Yuuto Kai sat at the far end of the bench, knees taped, hands cold, and his name forgotten.
The rubber soles of sneakers squeaked across the polished floor as the sound of bouncing balls echoed like taunts through the gym. The smell of sweat, resin, and faintly sour towels hung in the air an aroma Yuuto once found intoxicating. Now it clung to him like failure.
He wasn't always invisible.
Two years ago, they called him the Prodigy of Kyoto. A freshman point guard who danced across the court with preternatural grace. His passes cut through defensive schemes like a scalpel. His footwork was poetry. The ball bent to his will.
Now?
"Number eleven, sit down! That's not your drill," barked Coach Ijima.
Not even a glance. Not even his name.
Yuuto blinked. He hadn't even stood up.
Laughter bubbled from the starting lineup. Loud and unfiltered.
"Still thinks he's got next," someone muttered.
Takeda team captain, star shooting guard, and resident jerk snorted for effect.
Yuuto said nothing. He just gripped the towel in his lap, elbows on knees, watching practice through narrowed eyes. Watching a game that used to belong to him. Now every pass, every shot, every whistle felt like a blade to the ribs.
He used to love this game.
Now, watching it hurt more than his reconstructed knee ever could.
Two Years Ago…
The crowd roared. The gym was packed beyond capacity. Banners waved. Phones pointed at him like spotlights. This was his moment.
Yuuto brought the ball up the court, weaving through defenders with surgical cuts. One fake, two steps he exploded toward the rim. Everything blurred into one fluid motion.
Then
Pop.
A sickening twist. A dislocation from reality. The hardwood rushed to meet him. Then silence.
Agonizing silence.
He didn't scream. He couldn't.
His right knee throbbed with an unnatural stillness, like it no longer belonged to him.
Diagnosis: Complete ACL tear. Grade 3.
Out. For a year.
Scholarships? Gone.
Scouts? Vanished.
The media? Moved on.
By the time he returned, faster and stronger wasn't enough. The team had moved on too new talent, new systems. New stars.
And Yuuto Kai became a ghost.
Present Day
The whistle blew, sharp and final.
"Wrap up! Tomorrow, scrimmage at six sharp!" Coach Ijima shouted. "Starters you better not embarrass yourselves like last time."
The players laughed and bantered as they peeled off their jerseys and headed to the locker room.
Yuuto rose wordlessly. Grabbed the mop. Began his silent ritual clearing the slick sweat from the court.
No one asked him to do it. No one even noticed anymore.
But it gave him a reason to stay.
A ball rolled toward him.
He stopped mopping.
Takeda approached, spinning another ball on his finger. His smirk was permanent.
"You the janitor now, Kai?"
Yuuto didn't answer. He bounced the ball back perfect angle, perfect spin. Right into Takeda's chest.
The senior flinched slightly at the precision.
Then scoffed. Turned his back.
Yuuto returned to the mop.
After Practice
He always left last.
The gym emptied. The halls darkened. The night swallowed the school in silence.
His apartment a narrow single-room unit above a 24-hour convenience store greeted him with the hum of a flickering ceiling light and the faint smell of instant noodles.
A dusty trophy shelf sat above his desk. Faded newspaper clippings drooped inside an open folder: Kyoto's Young King, Kai's Court Magic, The Next National Star?
Now? He couldn't even get ten minutes in a practice scrimmage.
He lay back on the futon, arms sprawled wide, eyes fixed on the cracked ceiling.
"I used to be somebody," he whispered.
His hand reached beneath the bed, pulling out the old folder. He flipped through it slowly his past, page by page.
Action shots of him in mid-air. His name in bold typeface. Reporters speculating about his future.
He closed it with a sigh.
"Just one more chance," he whispered. "Anything. Please."
That Night…
Sleep wrapped him in a dreamless haze. But then
[System Initializing…]
["Second Wind" has been granted.]
[Welcome, Yuuto Kai.]
[This is your second chance.]
His eyes flew open.
Blue light glowed above him. A sleek interface part HUD, part hologram hung in midair.
He gasped, scrambling upright.
Am I dreaming?
