~ Kibou City

The ride home was a blur for Lake. He watched the cityscape pass by, towering skyscrapers and traditional Japanese architecture blended together, wheezing past his window.

Lake sighed, caring little of it all. He had just finished having a conversation with his mother, and she was already planning to enroll him in the Medical University.

He knew his father would be one hundred percent on board with this, in fact, he was sure that it was even his idea. They'd never wanted their son to be a basketball player.

Lake's eyes continued to watch the buildings of Kibou City pass by. This city... It was supposed to be a place where anything was possible, a place of hope, hence the name.

Kibou City was a city born out of a complicated political history, a merger of two powerful and unlikely nations — USA and Japan — that decided to join forces in the face of global uncertainty.

The alliance had started as a strategic partnership to rival an extraterrestrial war very long ago. But over time, it became something deeper, a melding of cultures, economies, and even politics.

Harold Everett was Lake's father, and he was a senator who had built his political career on the back of this alliance. More than a thousand times, he had advocated for stronger ties between both nations, and of course, he reaped the rewards of this unity.

Lake's mother, Hana Everett, was a Japanese ambassador who worked tirelessly to ensure the cultural and diplomatic aspects of the union were respected and cherished.

Together, they were a power couple and one of the most influential people in Kibou City and California as a whole.

The picture painted of this family was clear. Lake wasn't a poor boy trying to make his life better with basketball. No.

His family was very wealthy. Success was all they believed in, and so as the first son and heir to his father's name, Lake had a lot to live up to.

He had two choices; Politics or Medicine.

Lake despised everything about politics, he deemed it a shit show where no one who enters remains as good and as innocent as they were before.

So his father made him go into medicine. He envisioned him following the more traditional path, specifically the one that led into the halls of a prestigious medical school.

But that wasn't Lake's dream.

From a young age, ever since he watched his first ever game, Lake had been captivated by the legends of the court. He'd spent countless hours watching old games, memorizing every move of his favorite players.

The sound of a basketball hitting the pavement, the rush of making a perfect shot—it had always meant more to him than anything else.

Quickly it became an obsession. Lake bought every single UBF2K game, even from the years before he was born. He played basketball in the back of their home, rebelling against his father's stern methods to get him to be a doctor.

Basketball was all Lake lived for throughout his teen years, and soon enough, his parents had no choice but to let him do as he wished.

However, they had one condition. To put it simply, once Lake failed, he would be taken straight to Medical University and there would be no second chances.

Lake had been so excited that he didn't even listen to what his parents had said, he only cared that he could now go after his dream. He could be a basketball player.

And he was going to be the Best In The World!

Hoink!

The blare of a car woke him up from his thoughts. Lake looked outside the window and sighed. He certainly didn't feel like the best in the world.

The car pulled up at the Everetts' residence. It was a sprawling estate nestled in one of the city's most affluent neighborhoods.

The house blended modern American design with subtle Japanese elements harmoniously. The wide driveway curved up to the front entrance, flanked by manicured gardens with cherry blossom trees that would bloom in spring, a nod to Lake's mother's heritage.

The driver stepped out and first opened the door for Hana, his mother, before opening Lake's door to help him maneuver out with his wheelchair.

The weight of his situation felt even heavier as he rolled up the ramp that had been installed temporarily. Lake tried to keep his chin up, but knowing that Medical University was his next location wasn't helping.

He rolled himself to the front door, and a household staff member approached with a pair of crutches. She placed them in front of him while another tried to help him to his feet.

A groan escaped Lake as he pushed himself upright, then he began to feel irritated, not at anyone, but at himself, at the situation.

"I've got it," he muttered, his voice carrying a stubborn edge. The last thing he wanted was to be coddled, not now, not when everything felt so out of control.

But the household staff still continued to help him up.

"I said I've got it!" he snapped. "I've got it."

The staff member immediately released him, stepping back as Lake, with visible effort, slowly rose to his feet.

A moan and a groan followed his labored movements. But the adamant boy was determined to manage on his own, even if it hurt.

"Lake..." Hana said with a gentle sadness in her voice as she watched her son in pain.

"Mom, I've got it. I've got it," Lake assured her.

He continued to mutter the words to himself as he forced his body to comply with his will. He leaned forward, stretching his arm toward the crutches, determination on his face.

But his fingers only brushed the crutches, and his strength gave out. Lake's legs buckled beneath him, then with a loud and frightening thud, he crashed to the ground.

"Lake!" Hana gasped.

The staff rushed forward in a flurry, hands reaching out to help him from the ground.

ᓀᓂ

A soft knock came at his door.

"Lake? Can I come in?"

Lake turned off the system he had been studying and took a deep breath. "Yes," he answered.

The door opened and his mother appeared in the doorway, concern and helplessness on her fatigued face. She gazed around his room, the numerous basketball posters and the hoop placed on his wall.

A sad sigh escaped her.

"Lake," she began, her voice gentle, "I know this is hard for you. I know how much you wanted to play basketball. But it will be fine, okay? When one door closes, another one opens. It's not the end of your future, son."

Lake looked up at her. His mother had always understood his passion more than his father did, but even she had hoped it was just a phase.

He forced a smile, trying to ease the worry lines on her face. "Yeah, Mom. I know."

"Promise me you'll give medical school a chance, hmm?" she cocked her head softly. "When your father returns home, and you two talk, just listen to what he has to say. You've always been a smart boy, Lake. Too smart for the court. Just keep an open mind, mhm?"

"I'll try, Mom," he said, still maintaining the smile.

But as she left, Lake's smile faded. The room felt like a tomb now, a monument to the life he'd never get to live. The dreams of becoming a basketball star, the countless hours spent honing his skills, it all seemed so pointless now.

Ding!

The chime of the system sang in his ears and an interface instantly appeared.

[New Quest: Voice of Persuasion]

[Quest Level: Critical]

[Objective: Convince your father to give you one final chance at pursuing basketball]

[Reward: +3 to Stamina, +25 XP, Inventory: Vitality Tonic]

Lake gazed at the translucent message for a moment. He eyed the rewards and the objective. That vitality tonic. It helped to replenish one's health.

With an item like that and some rigorous training, maybe — just maybe — Lake's dreams weren't as shattered as they seemed. It wasn't over.

His eyes narrowed to slits of determination. 'Alright then. I guess we really are doing this.'