Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

Kai halted and waited for Jinping to arrive to where he was. Then, he placed his wired earphones back in his pocket.

"What are you talking about?" Kai asked.

"Walk," Jinping said, making Kai even more confused.

Jinping sighed and pulled Kai's sleeve to get him to walk.

"We're going to talk," Jinping said.

"You're really going to leave, huh?" he asked, making Kai scratch the back of his head. Experience tales at empire

"Where did you get that information?"

"The team is talking about it," Jinping revealed, making Kai even more surprised.

"How did they even know?" Kai asked.

"It's recruitment week," Jinping deadpanned. "This is what happens during this time. All teams are on edge since they feel like they'll lose their best players."

Kai shook his head. "You're a first-year student like me. How would you even know how the recruitment week fully works?"

"Dylan told me," he deadpanned.

Kai nodded in recognition. "I see. Now, I finally understand. That guy knows everything."

"Anyway, that's not the problem," Jinping said. "Dylan said that you might be joining a new team soon."

"And what prompted him to say that?"

"Justin Liang told Dylan that you talked to Yiming in the bathroom during the Acquaintance Ball, and from what I've heard...he was very convincing."

Kai clicked his tongue. "Those guys, really," he muttered.

"And so what if I leave?" Kai asked, suddenly challenging Jinping. "Wouldn't you be happy if that happened? You've always hated me, haven't you?"

"I still hate you," Jinping deadpanned, making Kai smirk.

"See?" Kai said. "So you really wouldn't mind me leaving."

With that, Kai paused and stared at a familiar house.

"This is your stop," he said. "Go in."

Then, he started walking away.

However, it seemed like Jinping still wasn't finished.

He went in front of Kai and crossed his arms in front of his chest, appearing stubborn.

"I really, really hate you," Jinping spat.

"I know that," Kai sighed. "You even tried to kill me once."

Jinping clicked his tongue. "I didn't! You just moved so quickly that the bat hit you really hard. You were passed out for a few minutes, so we thought you died, but that wasn't the case."

"You have a really hard head, you know? It'll take a lot to kill you," Jinping muttered.

"Anyway, that's not what's important. What I want to say is that you shouldn't leave Shizi High," he said with conviction, surprising Kai even more.

Kai mirrored Jinping's stance and also crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"Give me a reason then," Kai said.

He had been thinking in the past couple of days, weighing the pros and cons of each decision. However, they seemed pretty even in Kai's eyes.

Maybe hearing Jinping's reasoning would sway his mind a bit.

"You can't leave," Jinping continued.

Kai waited for him to continue.

"It's too unfair."

"I started playing basketball before you, so why are you getting all these offers? None of the good teams ever came to me! Yet, you have the Feng Foxes, the Xing Stars, and the Yin Yang Knights under your roster? That's totally unfair!"

Kai shook his head in amusement.

Honestly, what did he expect from Jinping?

"I get it," Kai said. "You can go in now."

With that, he turned around and walked in the direction of his house.

However, Jinping continued speaking.

"Seriously, you should stay at Shizi High! You can't leave me there after everything I've taught you! I was the very first person you played basketball with, wasn't I?"

Kai chuckled once more and held out an 'okay' sign.

"Shizi High will show your complete potential! You'll be forced to adapt to other playing styles if you go to other schools! I'm warning you!"

"Got it," Kai called out in a loud voice, not bothering to turn around.

With that, his mind was made.

Kai had already come to a decision.

***

A week quickly passed, and it was now the day before the start of classes.

The Shizi Dogs decided to rest before classes started, so Kai had some time to do the things that he needed to do.

He woke up feeling heavier than usual.

It must be because he was going to do something a bit drastic, or maybe because he was feeling a little bit under the weather.

He didn't know whether the tiredness he felt from last week's training camp was finally catching up to him or if he contracted Grandma Bingbing's cold. Maybe, even both.

Sniffing, he went out of his room, finding his Grandma with a sack of chopped onions by her side.

"What's that?" he asked.

"I need you to deliver these," she said. "Someone's celebrating a grand opening tomorrow, so they ordered quite a lot of onions for the free food they are going to give out."

Kai scratched the back of his head. "Is this only this one? I have something to do later."

"Just three places," Grandma Bingbing said. "But they're all close with each other, so it won't take a long time."

"Okay," Kai said, sniffing once more.

The old woman frowned when she saw Kai's red nose and pale cheeks.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

Kai shrugged. "My nose is a little bit stuffy, but I'm fine. I think I'd be better if I drank some tea."

"Well, you should head quickly and come back. I'll prepare you a warm bath and some herbal tea as soon as you arrive."

"Alright," Kai said. "But as I said, I have to do something afterward, so I might come home by lunchtime."

"Got it," the old woman said. "Just make sure to be back before lunch so you can eat."

"Hmm," Kai hummed.

With that, he carried the onions on his back and grabbed the paper that contained the addresses he needed to deliver it to.

He went on his crusty bike and drove to the places, delivering them quickly because he didn't want to delay what he needed to do.

After that, he arrived at a familiar place—one that felt a lot more different compared to the first time he went there.

Kai pursed his lips and stared up at the engraved letterings on the gate—much fancier than the ones they had in Shizi High.

He held his breath as he looked at the letters one by one.

Feng Arts High.