Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

The school auditorium was filled with excited chatter, and students were filing in for the graduation ceremony of the third-year class. The banners hung high on the walls, and rows of chairs were set up neatly for the graduates. The entire Shizi Dogs basketball team had gathered at the back, dressed in their school uniforms—a rare sight for the disorganized bunch. Kai scanned the crowd with a half-smile. He caught sight of Renren, who was fidgeting nervously with the hem of his shirt, and Kun, who was already dabbing at his eyes with a tissue. "Kun, are you seriously crying before it's even started?" Kai teased. Kun sniffled, giving him a watery glare. "It's just...it's so emotional! We've been through a lot, okay?" Kai rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "You're hopeless." "Quiet down, you two," Lina said, nudging them. "It's going to start." With that, the basketball team made their way to their seats and watched the ceremony. The names of the graduating students were called one by one, along with the honors they had received. Andy was already drooling on Jet's shoulder while Shang couldn't keep his head up. Ceremonies like these were seriously a bore. However, they all jolted back to life as soon as the class valedictorian was called. The crowd hushed as Yuze made his way to the stage. He looked impeccable in his graduation robe despite the slight limp in his step—a reminder of the injury that had kept him off the court during their final game. Still, his posture was straight, his head held high. He adjusted the microphone, giving a brief smile to the audience before clearing his throat. "Good afternoon, everyone," Yuze began. Jet cheered loudly, but Andy quickly covered his mouth. "This is not the right place for this," he said, shaking his head in amusement. Yuze shook his head as he caught a glimpse of their team. With that, he continued his speech. "I never thought I'd be standing here, giving the valedictorian speech. Honestly, when I started high school, I wasn't even sure if I'd make it through, let alone be recognized for academics." Some chuckles were heard through the crowd, and Yuze's smile widened. "Liar," Jet said, shaking his head. "He's always been the smartest in their year." "For the past three years, I chased something relentlessly—basketball. It was my whole world. I spent more time on this court than in any classroom," he admitted, glancing fondly at the shiny hardwood beneath his feet. "And I always thought if I was going to make a speech here, it'd be as a champion holding a trophy—not as a class valedictorian." The room fell silent. "But life has a funny way of surprising us," Yuze continued. "Even though I couldn't play that final game, I realized something. It wasn't just about the wins or the losses. It was about the journey—every sprint, every rebound, every huddle with my team. It was about the family I found on this court." Kai felt a lump form in his throat, glancing over at his teammates. Shang was already sniffling, and even Andy looked suspiciously misty-eyed. "I didn't get to play at the final game," Yuze continued. "But it's okay because my teammates did. They carried me; they lifted me up when I couldn't stand on my own. And for that, I'm forever grateful." He took a deep breath, looking out into the sea of faces. "I want to thank my coaches, my teachers, and most importantly, my brothers—the Shizi Dogs. You made these three years unforgettable. This isn't the end of our journey. It's just the beginning." The crowd erupted into applause, and Yuze gave a small, respectful bow before stepping down from the stage. He was immediately mobbed by his classmates, but he managed to make his way over to the team. Kai met him halfway, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "That was one hell of a speech," Kai said, grinning. "You almost had me crying there." "Almost?" Yuze raised an eyebrow, smirking. "I thought I saw you wipe a tear." Kai scoffed. "It was dust in my eye." "Yeah, sure," Yuze teased, but his expression softened. "Thanks, Kai. For everything." Before Kai could respond, Renren barreled into them, pulling Yuze into a bear hug. "Yuze, that was beautiful!" Renren sobbed, his face red and splotchy. "And I got the sports scholarship! Can you believe it?" Kai's eyes widened. "Wait, you got the scholarship? That's amazing, Renren!" Renren nodded, tears streaming down his face. "Yeah! I didn't think I'd get it, but I guess playing basketball well paid off." Kun, who had been watching from the side, burst into tears again. "I'm just so proud of everyone!" he wailed, burying his face in his hands. "Kun, come on, man," Jinping said, patting his back. "You're making me look bad. I promised myself I wouldn't cry today." Kai chuckled, looking at the teary-eyed chaos around him. He had expected today to be emotional, but seeing his teammates like this was almost too much. He shook his head with an amused smile. "You guys are a mess." Yuze turned to Kai, his expression suddenly serious. He looked directly into Kai's eyes, and for a moment, it felt like the rest of the gym had fallen away. "Kai," he said. "I need you to do something for me." The others had proceeded with their own conversations noq, leaving only the two of them. Kai blinked, surprised by the seriousness in his voice. "What is it?" Yuze took a deep breath, glancing back at the team before meeting Kai's gaze again. "I want you to become the team captain." Kai's mouth fell open. He hadn't seen that coming. He searched Yuze's face for any sign of a joke, but there was none. "Me?" he managed to say, almost incredulous. He was only going to be in his second year! How could he become the captain? "Yes, you," Yuze said firmly. "I was also given this position during my second year. I know you would be able to do it." Kai pursed his lips, trying to process the request. He had always played his hardest, but becoming captain was a whole different level of responsibility. "Goodness," Kai muttered. Another dilemma was added to his list of dilemmas!