Chapter Eight: Becoming a Shooting Genius

By Monday morning, Ethan had been diligently following the system's quests. Over the weekend, he'd earned another 15 stat points from a series of challenges and used them all to boost his shooting. His shooting stat had risen to a solid 30/100 now. Each time he put the points in, he could feel the difference in his form, and when he shot, it felt a little smoother, a little more natural.

Now, as he jogged toward the school gym for morning basketball practice, Ethan could already sense the transformation beginning to take hold. The energy in his body was different, more focused, like everything was clicking into place. His shooting was still far from perfect, but he was starting to trust it more.

By the time he reached the gym, the sounds of basketballs bouncing and shoes squeaking on the court greeted him. His teammates were already warming up, and Coach was over by the sidelines, setting up drills for the morning session.

"Hey, Ethan!" One of the players waved as Ethan entered, catching the ball from midair and passing it to him.

Ethan smiled and caught it smoothly. "What's up, man?"

"Ready for today?"

"Definitely," Ethan replied. "Let's see how this goes."

As he dribbled the ball around, his hands felt even more controlled than they had before, and there was an ease to the way he handled it now. His mind flashed back to the system's message about improving his shot. He could feel that confidence in his shooting begin to build as well.

When Coach called everyone together to begin practice, Ethan couldn't help but feel a quiet excitement stirring within him. Today, he'd finally get a chance to test out his new shooting skills in a real session.

Practice started as usual with a warm-up, but soon enough, Coach directed them into shooting drills. The goal was simple: work on form, footwork, and consistency. Ethan knew this was his chance.

His first few shots weren't perfect. His aim was a little off, his form still a bit rough. But the more he shot, the better it felt. The system had made his hands steadier, his release faster, and his confidence stronger.

As the drill progressed, Coach called out for the players to move into a scrimmage. Ethan's heart raced with anticipation. This was it—the real test of his shooting.

The game started, and Ethan found himself open on the wing, the ball coming his way. He hesitated for only a split second. His teammate passed it to him, and without thinking too much, Ethan took the shot.

The ball left his hands cleanly. Time seemed to slow as it arced toward the basket. Swish.

The sound of the ball going through the net was like music to Ethan's ears. He'd made the shot.

Coach glanced over and nodded approvingly. "Good shot, Ethan. Keep it up!"

Ethan smiled, a sense of pride swelling in his chest. It wasn't a perfect shot, but it was a shot he wouldn't have made a week ago. The system's upgrades were making a real difference, and for the first time, Ethan felt like he wasn't just on the team to fill a spot—he was there to contribute.

As practice continued, he found himself taking more shots, each one feeling more controlled, more confident. His teammates noticed, too.

"Nice shot, Walker!" one of the older players called out. "You've been working on that, huh?"

Ethan nodded, a quiet smile spreading across his face. "Just trying to improve."

He could feel the system's influence guiding him, and now, more than ever, he was starting to believe he could become the player he'd always dreamed of. He wasn't just a passer anymore. He was a well-rounded threat on the court. And as the practice session came to an end, Ethan knew this was only the beginning.

Ethan walked into his first class of the day, still buzzing from his performance at practice. His mind was racing through the shots he'd made, the progress he'd felt in his game. But as he sat down in his usual seat, he was quickly snapped out of his thoughts by a soft voice coming from beside him.

"Hey, you're Ethan, right?"

He turned to find a girl sitting next to him. She had striking red hair that cascaded in waves over her shoulders and ember-colored eyes that seemed to burn with curiosity. She was undeniably beautiful, and Ethan felt a sudden rush of heat to his cheeks.

"Uh, yeah," he said, his voice coming out a little more nervous than he intended. He quickly ran a hand through his messy hair, trying to act casual.

She smiled, her eyes twinkling with interest. "I saw you at practice this morning. You were killing it out there."

Ethan blinked, surprised. "You... saw me?"

"Yeah," she laughed softly. "I'm pretty sure you're the guy who made that insane shot from the wing. I was watching from the stands."

He hadn't noticed her there, but hearing her praise made his stomach flutter. "Oh, um, thanks. I guess I'm still working on my shot."

She raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "That didn't look like 'working on your shot' to me. You looked pretty good out there."

Ethan felt his cheeks burn. "Well, I've been practicing a lot lately." He was surprised by how much he wanted to impress her. Usually, he wasn't one to try too hard with people—especially girls—but something about her made him feel... different.

The girl tilted her head, studying him for a moment. "I can tell. And you're on the basketball team, right? Point guard?"

"Yeah," he said, feeling a little more relaxed. "I'm... kind of new to the team. Still figuring out my role."

She gave him a playful smile. "Well, looks like you're figuring it out pretty well. You've got potential."

Ethan chuckled nervously, his mind racing. Potential? He barely felt like he belonged, but hearing her say it made his heart race in a way he wasn't sure how to process.

"I'm, uh, still getting used to the system. It's... helping a lot with my game," he admitted, surprised at himself for opening up about the system to a complete stranger.

"The system?" she asked, her eyes narrowing with curiosity. "What do you mean?"

Before he could respond, the teacher entered the classroom, signaling the start of the lesson. Ethan quickly looked down at his desk, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious.

The girl gave him an amused smile. "Guess I'll have to get that story from you some other time."

Ethan managed a quick nod, his heart still racing as the teacher began speaking. He tried to focus on the lesson, but his thoughts kept drifting back to the girl—her red hair, her ember eyes, and the way she seemed genuinely interested in what he had to say.

For the first time in a while, Ethan felt like maybe—just maybe—his game wasn't the only thing worth improving.

Ethan sat at his desk, his mind spinning. The girl who had talked to him—Riley Sullivan—was someone he should've recognized. She was always surrounded by a crowd, a natural leader among her group of friends, yet there was something different about the way she had approached him today.

He recalled how her ember eyes had glinted with curiosity, and how easily she'd slid into conversation with him. Her teasing had been playful, but there was something else in the way she had noticed him—something genuine. Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that she'd seen right through him, past all the self-doubt and insecurities he usually hid behind.

Riley was a familiar face at school, known for her involvement in the photography club and her knack for capturing moments others missed. Ethan had seen her around before, always with her camera, documenting life in a way that felt more meaningful than just taking pictures. She had a way of making people feel seen, like she understood things about them that no one else did.

But the way she looked at him today—like she wanted to know more—made him feel exposed in a way he wasn't used to. Did she really see something in me? he wondered. Or was she just being kind?

He quickly pushed the thought aside as the bell rang, signaling the start of class. As the teacher began speaking, Ethan tried to focus, but his mind kept drifting back to Riley. She was someone who saw things differently, and he found himself hoping that maybe, just maybe, she'd stick around long enough to see more of him.

He couldn't help but smirk, thinking about how different this school year had turned out to be. Maybe this was the beginning of something new, not just for his game—but for himself.