No Days Off

The locker room buzzed with energy, a mix of excitement, exhaustion, and pride settling over the team. The sound of sneakers scraping against the floor, jerseys being tossed into bags, and the occasional burst of laughter filled the air. The scoreboard had been turned off, but the final score—55-52—was burned into their minds.

Lucas sat on the bench, catching his breath, a towel draped over his shoulders. His body ached, but it was the good kind of pain—the kind that came from leaving everything on the floor.

Jaylen dropped onto the bench next to him, exhaling loudly. "Bro… we just took down Lakeview."

Miguel, still hyped up, was pacing around the locker room. "Man, did y'all see that defense we played? We clamped up in the second half!"

Coach Harrison walked in, his usual serious expression softened just a little. He looked around the room, letting the moment settle. Then, finally, he spoke.

"I told y'all before the game that no one thought you could win this." He folded his arms, nodding slowly. "And you proved every single one of them wrong."

The team cheered, some guys slapping hands, others pounding their chests.

Coach let the noise settle before continuing. "This wasn't a perfect game—not even close. There were mistakes, turnovers, bad shots. But you know what you did? You adjusted. You played smart basketball."

He turned to Lucas. "Turner. You saw the game slipping, and you made the right call. That off-ball movement changed everything for us."

Lucas gave a tired grin. "Had to do something before they ran us out the gym."

Coach chuckled. "Well, it worked. And now, every team in this league knows—Lincoln Park isn't a joke anymore."

Jaylen leaned back, stretching his arms. "Man… first win of the season, and it's an upset. We're gonna have dudes scared to play us."

Miguel smirked. "Yeah, but you know they're gonna be gunning for us now."

Lucas nodded. "Let 'em. We'll be ready."

Coach clapped his hands once. "Alright. Good work tonight. Enjoy this win. But don't get comfortable. We got a long season ahead."

The team started gathering their things, still talking about the game as they packed up. Lucas took one last look around before slinging his bag over his shoulder. It was only game one, but it felt bigger than that.

They were building something.

Heading Home – Conversations with Family

By the time Lucas stepped outside, the night air had cooled significantly, a nice contrast to the heat of the game. His dad's car was parked just outside the gym, engine running.

He climbed in, tossing his bag into the backseat. His dad, Steven, gave him a sideways look, his lips twitching into a grin.

"So," Steven said casually, "you boys took down Lakeview."

Lucas smirked. "Yeah, something like that."

Steven scoffed. "Man, don't be humble now. I was in the stands—I saw you cooking."

Lucas chuckled, shaking his head. "We just played our game."

His dad grinned, pulling away from the school parking lot. "Nah. You led. That was different."

Lucas leaned back, staring out the window. "Felt different, too."

When they got home, his mom, Maria, was already waiting for them in the kitchen. The moment she saw Lucas, she pulled him into a hug.

"Mijo! I heard from your dad—you played amazing!"

Lucas smiled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, it was a good game."

Maria stepped back, beaming. "I wish I could've been there, but I'll be at the next one for sure."

Steven sat down at the table, stretching his legs. "You should've seen him, Maria. Dropping threes, making plays… even the other team's coach was sweating."

Maria smiled proudly. "That's my son."

Lucas felt a warmth in his chest. This—this moment—was something he never had in his past life. Being celebrated for the game he loved.

His mom pulled out a plate of food and set it in front of him. "You're not going to bed without eating."

Lucas didn't argue. His body needed the fuel.

As he ate, his dad leaned back in his chair. "So… what's next?"

Lucas didn't even hesitate. "More work. More training. This is just the start."

Steven smirked. "You got that right."

The late-night air was crisp, the kind that settled deep into your skin, cooling the sweat on Lucas's body as he stood at Harrison Park, staring at the rim. The only sounds were the distant hum of the city and the steady bounce of his basketball against the pavement. He had already played a full game, already pushed his body to exhaustion, but something inside him wouldn't let him rest. Not yet.

Most kids would be asleep after a game like that. But Lucas knew better. Winning wasn't enough. The moment you got comfortable, someone else was working harder. That's why he was here, running through another workout while the rest of the city slept. His muscles ached, his legs burned, but his mind was still sharp, replaying moments from the game. Every mistake. Every opportunity to improve. His ball handling had been good, but against a team like Lakeview, good wasn't enough. The pressure defense had forced him into tough situations—he needed his dribble to be even tighter, his ability to read defenses even sharper. And his stamina? By the fourth quarter, he had felt it in his legs. That had to change too.

He pushed through the workout, going through the motions with precision. Quick dribbles, controlled movements, no wasted energy. He worked on his off-ball shooting, running himself through imaginary screens, catching and firing before his feet even had time to settle. He mimicked real game scenarios—catch, shoot, sprint, relocate, repeat. This was how he was going to separate himself.

After making his final shot of the night—a deep three from the wing that barely rippled the net—Lucas grabbed his ball, slinging his bag over his shoulder. As he turned toward home, his mind drifted back to the notification he had received at the end of the game.

New Badge Earned: Floor General (Bronze).

He had barely processed it in the chaos of winning, but now? Now he could finally take it in.

The badge description flashed in his mind. It increased his teammates' offensive awareness whenever he was on the court. It enhanced his passing effectiveness and vision, allowing him to set up plays with greater precision. And most importantly, it gave him the ability to call advanced plays during games.

Lucas exhaled, gripping his ball tighter.

This was a game-changer.

Before, he had been playing instinctively, relying on his feel for the game to make decisions. But now? Now he could direct the team like a real floor general. He could see plays before they happened, guide his teammates into the right spots, control the tempo like a veteran point guard.

He had been given a tool that separated good players from leaders. And Lucas had every intention of using it to its fullest.

He smirked to himself as he stepped off the court, already thinking ahead.

The season had only just begun.

And with this badge?

It was about to get a whole lot easier to dominate.