Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

Chapter 395 Calvin, The Unserious, Unpredictable Fighter

[Ongoing Mission: Quadruple Threat]

Kai looked up at his system to look at the new notification. He clicked his tongue and closed his eyes, concentrating on making it go away.

After the game with the Faith Weavers yesterday, Kai received a large upgrade in his XP. It was, in fact, a new mission from his system—one that would stretch out until the end of the Nationals.

Quadruple Threat.

An opportunity to earn four times the amount of the usual XP he would receive during official matches. Therefore, that would be 40 XP per game.

[Current level: Grandmaster (163/400)]

However, the stakes were also higher since he would lose the same amount during their losses.

Kai sighed and shook his head, more determined to win this game. If they could get past this one, then he felt like they would be able to secure a sure spot in the top 16.

"Dang, this court is still bigger than the one in Jilin," Jinping said as he looked around the Air Court.

It wasn't full, but it was still much more than those who watched them yesterday night.

"I can't believe we're playing two days in a row, though," Andy muttered. "My feet can't take it anymore."

Lina clicked her tongue and slapped the back of his head. "No complaining! We have another game tomorrow."

Andy shivered. "What did we get ourselves into?"

Lina's face hardened as she glanced at the team next to them. As expected, they were at ease. What else did she expect from a team that made it into the Nationals every year since their establishment?

Every year, they also had a breakthrough player—one that always landed them a spot in the Elite Five. This year, it was none other than Calvin Wu.

"Don't underestimate them," Coach Muchen said. "They'll be one of our toughest opponents—if not the toughest—in the group phase," he said, also focusing his gaze on the Dragons.

"We know," Yuze said. "We played with them during our last training camp."

Muchen's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You did?"

"Well, we didn't play against them," Kai answered. "We played against a national team with them."

"What?" Coach Muchen exclaimed. "Just what did you do at that training camp?"

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"Anyway, we don't know their dynamics as a complete team," Kai continued. "But from how they played during that time, it is expected that we would have a tough game."

Coach Muchen continued to look at the formidable team when he suddenly caught sight of someone petite. She was wearing a tracksuit like his, but it was obvious that hers was of better quality.

Then, she scoffed and shook her head, causing Muchen to turn to the players with wide eyes.

"Did you see that?" he asked. "Why did that girl just glare at me?"

Lina shrugged. "Must be your imagination, coach."

Meanwhile, on the bench of the Longyu Dragons, their coach, Hope, rolled her eyes as she glanced one more time at the lanky coach of the Shizi Dogs.

"Why does he keep looking at me?" she muttered.

Calvin, who was able to hear her, chuckled loudly.

"Maybe you're his type," he smiled. "Aren't you looking for a boyfriend, coach?"

Hope's face reddened as she glanced at the Shizi Dogs' bench once more. There, she saw that Muchen was still looking over her way. However, in reality, Muchen was looking at Calvin.

She clicked her tongue. It did seem that he liked her.

However, Hope had better standards.

"No," she deadpanned. "I'd rather die alone than get with a guy like that."

The players looked at her with teasing smiles, causing her to click her tongue.

"Anyway!" she exclaimed. "That's not what's important right now."

"We have this game to focus on."

Fenhua nodded, his game face on. "I can't believe they really made it here," he muttered.

Calvin chuckled. "Isn't it amazing, though? That guy," he said, subtly pointing to Kai, "told me that we'll be seeing each other in the Nationals."

"I wonder how good he is now," he muttered.

Guri clicked his tongue. "Probably not as good as me," he boasted.

Calvin shook his head in amusement. "Didn't you guys lose that time?"

Guri's face reddened, and he quickly looked away. "That's because we were tired," he grumbled.

"Besides, it's different now," he said with confidence.

Fenhua smirked and wrapped an arm around Guri's shoulder.

"Well, this guy has been training really hard ever since. He's much better than Kai Guo if you base it on his capacities during that time."

"I see," Calvin said with his signature unserious smile.

However, for a second, his expression turned serious.

'I'm just not sure if he stayed the same.'

He wasn't able to watch the game yesterday night, but based on the reaction of the Faith Weavers, it seemed like they weren't a team they could underestimate.

"You alright?" Fenhua asked.

Calvin lifted his head and nodded, his smile coming back to his face.

"Yeah," he said. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Fenhua sighed in relief. "For a second there, I thought you were being serious."

"Me?" Calvin asked, chuckling loudly. "Serious? Since when have you seen me so serious?"

Fenhua pursed his lips. Calvin had always been pretty carefree. It was his default setting. It felt like he never took things seriously, always smiling with every mistake.

However, Fenhua saw him lose his cool once.

Just once.

He didn't want to witness it again.

With that, Fenhua smiled.

"Right," he chuckled. "What am I even talking about?"

Calvin smiled. "We'll devour…as usual."

Guri nodded. "Hngg!" he exclaimed.

Just then, the buzzer sounded, and the court burst into deafening cheers. Both teams turned to each other and said their respective chants.

Most of the crowd joined in to cheer with the Longyu Dragons. Since they entered the Nationals every year, they also garnered more viewers in their hometown and even in neighboring cities.

The first five players made their way to the middle of the court.

Calvin pursed his lips for a moment when he saw that Kai wasn't in the first five. However, he brushed it off, smiling once again.

Meanwhile, Kai looked around the court and shook his head.

"It's like a home court," he muttered.

Lina sighed. "Get used to it," she said. "We'll be seeing more home courts from here on out."