Jin, still shaking off his embarrassment, made his way back to the boba shop.
All that internal screaming and emotional damage had worked up an appetite.
While ordering, he kept ducking and weaving like he was in a stealth game, doing everything he could to stay out of her line of sight.
In the end, he went with a taro boba and grabbed a pepperoni pizza to share with Kai.
They found a table in the far corner of the food court (safely out of view) and started eating, making small talk between bites.
Once they were done, they decided to explore the mall a bit more, but not before dropping their shopping bags off in the car.
Kai led the way into a few more clothing and accessory stores while Jin trailed behind, absorbing fashion knowledge like a quiet sponge.
Eventually, when Kai was satisfied with his haul, Jin spoke up.
"Hey, can we stop by a sports store real quick? I'm pretty sure there's one in this mall."
"Sure," Kai said with a shrug.
They made their way to a nearby store with the most uncreative name possible: Sporting Goods.
"So," Kai asked as they walked in, "what did you wanna look at?"
"Tennis racquets," Jin said. "I haven't really kept up with the newer models."
The store was a labyrinth of random equipment, so they wandered around aimlessly for ten minutes, passing yoga mats, treadmills, even a wall of crossbows and hunting rifles.
After nearly ending up in the wilderness survival aisle, they gave up and asked an employee for help.
The staff member nodded and led them through several twists and turns until, finally, they reached a long wall lined with sleek tennis racquets of every make and color.
Jin's eyes lit up instantly.
"Woah! A Wilson Blade 100L—it's so light! And this one—Head Graphene 360?!"
He bounced from one racquet to the next, inspecting frames, testing grip textures, comparing racquet head sizes like a kid in a candy store.
Kai crossed his arms and watched, amused.
"What's with all the hype? Aren't all racquets basically the same? Just different brands and colors?"
Jin froze, slowly turning toward him with a horrified look.
"Are you dumb?"
Kai raised an eyebrow.
"There are huge differences! Weight, thickness, head size, string pattern. Each one changes how the racquet feels and plays. Power, control, spin, stability, it all depends on the racquet."
He picked up a slightly heavier frame and gave it a short, precise air swing.
"Having a racquet that fits you can literally be the difference between winning and losing."
Kai held up his hands.
"Okay, okay, alright tennis professor, I get it."
Jin grinned and went back to comparing specs like his life depended on it.
Once Jin finished inspecting the racquets, the two made their way back to the car.
"Ahh man, I had fun," Kai said, starting the engine.
"Speak for yourself. You weren't subject to intense mortification last I checked."
Kai laughed. "Actually, the first time I met Yuki (Kai's girlfriend), I spilled coffee all over myself."
"No way! You've gotta tell me more."
As they drove, Kai shared the full story. Awkward stammering, hella coffee stains, and how Yuki somehow found it charming. Jin laughed the entire way.
A few minutes later, Kai glanced at Jin. "Say, how about we stop by the park and get some fresh air before heading home?"
"Sure, I was feeling a bit stuffy too."
They swung by the park near their house, the same one Jin practiced his serves in, and parked along the curb. The summer air was warm but not stifling, and a faint breeze rustled the trees as they strolled along the familiar path.
They were mindlessly wandering when a sharp voice rang out across the open space.
"Hey Kai!!!"
Both brothers turned toward the basketball court. A group of six people were gathered there, casually bouncing a ball and chatting.
"Wait... Michael?" Kai called back.
"Yeah, come here! The whole gang's here!" Michael waved them over excitedly.
Kai's face lit up. "C'mon, Jin."
They walked over to the court, where Kai was quickly engulfed in greetings and slaps on the back. His high school crew was loud, energetic, and clearly happy to see him.
"Dude, you haven't changed at all!" said another guy, grinning.
"Except for the jawline upgrade," one of the guys added teasingly.
Kai laughed and caught up with them for a few minutes, sharing what he'd been up to in college, talking about internships, and how his classes have been.
Eventually, Michael turned to Jin with a smile. "So, who's this?"
"This is my little brother, Jin," Kai introduced. "He's a tennis prodigy in the making."
"Yo, nice to meet you!" said Michael, holding out a fist. Jin bumped it with a small smile.
"Hey," another friend chimed in, spinning the basketball on one finger, "how about you two join us for a quick game? We were doing 3v3, but we can add a couple more and make it 4v4."
Kai glanced at Jin, then smirked. "You up for it?"
Jin hesitated for a second, but the friendly vibe was contagious.
"Sure. Why not?"
"Let's gooo!" Michael whooped. "Alright, let's run it, shirts vs skins, or nah?"
"Absolutely not," Kai said flatly. "I haven't done cardio since midterms."
Everyone laughed as the ball was checked in and the game began under the golden evening sun.
The teams were set: Jin, Kai, and two of Kai's friends versus the rest.
Jin hadn't played much basketball in either of his lives, but Kai? Kai was a devil on the court.
With tight handles and fluid footwork, he weaved through the defense like it was second nature. He exploded toward the hoop and hit a ridiculous double-clutch layup, drawing cheers and groans from both sides.
"Man, still a god at basketball, huh?" said Michael, shaking his head.
"Haha, I try to stay sharp," Kai replied smugly.
For the next few minutes, Kai dominated the game. Draining shots, making no-look passes, and juking defenders left and right. Eventually, the other team started double- and even triple-teaming him just to keep him in check.
"Woah, this is getting unfair," Kai laughed. "Guess I should let my team have some fun too."
He passed the ball to Jin, who was standing at the top of the key. Michael immediately sprinted toward him, trying to force a turnover.
For a brief moment, Jin panicked. But then his body moved on instinct—he smoothly sidestepped, drove forward, and dished the ball back to Kai, who scored an easy layup.
"Ayy, Jin! I didn't know you had moves like that," Kai said, pleasantly surprised.
"Neither did I!" Jin laughed.
Maybe my improved footwork through the system helped here too, he thought, a quiet sense of pride blooming in his chest.
They kept playing until the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky painted in soft purples and oranges. Teams shifted, jokes flew, and even Jin found himself laughing without hesitation.
As the last shot bounced off the rim and rolled into the grass, the group slowly dispersed, some stretching, others checking their phones or tossing the ball back and forth.