Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

Kai stared at his phone screen, causing him to squint at the bright light. The continuous message notifications from the Global Games group chat woke him up early. He tapped on it reluctantly, already knowing what he'd see. Jimmy: Deadline for the waiver is today. Make sure you sign it and send it in. No exceptions, or you're out. Kai's fingers lingered over the screen as he scrolled up to the official email that had arrived earlier. The bold header read: Global Games Waiver Submission: Last Day to Confirm Participation. It was all laid out in clear, black text—if he didn't sign it, he'd lose his spot on the team. And not just any team, but a global team featuring some of the best basketball talents in their country. Feeling his chest tighten with indecision, Kai pushed himself off the bench in his room. The walls felt like they were closing in on him. He grabbed his sneakers and headed out, needing to clear his head. Without thinking, his feet took him toward the school's gym—the place that had become a second home to him. When he arrived at the entrance, the guard squinted at him from behind the glass door. "The gym's closed for summer." "Oh," Kai muttered. "I see." With that, he turned away. However, the guard's eyes suddenly widened in recognition, and he chuckled, shaking his head as he unlocked the gates. "Kai Guo," he said, admiration heard in his voice. "You didn't tell me it's you! Come on in. But don't tell anyone I let you in." Kai's eyebrows raised in surprise. Well, it seemed like his fame had some perks too. He nodded gratefully. "Thanks. I won't take long." Inside, the court was quiet, the sound of his footsteps echoing as he walked toward the center. He inhaled deeply, letting the familiar scent of polished wood and sweat fill his lungs. It felt like home. He dribbled the ball slowly at first, then began moving faster. He took a shot, watching the ball soar through the air and swish cleanly through the net. The sound should have given him the usual rush of adrenaline, but today, it only made his heart feel heavier. Every shot he took, he thought about his team. He thought about Yuze's parting words, the pressure of becoming the next captain, and the promise he'd made. He thought about his grandmother, sitting alone at the dinner table if he left for months to play in Beijing. And then, he thought about Lina. He couldn't help but wonder how she'd feel about it—especially now that they had just started dating. The door creaked open, and Kai turned, startled. He hadn't expected anyone else to be here. To his surprise, it was Lina, clutching a clipboard and looking equally surprised to see him. "Kai?" she said, stepping inside. "What are you doing here?" "I could ask you the same thing," he replied, trying to smile despite the conflict gnawing at his insides. Lina held up the clipboard. "The principal asked me to do a survey for all the repairs they want to make in the gym," she explained. "It seems like they're finally putting some effort into the team." Kai chuckled dryly, tossing the ball up and catching it. "It's about time, huh? Yuze has been asking for better facilities for three years." Lina nodded, but her smile faded as she looked at him closely. "What's wrong, Kai?" she asked, her voice softening. "You look...off." He sighed, rolling the ball between his hands before setting it down. "I got the official email today. The deadline for the Global Games waiver is tomorrow." Lina's eyes widened. "Oh," she said quietly. "That's big news. Are you going to sign it?" "I don't know," Kai admitted, sinking down to sit on the court. He leaned back on his hands, staring up at the ceiling. "It's not just a two-week trip. It would take around…two or three months? The Shizi Dogs...Yuze entrusted the team to me, you know? He wanted me to be the captain. How can I just leave?" Lina set her clipboard aside and sat down next to him, their shoulders touching. "The team would be fine without you," she said, making Kai raise his eyebrows in surprise. "Well, that's…harsh," he chuckled. Lina shook her head. "You know that's not what I meant. What I truly mean is that the team would still function without you. We would lose our best player, for sure. But the other boys would still do their best. You have also brought a lot of prestige to our school, so I'm sure that more players would try out for our team." "Aside from that, Jet could step up as captain. He's a good leader." The two of them were silent for a while before they burst into chuckles. "Jet?" Kai asked. "Well, he does give pretty good advice at times." Lina smiled. "It's nice to see you smiling." He let out a deep breath and leaned his head against the wall. "It's not just about the team, though. It's my grandma, too. She's already alone enough as it is. If I leave, who's going to be there for her?" Lina took his hand, squeezing it lightly. "Your grandma would understand, Kai. She knows how much basketball means to you. She'd want you to take this chance. Besides," she continued. "What am I here for then? Have you forgotten that I'm her favorite?" Kai shook his head in amusement. Well, he couldn't really argue with that. "And you," Kai said quietly, turning to look at her. "I don't want to leave you." They had just started their relationship. The thought of leaving her so soon, of missing out on all the moments they could share—it scared him more than he cared to admit. Lina's expression softened, and she leaned her head against his shoulder. "Kai," she said, her voice almost teasing. "You don't have to worry about me." He pulled back slightly to look at her, brow furrowed in confusion. "How can you say that? We just started dating. I don't want you to feel like I'm abandoning you." Lina laughed softly, shaking her head. "You're such an idiot sometimes," she said, though her tone was affectionate. "Of course, I'll miss you, but this is your dream, isn't it? You've done so much for the team and for everyone around you. Don't you think it's time you did something for yourself?" Kai swallowed hard, her words cutting through the fog of uncertainty clouding his mind. "I just...I don't want to make the wrong choice." Lina cupped his cheek, turning his face so he had to look at her. Her eyes were filled with warmth. "Kai, listen to me," she said. "I know how much this opportunity scares you. You're afraid of leaving everything behind, of stepping into a world that's bigger than you've ever known. But you can't make this choice based on what you think everyone else wants." Kai's breath hitched. He realized she was right. He'd been thinking about everyone except himself—about the team, his grandmother, about her. He hadn't once stopped to consider what he truly wanted. Lina gave him a small smile, rubbing her thumb gently across his cheek. "So I'm going to ask you something," she said. "And I want you to answer honestly." Kai nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. "Okay," he whispered. She took a deep breath, her eyes never leaving his. "Do you want to do it? Don't think about the team, your grandma, or even me. Do you want to play in the Global Games?" For a moment, everything went silent. Kai's world narrowed down to just him and Lina, her earnest face inches from his own, waiting for an answer he wasn't sure he had. He didn't respond immediately, staring down at their intertwined hands. Her fingers were warm against his skin, grounding him, yet his mind felt like it was spinning out of control. But he knew he couldn't avoid the question forever. It was time to figure out what his heart was telling him. "Yes." "Yes, I would like to play in the Global Games."