[Quest: Pass team tryouts]
[Reward: 500 xp, a random basketball skill]
I get this notification and my eyes widen seeing it—this is the first time I'm getting a skill as a reward, as if my motivation wasn't already sky-high. While lacing up my new basketball shoes, I feel the competitive fire in my veins. There can be no mercy when the stakes are this high.
Taking a moment, I look around at the twenty-seven guys trying out for the fifteen spots on the varsity team. Some look confident, others less so. I was definitely on the taller side since there was only one other guy who was taller than me. There the most assured-looking guy is the one who's made the team for the past two years. He's good, too, so I keep an eye on him—maybe pick up a thing or two that way.
The coach starts full throttle, after a warm-up, of course. I actually don't need warming up anymore, but I don't complain. So we do drills: dribbling, layups, shooting from different positions. He makes us run, too—probably to test overall fitness and weed out the slackers. We end with a couple scrimmages, where everything is put together. Both the coach and his assistant take notes on those stereotypical brown clipboards, eyes darting from player to player.
This is where my gamer ability really shines. After my summer workout, my physical stats are enough to see me from start to finish. My skills make it so that the nerves and gradual fatigue that most are feeling don't get in the way of my performance. In fact, by the time we finish with the scrimmage, a few of my basketball skills have leveled up. I'm guessing it's a combination of the high-stakes activity, the environment, and my WIS stat making it easier to analyze everyone and make connections that lead to better plays. In a way, I actually finished stronger than I started.
Tryouts end with a notice to check the coach's office for the varsity roster in two days.
Afterwards, I meet Alex outside the gym. She's waiting by the doors, her hair pulled back, holding a water bottle and wearing that proud-girlfriend smile.
"You were the best out there," she says, eyes shining. She was there the whole time watching me. I know she doesn't like these kinds of sports and activities but she was there for me.
I just grin and thank her, feeling a little bashful for once. "You think so?"
She bumps her shoulder against mine. "I know so."
Later that day at home, we're all sitting around the dinner table, plates piled high. Dad remembers and asks, "So how did it go?"
"Pretty well. Showed I had the fundamentals, avoided all the flashy stuff, and stayed strong the whole time," I reply, adding a generous portion of pasta to my plate. Meatballs too.
"That's wonderful, honey. When will you find out for sure?" Mom asks, looking interested.
"Day after tomorrow."
"Praying for good news then," Mom says, then perks up. "How about your computer stuff? Any progress with the new game?"
I nod, swallowing a bite. "Yeah, actually. Leonard and I hired a couple of guys for development. One's a backend specialist, the other's a designer, and there's Isabel, who's a genius coder. Leonard's managing the team and I'm helping with the big ideas and some of the coding."
Dad looks impressed. "That's a real business now, son. If you need any help, just let us know."
Mom chimes in, "Or if you need someone to test the game, I'm always available."
I laugh. "Thanks, Mom. I'll let you know when we need a beta tester."
After dinner, I retreat to my room and call Leonard. We talk about the development of Subway Surfers and how we'll divide up the work with the new team. Leonard's handling the coordination and communication—he's the CEO —and I'm focusing on the creative side and helping out with coding when needed. My coding skills have leveled up so much that what used to take me a day, I can now do in four hours.
I've started following a strict timetable with discipline lately, making small goals for each day. For tomorrow, my plan is simple: after school, one hour of guitar, one hour of piano, and vocal practice simultaneously. Since I made my room soundproof with material from Amazon, I don't have to worry about disturbing my parents. Two hours of daily game development, and all the talking and coordinating with the team is Leonard's department. That's exactly how I wanted the company to run, and Leonard understood it. We work well together.
Like this, the day of the tryout results arrives. I'm a little nervous all day, even though I know there's no one better than me on the court in this school. The coach's office is in the same building as the gym, just down the hall from the locker rooms. About a three-minute walk from my last class of the day. I make it there in two and—
I made it. I made it onto the team! My notification also confirms it for me.
[+500 XP]
[+Active Skill: Game changer (basketball)]
The notification pops up while I silently fist pump. Okay, maybe not so silently. Luckily, the student who arrived before me left after seeing the bad news, and the coach is looking at his computer rather than me.
I'm shocked at the skill—my first active skill, and it actually uses MP. I'm thrilled to know more about it and open the panel beneath the skill. A long description opens up, and I read it all, understanding what I've unlocked.
'Game changer' basically adds a buff to any skill at the cost of MP, which is what makes it an active skill, I'm assuming. So for a short amount of time, I can play basketball at a higher level.
Nice.
I turn to leave, phone in hand, prepping a text to the family group chat letting them know about my positive result, when a call gets my attention. It's the coach.
"Hey there, son, you're not in a rush are you?" he asks, stepping into the hall with me.
I shake my head. "Not really, coach." I would have been in a rush if I still traveled by bus, but since I got a car, I have this personal autonomy to go whenever I want. I love not sitting on smelly bus seats with immature school kids.
"I won't keep you long then. Just wanted to congratulate you and say welcome to the team." He offers his hand, so I shake it, firmly. "I remember your face but I haven't quite learned all the names yet, could you remind me of yours?"
"Lucas. Lucas Reed."
"Lucas, got it. Had my eye on you during tryouts. You showed hustle and the ability to think on your feet. And unlike most of the guys, you stayed consistent, which I like. Have you played on a team before?"
"No, sir. Mainly just pickup games." I don't tell him just how recently I became serious about the sport.
"Makes your playing even more impressive. Looking forward to how you develop, Lucas." He pats my shoulder. "Won't keep you any longer then. Practice starts the week after next, Monday at two thirty."
"Sounds good, coach, I'll be there."
Suddenly, I felt a heavy thump on my back—Josh, of course, nearly knocking the wind out of me with one of his signature slaps. "Dude! You made the team!" he shouted, grinning ear to ear. "I knew you'd crush it, man. Now you gotta promise not to forget the little people when you're dunking on everyone."
I laughed, rubbing my shoulder. "Thanks, Josh. And don't worry, I'll save you a courtside seat—right next to the cheerleaders."
He snorted. "I'm in." He gave me a quick fist bump, then glanced over my shoulder and smirked. "Looks like your ride's here, superstar. Don't keep her waiting."
I turned to see Alex leaning against my Mustang, her eyes sparkling as she watched me approach. She looked effortlessly cool, her hair catching the sunlight, and she flashed me a grin.
Josh gave me a sly wink and jogged off, calling, "Go get 'em, tiger!" over his shoulder.
Alex waved goodbye to her mom, who was parked a few spaces away, and signaled Claire to drive off with a series of practiced hand gestures. The whole maneuver was so smooth it made me wonder what kind of deal she'd struck to get her mom to leave us alone. I made a mental note to ask her later—maybe.
She turned back to me, her grin widening. "Looking at your face, I can tell you made it."
"Yeah, I did!" I couldn't hide my excitement, and I didn't want to.
She stepped closer, lowering her voice to a playful whisper. "Today I'm driving with you, and I have a congratulatory gift for you." She tucked her bangs behind her ear, that mischievous glint in her eyes making my pulse race. I didn't need a quest notification to know something good was about to happen.
I popped open the passenger door for her, bowing dramatically. "Your chariot awaits, my lady."
She laughed, sliding into the seat with a flourish. "You're such a dork."
With the Mustang rumbling beneath us, we pulled out of the parking lot, leaving the school. We headed toward our secret spot, I couldn't help but wonder just how good this day was going to get.
__________________________
Pouwar Estones Gimme
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