Lucas grinned as he approached the court, the sound of sneakers squeaking against concrete and balls thudding against the backboard filling the air. Jaylen and Miguel were mid-game, their voices carrying across the chain-link fence.
"Seriously, Jaylen, you're just camping in the paint. That's three seconds!" Miguel complained, swiping at the ball as Jaylen powered his way to the hoop.
Jaylen laughed, his lanky frame making the layup look effortless. "Man, we're not even playing with refs! Stop crying and take it like a man."
Lucas chuckled, stepping onto the court and bouncing the ball in his hands. "You two argue like this every day, or is today special?"
Miguel turned, throwing his hands up. "Thank God you're here. Jaylen's been trying to bully me with his height like he's Shaq or something."
"Because you can't stop me," Jaylen said, smirking as he retrieved the ball.
"Alright, alright, enough drama," Lucas said, holding up his hand. "I saw something on the way here, and I need to know if you guys are in."
Miguel raised an eyebrow. "In for what?"
"There's a 3-on-3 tournament next week," Lucas said, leaning against the fence. "U12, U14, U16, U18 divisions. We'd be in U14."
Jaylen perked up, tossing the ball to Lucas. "A tournament? What's the prize?"
"Cash prizes for the top three teams," Lucas said. "But honestly, I don't even care about that. It's a tournament, man. We get to compete."
Miguel's eyes lit up. "Say less. I'm in."
Jaylen nodded, cracking his knuckles. "You know I'm down. It's been a minute since we played in something serious. This could be good."
Lucas smiled. "Alright, then it's settled. We register today, and we start running sets. We need to get used to each other's spots on the court and figure out how to handle pressure. This isn't just streetball; it's gonna be real competition."
As they started brainstorming strategies, Lucas felt a familiar ping in his head. He paused, glancing off to the side as the system's voice chimed in.
"[New Quest: Win the U14 3-on-3 Tournament.]"
The screen appeared in his mind, displaying the quest details.
Quest: Win the U14 3-on-3 Tournament
Objective: Take first place in the U14 division. Reward: Unknown.
Lucas smirked. The system didn't need to say anything more. He already wanted to win, but now he had even more reason to push himself.
"Yo, Earth to Lucas," Jaylen said, snapping his fingers in front of Lucas's face. "You zoning out already?"
"Just thinking," Lucas said, shaking his head. "Alright, let's get to work."
The three of them moved to one side of the court and started running simple plays. Miguel worked on his drives to the basket, using his stocky frame to shield the ball and finish strong. Jaylen practiced his footwork in the post, refining his moves for when he'd inevitably face taller players. Lucas focused on catching and shooting from various spots on the court, his new Bronze Catch & Shoot badge giving him a slight edge.
"Lucas, you're knocking those down today," Miguel said, tossing him another pass.
Lucas caught it in rhythm, stepping into the shot and draining it. "Just wait till the tournament. I'm not missing."
They ran drills for the better part of an hour, sweating under the summer sun. By the time they called it a day, their shirts were soaked, and their legs felt like jelly.
"Man, we're gonna kill it," Jaylen said, stretching his arms as they walked toward the fence.
"Don't jinx us," Miguel said, wiping his face with his shirt. "We still gotta see who else is signing up."
"We'll be ready," Lucas said confidently.
The walk home was slower than usual, his body worn out from the training session. As he reached his apartment, the smell of dinner greeted him, and his stomach growled in response.
Maria was at the stove, stirring a pot of something that smelled heavenly. She glanced over her shoulder as Lucas stepped inside. "You're late, cariño. I was about to send your father to find you."
"Sorry, Mom," Lucas said, setting his basketball down near the door. "We were practicing."
Maria shook her head with a small smile. "Sit. You need to eat after all that running around."
The savory aroma of chicken and roasted vegetables filled the small apartment as Lucas sat at the dining table, his fork pushing a piece of broccoli across his plate. His parents were seated on either side of him—Maria at the head of the table, her hair neatly tied back as she sipped water, and Steven across from her, slowly cutting into his chicken.
The clinking of silverware against plates filled the silence until Maria glanced up at Lucas. "You've been quiet, cariño. What's on your mind?"
Lucas hesitated for a moment, then set down his fork. "So, there's this basketball tournament coming up," he began, glancing between his parents. "It's a 3-on-3 thing, and me, Jaylen, and Miguel are thinking about signing up for the U14 division."
Maria tilted her head, her expression softening with curiosity. "A tournament? When is it?"
"Next Monday, the same day school starts," Lucas explained. "It's not far, just at the community center near the court."
Steven raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. "You sure you're ready for that? You've been putting in the work, but tournaments are a whole different beast."
Lucas nodded, his voice steady. "We've got a week to practice. I think we can handle it."
Steven rubbed his chin thoughtfully, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Alright. If you three are serious about this, I'll back you up. You need anything? New shoes? Water bottles? I could pick you guys up after the tournament if it runs late."
Lucas grinned, shaking his head. "Thanks, Dad, but it's only a mile away. We'll walk. We always do."
Maria chimed in, her tone gentle but practical. "Are you sure about walking back after playing all day? You'll be exhausted."
"It's fine, Mom," Lucas assured her. "We'll be too pumped up to care."
Maria smiled, though the worry in her eyes didn't completely fade. "Just promise me you'll be careful."
"I promise," Lucas said, finishing the last bite of his chicken.
Steven nodded approvingly. "Good. Tournaments are about more than just winning, you know. It's about teamwork, staying calm under pressure, and learning from every game, win or lose."
"I know, Dad," Lucas said, his chest swelling with determination. "We'll do our best."
Maria reached across the table, patting his hand. "That's all we ask, cariño. Just have fun and be safe."
After dinner, Lucas retreated to his room, his mind buzzing with thoughts of the tournament. His parents had always supported his basketball dreams, and knowing they were behind him made him even more motivated to push himself.
Grabbing his notebook, he flipped to the page where he'd written his training plan. After a moment's hesitation, he added a note to work on situational plays with Jaylen and Miguel during their next practice. They needed to be ready for anything—tight defenses, last-second shots, and fast breaks.
Before he could dwell on it further, Lucas set the notebook aside and began his nightly workout. He started with stretches, taking his time to loosen up his muscles and avoid the tightness that had plagued him earlier in life. The hamstring stretch felt particularly effective, the slight pull along the back of his legs reminding him how much he needed this flexibility on the court.
Next, he moved into his bodyweight exercises. Push-ups came first, his arms trembling slightly by the end of the second set. Squats followed, each one burning in his thighs but strengthening his resolve. He held a plank for thirty seconds, his core straining as he focused on his breathing.
As he transitioned to calf raises, he thought about how each movement contributed to his game. Strong legs meant higher jumps, better endurance, and sharper footwork. By the time he finished the workout, his body ached, but it was a good ache—a sign that he was building something.
Finally, Lucas moved into the cool-down stretches, taking his time to let his body relax. The butterfly stretch helped ease the tension in his inner thighs, while the shoulder rolls loosened the knots that had formed during his earlier practice.
When he was done, he collapsed onto his bed, staring up at the ceiling. The faint sounds of the city drifted through the open window, a soothing backdrop to his swirling thoughts.
"Let's talk, system," he said aloud.