as a dreamer, but as someone becoming... something.
[System Quest Active: "Earn Their Trust"]
Objective: Help 3 players improve their game in 5 days
Reward: Passive Skill – Mentor Lv.1 + 2% Team Influence Radius
Raj exhaled and glanced at the watch on his wrist. A small icon blinked — a player silhouette beside a glowing path. The system was tracking his progress, not just for himself anymore, but for the team he'd eventually lead.
And he knew exactly where to start.
He approached the younger nets first — where the Class 7 and 8 kids usually fumbled through half-hearted drills. Most didn't have a coach, just seniors who shouted instructions and occasionally laughed at their mistakes.
Raj spotted a familiar face — a skinny boy named Nikhil, who used to bowl fast but wild.
In the last life, he quit cricket entirely after being humiliated during a district trial.
Not this time.
"Your grip is off," Raj said gently, walking over. "Try loosening your wrist during the final step. You'll gain more control."
Nikhil blinked, surprised. "Huh? You… you watched me?"
"I watch everyone," Raj smiled.
The boy tried again.
The ball hit the stump.
Dead center.
He gasped. "I-I did it!"
Raj nodded. "Now do it ten more times."
[Assistance Logged: Player Nikhil – Progress: 1/3]
Next, he found a quiet girl sitting under the neem tree, sketching something in her notebook.
It was Harini, the younger sister of one of the school's past players.
She rarely spoke. In the last timeline, she faded into the background.
But Raj remembered seeing her once play in a friendly — with stunning footwork and balance. She had potential.
"You play?" he asked gently.
She closed the notebook quickly. "No…"
"Is that a bat you were drawing?"
She blushed.
"Come to the nets tomorrow morning," Raj said. "No pressure. Just a trial."
She hesitated… then nodded slightly.
[New Player Interest Triggered: Harini – Pending Evaluation]
That evening, Raj joined the senior boys for drills. As expected, the older students ran things with ego and impatience. But Raj focused on his actions, not his words.
When Vikram, a proud left-handed batsman, struggled with backfoot drives, Raj waited for the others to stop mocking.
Then stepped forward.
"Try shifting your weight forward during the ball release," he said. "You're falling back."
Vikram frowned. "I've been playing longer than you—"
"Then you'll understand this faster than I did."
The boy paused.
Tried the adjustment.
Crack.
Clean hit.
Silence.
Vikram looked at him, almost respectfully. "How did you…?"
Raj didn't answer. He just smiled and walked away.
[Assistance Logged: Player Vikram – Progress: 2/3]
That night, Raj sat on the rooftop, watching stars flicker through thin clouds.
The system buzzed.
[Progress: 2/3 Complete]
Harini must show performance to count toward final milestone
Time Remaining: 3 Days
He stretched his arms and lay back. The air was cool. His body ached. But his heart was calm.
He wasn't chasing glory.
He was planting seeds.
Next morning, Harini showed up.
She wore a simple kurta-pyjama, hair tied awkwardly, holding a bat that looked too heavy.
Raj didn't laugh.
He adjusted her grip, her stance, her shoulders.
She missed the first two balls.
But on the third, she connected.
The sound — that sweet crack of bat-on-ball — echoed across the nets.
Her eyes widened.
"You've got balance," Raj said.
She smiled. Genuinely.
[Assistance Logged: Player Harini – Progress: 3/3]
[Quest Complete: "Earn Their Trust"]
Reward Unlocked:
– Passive Skill: Mentor Lv.1
– Effect: +10% success chance when coaching others
– Buff: +2% Team Influence Radius (future matches)
You have taken your first step as a future captain.
Raj stood quietly as the system faded.
This time… he wasn't alone.