Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

From how the commentator introduced the commencement of the games, Kai thought they were going to battle to death…

…and it might just seem that way.

"On the right side, we have the Feng Falcons! These players hailed from Feng Arts High, but they decided to break away from their school for a while and show their prowess as the rising falcons!"

The audience burst into screams as the five handsome players waved their hands and bowed like pretentious people-pleasers.

"Peng Yang, I want your balls—I mean, your signed basketball!"

"Haoran, you can do this! Beat those Shih Tzus to death!"

Mingze, choosing to stay on the bench for the first quarter, placed his hand over his heart as the brutal and thirsty comments resonated in the court.

"People are crazy," he muttered. "But I hope our team gets the same enthusiasm."

It seemed like his dream was really far off, though.

The commentator cleared his throat before introducing the opposing team.

"And on the left side, we have the Shih Tzus from Shizi High," he said, his voice undoubtedly less excited than the first introduction.

Mingze held his breath as he waited for the crowd to cheer for his beloved team.

His eyebrows raised in surprise since it was deafening—deafening in the sense that it was completely silent.

Tony and Sunny glanced at each other with sheepish smiles, feeling slightly intimidated by the gap in their popularity.

Nonetheless, Kai patted their backs, seemingly unfazed.

"It's alright," he said. "It's expected since it's our first time playing as a team in a league. This just means that our win would be more monumental."

With that short statement, the two became more confident, ready to prove to the audience and to the Falcons that they weren't to be taken lightly.

Then, the referee went to the middle of the court, signaling the two centers to stand face-to-face in front of him.

Kai and Peng Yang stepped into the center circle, eyes locked on each other as they prepared for the jump ball.

Kai looked into Peng Yang's cocky eyes, the handsome player almost certain that he was going to get the ball. That encouraged Kai to get the jump ball even more.

Meanwhile, a pretty girl became the center of everyone's attention as she peeked through the large crowd.

"What are we even doing here, Suzy?" Yani sighed in annoyance. "The sun is too hot. Your skin is going to burn."

"The famous tournament in the neighborhood is starting," Suzy said, settling on a spot where she could see the players clearly. "Let's stick around for one game."

Yani clicked her tongue. "Basketball? I thought you didn't even like it. Let's go. Watching basketball is really boring."

Suzy shrugged, her eyes now focused on the court. "I never said I didn't like basketball."

"But we've never cheered for Shizi's basketball team in their games," Yani remarked.

"That's because they're going to lose anyway," Suzy responded. "That doesn't mean I find the sport boring, though."

Yani shook her head and finally gave in to her friend's request. However, she quickly froze when she saw the familiar figures on the court.

"Is that Kai Guo?" she asked out of disbelief.

Suzy, with her not-so-great eyesight, narrowed her eyes and saw that the person in the middle was, indeed, Kai Guo.

"What is he doing here?" Yani continued to rant. "I can't believe the second-string team was accepted in this league! But look! Peng Yang is also here. Didn't he court you last year?" she asked.

"Hmm," Suzy mindlessly hummed, her gaze focused only on Kai.

"I still don't know why you rejected him. He's definitely a catch. Or were you not ready? Maybe he'll ask you out on a date again!"

"He's really tall," Suzy whispered, not really hearing what Yani was saying.

"Huh?" Yani asked, leaning closer to her friend.

Suzy quickly shook her head and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Let's stay for a while, don't we?"

The referee's whistle pierced through the tension in the air, signaling the beginning of the game.

Kai, feeling the weight of his new role as center, took a deep breath, trying to push away the nerves that threatened to consume him.

The two of them crouched into position, ready to leap. The crowd held its breath, anticipation hanging heavy in the air.

With a swift motion, the referee tossed the ball into the air. Kai and Peng Yang both launched themselves upward, their hands reaching out to seize control of the ball. Despite his lack of experience as a center, Kai's instincts kicked in, fueled by the adrenaline coursing through his veins.

Kai had to be more confident—he had the Quantum Leap.

Time seemed to slow down as Kai's fingertips brushed against the smooth surface of the ball.

With a surge of energy, he pushed himself higher, his body soaring above Peng Yang's outstretched hand. In that split second, Kai felt a rush of exhilaration, a sense of power coursing through him.

Guanye stopped writing when he saw the gap between the two centers' jumps. At first, it was expected that Peng Yang was going to get the ball. Lei Xiao even boasted that the players in their second-string team were just as good as other first-string teams in the city.

However, looking at the gaps in their jumping ability made Guanye think otherwise.

The crowd, too, halted cheering when they saw Kai leap through the air and defy the rules of gravity.

Then, with a triumphant shout, Kai snatched the ball from the air, his fingers closing around it like a vice.

Peng Yang's eyes widened in disbelief as he watched Kai descend back to the ground. His feet had long touched the ground, yet Kai was just on his way down! That meant he was able to sustain his jump longer than the more experienced player!

Then, as Kai gracefully dropped to the ground, a small smirk appeared on his face.

That would show him.

"Got it," he teased.