The rhythmic sound of the basketball bounced in the otherwise quiet rehab gym. Thump… thump… thump… Each hit echoed off the polished wooden floor, ricocheting faintly against the concrete walls. Yuuto's right hand controlled the ball, fingers spread, palm firm, while his left balanced lightly on the crutch beside him.
It wasn't a full court. Just a half-sized practice floor tucked inside the hospital's sports wing. The lines were faded, the baskets slightly rusted, but to Yuuto, it felt like hallowed ground. Every echo carried a memory: the squeak of sneakers on the gym floor, the roar of a crowd, the weight of a ball in his hands moments before a game-winning shot.
[Quest Progress: 18/20 Seated Dribble Reps]
[+1 Ball Control Efficiency]
His breathing was steady now, but sharp, focused. Eyes locked on the ball, he alternated hands with precision. Sweat dampened the strands of hair sticking to his forehead, but he didn't notice. Not really. All that mattered was rhythm, focus, motion.
"…You're working hard, Kai."
Yuuto froze.
He turned toward the doorway, eyes widening.
Leaning casually against the wall, one foot crossed over the other, was a familiar figure in a Shujin High jersey jacket. Marcus Lee. His teammate. The guy who could read a play before it even unfolded.
Yuuto's voice cracked slightly. "M-Marcus? What are… what are you doing here?"
Marcus smirked, tossing a water bottle from hand to hand, letting it spin slightly before catching it. "Coach asked me to check up on you. Said you've been 'killing yourself' in rehab." His eyes flicked over Yuuto's sweat-soaked shirt, the tautness of his arms. "Guess he wasn't exaggerating."
Yuuto's face heated. He looked down, trying to hide the blush, fumbling with the ball. "I… I just don't want to waste time. Every day counts."
Marcus stepped onto the court, sneakers squeaking softly against the polished wood. He stopped a few feet away, eyes scanning Yuuto's form, his posture, the faint tremble in his stance.
"You really think you're coming back?"
The words hit Yuuto like a spike to the chest. Doubt flickered, cold and insistent. Could he really do it? Could he actually play at the level he once had, or was this all just illusion?
Then he remembered the system panel, the stat numbers climbing, the little wins stacked like invisible bricks. Every rep, every dribble, every shot.
He tightened his grip on the ball, determination flaring in his chest. "I know I am."
[Willpower Check Passed]
[+1 Determination]
Marcus raised a skeptical eyebrow, then chuckled. "Heh. That's the Kai I remember. Still stubborn as hell."
Dropping his bag with a soft thud, Marcus motioned with his chin toward the hoop. "Mind if I test you?"
Yuuto blinked. "…Test me?"
"Yeah. Let's see if all that grind is actually doing something. I'll defend you try to get a shot up. Let's see what you've got left in the tank."
Yuuto's heartbeat sped. This wasn't a quest. This wasn't a simulation. This was a real teammate, a real test. And his knee throbbed faintly, reminding him of his fragility.
But before doubt could take hold, the panel flickered in his vision:
[New Sub-Quest Generated]
Sub-Quest: "Prove Yourself"
Goal: Attempt 5 drives/shots against Marcus Lee
Rewards: +1 Basketball (Layups), +1 Confidence, ???
Yuuto swallowed his nerves, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline spike through him. "Alright. Let's do it."
The first attempt was messy. Yuuto faked left, trying to trick Marcus. But Marcus anticipated it perfectly, swiping the ball with ease.
"Too slow," Marcus said flatly, eyes glinting with mild amusement.
Yuuto stumbled slightly on his crutch, catching himself before falling. His knee burned sharply, a reminder that he wasn't fully healed.
He shook his head, frustration rising. "I… I can do better."
Determined, Yuuto planted his good foot firmly and lunged, trying to drive past Marcus. But the crutch slipped ever so slightly on the smooth floor, and his body wavered.
"Careful," Marcus warned, though his smirk betrayed a mixture of teasing and pride.
Yuuto clenched his teeth, forcing himself upright again. Pain shot through his knee, each step an electric jolt. But he remembered the small victories the numbers, the system progress, the skill unlocked: Iron Will.
[Passive Skill Activated: Pain Tolerance (Lv. 1)]
He could endure. He would endure.
By the third attempt, sweat blurred his vision, burning his eyes. His arms trembled, knees shaking beneath the weight of determination and raw fatigue. Each movement felt like wading through thick water.
But he remembered the panel again. Every session had stacked, every reward and stat point a step closer to proof.
He planted his right foot, shifted the ball into his dominant hand, and drove with all the energy he could muster. Marcus lunged.
and Yuuto slipped past, awkward, off-balance, but determined. He launched the ball toward the hoop with a desperate flick of his wrist.
Swish.
The net whispered as the ball fell cleanly through.
Marcus's eyes widened, a brief flicker of surprise crossing his normally impassive face. "…Huh."
[Sub-Quest Progress: 1/5]
Yuuto's chest heaved. The sound of the swish was intoxicating. The sweet reward of validation after months of silent grind. It wasn't perfect. Not at all. But it was proof.
Breathing heavily, Yuuto tried again. He remembered Marcus's movements, anticipated his reactions, and pushed his body harder, leaning into pain he'd learned to tolerate. Each step was measured but aggressive, a dance of recovery and aggression.
Marcus blocked one drive cleanly, but Yuuto pivoted, rolling with the pain, letting the Iron Will take effect. He forced another shot, this time with a subtle change in angle.
Thump. The ball grazed the rim.
Yuuto groaned, chest heaving, but he didn't falter. "I… I've got this…"
The ball bounced off again, but he caught it mid-air, preparing for the final try.
The fifth attempt burned. Every muscle screamed. Sweat soaked his shirt, his hair plastered to his face. His knee pulsed sharply with each step.
But he remembered the first swish the taste of victory, even if small.
He drove, shifting left, pivoting with precision learned from hundreds of solo drills. Marcus lunged. Yuuto dodged, propelled by sheer will. The ball left his hands with perfect rotation, and for a heartbeat, the room held its breath.
Swish.
Clean. Perfect.
Marcus's jaw slackened for a fraction of a second before he broke into a wide grin. "Damn, Kai. Maybe you really are coming back."
Yuuto dropped to one knee, exhaling, sweat and relief mixing. His chest rose and fell rapidly. The pain in his body was present, sharp, but beneath it all was something new undeniable, roaring hope.
Not just hope. Not just recovery. Proof.
The echoes of the court were no longer whispers of the past. They were a promise.
Later, as the afternoon sun slanted across the gym's windows, Yuuto sat on the sidelines, towel pressed to his face, crutch resting beside him. Marcus leaned back, idly spinning the ball on his finger, watching him with a knowing smile.
"You're… different," Marcus said softly. "Not just faster. Not just stronger. You're… sharper. More aware. Feels like you've been hiding something."
Yuuto's fingers tightened around the ball. "Just… hard work," he muttered. But inside, he couldn't ignore the subtle pulse, the stats, the system quietly guiding him forward.
Marcus laughed. "Heh. Whatever it is, keep at it. I like this version of Kai."
Yuuto allowed himself a small smile. The road ahead was long. Painful. Dangerous. But he knew, deep down, that he was no longer just recovering. He was coming back.
[Hidden Progress: "Path of the Comeback" – 25%]
The ball rested beside him like a companion, familiar yet brimming with promise. And tomorrow, he would take the next step perhaps onto a real court, with real teammates, where the system would finally meet reality.