Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

The Shizi Dogs stepped foot at Yin Yang High, and like Feng Arts, they had state-of-the-art facilities.

Kai couldn't help but gape at the tall buildings that contained the student's classrooms. He looked around and saw cafes and small restaurants on the adorning it too.

"Dang," Shang muttered. "This really puts things into perspective. I feel like we're being mistreated in Shizi High."

"Well, the tuition fee is quite expensive here," Renren remarked. "How much is it again, Yuze?"

"700,000 yuan," Yuze responded.

The boys were shocked to the core.

"I think I'm fine with Shizi High," Kai said.

"Let's go to the gym," Yuze said, leading the boys since he was the only one who knew how to navigate the campus.

The students whispered as the Shizi Dogs passed by them.

Jinping's shoulders squared in confidence.

Meanwhile, the older players weren't used to the attention. They liked it, though.

It was a good change compared to their past. People didn't even bat an eye at them last year.

"The Shizi Dogs? They're having a practice game?"

"Yeah, they announced it on the school page."

"Really now? Can we go?"

"Nope, it's a ticket-only event."

"Dang, why are they selling tickets for a practice game?"

Lina frowned as she overheard the other students' conversation.

"They're selling tickets?"

Yuze frowned and shrugged. "They didn't tell me about it."

Lina clicked her tongue and shook her head. "It must be Fei's doing. They're trying to profit when the league still hasn't started!"

Indeed, it was Fei's idea to sell tickets for the practice game.

Grace, her apprentice, looked around with amazement.

"You managed to sell out all of the tickets?" she asked.

Fei smirked as she also looked around. "Of course," she said.

"I was a little bit skeptical at first since we are playing with the Shizi Dogs. However, they're relatively popular among the crowd."

The seats quickly filled up, and when the doors opened, revealing the Shizi Dogs, they erupted into cheers.

The Shizi Dogs froze as they were met with a filled gymnasium.

Yuze, too, was shocked, not expecting the amount of people in the room.

Renren and Andy turned to each other and gulped, their nervousness evident.

"What the heck?" Jet muttered. "They came here to watch us?"

Kai clicked his tongue. He felt bitter once more as he was reminded that he couldn't play in the practice game!

Yuze cleared his throat and straightened his posture before walking to their side of the bench.

The screams became louder, making them even more surprised.

Fei's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, feeling a little bit bitter that they were receiving so much attention on their home court.

Lina turned to her with a small smirk, showing that she was proud.

However, as the doors opened once more, now revealing the Yin Yang Knights, the crowd erupted into deafening screams.

The Shizi Dogs turned to each other in utter surprise.

Jinping even had to cover his ears because it sounded too overwhelming.

Lina froze in her spot as Fei threw her a smug look.

"Max! Marry me!"

"Fabin, you got much more handsome!"

"Ailun, please show your ball...skills!"

The students of Yin Yang were clearly infatuated with their home team.

Max turned to the side of the Shizi Dogs and looked for one particular person. He frowned when he saw Kai sitting at the very edge of the bench. However, as their eyes met, they exchanged small smiles.

Fabin nudged Max's shoulder.

"Well, Max is happy now," he remarked. "He had finally seen his muse."

Max frowned and pushed his friend away. "Shut up. I'm just excited to play a game."

Ailun nodded in agreement. "Me too!" he chimed. "I feel like it's been forever since we played a real game. We didn't have a practice game with the Alligators or the Foxes this year, so this is our first official game with another team."

"That's right," Coach Guanyu said, capturing their attention.

With the stern sound of their coach's voice, the team quickly turned their attention to him.

"So, I don't want you to embarrass yourselves," he said.

The team nodded in determination. Others may deem Coach Guanyu's style to be a bit too harsh, but the team had already grown accustomed to it.

Coach Guanyu then glanced at the Shizi Dogs' bench, his eyebrows furrowing when he saw the new people with them.

"It seems like they've recruited more people to the team," he started off.

The players also turned their attention to the Shizi Dogs, confirming that they had new, unfamiliar faces.

"They have a coach now," Ailun remarked. "He looks pretty young. Do you know who he is, coach?"

"He tutors my son," he responded. "However, I've never seen him in the basketball scene until now."

"How about the other two?" Max asked, his eyes narrowing at one of them. "That one guy seems awfully familiar."

Coach Guanyu shook his head. "I've never seen them before, too. If I had, then they didn't leave a good impression."

"Anyway," he continued, clearing his throat. "We have never played with the Shizi Dogs before, and although you have beaten every team in the city, I don't want you to be complacent."

"Also, always remember what I've always told you," he said.

The team glanced at each other before simultaneously saying, "No mercy."

"No mercy," Coach Guanyu repeated.

"Now, go and destroy them."

"Yes, coach," they said in unison.

Compared to the intense atmosphere on the Knights' bench, the Shizi Dogs seemed to be bathing in rainbows in the sunshine.

"W—well, y—you see, this is m—my first game coaching," Coach Muchen chuckled nervously. "S—so, I don't know what to expect."

The team burst into chuckles as they watched their nervous coach.

"It's okay, coach," Lina said. "It's just a practice game. Think of it as practice for you too. No pressure."

"Yeah!" Jet exclaimed. "We'll be more nervous if you're nervous."

Coach Muchen nodded and let out a deep breath. With that, he faced the team once more, with more confidence this time.

"I believe we've already gone through our strategies. I'm also not putting any pressure on you, guys," he said.

"I just want you to feel that you've gotten better compared to before."

"This is a practice game."

"Remember—your biggest rival is yourselves. I hope you show a game that you won't regret," he concluded.

The team smiled at each other with determined gazes.

Right on time, the referee blew the whistle and signaled the two teams to enter the court.