Special Chapter

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"Right! That was good enough, I suppose. Take a break, boys," Mr Park, manager of the school's basketball team said after he blew his shrill whistle. On hearing what he had longed to for what felt like hours at that point, Minho panted heavily as he jogged over to a bench in order to retrieve his water bottle and towel.

"Don't you just look peachy keen?" asked Kevin, Minho's friend before he laughed mischievously.

Unimpressed with his friend's antics, Minho rolled his eyes before speaking. "I train harder than you. Don't you and Jacob just stand there?" he questioned yet simultaneously pointed out by his tone.

"Um, yeah. What are we gonna do? Actually play some b-ball?" responded Kevin, snorting shortly in laughter.

"Kinda the aim of the game, man," said Minho before he took a long sip from his bottle.

"Jokes aside, did you hear about the new kid? He's from Australia." To this, Minho only had one thought in mind: please don't be Felix. Yet he remained silent, allowing Kevin to resume in hopes that he'd drop a name. "Apparently he's quite sporty." Nope, not Felix. He'd be sporty if talking or shopping counted.

"So what's he called?" Minho finally asked.

However, just as Kevin was about to reply, a loud, drawn-out shrill whistle had once again rang through their ears; causing both boys to wince. "Break really that short? Jeez, coach is such a nice guy", quipped Kevin as him and Minho jogged over to where the other boys gathered.

"Right. You're still on a break, however I have an announcement," announced Coach Park before pausing.

"Oh Sir Park, the silence is killing me, for I cannot bear the suspense —" mumbled Kevin, who failed to finish as he was elbowed not so lightly by Minho. Moments later, the only noise that flowed through the basketball court was the sound of a slightly-squeaky door opening and closing; followed by footsteps lightly yet confidently trailing over to the huddle of boys.

"Here he is," grinned Coach Park. "I'm sure he's going to want to introduce himself," he finished, not before heartedly patting the black haired boy on his shoulder before stepping aside.

"Pleasure to meet you all. I'm Bang Chan - or Chris - and I'm from Australia," announced the boy, sending the others a glistening smile after.

Minho wasn't intimidated by the new boy. He kind of seemed like a bit of a try-hard, with a dazzling smile and introduction. Yet, he did come across as sporty - this much Minho credited to him. But why is he visiting our school's basketball team rather than having a talk with the principal or some tour?

"Isn't he funny?" said the coach, laughing lightly alongside some other boys. Minho furrowed his eyebrows. He must've been too caught up in his own thoughts that he missed Bang Chan's joke. So he's funny, too.

"Minho," the coach called, voice calm but bellowing due to his natural volume crossed with his rough pitch. "Come here, please," he said, once realising he had successfully gained the addressed boy's attention. "As for the rest of you, get back to break."

Minho took one step forward before he felt a hand lightly grab ahold of his forearm; so he looked back to see Kevin and Jacob - staring at him very, very intensely. "What do you think coach called you over for?" asked Jacob, voice slightly wary.

To this, Minho's eyebrows furrowed. Yet he shrugged. "I don't know. Show the new kid how we work here? Give him a tour of the locker room? Captain-y stuff, or something."

He received two slow nods in response. "Right, okay... 'cos coach has that look on his face," said Kevin before he continued. "Y'know, that look."

On hearing this, Minho only huffed slightly. "You're both familiar with one look because he gives it you all the time when you're just stood there — actually, why am I still here?" he said before shaking his head dismissively with a click of the tongue, then departing to finally see what Coach Park wanted.

"Yeah, man. He's definitely captain-y," said Jacob in almost a dazed voice, earning a slow nod and a gentle hum of agreement from Kevin.

"Minho! This is Chan. Chan, this is Minho," said Coach Park, allowing a moment for both boys to bow and shake hands. "Now," he continued, furrowing his eyebrows slightly as he thought of his next words. "You see, Minho, Chan moved here just recently. And, although schools in Australia are quite different, basketball isn't. Chan was quite the star at his high school there," he said.

Not entirely sure of where this was headed, Minho only nodded in acknowledgment. "So... I reckon we could give him a chance as team captain. To have him, with such a skill set and mindset, too - and a limited ability to enforce it with others, would just not be right. You've done a great job leading the team, kid. But we have to think about what's best for the team and only that. Sorry," Coach Park finished, his voice laced with sympathy but if it was meant or not, Minho couldn't tell. If the Coach was in the right mind, Minho couldn't tell. He was annoyed.

On coming back to reality, he was faced with two pairs of expecting eyes looking right at him. "But, coach..." he said, unable to say what he was thinking; to form it into comprehensible language.

"It's best for the team, kid. Don't get me wrong - you're an incredibly skilled player - but I think with Chan, we can reach for that something more," Coach Park responded before heading off to one of the boys that called him over.

Minho and Chan then made eye contact. It was heavy, it was serious. How could some new boy come and practically steal what he worked so hard for? How could this be taken from under his nose just like that?

Minho was annoyed, to say the least. He let Chan know this through his dagger-like glare before walking off without a 'goodbye' or a 'good luck,' even.

Crikey.... ,thought Chan.

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i always wanted to do a backstory flashback chapter thingy!!1 :D

i hope it's good
sorry for the slow updates recently :(

also
yes i snook The Boyz in like that
stan them bub :3

also ThanKs for all the reads and votes!! ❤️

"Crikey"  | Chanlix Where stories live. Discover now