Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

The plane hummed as it cut through the clouds. Kai leaned back in his seat, staring out of the window at the endless expanse of sky. They were on their way back to Jilin now, yet his mind was still a storm of thoughts. He barely noticed when the stewardess brought snacks or when Jet snuck extra bags of peanuts from the cart. Shang had his headphones on, nodding along to some music, while Andy had fallen asleep, his mouth open, snoring lightly. Kai glanced at them and let out a small sigh. Jet, noticing Kai's pensive look, poked him in the shoulder. "Still thinking about it, aren't you?" Kai didn't even try to deny it. He just nodded, fingers tapping absently against the armrest. "Relax, man. Worrying isn't going to make you play any better," Jet said, offering him a crooked grin. "Besides, what's there to be worried about? You're like the best player in our age group!" Kai let out a short laugh. "You make it sound easy." "Isn't it?" Jet shrugged. "Just go out there and play like you always do." Kai couldn't help but smile a little at that. Leave it to Jet to make everything sound so simple. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was stepping into something bigger than he could imagine. He glanced out the window again as if the clouds held some kind of answer for him. By the time they landed in Jilin, the sun had already dipped below the horizon. The airport bustled with the sound of rolling suitcases and the echo of announcements filling the air. Kai trailed behind the group, lost in thought until a warm hand slipped into his own. Lina was there, smiling up at him, looking tired yet excited. "You're still thinking about it, aren't you?" she asked, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "Can't help it," Kai admitted, squeezing her hand back. He looked down at her, feeling a bit of the tension ease away. "It's a lot to take in." "Well, take it in later," Lina said, tilting her head toward the exit. "Right now, you should focus on what's in front of you." Kai frowned, confused, but before he could ask what she meant, the automatic doors slid open, and they stepped outside. He was hit by a wave of noise—cheers, clapping, and a chorus of excited voices shouting his name. "KAI!" "There he is! It's really him!" "It's Kai!" "The boy of the year!" "Kai, we're your biggest fans!" A mob had gathered outside the airport, holding up signs with his name scribbled in bold letters and waving banners. The crowd ranged from little kids on their tiptoes, clutching tiny basketballs, to old ladies waving fans with Kai's face printed on them. "What the—?" Kai's eyes went wide, and he stumbled back a step. He'd expected a small welcome, maybe a few fans. But this was...over the top. Lina laughed, pulling him forward. "Surprised?" "Surprised is an understatement!" Kai exclaimed, blinking rapidly as he took it all in. "Welcome back, hero!" an old man shouted, pumping his fist in the air. His wrinkled face was lit up with a smile that made him look like a teenager. "You made Jilin proud!" A group of young children rushed up to him, bouncing with excitement. One little girl tugged at his sleeve, holding out a mini basketball almost as big as her head. "Kai, can you sign this?" she asked, her eyes wide and pleading. Kai knelt down, taking the ball from her. "Of course," he said, chuckling as he scribbled his signature. "You play basketball too?" The girl nodded enthusiastically. "I want to be just like you when I grow up!" Kai's heart melted a little at that. He ruffled her hair, handing the ball back. "Then you better practice hard." As he stood up, a group of old ladies swarmed him next. One of them, with her silver hair tied up in a neat bun, grabbed his arm with surprising strength. "My grandson watches all your games," she declared, shaking his arm slightly. "He says you're the best player in the world." Kai chuckled, trying to gently free his arm without offending her. "Tell your grandson I said thank you." Another old lady poked him in the side with her cane. "You better not be skipping practice, young man! The Global Games are coming up, and we expect to see you win." "Y—Yes, ma'am," Kai stammered, standing up straighter like a soldier being scolded. Jet, watching from the side, burst out laughing. "They've got you wrapped around their fingers, Kai." Kai shot him a look. "Shut up, Jet." The crowd continued to press around him, everyone eager to get a piece of their hometown hero. A teenage boy handed him a sketchbook, revealing a surprisingly good drawing of Kai mid-dunk. "I drew this for you," the boy said shyly, his cheeks pink. Kai took the sketchbook, genuinely impressed. "This is amazing," he said. "You've got some real talent." The boy's face lit up. "Really? You think so?" Kai nodded, handing the sketchbook back. "Keep it up. Maybe you'll be a famous artist someday." As they made their way through the crowd, Shang and Andy fell in behind them, both of them grinning like idiots. "This is insane," Jet muttered. "You'd think he just saved the city from a natural disaster." "Didn't he, though?" Shang quipped. "I mean, we did beat the Juren Champions. That's practically a miracle." "Practically?" Andy scoffed. "It's literally a miracle. I still have bruises from that game." Lina nudged Kai, leaning in close to whisper in his ear. "See? This is what you get for being a hero." Kai glanced at her, feeling the warmth of her hand still in his. "This feels...weird," he admitted. "I'm just a high school player." "Not to them," Lina said simply. "To them, you're a symbol of hope. You're their hero." Kai opened his mouth to protest, but before he could say anything, an old man pushed through the crowd, brandishing a newspaper. "I've kept every article about you," the man declared, shaking the paper like it was a prized possession. "You're the future of Chinese basketball!" "Make way! Make way!" An elderly woman pushed a plate of dumplings into Kai's hands as if she'd somehow cooked them right there at the airport. "For strength!" she insisted. Kai stared down at the dumplings, then looked up at the sea of smiling faces around him. He felt a strange swell of emotion—pride, yes, but also a deep, humbling sense of gratitude. He had never asked to be anyone's hero, but seeing the way these people looked at him, he realized something important. "Thank you," Kai said, bowing his head slightly as he held up the plate of dumplings. "I'll do my best."