Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

In a modest home nestled at the edge of town, the smell of sizzling oil and the clatter of pans filled the air. A young man sat on a small sofa, hunched over his phone with a look of concentration on his face. He scrolled through the video feed, the cheers of a roaring crowd blaring from the tiny speakers. Kai's face appeared on the screen, drenched in sweat but smiling triumphantly as the announcer's voice rang out. "And there it is! The Shizi Dogs take the win! Kai Guo is the hero of Jilin!" The young man on the sofa chuckled, shaking his head. "Was I ever this handsome?" He touched his own cheek, squinting at the screen to compare. With a smirk, he set his phone aside and leaned back. "Well, at least I know where my body is now," he muttered to himself. *** Kai was in his room, still replaying the Global Games in his mind. He hadn't stopped thinking about it since he got home, but his train of thought was interrupted by a sharp knock on the door. "Kai! Come help me in the kitchen," his grandma called out. Kai groaned but got up, scratching his head as he shuffled to the kitchen. He was dressed in his usual lazy-day attire—basketball shorts and a worn-out t-shirt that had definitely seen better days. It had a curry stain and worn-out holes. It was probably his dead father's, too, but he still wore it because it was too comfortable! His grandma pointed to a large sack sitting by the counter. "I need you to take these onions to the address I've written." Kai blinked. "Now? I just got back yesterday." His grandma didn't even look up from her chopping board. "Yes, now. You think winning a basketball game means you're off the hook for errands?" Kai let out a dramatic sigh, lifting the heavy sack of onions over his shoulder. "You'd think I just didn't win the championships," he muttered under his breath. "What was that?" "Nothing, Grandma! I'm going, I'm going!" Kai stepped outside, squinting against the bright sun. The sack of onions felt like it weighed a ton, but he hoisted it up and started his walk down the street, still wearing his ratty t-shirt and shorts. He hadn't even made it halfway down the block before someone spotted him. "Hey, it's Kai Guo!" a kid shouted, pointing excitedly. Kai winced but forced a smile. "Hey, buddy," he said, giving the kid a fist bump. Before he knew it, more people started gathering around him. "Can I get a selfie?" "Sign my basketball!" "Sign my ball!" "But you don't have a basketball right now." "Dude, you're the pride of Jilin!" Kai couldn't help but awkwardly laugh. It was flattering but also a bit overwhelming. He tried to sign as quickly as he could, all while balancing the sack of onions on one shoulder. He must've looked ridiculous—Jilin's golden boy, hauling onions through town like a delivery boy. He made his way toward the town's basketball court, hoping to cut through and avoid the crowd. But as soon as he got there, he realized he'd made a mistake. It seemed like basketball fever had infected the entirety of Jilin. The court was packed, and the second he stepped onto it, the entire crowd turned toward him like he was some kind of celebrity making a surprise appearance. "Kai!" they all yelled, rushing toward him. Kai's eyes widened as he held the sack tighter. "Oh no, not now," he muttered, glancing around for an escape route. It was then that a familiar ding sounded in his head, followed by the appearance of a notification. [Quest Alert: Protect the Onions!] [Deliver the onions to the designated location in 20 minutes.] [1 XP for every onion successfully delivered.] Kai looked down at the sack in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered. He quickly peered inside the bag—there had to be at least fifty onions in there, maybe more. This quest was a giveaway! He glanced back up at the crowd, who were now closing in, their phones out, ready to snap photos and record videos. He clenched his jaw. Kai took a deep breath and decided to play it smart. He dropped the sack behind him, giving himself some space. Then, with the crowd watching him intently, he took a basketball from a nearby kid. "What do you say, half-court shot for you guys?" he shouted. The crowd erupted in cheers, and Kai took a few steps back, dribbling once before launching the ball high into the air. It sailed in and dropped straight through the hoop. The crowd roared, turning their attention to the ball. "He did it!" In the split second they were distracted, Kai grabbed the sack and bolted. "Time to go," he whispered, darting off the court and sprinting down the street. He reached his bike, hastily slung the sack over the handlebars, and pedaled like his life depended on it. The wind rushed past his face as he drove through the narrow alleys, trying to avoid more fans. He glanced at the timer ticking down in his head—just 10 minutes left. He pushed harder, his legs burning as he neared the restaurant. He skidded to a stop in front of Mrs. Zhou's place, hopping off his bike. He pushed the door open with his shoulder, stumbling inside with the sack. "Oh," he muttered as he got to the address. It was Max's mom's restaurant. He sighed as he entered, ready to be bombarded with Max's posters. But to Kai's surprise, there were new additions—photos of him, action shots from the recent games. His own face was plastered right next to Max's! "Kai!" a familiar voice shouted. He turned and saw Max standing behind the counter, wearing an apron. Max's eyes widened when he saw him. "What are you doing here? You should leave before—" "KAI GUO!" Mrs. Zhou's voice boomed from the kitchen. She bustled out, her face lighting up when she saw him. "Oh, it's you! It's really you!" The entire restaurant seemed to turn their heads in unison. Kai was suddenly aware that he had just walked into a room full of his fans. Mrs. Zhou rushed over, grabbing his hands. "You're a hero! The pride of our town!" she gushed. "Look at you, so handsome in person!" "Ma'am, you've seen me before," Kai said, scratching the back of his head. However, the middle-aged woman continued complimenting him. "Uh, I just came to deliver these onions," he added, holding up the sack. Mrs. Zhou's eyes sparkled. "Onions? You shouldn't have! Oh, you're too humble, Kai." Max groaned, slumping against the counter. "You've really done it now. She's never going to let you leave." Kai sighed but managed to smile. "At least I delivered the onions, right?" he muttered. [+53 XP]