Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

The sun was setting by the time Kai and Lina got there. The waves hit the shore gently, creating a soothing rhythm that contested the tension between them.

They walked side by side, their footprints trailing behind them in the sand. The soft breeze played with Lina's hair, her fragrance wafting through Kai. On the other hand, Kai kept his hands stuffed in his pockets with his eyes fixed on the horizon.

Neither of them spoke, the silence stretching on as they both struggled to find the right words.

The atmosphere should have been perfect—romantic, even. The kind of setting that seemed tailor-made for confessions.

'This would have been the best place to confess,' Lina thought.

But instead, it felt a little bit heavy and awkward. Even if they acted normal during their trainings, they could tell that it wasn't the same as before.

Lina glanced at Kai out of the corner of her eye, biting her lip as a thought crossed her mind. She could almost picture it—Kai turning to her, his eyes serious but soft, saying something that would change everything between them.

But before she could think too much on it, both of them sighed at the same time, breaking the silence in a strangely synchronized moment.

They turned to each other, startled, their eyes wide with surprise.

"Let's be friends," they said in unison, the words tumbling out together, leaving them both blinking in shock.

For a moment, they just stared at each other, in disbelief that the said those words at the same time.

'Friends...'

'Friends...'

The word 'friends' echoed over and over again in Kai's mind. Along with that was his conversation with Officer Huang, who had told him to only see Lina as a friend.

There was a shared pain in their hearts, an unspoken understanding of what those words really meant.

But it wasn't obvious—not with the smiles that quickly spread across their faces.

Kai was the first to chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "That was… unexpected," he said, trying to lighten the mood, though the laugh didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Yeah," Lina agreed, her voice soft as she let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She felt relief, but it was stanged with an ache that she couldn't quite shake. "It's a relief, though, isn't it? Staying friends."

Kai nodded, the smile on his face still in place even though it felt a little forced. "Yeah, it is. I mean, we've got a good thing going, right? I wouldn't want to mess that up."

Lina's smile wavered for just a second before she forced it to stay. "Exactly. It's been great, and I think… I think we'll face even greater things as friends."

There was a pause, a moment where neither of them said anything. They both knew there was something deeper hidden beneath their words, something they weren't ready—or willing—to admit. It was easier to keep things light or pretend that their feelings were simple and innocent—that they weren't hiding anything at all.

"It's nice, being friends with you," Kai said after a moment. "We don't have to worry about all the complicated stuff, you know? We can just… be there for each other."

"Yeah," Lina agreed. "Just being there. It's enough."

Her dad's voice played back in Lina's mind, and she pursed her lips. She realized that her dad really supported her in everything, except for this.

So, she wanted to do it for her dad.

Just this one.

They stood in silence for a while, letting the sound of the waves fill the space between them. The sun continued its descent, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange, but neither of them seemed to notice. Their minds were elsewhere, lost in the thoughts they didn't dare to say.

Then, on cue, they both shook off the moment and talked about what they deemed as more important. Lina turned to Kai with a small smile

"We still have our objective of winning," Lina said, her tone more determined, as if the previous topic had never existed.

Kai nodded, catching onto the change in subject. "Yeah. Nationals are coming up. Honestly, I'm pretty nervous."

Lina's eyebrows raised in surprise. "You're nervous?" she asked, amusement seen in her smile.

"What about it?" Kai asked. "Can't I get nervous now?"

Lina shrugged. "It's not fitting anymore. You're already really good. I've been watching you—"

"You've been watching me?"

Lina glared at Kai, causing him to chuckle.

"Sorry," he said. "In all reality, I'm not that good yet," he said.

Lina clicked her tongue. "You're lying. You're already the best player in the team."

Kai shook his head. "But that's not my goal. My goal is to become the best out of everyone in my age."

Lina looked at him with admiration, but she quickly pinched her arm when she realized she was getting infatuated once again.

"I just hope you'd be there to see it happen," Kai whispered.

"What?" Lina asked, snapping out of her thoughts.
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Kai merely smiled at her, a real one this time.

"Let's win," he said

A genuine smile also made its way to Lina's lips.

"Hmm," she said with a thumbs up. Then, the two of them focused their gazes on the horizon once more, none of them daring to speak. They were afraid that it would disrupt the peace that they had falsely created. Of course, Kai wanted to say something more.

However, for now, this was alright.

He'll be alright.

[Pain scale: 45]

[+45 XP]

[Current level: Grandmaster (48/400)]

He just didn't expect it to be this painful.

***

The gates of the training facility stood in the distance as a lone figure walked through them, his presence drawing the attention of those nearby.

He moved with lazy confidence, as if he had all the time in the world. There was an air about him, something almost… dark.

He had a backpack slung lazily over one shoulder as he stopped, his gaze moving to the building ahead of him. His eyes narrowed slightly before he sighed, the sound heavy with resignation.

"Why did I come here?" he muttered to himself.