Extra Basket-Chapter 57 - 44: Brotherhood

Inside the gym, the sound of sneakers screeching against the floor echoed again and again. Everyone was giving their all, sliding, sprinting, turning, and moving like their lives depended on it. Sweat rolled down their faces and soaked their clothes, but not a single person slowed down. This was Phase 1 of their training—and everyone took it seriously.

Ethan Albarado stood silently at the side of the gym, his arms crossed, watching every move. His eyes were sharp, not just looking at how his teammates moved—but also what they were thinking, how they were feeling, and how hard they were trying.

He looked at Lucas Graves first.

Lucas was going through the Cone Shuffle Gauntlet, his body moving with precision. He didn’t look tired. In fact, he looked like someone who had done this a thousand times. Every step was sharp, fast, and focused.

"(Lucas really works hard... He is not just doing drills. He’s perfecting them. Like he knows exactly what to fix, even better than the original move he’s copying.)" Ethan thought.

Then Ethan looked at Louie Gee Davas, their newest teammate, just 13 years old.

Louie wasn’t as fast or smooth as Lucas, but his effort stood out. He was clearly trying his hardest to keep up with everyone else. He slipped once, but got up right away and kept going.

"(Louie is still new... but he doesn’t give up. That’s what matters the most.)" Ethan thought with a small nod.

His eyes shifted again, this time to Coonie Smith. Coonie had short hair and a strong posture. He was doing the Mirror Slide Drill, and his footwork was actually better than expected.

"(Coonie’s footwork is solid. That’s the start of a great defender. If he keeps this up, he’ll be reliable on defense.)" Ethan thought, slightly impressed.

On the other side of the court, Jeremy Park—a Korean American with long hair that looked like a rockstar’s—was doing the Shadow Pursuit Drill. He was trying his best to stay within one arm’s length of his partner, but his timing was off.

"(Jeremy has decent awareness. He can tell where his opponent is going... but that’s all. His reactions are slow. He needs more instinct, more sharpness.)"

Then came Kai, a tall player with long arms and a lean body. He was moving through the drills quietly, but efficiently.

"(Kai has long arms. That’s a huge advantage for defense. If he learns to use them properly—he could stop almost any shot.)" Ethan noted mentally.

Not far from Kai, the two big men of the team—Brandon Young and Ryan Taylor—were working hard. They weren’t flashy, but their effort was clear. Their movements were clean and they kept good form.

"(Their attributes still need improvement, but they already have solid fundamentals. That’s a good foundation to grow stronger.)"

Then finally, Ethan’s eyes landed on Evan Cooper, the official captain of Vorpal Basket.

Evan was moving through the drills like everyone else. He was focused, trying to keep up, but something was different. His face looked tense. He was breathing a little heavier, and his eyes looked troubled.

"(Evan... he looks like he’s struggling. But not because he’s tired... It’s something else.)"

Ethan watched closely, trying to understand what was going through Evan’s head.

"(He’s bothered by something. Could it be me? Am I the reason?)"

Ethan lowered his eyes for a second.

"(I’ve been leading the drills, setting the strategies, speaking up in front of the team. Evan is the captain—but I’ve been acting like one too. Maybe he feels like I’ve taken his place.)"

That thought stayed with Ethan for a moment.

He respected Evan. He was a good player, and more than that, he truly wanted to win. But even the strongest people had doubts sometimes. Especially when they felt like they were being replaced or overshadowed.

"(I need to talk to him. Not in front of everyone. Just the two of us. I need to let him know—I’m not trying to take anything from him. We’re in this together.)"

As Ethan glanced across the gym once more, his gaze eventually landed on the last player he hadn’t checked on yet—Josh Turner.

Josh was pushing through the drills with a tight jaw and determined eyes, sweat dripping down his face. To anyone else, he looked like he was keeping up just fine. But Ethan saw something the others didn’t.

Josh’s movements were just a little off. His steps were slightly uneven. And every now and then, he’d subtly shift his weight to one side. To someone who wasn’t paying attention, it wouldn’t matter.

But Ethan was watching closely.

"(As expected... he’s pushing himself too hard. He’s not fooling me. He’s still hurt. That ankle hasn’t fully healed. I need to talk to him.)"

Josh’s ankle injury had improved a little, mostly thanks to the ointment Ethan had secretly given him from the system. But healing wasn’t magic. It still needed time. And right now, Josh was acting like he was at 100% when he clearly wasn’t.

Ethan narrowed his eyes, worried.

"(The last thing I want is for him to make it worse. If he pushes too far now... it could ruin everything. He wants to keep up with the team—but I can’t let him destroy his body just for pride.)"

