The gym buzzed like a living organism. Sneakers squeaked against polished hardwood, the bounce of basketballs echoed rhythmically, and the air smelled faintly of sweat, leather, and old varnish. Sunlight filtered through high windows, dust motes dancing in golden streams. It was a court full of life yet every eye subtly tracked him.
Yuuto lingered near the bench, one hand massaging the brace on his recovering knee. He flexed his fingers around the worn leather of his basketball. His palms were slick, not from warm-up drills but from the anxiety curling inside him. Every glance from a teammate, every smirk or raised eyebrow, felt like a needle in his chest.
"Yo, Kai."
Yuuto's head snapped up. Kenji, tall and broad-shouldered, spun a ball lazily on one finger, his grin both amused and challenging. "Didn't think you'd actually show up. Thought you were still on crutches."
A couple of forwards snickered quietly. The whispers were unmistakable. "Still injured…" "Wonder how long before he taps out…"
Yuuto forced a calm smile, nodding toward Kenji. "Guess I heal faster than you expected."
"Mm," Kenji shrugged, letting the ball drop to the floor with a heavy thump. "Let's hope you don't break faster too."
A tight knot formed in Yuuto's stomach, but he didn't respond. Before he could, the sharp blow of Coach Tanaka's whistle cut through the chatter.
"Line up! Warm-ups, let's go!"
The team jogged laps, a slow rhythm to wake their muscles. Yuuto's knee protested slightly with every stride, a dull throb pulsing with each footfall. He focused on his breathing, letting the system quietly scan his vitals and energy reserves.
[Daily Quest Progress: Jogging Laps – 6/10]
By the fourth lap, sweat soaked his shirt, clinging uncomfortably to his back. The coach barked instructions for passing lines, layup chains, and defensive shuffles. Yuuto slipped seamlessly into rhythm, each movement testing the limits of his rehabilitated body. Every repetition reminded him: the pain was temporary, the skill permanent if he pushed.
During layup drills, his turn finally came. The ball met his hands with a satisfying weight. Muscle memory surged forward. He planted carefully on his recovering leg, bent just enough to absorb the impact, and propelled the ball upward, aiming for the glass.
Swish.
A perfect sound. The net snapped crisply, sending a small thrill of triumph up Yuuto's spine. For a fleeting second, the gym fell silent. Eyebrows rose; heads turned. Coach Tanaka's whistle chirped, signaling approval.
"Not bad, Kai. Again," the coach said, voice calm but firm.
Yuuto retrieved the rebound, chest tightening with excitement. Each rep mattered. Each shot reclaimed a fragment of himself.
Scrimmage time.
Coach Tanaka divided the squad into two sides. Yuuto found himself paired opposite Kenji, the smirking forward who now looked far too confident. Kenji leaned on his knees, ball in hand, smirking.
"Guess I'll test how sturdy that knee of yours is," Kenji said, a hint of mischief in his voice.
The whistle blew.
Yuuto crouched low, feet planted firmly on the hardwood. His pulse raced. Every nerve screamed: Don't screw this up. The ball swung to Kenji, who jab-stepped and drove toward him.
[Skill Activated: Match Awareness Lv.1]
Faint arcs of light traced Kenji's intended path through the court. Yuuto's heartbeat synchronized with the faint glow. He slid early, angling his body to block the lane. Kenji collided with him unexpectedly, spinning off balance.
"Tch," Kenji grunted.
Yuuto's chest rose with triumph, but the skill lasted only fifteen seconds. Once it faded, he was just a player again, vulnerable to his own mistakes. Kenji recovered quickly, exploiting the temporary gap for an easy drive and layup.
Yuuto exhaled, clenched fists tingling. Not enough… not yet. But every block, every read, sharpened his instincts.
Later in the scrimmage, the ball found its way into Yuuto's hands on offense. Kenji surged to defend him aggressively, eyes locked on Yuuto's every move.
[Layups (Bronze Rank) – Confidence Boost Active]
Yuuto pivoted. The system whispered suggestions for body positioning and safe angles. His knee protested sharply, a flare of pain, but he pushed through. Step. Plant. Lift. The ball kissed the backboard and dropped through the net.
Cheers erupted. Even Kenji stepped back, brow furrowed in surprise.
"Let's go, Yuuto!" a teammate called. "Damn, he's moving better than I thought!"
Kenji scowled, wiping sweat from his brow. "Don't get too comfortable."
Coach blew the whistle. "Good hustle, Kai. Keep playing your pace."
Yuuto jogged back, lungs burning, heart soaring. This wasn't just rehab it was proof. Proof to the teammates, proof to the coach, proof to himself. Every step forward on that hardwood was a reclaiming of the person he once was and the player he would become.
[Hidden Quest Progress: Rise of the Underdog – Recognition Gained]
The system pulsed warmly, a quiet acknowledgment. Yuuto's grin widened, teeth flashing through exhaustion.
After practice, Marcus approached, clapping him on the shoulder. "Told you. Grind hard enough, no one can deny you."
Yuuto chuckled, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Yeah… but this is just the start."
Marcus grinned, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Good. Because the season's not waiting for you."
The system pinged one last time before fading:
[Quest Update: Rise of the Underdog]
Objective 2: Earn trust in an official game.
Reward: Team Chemistry Boost (Unlocked).
Yuuto's pulse raced. A real game. A real chance. The path ahead was daunting but he wouldn't have it any other way.