The next morning, Uy Phong showed up at school earlier than usual. He had news for An Phong—news he couldn't wait to share. But when he stepped into the classroom, the familiar figure by the window seat was nowhere to be found.
He frowned, sliding his bag onto the desk and scanning the room."Strange… He always beats me here."
Before he could sit, hurried footsteps thundered in from the hall. A small figure burst through the doorway, sneakers pounding against the tiles like a sprint gone wrong.
"Huh?" Uy Phong blinked.
"Senpai!"
It was that girl again—the one from the other day, who had practically staged a comedy show outside his class just to lure him into the basketball club. An Thu, if he remembered right. And this morning, she looked like she'd just won the lottery.
"Wait, why are you—"
"Senpai! I heard you joined the basketball team!" she blurted, clapping her hands in pure delight. "Congratulations!"
Uy Phong froze. What? Since when?
"The principal told us herself!" An Thu beamed. "So, um… if you're not busy, wanna come check out the clubroom? You can sign the forms right away!"
"Uh, actually—"
"Great, let's go!"
And just like that, her tiny hand grabbed the hem of his hoodie, dragging him off before he could even protest.
"Hey—slow down!"
"Hurry, or we'll miss the meetup!"
So it was that, just as sunlight spilled through the windows, Uy Phong found himself being hauled clear across campus.
The basketball club wasn't anywhere near the main building. To get there, they had to cross the track field and loop around the entire soccer pitch. By the time they arrived, Uy Phong was ready to collapse. Sure, he worked out, but being dragged at warp speed first thing in the morning? Not exactly his idea of a warm-up.
Meanwhile, the pint-sized rocket beside him wasn't even out of breath. She practically vibrated with excitement, bouncing on her toes like she'd chugged three cans of energy drink.
"Here we are, senpai!" An Thu sang out, throwing the doors wide.
Uy Phong stepped inside, and even he had to admit—it was impressive.
A high ceiling, polished court, neat rows of bleachers. Not a national stadium, but enough to seat a few hundred fans. Locker rooms, showers, storage… even a proper recruitment area. For a school club, it felt more like a mini sports complex.
He wandered past the equipment racks, hand brushing against a crate of brand-new basketballs. Curious, he picked one up. It fit perfectly against his palm—though that was more a matter of his hands being too big than the ball being small.
Noticing his interest, An Thu piped up proudly, "The principal had everything redone last night when she heard you were joining! New balls, new flooring—she went all out!"
Uy Phong nearly dropped the ball. "She what?!"
Turning away, he muttered under his breath, "Of course… Grandpa went overboard again."
The ball suddenly felt heavier, weighted with invisible expectations. His fingers tightened around it, but his face smoothed back into its usual blank calm.
"Hehe, senpai's lucky! The principal must really like you. Is she family or something?"
"No."
"…Then how come you've got this much backing? Don't tell me there's some secret power behind you—"
"Where's everyone else?" he cut in.
"Huh? Oh—the team? I told them to come by first period. They're probably still eating breakfast at the cafeteria."
Uy Phong's brow arched. "Skipping class for this?"
"It's fine! The principal gave us permission. She said today's a special welcome, and we have to treat you with 'utmost warmth and respect!'"
Her tone was so cult-leader-ish that Uy Phong couldn't even respond. He just pressed his fingers to his temples, sighing.
Moments later, the school bell rang for first period. Almost immediately, the doors slammed open with a bang.
Uy Phong had been lounging on the bleachers, scrolling his phone. An Thu, perched on the step below, nearly jumped out of her skin at the noise.
"They're here!" she squealed.
Loud voices spilled in from the hall before the players themselves did.
"Hey, where is everyone—ah, there! An Thu!"
The girl waved both arms like an overexcited announcer. "Over here! He's waiting for you!"
Uy Phong leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and finally got a look at the so-called "team."
A ragtag bunch, by the looks of it. Different builds, different vibes. At the front was the loudest of them all, his arm slung casually around a girl with a half-up ponytail. To his left, a beanpole so tall and skinny he looked like a gust of wind might blow him away. To his right, the exact opposite—a guy so short he didn't even reach the girl's shoulder.
They joked and shoved each other on the way in, filling the club with noise. But then they looked up.
And saw him.
Uy Phong sat high above on the bleachers, posture relaxed but gaze sharp, like a king surveying from his throne. The room seemed to shrink under the weight of it.
The loud one hesitated mid-step, finally dropping his arm from the girl's shoulder. Folding his arms, he squinted up at Uy Phong before glancing at An Thu.
"…And this is?"
"Hoang Uy Phong, class 12A!" she chirped, practically glowing. "The one the principal herself picked for our team!"
"Ohh." The boy dragged the word out, feigning amusement. "So that's him. Uy Phong, huh? Cool name."
A couple of the others snickered under their breath.
Uy Phong's face didn't move, but the air around him chilled.
The short one sneered, stepping forward. "Not gonna introduce yourself?"
Uy Phong's gaze flicked over lazily, voice dropping low. "She already did. Are you deaf?"
The silence was instant. The short guy's face went red. "Who the hell are you calling deaf?!"
He lunged forward, but the loud one clapped a hand on his shoulder, holding him back with an easy chuckle.
"Relax. He's not wrong. You just weren't listening."
More laughter from the group.
"Seriously, you guys—" An Thu tried to cut in, but a new voice rolled over hers.
"Hey."
It was just one word, but the deep, steady tone froze them all.
Uy Phong leaned forward slightly, hands clasped between his knees. His eyes swept over them, dark and razor-sharp.
"Introduce yourselves," he said. Not a request. A command.
For a moment, no one moved. Then the loud one stepped up with mock drama, saluting as if on a parade ground.
"Nguyen Thien Hung. Class 12B, right next door. Looking forward to working with you, man."
Uy Phong arched a brow, unimpressed by the act.
Next came the beanpole, mumbling shyly, "Uh… Ngo Huy. Class 11D."
The girl with the ponytail flashed a bright smile. "Hi! I'm Dinh Ho Nhu, class 10C."
Finally, the short one crossed his arms, muttering with obvious disdain, "Hai Minh."
Uy Phong's eyes narrowed.