Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog-Chapter 453: Yuze’s Dilemma (2)

Kai sat there, perplexed. He couldn’t wrap his head around what Yuze had just said. Out of everyone he knew, Yuze loved basketball the most—or at least, that’s what Kai had always thought.

It was Yuze, who was always first on the court and last to leave, who pushed the team forward with his unwavering drive. But now, here Yuze was, admitting that basketball had never been his dream.

"Yuze…" Kai’s voice trailed off. He didn’t know where to begin. He looked at Yuze, who seemed calm despite what he had just shared. "Why? You love basketball more than anyone else!"

Yuze sighed, rubbing his knee absentmindedly. He stared at the ground as he gathered his thoughts. "I didn’t like you when you first came," he started off.

"Geez, thanks for answering my question," Kai said, clicking his tongue in annoyance.

Yuze shook his head. "Listen to me," he said, causing Kai to turn silent.

"I thought you were a hindrance to my dream," Yuze continued.

Kai blinked, taken aback by the blunt confession.

Yuze continued. "I had this vision of what my life was supposed to be. I was going to be a champion. I was going to make my dad proud. But when you showed up, you didn’t fit into that picture. You were new, clumsy, full of energy… and you were defiant—much more than I had expected.

I thought you’d ruin everything I’d been working toward."

Kai’s mouth parted slightly, but he stayed silent, letting Yuze continue.

"But I was wrong." Yuze looked up at him, meeting his gaze for the first time since they had sat down. "You showed me something I didn’t even know I needed to see. You love this game more than anyone I’ve ever met. I’ve never seen someone light up the way you do when you’re on the court. And that’s when I realized… I don’t feel the same way."

Kai’s chest tightened. He could see the realization in Yuze’s eyes, the years of carrying something he didn’t truly want.

"So what is it, then? What are you trying to prove?" Kai asked.

Yuze leaned back against the bench, exhaling slowly. "I’m not trying to prove anything about my love for basketball. I’m just proving that I’m not a mistake—that I can become what they want me to be." Your next read is at novelbuddy

"What they need me to be."

Kai furrowed his brow, confused but starting to understand.

"You know, from the moment I was born, my future was already decided. Being the son of a former basketball star, people just assumed that I would follow in his footsteps. And after he couldn’t finish his own career because of his injury, well, it wasn’t just an assumption anymore. It was an expectation."

Kai stayed quiet, sensing the depth of what Yuze was about to share.

"I was four when he first put a basketball in my hands," Yuze continued. "I didn’t even know what the game was back then, but he told me that it was going to be my life. He trained me every day. He pushed me, played with me, and drilled every fundamental into me before I even had a chance to decide if I liked it. I didn’t have a choice. He was my coach before he was my father."

Kai’s heart ached as he listened. He couldn’t imagine what that kind of pressure must have felt like, growing up with the weight of someone else’s dream on your shoulders.

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"And you know what?" Yuze said with a bitter chuckle. "He never once told me I was good. Not once. No matter how hard I worked, no matter how many hours I spent perfecting my game, it was always about what I needed to improve. What I wasn’t doing right."

Kai clenched his fists, anger rising inside his heart. How could someone push their own child like that?

"I thought," Yuze’s voice grew softer, "that if I could beat him, if I could show him that I could reach the heights he never did, maybe then he’d notice me. Maybe then he’d finally say, ’Good job, Yuze.’ That’s all I’ve ever wanted—to prove that I didn’t need his help to reach his dream."

Kai shook his head, his voice coming out in a whisper. "That’s not fair."

"No, it’s not," Yuze agreed, his smile sad. "But that’s life, right?"

Kai wanted to say something that would make it better. But what could he say? The pain Yuze had been carrying wasn’t something that could be fixed with a few kind words.

"So, you never wanted to be a basketball player?" Kai asked, his voice quiet.

Yuze stared ahead, his eyes unfocused. "Not really. I mean, I convinced myself that I did. It was the only way I knew how to get my dad’s attention. I thought if I could just be good enough, if I could just beat him, he’d finally see me. But then…" He paused, turning to Kai with a faint smile.

"Then I met you."

Kai frowned, confused. "Me?"

Yuze nodded. "You changed things for me, Kai. Watching you play and seeing how much you love the game…made me realize that I’m not like you. I don’t feel that way when I’m on the court. I’m not smiling. I’m not happy.

I’m just…playing because I have to."

Kai swallowed hard, the pieces falling into place. "So, all this time…"

"I’ve just been trying to get his attention," Yuze finished for him. "That’s all I’ve ever wanted. My goodness is based on his acknowledgment. My existence to become a basketball player is to prove that I am a good son."

Kai’s throat tightened. He couldn’t imagine playing without love for the game, especially for as long as Yuze had. "Then why are you still doing this?" Kai asked, his voice filled with exasperation. "Why put yourself through more pain? Why risk making your injury worse?"

Yuze smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. "Because it’s all I know," he said simply.

"I don’t know what else I want to be."