Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

"What do you mean?" Andy asked. "How can you look for her right now?"

He glanced at the timer and turned back to Kai with wide eyes. "There's only twelve minutes left until the game starts! You can't afford to miss the game Kai."

Kai bit his lip before giving them a reassuring smile. He felt as if he needed to do this. Otherwise, it would be bugging his mind even when the game had started.

"I'll be back soon," he said, reassuring them. "I won't miss it for anything."

"You better come back before anything starts," Jet warned. "Otherwise, you're going to be infertile for the rest of your life!"

Kai nodded. "Got it," he muttered.

Without waiting for his other teammate's reactions, he slipped past them and out of the court. He ignored those who called his name, his mind only set on one thing.

On the bench of the Juren Champions, Jimmy's sharp eyes tracked Kai's retreating figure. Then, a small smirk played at the corner of his lips.

"Good job, Kimmy," he muttered under his breath, barely loud enough for the teammate next to him to hear.

Chaoxing glanced at the younger player and shook his head, wondering what was going on inside of his head. That kind of look usually meant he had created some kind of trouble.

Kai's sudden departure was unexpected, but it played perfectly into his plan. Now, all Jimmy needed was to deliver on the court. His father's words echoed in his mind:

"Make us proud."

"I will," he muttered.

On the edge of the stands, Jian stood with his family, his tall figure unmistakable.

His mother's hand rested on his shoulder, squeezing lightly. "Work hard out there, son," she said, her voice filled with warmth and a little bit of hope.

The look in Jian's eyes didn't change as he met her gaze. "I don't need to do that, Mom," he replied, his tone as stoic as ever. His mother's expression fell a bit, her lips pressing into a thin line, equal parts exasperation and fondness.

"Alright then," she sighed. "Head back to your team."

Jian nodded once, already turning away. The atmosphere around the Juren Champions felt almost celebratory as the team gathered in a huddle, their coach barking last-minute instructions. They were moments away from hearing their names called, the lineup that would face down the Shizi Dogs.

Kun clicked his tongue. "Where is Kai?" he asked.

Then, he turned to the side to ask Yuze, but then, he saw that their captain was also nowhere to be found.

Andy bounced nervously in his seat. "He told us he'll be back soon!"

Jet pursed his lips. "Goodness. We can't play without him, too!"

"And now, the starting lineup for the Juren Champions!" The crowd erupted into cheers as the first name boomed across the court.

"Jian Niu!"

Jian stepped forward, the cheers reaching a fever pitch as he raised one hand to wave at the crowd. The pride of Juren High is the name everyone chanted when they talked about victory.

"Chaoxing Shao!"

Chaoxing bounded forward, his face split with an eager grin, eyes bright with excitement as he waved energetically to the stands. He shot a quick glance toward the Shizi Dogs' bench, searching for Kai and coming up empty. His smile faltered for just a heartbeat.

"Jimmy Wang!"

Jimmy strode out with a confidence that countered the pressure in his chest. The words from his father sat heavy on him, but he pushed them aside, smirking as he caught a glimpse of the confusion on the Shizi Dogs' side.

"Noel Lee! Xander Jackstone!"

The final two names were met with a fresh roar, the golden wave of Juren fans rising as one to show their support.

Across from them, the Shizi Dogs were restless. Renren finally noticed the glaring absence of their star player. "Where's Kai?" he muttered, his brows knitting together as he scanned the benches and then the sideline.

Andy shot Renren a look, his own anxiety clear. "He said he'd be back. He said he would, right?"

Jinping clenched his jaw. The absence of Kai was bad enough, but Yuze, their captain, was also missing. It was hard not to feel the weight of that double blow.

The commentator's voice filled the stadium, adding fuel to the fire. "It looks like the Shizi Dogs are facing a major setback with Yuze absent from the starting lineup. I'm curious to see their lineup."

One by one, their ideal lineup made their way to the court, facing the Juren Champions. However, Yuze was replaced by Kun.

Kun jogged out, shoulders squared, but it was clear from his expression that the pressure was suffocating.

Jimmy caught the unease on their side, and his smirk widened. This was it. The perfect break.

The commentator's voice rang out again. "And for the center of the Shizi Dogs… but where is Kai Guo?"

A few seconds of tense silence hung in the air, the crowd also murmuring about what was happening.

Some of the Shizi supporters were on their feet, craning their necks, while the Juren side jeered and called out provocations. This was their chance to unsettle the Shizi Dogs and prove that they weren't ready for this stage.

Renren's jaw tightened. "If he doesn't show up, we're done," he whispered, more to himself than to anyone else.

It felt as if they were hanging by a thread. Coach Muchen became restless. He walked back and forth in front of their bench and bit his lip. Who was he going to send instead of Kai?

This was a disaster.
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"Oh no! Are they really playing without Kai?"

"The Shizi Dogs are done for!"

Then, just as the doubt began to solidify, there was a sudden commotion near the tunnel. Heads turned, eyes widening as a figure appeared.

Kai.

He jogged into view, a bead of sweat trailing down his temple. "I'm here," he called, his voice cutting through the noise as he took his place at the center of the court.