Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog-Chapter 598: He Is The Future

Kai pressed his back against the wall, trying to keep his breathing steady as the muffled sounds of the halftime crowd faded into the background.

He was oblivious to their teammates' panic on the court.

"Where the heck are they?" Jaw-Long muttered, pacing back and forth.

"The third quarter is about to start," Zheng said, biting his lip from anxiety.

Coach Xu Wei shook his head and stood, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"Go out there," he said. "If they can't come by the fourth quarter, then the other two will play," he continued, gesturing to Bam and Jie.

Meanwhile, Kai's heart thudded in his chest, not from exertion but from the conversation unfolding before him. He felt like he was caught in the middle of a drama!

Marcus and Haoran stood a few feet away, their voices loud enough that Kai could hear everything clearly. The young one was grateful he didn't have to struggle to catch every word.

"Because of them, you couldn't play," Marcus emphasized, his fists clenching at his sides. He sounded bitter as he recalled what had happened before the Elite Five came.

Haoran leaned on his crutch, his expression calm but tinged with sadness. "That's not the whole story, Marcus."

"Then what is?" Marcus snapped. "We were hosts. We were finally called back and given a chance to prove ourselves to the entire world. We've been wanting to enter the Global Games since we've never placed on the podium at all."

"You were called back, too. It was a sealed promise. And then they decided we shouldn't play? They dropped you like that when they were the ones who called you! Instead, they wanted the younger players to gain attention. What a load of bull!"

Kai froze.

He got it now.

Everything made sense all of a sudden.

They weren't supposed to be a part of the line-up after all. There was an original one.

Haoran shook his head, his grip tightening on the crutch. "It wasn't like that, Marcus. The decision wasn't made because of you—or me."

"Then why?" Marcus demanded, his voice rising. "Why did they call all of us here, only to tell us it didn't matter?"

Haoran sighed deeply. "That last game—the one where you beat us—it wasn't just a match. It was a test."

Marcus blinked, caught off guard. "A test? What are you talking about?"

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Haoran's gaze softened. "Johnny Wang didn't tell us at the time. Only the losers knew. Whoever lost would leave. Whoever won, stayed behind."

"What?" Marcus's voice dropped, disbelief heard in his tone. "We weren't aware of that. You're saying...it wasn't because of the Elite Five?"

Haoran nodded. "It wasn't. They didn't choose me, or any of us, because we weren't cut out for it. You beat us, and that was it."

Marcus pursed his lips. So, that was the reason Haoran left? It was because of the practice game they had? One where Marcus' team had beaten theirs?

"It wasn't because of the younger team. It was simply because the kids—those younger players—were what the league needed to evolve. That game was their way of deciding."

Kai clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. He didn't know whether to feel angry or guilty. He could just imagine what Marcus went through after finding out that one of his best mates wasn't going to play all of a sudden and would be replaced with younger players.

Marcus stumbled back a step, his face contorted in frustration. "Still," he said. "Even if you say it isn't because of them, they are still the reason there had to be a game in the first place. The higher-ups wanted to give them a spotlight to grow. Meanwhile, we were forced to act as stepping stones."

Haoran chuckled and shook my head. "I tell you that it's really not like that. It's because we lack in skill. Even if it weren't for the Elite Five, we would have still been replaced."

Kai lifted his head, more unsure of what to feel.

Marcus looked away, his jaw tight.

He seemed ready to argue, but Haoran moved closer and placed a steady hand on his shoulder. "I don't loathe you for it, Marcus. I don't even hate my life now."

Marcus's eyes darted to Haoran, searching for something. Maybe anger, maybe regret—but he found none.

"Basketball was my life," Haoran continued. "But it isn't anymore. I have my kid. I have my wife. I've found something else to live for."

"Haoran…" Marcus started, his voice cracking.

"I'm fine being ordinary," Haoran interrupted gently. "When I was given a chance to come back, I was happy, of course. But I wasn't expecting it. I wasn't like you, Marcus. I didn't practice as much. I didn't have the same drive anymore. This...this was for the best."

Marcus lowered his head, his shoulders sagging. "I just wanted us to play together again. Why give then take away?"

"I know," Haoran said softly.

"But seeing those kids out there, doing their best? I know they made the right decision. They're the present of this game, Marcus. And so are you. You're here now, with them. You're part of this present."

Marcus' lips pressed into a thin line, the conflict in his eyes evident.

Haoran gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "So, I hope you can accept them. Because I have. And I'm not even part of the game anymore."

He smiled faintly. "You'd be unstoppable if you worked together. You always were when you trusted your teammates."

Before Marcus could respond, Haoran shifted his gaze to Kai, who froze in place, his breath catching in his throat.

"Kai Guo," Haoran called out.

Kai stepped forward hesitantly, his face flushing. "You...knew I was here?"

Haoran chuckled. "You're not as sneaky as you think."

Marcus turned, his eyes narrowing as they landed on Kai. "You were eavesdropping?"

Kai raised his hands defensively. "I didn't mean to. I just...didn't want to interrupt."

Haoran waved off Marcus's irritation. "It's fine. He should hear this, too."

Kai swallowed hard as Haoran's gaze settled on him.

"I am the past," Haoran said, his tone quiet. "You are the present. And I think you might be the future."

Kai's eyebrows shot up, surprise flashing across his face.

Haoran turned back to Marcus, his expression serious. "So, work with him, Marcus. It's the only way you'll win."