Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

Kai felt something snap inside of him.

However, even then, Yuze continued speaking—injecting some sense into his mind that he didn't even know he needed.

"It's okay to be angry. It's okay to feel overwhelmed by it all," he continued.

"Honestly, I would be, too. Your captain isn't going to play. It's your first time in the Nationals, and yet you're already playing in the finals."

"More so than that, your grandma isn't watching. Your opponent is notorious for being perfect and having it all without putting effort into things. And your girlfriend isn't there to comfort you."

Kai pursed his lips and scratched the back of his neck. "We're not like that yet," he muttered.

"Oh, I see," Yuze chuckled. "You still haven't asked her, I presume."

"Yeah," he softly said.

"Well, you'll have plenty of time to do that once this game is over."

Kai let out a deep breath. Alright, maybe he was just overthinking it all.

He needed to be stable.

He also wanted to be stable.

So, with that, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Besides," Yuze continued. "When times get hard, just look around you."

Kai snapped out of his thoughts. "Huh?" he asked, not really getting what he said.

"Look around?"

Yuze smirked. "You'd get it soon enough."

"Anyway," he continued. "Are you ready to go now? I bet those guys are nervous since the two of us aren't there."

Kai chuckled, already imagining their reactions.

The two of them started walking back to the court. However, Kai stopped midway, making Yuze turn to him with furrowed eyebrows.

"What now?" he asked.

"Lina," Kai said. "I'm worried. She has been gone for half an hour."

Yuze chuckled and ruffled his hair, making Kai furrow his eyebrows.

"Lina's going to be fine," Yuze said. "She's one of the smartest people I know. She also wouldn't miss the game for the world."

"How are you so sure?" Kai asked.

Yuze smiled. "One—because the Shizi Dogs had finally made it to this point. And two—because you're playing."

Kai's eyebrows relaxed.

"Aside from that," Yuze added. "She wouldn't want you to look for her, too."

"She needs you on the court. She'll resent you if you don't play."

***

Meanwhile, in the girl's bathroom where Lina and Kimmy were having a pretty heated conversation…

Lina let out an exasperated sigh. "This is so unfair," she muttered. "How can you keep the two of us here?"

"If you don't want to watch the game, then don't bring me to it. I need to go back now," she added.

Kimmy pursed her lips and didn't let go of the door.

"You can't," Kimmy said, a nervous expression passing through her face.

It was at that moment that Lina saw a crack in her facade—her plan slowly showing on her face.

"If you're really dating Kai, then he would come and look for you, right?" she continued, biting her lip while periodically glancing at her phone.

Lina's hold on Kimmy's wrist relaxed. She took a step back and observed the pretty girl.

"I see," she muttered.

"You don't want him to play, huh?" she asked, making Kimmy freeze and confirming her suspicions even more.

"W—what are you talking about?" Kimmy stammered.

Lina shook her head. She understood now.

"It must have been because of Jimmy," she continued.

Kimmy felt like she was being slapped left and right with reality. "I don't know what you're talking about," she feigned innocence.

"It's alright," Lina said, nodding her head. "I know why you're doing this, too. It must be from love."

"Love?" Kimmy exclaimed in a loud voice.

"Don't worry," Lina continued, ignoring her statements. "I won't resent you for it. I mean—I won't do the same thing, but I get why you would."

"It's just a little bit desperate, though," she muttered.

Kimmy's frown deepened. "What are you talking about?"

A wide smile made its way to Lina's lips.

"I know that you want your brother to win. I honestly don't think you're doing this just because you like Kai."

"I also know that you must have a deeper reason to be doing all of this. It doesn't seem like you're that much of a shallow person."

"However, it sucks for you and your brother," she added.

Kimmy pursed her lips together.

"Kai wouldn't be coming here."

Kimmy's eyebrows relaxed. "So, the two of you aren't dating?" she asked.

"We are," Lina said. "However, he knows that I would hate it if he let go of this opportunity because of me."

"Aside from that, we trust in each other too much to be making such rash decisions. Kai would be out there on the court—and I would be there alongside him—even if I appear late."

"You, on the other hand, also need to be with your brother," she said with a small smile.

Then, she walked closer to Kimmy and placed a hand over her shoulder. "I don't want you to do something you'll regret. You've started it, but I'm giving you the opportunity to stop it right now."

Kimmy pursed her lips and felt tears brimming in her eyes. At that moment, a single question circulated in the back of her mind—

'What am I doing?'

Taking advantage of Kimmy's shock, Lina leaned forward to open the door and bypass her. She smiled and squeezed her shoulder.

"Let's go and watch together, alright?"

"It's not too late to make things right."

With that, Lina ran in the direction of the court, leaving Kimmy all alone.

Lina ran to her fullest capacity, not minding that her metal leg was making a weird noise. She glanced at her phone and saw the time.

"Crap," she muttered. The game should have started by now!

With that, she pumped her legs even faster.

Meanwhile, Kimmy, who was still frozen in her spot, looked down at her phone and saw the unopened text messages from her father.

Dad: Where are you?
Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire

Dad: The game is going to start soon.

Dad: We don't want to miss the game that would propel your brother to the first place.

Kimmy let out a deep breath and closed her eyes, leaning against the cold, hard wall.

"Not too late to make things right, huh?"