The moment there was a short break in the drill rotations, Ethan made his move.

He stepped across the court, weaving through teammates who were catching their breath and drinking water. He walked straight toward Josh, who was hunched over slightly, trying to stretch out his leg and hide the discomfort.

Ethan stopped in front of him, arms at his sides, voice low but serious.

"Hey, Josh. I need to talk to you for a second."

Josh looked up, his face a little surprised at first—but as usual, he quickly covered it up with that familiar confident smile.

"What’s up, Ethan? You need something?" he asked, acting casual.

But Ethan wasn’t buying it.

He looked Josh over slowly. He saw the way Josh’s left foot barely touched the floor when he stood still. He noticed how he shifted his weight onto his right side just slightly, trying to keep pressure off the injury. Subtle signs—but to Ethan, they were loud and clear.

"You’re still favoring that ankle," Ethan said bluntly.

Josh’s smile wavered just a bit.

"Nah, I’m good. Just a little stiff, you know? I can handle it," he replied, waving it off.

Ethan didn’t back down. His tone stayed calm, but his eyes were firm.

"Josh... I know you want to keep up. I know you don’t want to fall behind. But if you push too far now, you might not just miss a few days. You might miss the entire season."

Josh looked away for a moment, silent. That hit harder than he expected.

Ethan continued, lowering his voice so only Josh could hear him.

"This team needs you. Not just now, but in the real game. Against the Thunderhawks. You trying to prove yourself by hiding an injury isn’t strength, Josh. It’s pride. And pride’s gonna cost you more than you think."

Josh’s fists tightened for a second. He hated feeling like a burden. Hated being told to slow down.

But he also knew Ethan wasn’t wrong.

The other players looked their way briefly, but didn’t eavesdrop. They knew better. A serious talk between teammates was something you respected.

Josh finally exhaled, slowly.

"Alright... maybe I’ve been pushing it too much," he admitted, voice lower this time. "But it’s hard, man. Just standing back... I feel useless."

Ethan shook his head.

"You’re not useless. You’re injured. And that’s not the same thing. Do what you can, but don’t act like you’re invincible. We’ve got your back."

Josh looked up at Ethan, the hint of a real smile forming on his face this time—not the fake confident one, but a tired, honest one.

"Thanks, man... I’ll take it easy. I promise."

Ethan gave a nod, then reached out his fist.

Josh bumped it with his own, solid and simple.

And just like that, they returned to the court. One walking with a little less weight on his ankle... and the other carrying a little less worry in his chest.

The gym was alive again—shoes squeaking on polished wood, breathy grunts from effort, the faint echo of basketballs thudding against the floor.

.....

After 10 minutes

Ethan opened his status screen mentally, and there it was—shimmering faintly like always.

[Quest: The Fearless Connector]

Reward: 1500 SP

(+500 Bonus for Passion = 2000 SP)

Mission:

• Compliment every teammate on something unique. No generic compliments.

• Have a deep, meaningful conversation with a teammate you don’t normally talk to.

• Include someone who looks left out.

• Deliver a 30-second speech about why teamwork matters.

• Allow the team to ask one personal question, and you must answer honestly.

Ethan exhaled through his nose.

"(Alright... so far I’ve included someone who felt left out—that was Louie. That kid came in late and still gave his all. I made sure he felt welcome... check that one off.)"

His eyes drifted again across the gym as players moved through the drills—footwork, shuffling through cones, keeping their spacing sharp. But Ethan wasn’t watching their movements anymore.

He was thinking about the next part of the quest.

"(The meaningful conversation? That one’s tricky. The guy I picked is Aiden...)"

His gaze drifted to the corner of the gym where Aiden usually trained.

Empty.

"(He’s not here watching. That broken ankle... Probably still stuck at the hospital. Damn. I’ll have to postpone that part.)"

He closed that thought and refocused.

"(Then next—compliment everyone on something unique. No generic crap like ’you’re doing great’ or ’nice shot.’ Real stuff. Something they’ll remember. Alright. Let’s do this.)"

Ethan clapped his hands loudly to gather attention.

"Alright, everyone! Water break! Two minutes! And come closer—I’ve got something to say."

The team gradually walked toward him, some wiping their faces, others catching their breath.

Ethan stood still at the center, eyes focused, calm but energized. He didn’t raise his voice too much, but somehow, it carried across the group.

He began pointing them out, one by one, a slow pace—just enough time for the words to sink in.

He stepped forward.

"Alright, listen up! You guys have been working hard. I want to say something to all of you."

Everyone groaned and panted as they walked over—sweaty, tired, some dragging their feet like zombies after the cone shuffle drill.

