Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

"Did your mother crave metal when she was younger or something?" Kun couldn't help but ask. "How could you dent a car when you're a literal person?"

Grandma Bingbing placed her hand under her chin.

"Maybe she actually did. She craved a lot of blood when Kai was younger."

Chills ran down their spines as Grandma Bingbing revealed the creepy fact.

"Anyway, thanks for coming here," she said like she hadn't just disturbed everyone with her previous statement. "I believe that Kai is good now, so we best be going."

Lina shook her head. "Let's wait for the doctor, grandma," she smiled.

"Grandma sounds too formal," she smiled. "Just call me Nana."

"Alright, Nana," Lina smiled, feeling nice about the nickname.

Kun excitedly raised his hand. "Can I also call you Nana?" he asked.

"Of course," Grandma Bingbing smiled.

Kai cleared his throat. "Can I also call you—"

"No," she deadpanned, causing Kai to pout.

"I'm your grandson, though," he muttered.

Then, he shook his head. "Anyway, I'm really fine," Kai insisted. "We can go home now."

However, his grandma had already agreed that they needed to wait for what the doctor would say.
Read exclusive adventures at empire

Fortunately, the doctor didn't take long. Grandma Bingbing was surprised since it was the same doctor who had attended to Kai when he hit his head.

"Well, it's you again," the doctor muttered.

"What happened, doctor?" Lina asked in a concerned tone.

"The good news is—he doesn't have any fractures," he revealed, causing a collective sigh of relief to reverberate through the room.

"Honestly, it's very surprising since you claimed that he got hit by a car. Yet, based on all of his X-ray results, nothing is out of place."

"Atta boy," Grandma Bingbing smiled, feeling proud.

"However," the doctor added, causing them to turn serious once more.

"There is something that an X-ray cannot detect. I believe you should be feeling sore on the leg that had been hit," he said.

Kai frowned and moved both of his legs on the bed, even kicking to make a point.

"I really feel fine," Kai said.

"Stand up," the doctor instructed.

Kai sighed but followed the doctor's order nonetheless.

Then, that was when it hit him.

There was a dull ache on his right leg, and it got worse when he put pressure on it.

"Dang," he muttered, sitting back down on the bed.

They looked at him with wide eyes.

"What happened?" Lina frantically asked. "Did something break?"

"I knew it," the doctor said. "It's impressive that he doesn't have any fractures, but I do believe he had gotten a sprain. Let me see," he said, kneeling on the floor and inspecting Kai's ankle.

Coach Muchen sighed in frustration.

"I told you guys to not get hurt," he muttered.

Kai sheepishly glanced at him; however, he quickly grimaced as the doctor continued maneuvering his leg.

"Hmm," the doctor hummed. "Fortunately, it seems to only be a Grade 1 sprain."

"What does that mean?" Grandma asked.

"It means that he needs at least one to two weeks of rest. However, just to make sure, I would recommend you to rest from vigorous activities for two weeks."

Kai's eyes widened. It was his biggest reaction of the night—knowing that he wouldn't be able to play for the next two weeks.

"That can't be!" Kai said. "I'm a basketball player."

"Oh, you definitely have the height for it," the doctor said. "Nice choice."

Kai sighed in frustration. "I can't rest for two weeks, doctor," he argued. "I need to continue with training."

"Well, you can still train," the doctor said. "But I would advise you not to play in games. You can shoot while sitting if that helps."

Kai pursed his lips and was about to argue once more when Lina interrupted him.

"We have a tournament next next Friday," she nervously introduced. "Will he be fine then?"

"Most likely, yes," the doctor said, making Lina sigh in relief. "However, that is as long as he doesn't exert too much effort for the next two weeks."

Lina nodded with determination. "I'll make sure he does that, doctor."

"Lina," Kai was about to complain, but she threw him a quick glare, causing him to purse his lips.

Yuze sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. "I guess we can't do anything about it," he muttered. "You'll have to rest until the opening game."

"That's right," Coach Muchen chimed, not giving Kai the chance to argue. "Lina and I will prepare a special regimen for you."

With their conclusions, Kai just nodded in defeat.

He was quite excited to show off his upgraded level, but it seemed like he had to wait a little longer.

"I know it's disappointing," Kun said, comforting him. "But you can play for the opening game if you are patient enough."

Kai nodded once more, already accepting his fate.

With that, his eyes strayed towards the doctor—specifically the pocket of his coat.

"Then, can I please have one of your ballpoint pens?"

The doctor frowned in confusion.

"...what?"

[You have found A ballpoint pen from the doctor's office.]

[+15 XP]

[Current level: Premier (99)]

***

"So, Kai can't join our practice game for tomorrow?" Jinping asked.

"Yup," Yuze said. "He needs to rest for one more week."

Jinping smiled. "Sweet!" he exclaimed.

Meanwhile, Kai glared at him before turning to Yuze with wide, puppy eyes.

However, it didn't even resonate with the captain since Kai's bangs had gotten even longer.

"I'm fine," Kai said. "Look!"

Kai jumped up and down, not feeling any pain in his body. "I can even do this now."

Lina quickly ran to where Kai was and slapped his bicep. "What do you want to miss? The practice game with the Yin Yang Knights or the opening game of the Interhigh Preliminaries?"

"Neither," Kai muttered.

Lina clicked her tongue. "Well, you shouldn't have been ran over by a car."

"So, all you can do now is sit on this chair," she said, pulling Kai's designated chair and placing it on the side of the free-throw line, "and shoot while sitting down."

Kai sighed but followed her instructions nonetheless.

He glanced behind him and watched as the other boys engaged in a half-court practice game, celebrating when they got a point.

"Kai, practice," Lina scolded, making him click his tongue and dribble the ball before aiming it at the ring.

Swoosh.

He made it.

Of course, he made it.

He had been doing it for the past four days!