The System

A melodic hip hop instrumental began playing followed by mumbled lyrics. 'Shit, I must have gotten hammered last night after the tournament. I don't even remember getting back home'

Jason tossed and turned in his blankets appreciating the softness and warmth before pausing for a moment 'That's weird. I don't remember setting my alarm to a retro playlist?'

Jason alternated between opening his left and right eye ever so slightly. His blurry vision began to clear but after a few seconds Jason rubbed his eyes 'Am I still half asleep?'

Jason took a look around the room before he began to rub his eyes but even more vigorously than before.

'What the fuck? This....this can't be right. This looks just like my room from way back when I was a little kid?'

Jason sat up in a hurry and began looking around. He was so absorbed in his inspection of the room that he failed to notice that he was at the edge of the bed.

"Ouch! Ooh shit!" Jason rubbed the back of his head but he then quickly forgot about the pain. 'That....was that my voice?' Jason sat silently on the floor for a moment before opening his mouth "Hello?"

Jason was startled by the high pitched voice "Hello, hello? My name is Jason. Spooky ghost peppers!" Jason was now visibly shaken.

'That really was my voice....' Jason slowly stood up and made his way to the corner of the room. He slowly approached the mirror that was hanging on the wall.

Each step seemed to take longer than the last. He felt as though he was dragging his feet through mud. Finally parts of his image began to show on the mirror.

First was a pitch black bowl cut. Then he saw a pair of sharp eyes followed by a flat nose and a pair of thin lips. "AHHHHHH!!!" Jason fell flat on his butt yelling.

He mumbled to himself as he sat on the floor "This can't be happening. That has to be a trick mirror. Yeah, that's it. A trick mirror...."

Jason slowly stood back up in front of the mirror and began pulling and stretching his face in all different ways and directions.

Seeing the image on the mirror copy each of his movements Jason's face paled "It's not a trick mirror....."

Jason's arms limply fell to his sides as he became engrossed by the image in the mirror. He compared it to the pictures he remembered seeing in his mother's photo album.

'It's exactly the same. The hair, the face, it all looks the same'. As he was staring at the mirror a voice that had a sweet yet stern tone called out "Jaya! Hurry up! It's almost 8!"

After hearing that voice Jason gulped. Not knowing what else to do he decided to push all his confusion and questions to the back of his mind for the moment.

After looking around the room again he found a old model cellphone. After turning on the screen he immediately looked at the date '2040... I'm 20 years in the past?'

Feeling a headache coming on Jason sat down on the bed and ran his hands through his hair, massaging his scalp with his fingertips.

'I'm stuck 20 years in the Past. I'm 12 years old again' as he replayed that thought in his mind a few more times the dimness in his eyes were replaced with a vibrant light.

'I've traveled back in time 20 years! I have a second chance to do things over!' The first thing that came to his mind was how he could take advantage of his knowledge of the future.

'I can get rich with the stock market! But I never really paid attention to stocks.....I can release pieces of tech and claim them as my own invention! But I don't have any blueprints or designs memorized.... Fuck!'

Jason learned that it is hard to take advantage of future knowledge when you don't have that much knowledge.

After hitting so many walls in his plan to take advantage of his knowledge of the future Jason decided to take a moment to think about the things that he actually paid attention to during his previous life.

There was only one thing that came to mind 'Basketball!' There weren't many things that Jason could confidently say he was the best at. But when it came to watching basketball he could easily claim the number one seat.

Although he hasn't memorized the results of every single game from the regular season for the next 20 years he could easily tell you the results of each playoff series. He also knew which prospects would jump from high school to college and from college to the big leagues.

'I can get rich betting on playoff series! Or I could get a job as a college recruiter! Or maybe a team scout!'

As these thoughts came to his mind one idea in particular made his heart race 'Instead of trying to get a job for a team I can just play for them. I have a second chance to make it to the GBA!(Global Basketball Association)

As his chest was pounding in excitement his door burst open "I swear Jaya! If you're late on your first day at your new school. The first place you'll see won't be a classroom, it's gonna be the infirmary!"

