Ace of the Bench

The rehab gym was quiet, the kind of stillness that felt heavy with anticipation. Morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows, painting long golden stripes across the polished hardwood floor. Dust motes floated lazily in the beams, as if even the air was holding its breath.

Yuuto stood at the free-throw line, crutches abandoned against the wall. His brace hugged his right knee snugly, the faint creak of the straps the only sound besides his breathing. In his hands rested the basketball, firm and alive, the texture rough against his sweaty palms.

Marcus leaned casually against the padded wall, arms crossed, watching with a grin that was both teasing and proud. "You've been talking about this all week, Kai. Today's the day. No excuses. No wobbling. Just you, the ball, and gravity."

Yuuto exhaled slowly, nodding. "Thirty dribbles. By myself. No resets. No help."

Marcus's smirk softened into encouragement. "Exactly. And you're not gonna stop at twenty-seven this time."

Yuuto chuckled nervously. "Don't remind me."

He crouched slightly, his weight balanced carefully between both legs. His left knee felt steady, strong. His right the rebuilt one shook with uncertainty, like a tower tested by wind. Yuuto spread his fingers, then snapped his wrist.

Thump.

The ball smacked the floor and snapped back into his palm, crisp and clean. The sound echoed across the gym, sharp and alive.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The rhythm started to build. His body tensed with every bounce, muscles firing like unstable circuits.

"Eyes up, Kai!" Marcus called, clapping his hands once. Clap! The sound cracked across the gym. "You know better than to stare at the ball!"

Yuuto dragged his gaze upward, fixing it on the far basket. The ball bounced obediently in his periphery. Thump… thump… thump.

Five dribbles. Ten dribbles.

His right leg trembled harder, his quad burning with effort, sweat beading at his temples.

"Breathe with the rhythm," Marcus urged, stepping closer, his sneakers squeaking against the hardwood. "Ball hits the floor, you exhale. Ball comes up, you inhale. Keep it steady."

Yuuto obeyed, syncing his breath to the rhythm. Thump hssshhh. Thump inhale.

At fifteen dribbles, fatigue started gnawing at him. His wrist ached, his forearm cramped. More dangerous, his right knee began to buckle. A sharp stab of pain shot through him, nearly throwing off his balance.

The ball ricocheted too high he fumbled

Smack! His palm caught it just in time, heart lurching.

"Don't you dare stop!" Marcus shouted, stomping his sneaker. Squeak! "That was clean enough. Keep it alive. You're halfway there!"

Yuuto grit his teeth, forcing his body to stabilize. Sweat poured down his neck, stinging his eyes. His shirt clung to his back.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Each bounce sounded louder now, like war drums inside the silent gym.

Twenty dribbles.

Marcus moved alongside him, clapping to the rhythm. Clap thump. Clap thump. His voice was sharp, cutting through Yuuto's fatigue. "Come on! This is yours! Don't let the floor beat you!"

Yuuto's arms shook violently, but his eyes blazed. "Not… quitting… now."

Twenty-five.

Pain seared through his leg, but something new burned hotter determination, iron forged by weeks of struggle.

"Two more!" Marcus yelled. "Lock in!"

Thump. Thump.

Thirty.

The final bounce reverberated across the gym like a cannon. Yuuto caught the ball firmly in both hands, chest heaving, sweat dripping from his chin onto the floor.

[Quest Complete: First Solo Standing Dribble]

Reward: +1 Dribbling | Confidence Boost

A soft golden glow flashed across his vision, almost invisible in the sunlight. Yuuto's legs trembled beneath him, but he stood tall, the ball secure in his grip.

Marcus grinned ear to ear, clapping furiously. "There it is! Hell yeah, Kai! You did it on your own!"

Yuuto let out a shaky laugh, almost collapsing to the floor. "Thirty… never felt so long in my life."

But Marcus wasn't done. He held up a finger. "Nah, you're not finished yet. There's one more test."

Yuuto blinked. "What are you talking about?"

Marcus pointed at the nearest hoop. "Layup. Standing. No crutches. You've been dreaming about this since the accident, haven't you? Today's the day."

Yuuto's breath caught. His pulse quickened. The basket suddenly looked impossibly far, like it belonged in another world.

"Marcus…" Yuuto whispered. "If I mess this up…"

"Then you mess it up," Marcus cut in firmly. "And you try again. But if you don't take the shot at all, you'll regret it."

Yuuto stared at the hoop, gripping the ball tightly. The echoes of his rehab flooded back the hospital bed, the first chair dribble, the pain, the failures. This was more than a shot. This was everything.

He crouched, cradling the ball. His right knee screamed in protest as he pushed off, step by careful step toward the basket. Step thump, step thump. The ball dribbled weakly beside him, rhythm shaky but alive.

He planted his left foot, swung the ball upward, and pushed off

The ball kissed the glass. Swishhh!

It dropped cleanly through the net.

For a second, the gym was silent.

Then Marcus erupted, yelling at the top of his lungs. "LET'S GO! THAT'S MY GUY!" He sprinted forward, nearly tackling Yuuto with a celebratory shove.

Yuuto's eyes stung. He caught the rim with his gaze, his lips trembling into a smile that cracked into laughter. "I… I actually did it…"

[Skill Unlocked: Fundamental Shot Lv.1]

Effect: Layups & close shots gain +5% accuracy and stability.

[Layups: Gold Tier Confirmed]

The system notification glowed bright and triumphant. Yuuto wiped his face with his sleeve, though he wasn't sure if the wetness on his cheeks was sweat or tears.

The two of them collapsed onto the baseline, panting and laughing. Marcus nudged him with his elbow. "You realize that was probably the ugliest layup I've ever seen?"

Yuuto barked out a laugh. "Shut up. It went in."

"Yeah," Marcus smirked, leaning his head back against the wall. "And that's all that matters."

Yuuto gripped the ball, staring at the hoop again. The sunlight glowed around the rim like a halo. For the first time since the injury, the basket didn't feel like a reminder of what he'd lost. It felt like a promise of what he could still become.

"I'm not done," Yuuto whispered.

Marcus nodded, eyes proud. "Good. Because this is just the beginning."