College Tennis: Origin Story (WIP) - Updated 11 Apr '25 [898k words]

Hahaha @Xoromin, @idonotlikeusernames, @Knoez, this feels like a “sam fans unite against tyranny of long distance” situation. Anyway, just to put a giant disclaimer on something that sounds a little too juicy: the bonus scene itself is only 1000 words long.

That said, I should use the perspective-switch as a narrative tool for showing the separate unfolding of MC and Sam’s life much more, and I think I will!

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Well I mean my mc has partly got himself to blame for being such a dense cocky brat and just being Sam’s silly best friend for most of his life and only realizing he has those kind of feelings for Sam during a silly college truth or dare game of all places. :sweat_smile: :grin:

Definitely! Maybe later on there could even be some dad and if and when she re-enters mc’s life mom perspective snippets. :thinking:

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Yay thank you I’ve been waiting for Sam content. I don’t know I just love him more than any other RO. And even though Sam only get 1000 words of update, it’s fine the only thing matter to me is I get to read about Sam again :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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Anyone knows how to score 84 MARKS in the test?

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Hiya! There are actually two very specific scenarios that will help you get an 84/100, as it is meant to be quite a rare achievement—most people will simply get the band below it.

First off, you have to at least have done readings twice leading up to the test. Then, you have to be at least intelligence > 29, and finally (this is the complex part), you have to sit next to G and discuss questions with them, or sit next to Addie and make a bet with her so you’re fuelled by pure competitive spirit.

[Cross-posted to Tumblr as I saw the question there as well!]

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I haven’t even seen the scene yet but I am so hyped. And 1000 words is great, we’ve been starved of Sam content for so long (which I know is the point, but still :smiling_face_with_tear:)

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Uhh 15 Apr?

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Time zone difference

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:smile: @Mr.A, I’m currently writing the last bit of the update (where your doubles partners are reacting to the news), and adding a bit more content because I feel like where I had intended to end is way too much of a cliffhanger. You guys would kill me, I think. :see_no_evil:

@Sidhant thank you, that was very generous of you.

Still, the early release update will be coming out by the end of this weekend, meaning 16th Apr at the very latest, and as loose with the timezones as I can cut it. Cheers!

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No. Make us suffer, it’s the main reason we read WIP’s anyway

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Hmmm, can the mc beat deepal here?

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Hahahaha!! Good to know. I get the feeling I’ll be linking back to this when the update does drop.

Actually, I downplayed this a little bit more in a recent edit, because I felt three matches in the same update felt a bit… excessive. You will get to play Deepal, but it’s a lot shorter than what I had before. More like a plot thing rather than a full blown game (unlike the doubles matches).

And finally- @Rishabh_Chanana HAHAH!! I hope you havent been fossilised waiting just yet, just a bit longer I promise!!!

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Uhh 16 Apr?

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Do u have a fascination on the date 16? I recognize ur last update is 16 October, and now ur going to update it at 16 April?

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Ikr, maybe he was born on a 16th

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Uhh, 17 Apr?

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Early release pt. 2 update is available for ko-fi supporters! :tada:

Full summary of CT:OS update #6

Part 1
  • Attend your first photography club meeting and potentially… have a moment with G in the dark room [smooching may be involved!:kissing_heart:] (achievement up for grabs)
  • Hang out with D and G at a café, :coffee: and have a run-in with Felix! [it can be as tame as you want, or a little hostile.]
  • Play an additional (mini) challenge match—against Deepal, Jacks, Max, or Akimi.
  • Find out if you’re officially in the Top 6 :1st_place_medal:(meaning you’ll play in the singles matches during the season)!
  • Short Sam POV scene, after they move into college!
Part 2
  • Play two doubles matches
    • One with Tobin as your partner, against Rayyan and Jacks [Yes, you can beat Rayyan, at last!] :tennis:
    • And another with Rayyan as your partner against Tobin and Jacks!
  • Find out who your doubles partner for the season is!
    • Rayyan, Tobin, and Emerson are all possibilities, and they will all have their cliff-hanger-y reactions to the news.
    • No points for guessing who is… not happy :eyes:. [This could involve a confrontation with Rayyan, or a quiet walk with Tobin.]
Extras
  • Chapter banners are up! (Let me know what you think—whether you love it or hate it, as I’m still toying around with the design!)
  • In-game cheats have finally been coded (Do let me know if you have trouble with either of these.)
  • Skip matches (with a password once you’ve played the match once)
  • Beast mode (where every choice you make will be automatically successful!)
  • Earlier chapters have also been edited based on beta tester comments, and to streamline the content a little.
    • E.g. extra challenge-match for this chapter has been shortened, and the mini weekend ‘dates’ with Tobin and Rayyan (to the library & on a run) have been shifted—but it’s simply a rearrangement of content so that it works better.
Wordcount

Added wordcount for this update: +92k words (with code), ~18k words (without code)
Total CT:OS wordcount: ~346k words (with code), ~85k words (without code)

Future plans
In the next couple of days, I’ll be going in to polish up the scenes a little more, but I just wanted to make sure the bulk of it is out and available to play, for the early-release folks!

For everyone else, Pt. 1 will be available to play on the 22nd!

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I don’t know if you stated this before but what exactly is going to determine our doubles partner

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Just to save you some headache next time, “as loose with the timezones as I can cut it” implies that as long as you don’t live in Alaska or some island in the east Pacific, just expect it the next day some time. Probably very late.

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