Staring at him from his doorway was a slim woman standing 5'8, wearing blue pajama bottoms and a plain white shirt. Her long black hair was tied in a messy bun.

Jason was stunned to see his mom young again "What are you still staring at!? Hurry up and get ready!". His mom closed the door and left, prompting Jason to get ready like she had instructed.

Jason looked through his closet with a bad expression on his face 'I need to start going with mom when she goes shopping for my clothes...'

Jason left his room and walked into the kitchen dressed in khaki shorts and a collared shirt. He put his backpack down as he took a seat at the dining table.

His mom was eating her breakfast while doing some work on her laptop while his dad stood in front of the stove in the kitchen right by them.

Jason looked at his dad. He stood at around 5'10 with a slim build like his mother. His medium length black hair was parted in the middle and he was wearing shorts and an apron over his white shirt.

Jason's dad turned his head and smiled "Well look who finally came down after all that yelling. Morning sleepy head, how do you want your eggs?"

Jason felt a warmth in his chest. Being presented with this nostalgic scene that he hadn't experienced in a long time overwhelmed him. A stream of tears flowed down his face.

Both his parents were shocked. His dad was the first one to talk "Jason what's wrong? Babe did you yell at him when you went to his room?"

His mom closed her laptop hurriedly said "No! I mean I did, but not more than normal!? Jaya why're you crying? Is it because of what mommy said? You know that mommy was joking right? Mommy just talks with a loud voice sometimes!"

Jason's dad sighed as he looked at his wife "It's probably because you keep calling him Jaya. He already asked you to stop calling him that. He's not a baby anymore." His mom crossed her arms and pouted "What's wrong with me calling him by such a cute nickname? The Ja from Jason and the ya from Yang sound so good together."

But then she saw the tears on her son's face "If it really bothers you that much then mommy won't call you Jaya anymore" Seeing the concern on both his parents let him feel their deep love for him so clearly.

Henry Yang and Naomi Yang. His parents were both computer programmers but his dad decided to leave programming behind to open up a restaurant. His dad was gentle and understanding while his mom was passionate and ambitious.

His parents were his only family. His parent's never explained why neither side of their families were involved in their life, even after he became an adult. But he never paid it any mind, because for him his mom and dad were all that he needed.

Jason wiped the tears from his eyes and smiled "Sorry, it's not your guys fault, I just remembered a sad scene from a movie.

And you can still call me Jaya mom, I changed my mind. It's a cute nickname." Back when he was a kid he really did hate having his mom Call him Jaya.

But now, seeing how lovingly she would call him Jaya he felt like it was just another way for her to express her care.

His mom was surprised for a second but a smile quickly appeared on her face "See, I told you it wasn't my fault."

His dad gently smiled at the both of them before turning back around to focus on his cooking "Alright, you're almost late. I'll just make you a sandwich and you can eat that on the bus to school"

Jason put the plastic bag with his sandwich into his backpack, there were still too many thoughts going through his head for him to feel hungry. He put his shoes on before leaving the apartment "Bye mom, bye dad!"

Jason was standing outside waiting for the school bus to show up when a group of kids showed up. 'They're probably waiting for the bus too'

Jason over heard one of the kids "Man did you see Delonte break Carter's ankle with that crazy dribble move!" He then started dribbling the basketball he was carrying.

One of the other kids laughed at his dribbling "Man that's not how it went. He went through the legs, hesi, crossover, spin move"

He took the basketball from the first kid and tried to execute the combo that he stated. But he messed up from the beginning.

He hit himself in the nuts trying to dribble the ball through his legs. Jason couldn't help but laugh after seeing that "Hahaha!"

The group didn't seem to appreciate Jason's laughter. The first kid was dark skinned Black kid with a flat top hairstyle. The kid that hit himself in the nuts was a pale white boy with a brown Jew-Fro.

The kid was bent over in pain but looked at Jason after hearing him laugh "Hey Brandon, I think the new kid is laughing at us"

Brandon looked at Jason "I think you're right Matt. What you laughing at huh? I bet you can't even dribble without looking at the ball"

Jason was laughing at the boys in his mind 'Haha these little shits don't know who they're messing with. Don't even mind em Jason. You're and adult, be the bigger person'

Jason smiles at the kids "My bad, I didn't mean anything by it. I'm sorry if I offended anyone." Matt didn't seem to feel that Jason's apology was enough.