Josh slumped down and just lay on the floor like he’d been shot. "Bro... I saw my ancestors on that last drill."

Coonie had his shirt over his head like a towel. "If I move one more muscle, I might evaporate."

Louie, somehow still full of energy despite being late, skipped over with his water bottle like this was a summer camp. "So fun!! I feel like a ninja!"

Everyone looked at him.

Jeremy squinted, "Bro... are you okay?"

He stepped forward.

"Alright, listen up! You guys have been working hard. I want to say something to all of you."

Everyone turned.

"No speeches, right?" Jeremy joked.

"Shut up, Jeremy." Ryan grinned.

He walked up to Lucas first.

"Lucas... your ability to learn by watching? That’s insane. You don’t ask much, but you adjust quick. That’s something pros take years to do. You just... get it. And that’s scary."

Lucas blinked, surprised. "Thanks..."

Then to Louie, who looked like he wasn’t expecting it.

"Louie. You’re raw, but your spirit never dies. You bring energy no one else can. It makes people want to try harder. Even if you’re late and lost half the time."

"Hey! That only happened once!" Louie protested, but his grin was wide.

Next, Ethan pointed at Coonie.

"Your footwork is clean. Like you’ve danced before. Even thought your loud you have focused. If I had to pick someone to lock down a guy one-on-one, I’d start looking your way soon."

Coonie raised an eyebrow. "...Appreciate it."

...

To Jeremy next.

"You’ve got that sixth sense for where the ball’s going. Don’t lose that. Just gotta trust yourself more. You’re smarter than you play like."

Jeremy smirked. "I’ll take that as a compliment."

"It is, dumbass."

...

He moved on.

"Kai, your arms are an unfair advantage. You’re built like a cheat code. Use them more and we won’t even need a shot blocker."

Kai nodded silently, looking like he was processing that deeply.

..

Then to Brandon and Ryan.

"You two are the bricks. Solid footwork. You don’t show off, but you’re steady. Games are won on foundations like that."

Brandon grunted. Ryan smirked.

...

Then his gaze landed on Evan, the team’s official captain. freēwēbnovel.com

Ethan paused a moment, then spoke with respect.

"Evan—you’ve been carrying a lot. You’re still trying to lead, even when I end up acting like the captain sometimes. That can’t be easy. But you’re here, you’re consistent, and you never back down. That’s leadership. And I see that."

Evan’s eyes met his, and there was a moment of understanding. He gave a small, genuine nod.

Ethan raised his hands again. "OKAY—next part of the quest: You all get to ask me one personal question. Anything. But only one."

Silence.

Then Jeremy raised his hand, of course.

"What’s your biggest fear?" he asked with a mischievous grin.

Everyone turned to Ethan.

Ethan paused. He could’ve dodged. Could’ve made a joke. But he didn’t.

"...That I’ll try my hardest, give everything I’ve got... and still lose the people I care about."

The smiles faded. The air shifted. Even Louie stopped bouncing.

Nobody laughed.

Lucas knew what he meant

Because realness hits different.

"Damn..." Ryan muttered. "That got deep."

Ethan gave a small shrug. "You asked."

"Last one," he said, taking a step forward. "Teamwork speech. Let’s get this over with."

He cleared his throat and tried not to sound too dramatic.

"Teamwork isn’t just about passing the ball. It’s about trust. It’s about knowing the guy next to you won’t give up, even when you’re tired. It’s about pushing each other higher. It’s about covering when someone stumbles and celebrating when someone shines. Alone, we break. Together? We rise. That’s what makes a team real."

Silence.

Then Louie clapped.

Then everyone joined in—half sincere, half sarcastic, but still clapping.

Josh gave a slow, fake sniffle. "I think I’m gonna cry."

Lucas patted his chest. "That was beautiful, man. So inspirational."

Coonie wiped a fake tear. "Glowing hearts. I told you."

Evan smirked. "Alright, alright, enough. Get back to work before he starts quoting anime openings."

Ethan sighed as he looked at his teammate then suddenly

Quest Tracker Updated: [4/5 Objectives Complete]

✓ Compliment every teammate on something unique.

✓ Include someone who looks left out.

✓ Deliver a 30-second speech about why teamwork matters.

✓ Allow team to ask one personal question.

⏳ Postponed: Have a deep, meaningful conversation with a teammate you don’t normally talk to (Aiden).

Ethan closed the window in his mind.

"(Just one left. Aiden... I’ll get to him. For now, this is enough.)"

He looked at his team.

They weren’t just players anymore.

They were brothers.

To be continue