Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

Kai was on his way home, feeling stressed out as he gazed at his new weekly mission.

[Increase basketball's popularity in Shizi High. Most Shizi Students only care about football!]

[Enjoin Shizi's students and faculty to go to the game and support Shizi High.]

[Each person = 1 XP]

[Current rank with all the practice augmentations: Rising Rookie (66)]

As soon as he saw his new mission, he thought it was his grand chance to increase his XP by more than a hundred!

The entire capacity of Jilin City's main court was more than 3,000! Kai could skyrocket to the highest level if they filled the venue to the brim.

However, as he asked his classmates to come to the game, he realized that he might only gain 10 XP, and that was because Bao, Shang, and some others who watched the first game would probably go.

Most of the students didn't even know that the Shizi Dogs had a game tomorrow.

Kai sighed once again, his shoulders slumping.

Then, he suddenly felt somebody wrap their arms around his biceps, causing him to snap out of his daze and gaze at the newcomer.

"Kai! It's been a while," Eva said with a wide smile. She still had cherry-red lips and cherry-shaped earrings. However, she seemed to look more proper this time around.

Her blouse was buttoned all the way up, and her skirt wasn't folded higher compared to before.

Kai chuckled awkwardly as he gently removed her arms from his body.

"Hey, Eva," he said, halting to speak with the pretty girl. "I haven't seen you around in a while."

"Well, I've been pretty busy," Eva said. "You know—I ran as the first-year representative for the student council."

Kai's eyebrows raised in surprise. "You did?"

Eva clicked her tongue, placing her hand over her chest. "You're not aware? The election is already over!"

Kai scratched the back of his head. He must have been so busy with training that he even missed out on it.

"Well, did you win?" Kai asked.

"Duh!" Eva exclaimed. "That's why I've been so busy in the first place. I'm always in the student council room these days. I even go there during my breaks because those damn second-years and third-years are treating me like an intern."

"Congratulations, though. You seem diligent at your job," Kai said.

"Hmm," Eva smiled, wrapping her arms around Kai once more. "It feels great hearing it from you."

Kai pursed his lips as he wondered why Eva was so affectionate when she was with Jinping.

"I don't think you should be doing this. Cheating is a bad thing, you know?"

Eva frowned in confusion. "Cheating? I don't cheat in exams now. I'm a changed person!"

"I mean—cheating on Jinping."

She frowned before scoffing, almost in disbelief at what Kai had just said.

"We're not together!" she quickly denied. "That guy just says we are."

"Oh," Kai said.

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"Yeah," Eva exclaimed. "So, you don't have to worry about that, pookiebear."

Kai awkwardly chuckled and stepped to the side.

"Well, I have to go. I still have a game tomorrow," Kai said.

"What?" Eva exclaimed. "Aren't you going to watch the game with the Shizi Snakes?"

Kai pursed his lips. "I don't know a thing about football."

"But everyone's going!" Eva said. "You have to go. The student council did a lot of preparations for today's game."

"Come on," Eva said, trying to convince him.

"Will you go to our game tomorrow if I watch today?" Kai asked.

Eva suddenly turned silent as she pursed her lips. "But Jinping's going to be there," she muttered.

"Then, I guess I'm not watching," Kai said, about to walk away when Eva suddenly pulled him back.

"Alright, I will," Eva said.

A small smirk appeared on Kai's face.

"Will you call your friends, too?" he asked.

"I'm not sure if they would like to go," Eva responded. "But I'll do my best for you."

Kai nodded in satisfaction. Now, he had a chance to gain at least 15 XP!

"I'll go then. I don't know if I can finish the entire game, though."

"That's enough for me," Eva said. "Let's go!"

The two of them made their way to the field. Kai was surprised when he saw that the bleachers were filled to the brim.

He didn't even know that this many students attended Shizi High! If they could support the football team like this, then it was also possible for the basketball team.

Fortunately, with Eva's student council perks, they were able to secure a seat in the third row.

"Has the game started?" Kai asked.

"Yup," Eva responded. "I didn't think we would talk for so long."

Just then, a loud cheer was heard from the other side of the bleachers, just adjacent to them.

Kai looked at them and saw a familiar face—Peng Yang.

The other bleachers were filled with Feng Arts students, and they rejoiced as their team scored the first point of the night.

Eva sighed. "Why would they go against the Feng Flies for their very first game?"

"Is the Feng Flies good?" Kai asked.

Eva nodded. "Feng Arts is a great school for sports-oriented students in the city. Basketball is undoubtedly their most famous sport, but they're a rich school for rich students, so it's expected that they're better than most schools in the city."

Kai nodded in agreement before focusing his gaze on the field once again.

It seemed like the game was intense.

Just then, Justin Liang, the star player of the Snakes, was able to score a goal just as the first half was ending.

Their side erupted into cheers, chanting the school's name while jumping around.

Kai remained seated and observed everybody else.

However, their celebration was cut short when another player from the Feng Flies scored a point, taking the lead once more.

It also didn't end with that. As one of the members of the Shizi Snakes made a mistake, the Feng Flies didn't miss capitalizing on it. They snatched the ball and ran to the goal.

The goalie readied himself to catch the ball. However, the star player of the Feng Flies was the one kicking the ball.

In the end, it still made its way into the net just as the first half of the game ended.

The side of Feng Arts cheered once more. Meanwhile, the Shizi students started to pray.

"Ah, I can't do this. They need to win!"

"I can't watch anymore. Just call me when it's over."

"Do you think they can turn this game around?"

"I sure hope so. I'm willing to bet my love life on it."

"I'm so desperate. I can cling onto any superstition."

"If they lose here, they'll go to the loser's bracket. Then, if they lose there, all their preparations will go down the drain."

"Seriously, they need to win this one."

"I'm willing to do anything."

Kai heard desperate statements from around him, and that was when he thought of a genius beyond genius idea.

"Willing to do anything?" he muttered.

With a smirk, he faced Eva, who still appeared dejected because of the first half's results.

Kai nudged her side, so she turned to him with curious and bright eyes.

"Hey, Eva. Do you have a printer in the student council's room?"

Eva frowned in confusion at the sudden question.

Still, she nodded in response.

"Yeah...," she trailed off. "Why is that?"

Kai's smirk widened.

"Then, can you accompany me to have something printed there?"