[Your body was once elite. Your spirit still is.]
[Do you wish to begin your comeback?]
Yes
No
His hand trembled. He stared at the words, heart hammering.
Was he losing it?
No. This was real. Whatever it was it felt real.
And if it wasn't?
So what?
He reached out.
Tapped: Yes.
[Tutorial Quest: Prove You Still Belong]
Objective: Win a 1v1 against any starter in practice
Reward: Stat Activation Unlocked
Penalty: System Lockdown (30 Days)
Countdown: 24:00:00
The Next Morning
Yuuto arrived before the janitor.
His breath steamed in the cold gym as he stretched slowly. His muscles burned with anticipation. For the first time in two years, he wanted to sweat.
[System Active: Tracking in Progress…]
The doors creaked open. Players began to arrive, joking, yawning.
Takeda passed him.
"You sleep here now?" he scoffed.
Yuuto stood.
"1v1," he said.
Takeda stopped. Raised an eyebrow.
"Excuse me?"
"First to five. You and me."
The gym quieted.
Eyes turned. Whispers rippled.
"Why would I waste my time?" Takeda laughed.
"If I lose, I mop this gym for a week. But if I win…" Yuuto's voice hardened. "I start tomorrow."
Takeda's smile froze. His eyes narrowed.
"You serious?"
"Scared?"
A ripple of "oohs" filled the air.
Takeda stepped forward. His jaw tensed.
"Fine. Let's put this delusion to rest."
1v1: The Challenge
Half-court. One ball. First to five.
Takeda had possession.
He drove hard left, trying to barrel through like always
[Reading Opponent: Analyzing Patterns…]
["Anticipation" Passive: Lv. 0.5 Activated]
+0.1 Speed
+0.2 Focus
Yuuto saw it. Knew it.
He planted his feet and stripped the ball clean.
One step. Two.
Layup.
1–0.
Takeda growled. "Lucky."
Next play he jabbed, stepped back, rose, and sank a jumper.
1–1.
Cheers.
Yuuto didn't blink. His turn.
Crossover. Spin. A jolt of pain exploded in his knee.
[Stability Mode: Activated]
[Pain Reduction: -30%]
[Speed Boost: +0.5 (temporary)]
He finished strong.
2–1.
Takeda retaliated. Drive. Fadeaway.
2–2.
Yuuto's breath shortened. Sweat poured down his face.
[Stamina: 72%]
[Do you wish to trigger "Clutch Focus"? (Y/N)]
Yes.
["Clutch Focus" Activated – Duration: 60 seconds]
Shot Accuracy +10%
Reaction Boost
Distraction Resistance
The game slowed.
Takeda's body became an open book.
Yuuto baited the drive. Anticipated. Stole.
Breakaway. Dunk.
3–2.
Gasps echoed.
Coach Ijima entered mid-step, pausing as he saw the crowd of players and the clash unfolding.
Yuuto didn't see him.
Takeda glared, then launched a deep three.
Miss.
Yuuto grabbed the rebound, spun, faked, hit a step-back jumper off the glass.
4–2.
Takeda was wild now. Desperate.
He charged in, reckless.
Yuuto faked a crossover, stepped back.
[Last Shot Opportunity Triggered]
Release.
Swish.
5–2.
Silence.
Then
Tweet!
Coach's whistle split the air.
"I said what the hell is going on?!"
No one answered at first.
Finally, someone whispered: "Yuuto just beat Takeda…"
Coach Ijima's face twisted between disbelief and something else… something like respect.
Yuuto stood, panting. Shoulders heaving. Eyes blazing.
[Quest Complete: 1v1 Victory]
Rewards Unlocked:
– Stat Activation Panel
– Skill Tree (Beginner Tier)
– "Clutch Focus" (Lv.1)
Next Quest: Survive Scrimmage Tomorrow
Bonus Objective: Score 10+ Points → Unlock "Zone Entry"
Yuuto wiped the sweat from his brow.
For the first time in two years, he wasn't just watching the game anymore.
He was in it.
He wasn't a ghost.
He was coming back.
And he wasn't stopping.