Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

The clock ticked down. One minute remained until the end of the second quarter. The scoreboard displayed a heart-pounding 47-48, with the Knights clinging to a fragile lead.

Kimmy had been right. This game would be determined by the amount of their desperation. Both teams were evenly matched in talent, but desperation was starting to tip the scales.

Yuze's muscles burned, his body pushed to its limits. But it wasn't the physical strain that weighed on him the most. It was Coach Guanyu's eyes.

Jimmy, despite his initial reluctance, hadn't looked away from the game for the last several minutes. His bucket hat had also been discarded, and he leaned against the railings like a curious meerkat.

Yuze shook his head, trying to focus, but the thought of his father's expectations lingered.

He looked over at Kai, who was fiercely guarding Max. Kai could handle Max, Yuze knew that. In fact, Kai was better than Max, but that wasn't the point.

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This wasn't Kai's game to win. This was Yuze's moment, his chance to prove something, and that realization clawed at him with a desperation that he hadn't felt in years.

Yuze jogged over to where Kai was standing, his heart pounding in his chest. He placed his hand firmly on Kai's shoulder. Kai turned to him, frowning, his brows furrowed in confusion.

"I'll handle Max," Yuze said, his voice low but resolute.

Kai's frown deepened. He didn't like the sound of that. "What? No, you—"

"I'll handle him," Yuze repeated, his grip tightening on Kai's shoulder for emphasis. He glanced around the court, knowing that this moment was crucial. "Trust me."

"Please."

Kai hesitated, his instincts telling him to argue, but there was something in Yuze's eyes that compelled him to agree. With a reluctant nod, Kai stepped back, giving Yuze control. He moved over to guard Yutong, who also found the change confusing.

Max, too, was visibly perplexed.

Yuze's entire body ached, his injured ankle pulsing with pain every time he planted his foot. But he pushed through it, blocking out the discomfort, focusing solely on Max in front of him. His movements were slower than usual, but he used his mind to outthink Max and anticipate his every move. The pain in his leg sharpened, but Yuze gritted his teeth and kept going.

Every muscle screamed for him to stop. His lungs burned with every breath. His knee felt like it could give out at any moment, but Yuze refused to let that happen. Not now.

Guanyu, standing on the sidelines, watched intently. His furrowed brows and stern expression betrayed the thoughts running in his mind. This wasn't how he had expected the game to go.Yuze wasn't supposed to be the one stepping up. And yet, here he was, pushing through his limits, refusing to back down.

Yuze's heartbeat thundered in his ears, the pain in his leg spreading with each step. Used every ounce of strength to stay in front of Max, forcing him to make mistakes. A bead of sweat dripped down Yuze's forehead, his vision narrowing to the ball in Max's hands.

Max dribbled, looking for an opening, but Yuze wasn't backing down, his defense tighter than it had been all game. Max made his move, driving toward the basket, but Yuze anticipated it, jumping in front of him, blocking his path with everything he had. Max hesitated, and in that split second, Yuze swiped the ball from his hands.

The crowd gasped, the sound rippling through the arena. Yuze felt a sharp jolt of pain as he turned on his heel, his injured leg protesting every move. But he pushed through it, charging toward the basket with the ball clutched tightly in his hands.

Kai was open at the side, waving for the ball. It would've been an easy pass, a guaranteed point. But Yuze didn't pass.

He could hear his father's voice in the back of his mind, the words he'd overheard that night.

He's not special.

Yuze gritted his teeth, his body trembling as he fought through the pain. His legs felt like they were going to give out, but he didn't stop. With a deep breath, he took one final leap, launching himself into the air toward the hoop. The world seemed to slow down around him; the only sound was the rapid thumping of his heartbeat.

The pain in his leg was excruciating now like someone had driven a knife into his joints, but he ignored it. His fingers gripped the ball tighter as he dunked it through the hoop with every ounce of strength he had left.

The crowd erupted in cheers, the sound deafening as Yuze hung from the rim for a moment before dropping back down to the ground. His chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath, his entire body screaming in agony. But he didn't care.

The buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the second quarter. The scoreboard flashed 49-48, with the Shizi Dogs now in the lead.

Yuze stood there, panting heavily, sweat dripping down his face. His vision blurred slightly as the adrenaline started to wear off, the pain in his leg throbbing even more now that he had stopped moving.

He glanced over at the sidelines, searching for his father. Coach Guanyu stood there, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable, but his eyebrows were furrowed. Yuze held his gaze, refusing to look away.

This was for you, he thought. He didn't say it out loud, but he knew his father would understand. He needed to prove two things: that he was special and that this was still his team.

Even though Kai was the better player, and even though his father had taken an interest in him, this game was Yuze's to win. This moment was his, and he wasn't going to let anyone take it from him.

As the crowd continued to cheer, Yuze stood tall, his chest rising and falling with each labored breath. His leg was on fire, but the pain was worth it. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he belonged.

And for the last time, he hoped his father saw it too.