Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

The day of the final game had finally arrived, and the whole town—the whole country, perhaps—had caught basketball fever.

Shizi Dogs vs. Juren Champions.

It was a game no man had expected. Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire

The fans spilled out into every nook and cranny, turning the arena into something that looked more like a quinceañera than a basketball final. Neon pink and shiny gold were everywhere, and it was truly a teenage girl's dream.

Guards surrounded the area, looking half-amused and half-terrified at the energetic sports fans.

They kept a close watch, knowing that if the crowd got any more excited, they'd be dealing with more than just noise complaints.

Not far away, the city mayor himself had arranged a viewing room in the town's hall, where an even bigger crowd gathered, eyes glued to the live feed. Bets were flying left and right.

If you listened closely, you'd catch snippets of whispers and excited shouts as people tried to predict everything from the score to who would land the first dunk.

Back at the court, the chatter was deafening. New fans of the Shizi Dogs popped up everywhere, waving pink banners and chanting like seasoned supporters.

Some held signs with hastily scrawled messages like "Kai for MVP" and "Shizi Dogs All the Way!"

Mingze, Alen, Tony, Dylan, Bao, and Sunny had come wide-eyed, amazed by the number of people now invested in their school team.

"Are you seeing this?" Mingze's eyes were almost as big as the popcorn he was clutching. "Shizi is actually trending!"

Bao smirked, his chest puffing with pride. "Of course, we're trending! With someone like Kai, we're bound to be famous. They're the best!"

A group of girls standing nearby shot them a disinterested glance. One of them, sporting a Juren Champions jersey, shrugged.

"Best? The Juren Champions haven't lost a final in three years. What makes you think your team can beat them?"

Dylan lifted his chin. "Because we're from Shizi, obviously. And, by the way, we're all friends with Kai."

The girls' faces lit up at the mention of Kai's name, as if someone had just announced a surprise concert by their favorite pop star. One of them flipped her hair and raised an eyebrow. "Really? Friends with Kai? Tell us more."

Dylan grinned, playing it cool. "Oh, you know, we're super tight with him. He's got a killer jump shot, right? Probably practiced that with us."

Alen snorted, almost spitting out his drink. "Yeah, right, Dylan. Kai's never even let you hold the ball."

The others snickered, but their laughter was cut short as the arena's screen flashed, and an announcement rang through the speakers.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a record-breaking crowd here tonight! Over 80,000 votes have been cast in the online poll, and it seems like 67% of you are betting on the Juren Champions to win this final match!"

The crowd let out a collective gasp, and Gina and David shared a knowing look. They leaned over the microphone, eager to commentate the exciting game.

"Seems like a lot of people are still rooting for the past champions," Gina said, glancing at the numbers on her tablet. "Sorry, Shizi Dogs fans, but the Juren Champions are still the favorites."

David laughed, raising an eyebrow. "But hey, if the Shizi Dogs pull an upset, that 33% will look like geniuses, right? Imagine telling your grandkids you called the Shizi win before it was cool."

"Yeah, good luck explaining why you went with the underdogs to all your future kids," Gina shot back, rolling her eyes. "I'm betting those 67% on the Juren side are already counting their winnings."

Meanwhile, the fans were divided, each side trying to out-chant the other.

The Shizi fans yelled, "Go Dogs!" at the top of their lungs, while the Juren supporters countered with chants of "Champions for Life!"

Both sides seemed to grow louder by the second, creating a deafening roar that made the guards exchange nervous glances.

Back at the Shizi supporters' section, Tony was busy scrolling through social media, his face lit up with excitement. "Guys, we're getting tagged all over town! Even the mayor retweeted us!"

Bao, who couldn't resist boasting, elbowed Dylan with a grin. "I told you we were legends. Everyone in town knows Shizi now."

Just then, a deep voice boomed over the speakers, cutting through the noise and bringing an instant hush to the crowd.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the final game of the season!"

The announcer's voice echoed across the court, stirring up another wave of cheers.

The lights dimmed, and a series of spotlights shot out, swirling around in circles. Fans leaned forward, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the teams waiting to be introduced.

Gina took the mic again, clearly enjoying her role. "Alright, everyone, if you're not hyped yet, then check your pulse because we're about to welcome the teams!"

"First up, in pink—the Shizi Dogs! This team has defied all odds to reach the finals. They've become legends in just a few short weeks."

The Shizi Dogs supporters went wild, waving banners, whistling, and hollering at the top of their lungs. On the big screen, clips of their best moments flashed in a quick montage, making their supporters even crazier.

"Woo!" Bao whooped, practically jumping out of his seat. "That's my team right there! Shizi Dogs for life!"

"Oh, we know," a Juren fan next to him muttered, covering her ears.

David continued, his voice rising with excitement. "And in the other corner, the defending champs—the Juren Champions!"

The Juren fans responded with an uproar, their side lighting up in gold. They waved flags, blew air horns, and held up massive cutouts of their star players. It was clear they weren't about to let Shizi's new fan base steal the show.

As the Juren Champions' highlight reel rolled on the big screen, Gina leaned into the mic. "Now, we all know the Juren Champions are practically royalty around here. Undefeated in the finals for three years straight. If you're rooting for them, you're probably feeling pretty confident right now."

The crowd's energy was at a boiling point. Parents held their kids on their shoulders to give them a better view, and even the guards seemed to be enjoying the show.

Before any more back-and-forth could happen, the announcer's voice boomed again. "Alright, everyone, let's welcome the teams!"

A hush fell over the crowd, and the spotlight panned to the tunnel where both teams were waiting to make their entrance.