Chapter 4

As Reo and Lexz approached the towering skyscrapers of Southside Bayside City, Reo was awestruck by the magnificent architecture. The towering structures seemed to pierce the sky, with beautiful neon-lit glass balconies illuminating their sides.

"Welcome to my abode, kid," Lexz said with a smirk. "We're on the 65th floor, so I hope you're not afraid of heights."

Reo gaped in amazement at the advanced, alien-like structure before him. "This place is incredible, Lexz. I've never seen anything like it before."

As they entered the lobby, Reo was greeted by a small army of robots, each with a tiny screen for a face, displaying a digital smile. "Welcome home, Lexz," one of the robots, identified as D-49, said in a monotone voice. "You have a guest with you?"

"Yes, D-49," Lexz replied. "He'll be staying with me until further notice." The robot approached Reo, scanning him from head to toe. "Name for registration, please," the robot said, waiting patiently.

Reo hesitated for a moment, having never communicated with a robot before. "Umm...Reo Li," he said nervously. But before he could correct his mistake, the robot chirped, "Adding name to database."

"Wait, no! There's no 'Umm' in my name," Reo protested, but it was too late. The robot declared, "Umm Reo Li has been registered. Unfortunately, a change of name is not available."

Lexz chuckled under his breath, "Idiot," he muttered as they made their way towards the elevators.

As they stepped into the gleaming elevators, Reo was struck by the ethereal melody that filled the space, like a symphony of the future. He gazed in wonder at the holographic screen, showcasing the seemingly endless 300 floors, each one more advanced and magnificent than the last. With each floor, Reo felt as though he was ascending into a new world, a world of technological marvels and advanced alien-like wonders.

The hallway was a brilliant display of lights, with sleek tubes illuminating the walls with a warm and inviting glow. As they reached the door, Lexz approached a small camera and with a simple scan of his eye, the door unlocked with a robotic voice greeting, "Welcome home." Reo watched in awe as Lexz showed him the way to scan his eye, allowing him access to the magnificent apartment.

The living room was a sea of black leather and swirling shapes, a comfortable and inviting space for Reo to make his new home. The windows provided a breathtaking view of the city, with the floating hovercrafts racing through the sky like stars in the night. The kitchen was surprisingly spotless, a testament to Lexz's meticulous nature, and despite a few dirty dishes, Reo was pleasantly surprised by the cleanliness of his new surroundings. With a sense of awe and wonder, Reo took in the beauty of his new home, feeling grateful for this new opportunity.

"Wow, JHEEEZ." Reo breathed out in amazement as he took in the sight of Lexz's apartment.

"You've got yourself a real gem here, Lexz."

"Thanks, I guess," Lexz replied with a shrug, still unsure of what exactly Reo meant by "gem." "But what do you mean by 'jheez'? I've never heard that term before."

"Oh, it's just a slang term we use back on Earth," Reo explained. "It's like when something is really cool, or impressive, and you're just in awe of it. Kind of like how you'd say 'whoa' or 'damn' when you see a beautiful girl."

"So you're saying my apartment is like a beautiful girl?" Lexz asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No, no, not at all," Reo corrected, feeling a little embarrassed. "It was just a comparison. I didn't mean to imply anything. Sorry about that."

"It's all good, kid," Lexz replied with a chuckle. "Just don't get too attached to my place, you're only here until further notice, remember?"

With that, Lexz bid Reo goodnight and retired to his room, leaving Reo alone in the spacious living area.

As he stood near the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the breathtaking view of Bayside City, Reo felt a strange sense of awe mixed with hope. The skyline was dotted with shimmering lights and bustling hovercrafts weaving through the air, like stars come to life. This world felt limitless, so different from Earth, where every dream seemed capped by invisible barriers he could never break through.

Back on Earth, I was limited by so much—my height, my background, everything, he thought, clenching his fists as he watched the city below. But here, it's all different. I have a real chance to rewrite my destiny. He felt a thrill run through him, the determination building in his chest. Whatever this world threw at him, he was ready to prove himself.

Smiling, he turned back toward the bed and sank into the plush mattress, relishing the softness. As he gazed up at the clear ceiling, a red exclamation mark suddenly appeared in the bottom of his vision.

"NOTIFICATION ALERT," a prompt appeared. "Congratulations, you have completed a Quest. 'Explore the City,' completed. All stats have been increased by +1, and you have gained 1000 DC."

Reo's eyes widened in excitement as he opened up the holographic menu to check his stats:

Speed: 11

Agility: 11

Jumping Ability: 12

Strength: 10

Stamina: 11

Shooting Ability: 11

Dribbling: 11

Lay-ups: 11

Dunk: 9

Passing: 11

Blocking: 9

Steal: 9

Rebound: 9

"Not too shabby," Reo thought to himself, feeling pleased with his progress.

Another notification popped up: "Congratulations, you have completed a quest. 'To Find a Home.' You have gained 1000 DC, but no additional stats have been increased. Continue your journey to become the Basketball God."

