Ace of the Bench

The rehab gym smelled faintly of polish and faint disinfectant, a strange mix that always reminded Yuuto more of a hospital than a basketball court. But today felt different. Today wasn't about routine stretches or careful therapist instructions it was about risk, about taking a step toward the game he craved more than air.

Marcus was already there, tossing the ball lazily between his hands, his grin wide enough to light up the entire room. "Finally! You ready to do more than just sit and flick your wrists?"

Yuuto shot him a look, half serious, half amused. "Depends. You ready to catch me when I fall?"

"Always," Marcus said easily, moving closer. He dropped the ball with a soft thump, the echo bouncing through the quiet gym. "But here's the thing you're not gonna fall. You're gonna stand. That's the mission today."

Yuuto's pulse quickened. The word stand rattled inside his chest like an unsteady drumbeat. For weeks, standing had been nothing but a distant hope, a dream buried under sharp pain and trembling knees.

Still, he nodded. "Alright… let's try."

Attempt One: Shaky Start

Marcus slid the crutches closer to Yuuto. "Okay, step one: use these. No shame in it. Grip tight, shift your weight slow, and when I say slow, I mean slow. Think turtle pace."

Yuuto's hands trembled slightly as he wrapped his fingers around the cool metal. His palms were already clammy, and the pressure in his chest made breathing feel shallow. He planted one crutch firmly to the side, then the other, steadying himself.

"Good," Marcus said softly. "Now, push. Don't think about the end. Just get your butt off that bench."

Yuuto clenched his jaw and pressed down with his arms, forcing his body upward. His injured knee screamed immediately, a stabbing flash of fire that shot through his leg. His breath hitched, face twisting with the effort.

"Almost, almost," Marcus encouraged, his hands hovering close but not touching. "C'mon, Yuuto. Just one inch higher."

Yuuto's body betrayed him. The knee buckled, and he dropped back down onto the bench with a grunt. His knuckles were white on the crutches. Sweat had already gathered at his temples.

[Progress: 0/3 Successful Stands]

Yuuto let out a frustrated exhale. "Damn it. Feels impossible."

Marcus crouched in front of him, meeting his eyes. "Nah. It just feels impossible. Big difference. That right there? That's the hardest part—the first push. You're closer than you think."

Yuuto gave a shaky laugh, gripping the crutches again. "Closer, huh? Felt like I was falling backward."

"That's progress," Marcus said, smirking. "Falling forward means you're on the move."

Attempt Two: The Wobble

He steadied his breathing, this time planting both feet firmly on the ground. He closed his eyes briefly, visualizing the motion: push with arms, tighten the core, shift weight evenly, let the crutches carry some of the load.

"One more try," he whispered to himself.

"Better be more than one," Marcus teased.

Yuuto pushed again. This time, his body lifted slightly higher. His leg trembled like it was caught in an earthquake, but he refused to collapse. His arms locked, chest burning with the strain. He managed to hold himself upright for two seconds before gravity yanked him down again.

But the system's chime rewarded him anyway:

[Progress: 1/3 Successful Stands]

Yuuto blinked. "Wait… that counts?"

"Of course it counts," Marcus said, laughing. "Two seconds standing is two seconds closer than yesterday. Quit whining."

Yuuto smirked, brushing sweat from his brow. "Fine. But next one, I'm staying up longer."

Attempt Three: Victory in Stillness

The third attempt came with less hesitation. He gripped the crutches tightly, jaw set. This time, he didn't rush. He exhaled slowly, pushing himself upward with deliberate control.

The floor tilted under him, or maybe it was his vision. His knee shook so violently he feared it would give out instantly. But Marcus was right there, steadying him without touching, his voice firm but calm.

"Lock in. Breathe. Balance isn't about strength it's about control. You've got this."

Yuuto focused on Marcus' words. He found a rhythm in his breathing, matched it with the micro-adjustments of his body. One second passed. Then five. Then ten. His arms burned, his leg screamed, but he was standing.

Sweat rolled down his temples, his entire body trembling from effort. He clenched his teeth, forcing the seconds to drag into something meaningful.

Finally, after nearly thirty seconds, he lowered himself back onto the bench, chest heaving.

[Progress: 3/3 Successful Stands – Quest Milestone Achieved]

Yuuto let out a shaky laugh, half relief, half triumph. "I… I did it."

Marcus grinned wide, slapping his shoulder. "Damn right you did. And now comes the fun part."

Standing Dribble Drill

Marcus picked up the basketball and placed it in Yuuto's hands. "Time for level two. Standing dribble. Thirty bounces, no collapsing. I'll spot you the whole way."

Yuuto's eyes widened. "You're kidding. Standing was hard enough."

Marcus smirked. "Yeah, well, basketball ain't about standing still. You want the game back, you gotta make the ball an extension of you again."

Yuuto exhaled sharply, gripping the crutches in one hand for balance, the ball in the other. He pushed himself upright again, teeth clenched against the wave of pain. Marcus hovered close, ready to catch him if needed.

The first bounce was shaky. The ball nearly slipped off his palm.

"Focus," Marcus said calmly. "Feel the rhythm. The ball will come back if you trust it."

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The ball began to obey. Each bounce vibrated through Yuuto's palm, each return more controlled than the last. His arm burned, his injured leg quivered under the strain, but the sound of the ball echoed like a heartbeat across the empty gym.

By the tenth dribble, sweat stung his eyes. By the twentieth, his knee felt like it was on fire. His whole body screamed for him to quit.

"Keep going!" Marcus shouted. "Don't think about twenty! Think about one more. Just one more!"

Yuuto grit his teeth, jaw aching. His vision blurred, but his focus sharpened. He dribbled again. And again.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The thirtieth bounce landed with a clean, perfect echo that filled the gym like a victory bell.

[Quest Complete – Reward Gained: +1 Dribbling, +1 Willpower]

[Skill Unlocked: Basic Handles (Lv.1)]

Golden text appeared across his vision:

Basic Handles (Lv.1)

5% smoother ball control when stationary or in light movement.

Increases resistance against losing the ball under pressure.

Yuuto collapsed back into the chair, clutching the ball against his chest, breath ragged, arms trembling violently. But his grin was wide, unstoppable.

"I did it," he whispered, voice hoarse. "Marcus I really did it."

Marcus crouched down, grinning just as wide. "Of course you did, man. You think I'd let you quit halfway? Nah. You're just getting started."

Yuuto looked at his hands, then at the basketball. His whole body throbbed with exhaustion, but his chest burned with something stronger than pain hope.

The game wasn't gone. Not yet. Piece by piece, bounce by bounce, he was clawing it back.

[Hidden Progress: Path of the Comeback – 35%]

He gripped the ball tighter, whispering to himself as Marcus helped him cool down, "Step by step. Bounce by bounce. I'm not done yet."

And for the first time in months, he truly believed it.