After getting himself to stand up straight Matt looked back at Jason "If saying sorry could fix everything then we wouldn't need police or lawyers"

Jason's eye twitched 'You little shit! Just because I was being nice you think I'm a pushover?' Jason frowned "So what do you want then?"

Jason was fighting to keep himself composed 'You want to fight you little bitch!? Bring it! You don't want no smoke bro! Especially not with me!'

Matt picked the ball back up from the floor "Since you were laughing at my dribbling why don't we settle it with that?

We take turns doing dribble moves, whoever can't do the other person's moves loses. Win or lose I'll forget about your laughing as long as you take my challenge"

Jason was laughing maniacally in his mind 'Hahaha! You just dug your own fucking grave' he smiled "Sure"

Matt then added "Let's put something on the line just to make this more interesting. Loser has to give the winner his lunch"

Jason didn't have a doubt in his mind that he would win. But he still felt uncomfortable with the idea of wagering the handmade lunch that his dad had prepared for him "what if I didn't bring a lunch"

Matt's eyes brightened up "then your lunch money". Jason checked his wallet. It had colorful cartoon characters all over it, he had a few dollars "Alright"

The two then shook hands. Matt asked "is it okay if I start?" Jason nodded. Seeing this Brandon looked at Jason with a pitying gaze "I hope you brought enough to buy 2 lunches. Matt is on the school basketball team"

Jason looked at Matt and searched through his memories 'I don't remember a single thing about this kid. That must mean he never reached elite high school level'

Matt started dribbling the ball up and down at a fast pace with his left hand "10 dribbles with the left, cross over and then 10 dribbles with the right. You have to look up, you can't look at the ball"

After he finished, his group of friends were clapping for him and cheering him on, he had a confident smirk on his face. Jason yawned as he took the ball from Matt.

He then proceeded to copy Matt's moves but at an even faster and with his eyes closed. Everyone watched in silent amazement.

After he was done Jason asked "So it's my turn to come up with some moves and you have to copy them right?" Matt nervously nodded.

Jason started dribbling "Through the legs, hesi, crossover, spin move". Jason casually announced each move as he performed them.

At the end of his performance all the kids looked at Jason as if he was a monster for being able to do the same move that a professional did. But Jason wasn't impressed.

He knew that his dribbling just then was just for show. He could perform the moves but they had no substance.

If he tried to use that move against a college level player it wouldn't fool him. In fact, he would probably have the ball stolen from him mid combo.

Matt's face was bright red. He was silent for a moment before he opened up his backpack and pulled out a paper bag. He put the bag into Jason's hand "There"

Brandon looked at the paper bag for a second "Hey new kid. This was just a stupid bet. Think you could give ba-" he was interrupted.

Matt shouted "A bet's a bet Brandon! Just forget it". The bus pulled over and the kids started getting on.

Jason didn't get a chance to celebrate his victory. As soon as he had completed his dribble combo a string of words had appeared in the center of his vision.

[Basketball system initiated]

Jason silently took a seat on the bus as he continued to read the words.

[Select Player Build]

[Body, Heart, Mind]

As Jason was reading the words he focused on 'Body' and screen with text popped up.

[Player build, Body: The focus of your development will be centered on becoming a marvelous physical specimen of an athlete.]

[Cons; It will be much harder to develop on the skills side of Basketball.]

[If the Body build is chosen then the missions assigned for your development will be based on your body]

He thought back to the previous screen and it reappeared. He then focused on 'Heart'

[Player build, Heart: The heart is the combination of the body and the mind. You will be able to develop your body and your skills with the same amount of effort]

[Cons; Your development in body and skills will be slower than if you would focus on one]

[If the Heart build is chosen then the missions assigned for your development will be based on your heart]

He then read about 'Mind'

[Player build, Mind: The focus of your development will be on skills and the cerebral components of the game.]

[Cons; It will be difficult to develop on the physical side of the game]

[If the Mind build is chosen then the missions assigned for your development will be based on your mind]