The veterans heard what Kai had said. However, their mood was far from celebratory.
Jimmy clicked his tongue and sat on the bench, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Whatever," he muttered. "We still won the ga anyway."
A small smile made its way to Jimmy's lips. He couldn't hide his happiness. For a long ti, he hadn't felt this satisfied with his performance! He glanced around, knowing his dad watched every ga with their team.
However, he wasn't in his usual seat, making him purse his lips.
anwhile, Marcus leaned against the wall near the bench, his arms crossed tightly and a scowl on his face. The score might have declared them winners, but every veteran on the team knew the truth.
It didn't feel like a win.
Well, of course, how could they dare celebrate when they ended the first half with a four point gap and the younger kids ended with a lead?
Jaw-Long pursed his lips, running a hand through his damp hair. "Now, why did I taunt them? I should have known how scary the new generation is," he muttered.
Muyang, sitting beside him on the bench, shook his head, staring blankly at the floor.
"Shit," he cursed. "I can't believe they played better than us."
The fans' cheers still continued, but they weren't for the veterans.
No, the focus had shifted entirely to the young players. The Elite Five stood at the center of the court, their faces flushed, basking in the adoration of the crowd.
Marcus clenched his fists. He had prided himself on being a force to be reckoned with. He was determined to show the country that they were a team they could be proud of. But today, that confidence felt hollow.
Watching the young players dominate and outshine them brought back an uncomfortable feeling of inadequacy.
He glanced at the big screen, where Kai's face had just appeared. The reaction from the crowd was imdiate—a thunderous roar of approval screams piercing through the air as the cara zood in on the young star.
Kai's eyebrows shot up, startled by the sudden attention. He turned toward the screen, his expression shocked for a mont before he broke into a shy smile. His hand lifted in a small wave, and the crowd exploded again, their cheers reverberating across the gym.
Muyang groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Gosh," he muttered, his voice muffled. "I feel like we lost twice."
Caleb didn't respond, his jaw tightening as he turned away from the screen.
***
The buffet was packed with players, especially since the group stage had ended for most team sports. As the Chinese n's basketball team walked in, heads turned.
So of the other Chinese teams, including the won's basketball team that had finished second in their bracket just behind the USA, shot them curious and dismissive glances. To many, their elimination seed inevitable, and their unexpected victory today was nothing more than a fluke.
Max noticed the stares and pursed his lips. "They think we're done for," he whispered to Kai, nodding toward a group of won's team players who were whispering among themselves.
Kai shrugged, his expression calm. "Let them think what they want. We know what we're capable of."
Jian smirked, piling food onto his plate. "Yeah, let's see how they react after we crush the next ga."
"Pretty confident, aren't you?" Muyang muttered.
anwhile, Zheng let out a loud groan when he saw the banana muffin tray empty once again.
"I swear," he groaned in frustration. "Whoever posted these banana muffins on the internet needs to be flogged. Why is it that we haven't eaten it since the other delegates ca!"
They went to their seats. The veterans quietly ate while the Elite Five joked around each other.
"It sucks," Jimmy muttered. "What cos next for us? We're not eliminated, are we?"
Then, Coach Xu Wei approached. Despite their win, his expression was as serious as ever.
"Don't get too comfortable," he said, his voice cutting through the lively atmosphere.
The team fell silent, turning their attention to him.
Coach Xu Wei continued, "This was just the beginning. We're in a tough group, and the competition isn't getting any easier."
He gestured toward the buffet table, where players from other teams were mingling. "Look around. In Group A, you've got USA and Argentina. In Group B, it's France and Germany. And in Group C, Spain and Australia. These are teams that won't give you a single inch for the quarter-finals."
Max pursed his lips. "Dang, he can't even give us one day to celebrate, huh?"
However, as he looked at Kai, he saw that the latter was mirroring their coach's expression, making him groan.
"I talked to the wrong person," Max muttered, shaking his head.
Coach Xu Wei crossed his arms, his gaze narrowing. "Argentina managed to secure the seventh place, so they're also going to advance."
"Now, we are not eliminated," he continued, making the players sign in relief.
"However, we're tied with South Korea. This ans we'll have a tiebreaker ga to determine who moves on."
Max groaned, slumping in his seat. "Another ga? Already?"
Kai, however, felt a spark of determination. He glanced at his teammates and patted Max's back. "It's another chance," he said. "This is better than being eliminated."
Coach Xu Wei nodded, his expression softening slightly. "That's the right mindset. Use every ga as an opportunity to improve."
His gaze went to Kai, and for the first ti, a wide smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Kai," he said, his tone amused. "You're actually better than I thought."
The table fell silent for a mont.
Kai blinked, taken aback by the rare complint. "Uh…thanks, coach?"
Coach Xu Wei chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't let it go to your head. You've still got a lot to learn."
"I believe your suggestion is the reason why we won this ga," he continued, still looking at Kai.
"So, I want to propose another competition for our next ga with South Korea," he smirked.
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