Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

"What is with that boy?"

"16 points in one quarter?"

"And that's against the Longyu Dragons?"

"Kai Guo? I need to remember his name!"

"The court isn't full, but it should be. With this scale of a game, they need to be in the Water Court!"

Nina and Rolan turned to each other with excitement.

"Is this the start of the rise of their popularity?" Rolan asked. "Will I finally see the day when people from around the country will appreciate them?"

Nina chuckled in amusement. "You're getting way too ahead of yourself. We're just in the second game."

Rolan clasped his hands in front of his chest. "I'm just too excited."

Just then, a group of students called their attention.

"Do you guys know them?" she asked.

Nina's eyes widened, and she pointed at the bench of the Dogs. "Those players?"

"Yes," they responded. "They're pretty good."

"They're beyond good," Rolan chimed in with a wide smile. "They're the Shizi Dogs!"

"Guri," Calvin said as soon as they arrived at their bench.

Coach Hope bit her lip as she pulled out her whiteboard, trying to come up with something that would break the tie.

Guri was still in distress as he sat on the bench, massaging his head. "What's with him?" he muttered.

Fenhua pursed his lips as he felt something in his heart. It was beating faster than it usually did. He wasn't supposed to be this tired just yet. This was the kind of feeling he had when they were already in the semi-finals last year.

Fenhua glanced at Calvin and sighed in relief when he saw he was still smiling.

"Guri," Calvin repeated, much louder this time.

Guri finally snapped out of his thoughts, a frown on his face as he lifted his head.

"What?" he snapped before he could stop himself.

The other players gasped in surprise. Coach Hope also stopped writing and looked at the young player with raised eyebrows.

Calvin chuckled, brushing it off. "You must be really upset," he said.

"Don't worry," he chimed, patting Guri's shoulder. "This big brother will go and save the day! Leave it to me."

Guri frowned, still in a bad mood. "What do you mean?"

"Exactly as I said," Calvin smiled. "Leave it to me—Kai Guo."

Guri's frown deepened. "No way," he spat. "I trained so hard for this, and you want me to give him away? I can't!"

"You can't stop him," Calvin smiled. "You don't need to shoulder it by yourself."

"This is something I should overcome," Guri said. "How can I join you in the Elite Five if I can't even surpass that guy?"

"Leave. Him. To. Me."

Just then, everybody felt shivers run down their spines after Calvin said those words.

"No," Fenhua muttered.

"Clearly, you're doing something wrong for them to be on a tie with us. You left that guy with 16 points while you remain with 2," Calvin said in a serious tone—one that was rare when it came to the cheery boy.

"So, unless you can promise me you won't give him any more points, then I won't be able to hand him to you."

"B—but Yuze," Guri stammered, wanting to say that Yuze would be out in the open if Calvin became preoccupied with Kai.

"Open your eyes, Guri," Calvin said. "Do you really think you can stop Kai?"

That was all he had to say so that Guri could focus his gaze on his lap.

Coach Hope broke the tension by clearing her throat.

"That's right," she said. "Calvin, you go with Guo."

"Guri, you go with that new guy—the three-pointer."

Guri pursed his lips in disappointment but nodded nonetheless.

"Fenhua," she said. "Go with Yuze."

Fenhua's eyebrows furrowed. "The height difference," he muttered.

Coach Hope placed his hands on her hips and raised one eyebrow.

"When did height stop you?" she asked. "Are you scared now?"

Fenhua pursed his lips and shook his head. That was his whole branding—to not let his height become a barrier.

"It's all good," he said with resolution.

"Good," Coach Hope said. "Now, we'll do this play. Calvin, I think you're holding back. Go with the unpredictable plays. Stop Kai Guo at all costs." Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire

"Fenhua, capitalize on the height difference and go under. Guri, stop that Andy guy from shooting. I didn't think they would have a sharp-shooter like this guy, so keep him guarded."

Guri nodded despite his disappointment.

Coach Hope's face showed that she was serious. "Now, you need to do your best. I don't care if other teams are watching. Show everything you've got."

Then, she glanced at the bench of the Shizi Dogs, seeing the lanky guy who appeared as serious as she was.

"I would hate to lose to that guy," she muttered.

The buzzer sounded, signaling the end of halftime. The people chattered with excitement, already making bets about who was going to win.

"That kid is really amazing," one muttered.

Bingdang, who had come to see Kai fail, felt like she was the one who failed instead.

"Why...is...he...so...good?" she absent-mindedly muttered.

However, as they made their way to the court and went to their respective positions, Bingdang felt a spark of hope inside her chest.

Instead of Guri, the first-year player who was likened to a Gorilla, Calvin Wu stood before Kai Guo.

Lina and Coach Muchen sharply inhaled in as they turned to each other with wide eyes.

"Crap," Lina muttered. "Will this be too much for him?" She tried to gauge Kai's reaction; however, instead of worry, a small smile played on his lips.

Calvin smiled at him, so Kai also smiled—wider this time.

Calvin was surprised. "Are you not nervous?" he asked, sounding amused.

"Nervous?" Kai asked. "I think you should be the one who's nervous."

"Quite big words for a first-year player," Calvin said, amusement dancing in his eyes. "You should be nervous, little one."

Kai let out a chuckle, his eyes suddenly turning serious, but a smile was still on his face.@@novelbin@@

"Why would I be nervous?" he asked.

"When this was what I was waiting for?"

Kai's journey to the top.

It all starts now—by bringing down Calvin Wu.