Reo frowned slightly at the lack of stat increase, but he quickly brushed it off as he looked at the 1000 DC he had just earned. "More money can't hurt," he thought with a grin.

Reo sank into the plush mattress, his mind racing with thoughts of his new life on this strange world. Back on Earth, he felt like his dreams were snatched away, his height and genetic makeup deemed him unworthy. But here, he was free of those limitations. He knew that his skills and determination would be what carried him to greatness. He closed his eyes, savoring the moment, almost afraid that when he opened them, he would find himself back on Earth, his new reality nothing but a fleeting dream.

Reo awoke to the warm rays of afternoon sun filtering into his room, a sense of relief washing over him as he realized he was still in Bayside City. Making his way to the washroom, he marveled at the gleaming white floors and the futuristic toilet and shower system. Though he had seen similar facilities back on Earth, he was in awe of the level of technology in Bayside. But as he gazed into the mirror, he was struck by his own appearance.

"What in the world? I'm short, I know that, but blue hair? This is insane," Reo muttered, his brown eyes wide with surprise. He had never given much thought to his appearance before, but now, as a 17-year-old once again, he couldn't help but be in awe of the changes. "Wow, I just can't believe I'm a teenager again," he whispered to himself.

At that moment, Lexz's voice echoed from the other side of the door. "Hey, you almost done in there?" he called out. It seemed as though Lexz had woken up at the same time as Reo. "Yeah, just give me five, man," Reo shouted back.

As they both got themselves ready, they found themselves in the kitchen.

"Kid, we gotta take you shopping," Lexz laughed. "You need some new gear. Don't want people thinking I'm hanging out with a homeless person."

"Yeah, for sure. I've got the DC for it. Just show me where to go," Reo replied, eager to upgrade his wardrobe. "I'm trying to get drippy," he added with a grin.

"Drippy? Another one of those Earth terms, huh?" Lexz shook his head with a smile, but there was a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. "Everyone needs their first Bayside gear. I remember my first set—looked ridiculous for weeks until I figured out how to mix styles." He chuckled, giving Reo a pat on the back. "Trust me, you'll get the hang of it. Just give it time."

Reo smiled, grateful for Lexz's guidance. "Thanks, man. I'm ready to see what this city has to offer."

"Yeah, yeah," Lexz muttered, still grinning. "Let's just hope your 'drip' is better than my first disaster. Anyways, do you know how to access the menu?" he asked, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice.

"Ugh, yeah, but I thought only I had that ability," Reo admitted, feeling embarrassed.

"No, you moron, everyone can access their own menu. It shows you your stats and how much DC you've got," Lexz chided with a chuckle.

With a hint of curiosity in his voice, Reo posed a question to Lexz, "Do you also receive quests and side missions?" Lexz furrowed his brows in confusion, "Quests? What are you talking about? Did you bump your head on something?"

A jolt of realization hit Reo. Wait... it's just me? He quickly masked his surprise, shrugging it off with a casual "Nevermind," but the thought lingered, pressing on his mind like a weight. If no one else had quests or hidden tasks, what did that mean for him? Was he different somehow—chosen for something special, or maybe... something unknown?

He glanced at Lexz, who had already turned back to whatever he was doing, oblivious to Reo's internal turmoil. Reo's pulse quickened, a mix of unease and excitement bubbling in his chest. Why me? he wondered, his thoughts racing. This world seemed filled with mysteries, and maybe, just maybe, he was meant to uncover them.

A faint thrill ran through him at the thought. I have abilities that no one else can see, he realized, feeling a spark of determination. Whatever this is, I'm going to find out why—and I'm ready for whatever comes.

"Alright Lexz, where are we headed today?" Reo asked with a spark of excitement in his voice.

"First things first," Lexz replied with a hint of sarcasm, "we're going to get you some new 'drippy' gear." But that was just the start of their journey. Lexz's tone shifted, lowering as he glanced at Reo with a look that held a mix of caution and intrigue. "And then, we're heading to the Northern Bayside Courts."

"Northern Bayside Courts?" Reo repeated, sensing the shift in Lexz's demeanor.

Lexz smirked, but his eyes held a glint of seriousness. "It's not your average basketball scene. Only the toughest players and some… unique characters go there. There's history to those courts, stories you won't hear anywhere else. Just keep your guard up, alright? You never know what might happen in a place like that."

Reo felt a surge of anticipation mingling with a hint of unease. What kind of place is this? he wondered, his curiosity piqued. But he wasn't about to back down. "Got it, I'll be ready."

Lexz nodded, a satisfied grin on his face. "Good. Just stay close and keep your eyes open—you might just see something that'll change the way you look at this city."

Reo's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Who is it that we're meeting? Could it be a potential teammate?" he asked eagerly.

"Who knows?" Lexz replied with a smirk, "You never know what kind of surprises you'll uncover on this adventure."