Chapter 13 — Throwing the Ball Through the Rain

Mai Chi was caught by her mother while posting her practice schedule on the refrigerator. Her mother didn't scold her, she just asked how the extra class schedule would make up for it. Mai Chi said she divided her practice sessions into three sessions, one for self-study and one for rest. Mom asked what if the team lost. Mai Chi replied that she still had a day off. The answer made her mother silent, because in the past girls always considered grades to be the only thing worth keeping.

On the field, Mai Chi threw ten consecutive shots and entered seven. An asked if she was trying to prove something. Mai Chi said she wanted to know if she was choosing basketball or if basketball was choosing her. She doesn't hate studying, she just hates having adults decide what she likes before she even tries. An said she once quit playing because of a comment, but didn't say that she let that comment make her decisions for three years.

Nhien practices recovery in Bap of the yard, recording the time on the clock. She couldn't sprint, so she instructed Vy how to cover. Vy asked why someone who doesn't run still has to be the captain. Nhien said because she is learning to see the whole yard. Phong repaired the bench and made a foldable armrest for Nhien to stand on. Bap turned around the handrail, then asked Nhien if he wanted to appear. Nhien agreed, but only used the scene where she stood up on her own.

The team received the qualifying round schedule: first match against Phu Van school, second match against Minh Tan school. If it rains heavily, the organizers will move the field to the city gymnasium, where the team has never practiced. An was nervous because the indoor floor was faster, the lighting was different, and the sound of the audience was closer. Ms. Hanh gave them a trial session at the district's multipurpose house. The backboard is a little lower, but the borders are clear.

Bap brought an old speaker with him. He plugged in the wrong wire, causing music to come out of the microphone. Mai Chi laughed so much that she missed the throw. Phong didn't laugh, he sat looking for errors for ten minutes and then discovered that Bap had plugged the cord into the socket for the projector. “I just want the yard to have air,” Bap said. “The air doesn't need to fool the device,” Phong replied.

On the way home, Mai Chi received news that her mother had agreed to let her compete in the qualifying round, on the condition that she would not miss extra classes. She announced to the group. Nhien sent a heart emoji, Vy sent ten exclamation points, and Bap sent a customized calendar. An looked at the message and saw that the team was starting to feel happy about each person's choice, not just because of the score.

Mai Chi brought the new calendar to the yard. She marked it with three colors: study, practice, rest. Her mother requested that she have a family meal on the weekend, so Mai Chi circled Sunday night. Bap asked if the family could sponsor bread. Mai Chi told him to try asking in a proper letter. Bap wrote and erased four times, and finally sent a short version with a table of income and expenses.

During the practice session, Ms. Hanh tried letting Mai Chi be the tactical caller. She usually throws well but doesn't talk much. The first time she pointed her finger too late, An lost the ball. Mai Chi apologized, then stood in the middle of the yard and spoke louder. She didn't need to chant long; Just call location and time. The team performed a beautiful combination. Nhien complimented, Mai Chi said her throat hurt as soon as she finished speaking.

Vy asked Mai Chi if she was afraid that the team would depend on her. Mai Chi said yes, so she wants to teach people how to create space. She showed Vy how to pretend to run in and then stop, letting the defender slow down a beat. Vy made a mistake, stepping on the line, but the next time An had a pass. An wrote down that technique in her notebook and did not name it after Mai Chi because Mai Chi did not want everything to be associated with one person.

After practice, Mai Chi's mother came to pick her up. She stood outside the door, asking An Doi if she needed anything. An said she needed someone to attend the opening day and someone to read the plan. She replied that she could help check the schedule, because her job involved shift arrangements. She did not promise money or achievements, but suggested looking at the roster so you wouldn't practice too hard. Mai Chi looked at her mother and smiled softly.

Bap discovered that a friend on the sixth grade team had signs of heel pain but still tried to play. Nhien asked me to take a break and asked if I wanted to call my parents. I'm afraid of being scolded for wasting my time. Ms. Hanh explained that pain is not her fault. An gave me a bag of ice, then wrote down the incident without a name. Mai Chi said taking care of younger people is also part of basketball.

At the end of the session, the team tries a lesson with three ending options: An throws, Mai Chi throws, Vy passes backwards. No one knows the choice in advance. The ball holder must look at his teammates and make his own decisions. The exercise is messy, but helps everyone get used to not having a single star. Looking from his chair, Nhien said the team is starting to play like a family with a shared schedule.

Mai Chi received the selection news earlier than expected. She had to go to the provincial gymnasium on Saturday, the day the team opened the field. She was about to refuse so as not to affect the plan, but An asked if she wanted the team to reschedule. Mai Chi said she wanted to go, but was afraid that everyone would have to bear their share. Nhien said the team exists so that everyone can leave the field at the right time, not to keep each other at bay.

Tran adjusted the yard opening schedule, Phong received the equipment inspection, Vy received the small class, Bap received the revenue and expenditure. An asked each person if they had enough time. Bap said he needed someone to check the data, Tran accepted. Vy said she needed Ms. Hanh to stand next to her when there were young children. Ms. Hanh agreed. The new plan isn't perfect, but it has specific names and hours.

Mai Chi sends the team a recording with instructions on how to shoot three-pointers. She only asked for internal use, not posting. Bap listened and recognized his voice in the background because he teased him the other day. Mai Chi told her to keep it if it didn't make her uncomfortable, but Bap collected it himself and was cleaner. He said if he wants others to respect his rights, he must do so first.

Vy practices replacing Mai Chi at the throwing corner. I don't score much, but I learn to stand patiently. An passes slower, asks before changing cards. Ms. Hanh told us not to turn an absent person into a void, causing everyone to panic. Think of it as an opportunity for another ball to appear.

Mai Chi's parents came to the stadium, looked at the schedule and asked if the team had insurance. Ms. Hanh explains the school's responsibilities, activity limitations, and how to handle injuries. She was not satisfied with all the answers, but saw that the team did not shy away. She agreed to let Mai Chi go for selection, reminding her to notify her if her class schedule was affected.

In the afternoon, Bap gave Mai Chi a piece of paper with the name of the person who would replace her. Mai Chi read and edited an item because An took on too much work. She said the team shouldn't deal with absences by shifting it all to the most trustworthy person. An looked at the list and saw that she also needed to be replaced. They redistributed part of the notes to Lam.

Mai Chi left the field, came back and said if she was selected, she still wanted to practice here when possible. Nhien said the door was unlocked because someone was away. Vy held up the ball, meeting her after the match.

After Mai Chi left, the team practiced "no stars". Lam received the first ball, Vy called the position, An ran to cut, Bap took the timer. No one can throw in the first ten seconds. The ball must pass at least three people. The exercise slows them down, but helps them see people who are usually on the outside. An saw Huyen at the defensive corner and asked if she wanted to try entering. Huyen nodded, but asked not to film yet.

Huyen stole the ball from Bap and then passed it to An. Bap hugged his chest and pretended to be betrayed. Huyen smiled, speaking for the first time in the middle of the field. Nhien said newbies don't need to apologize when they play well. Huyen said she was just afraid that people would think she was taking someone's place. An replied that the team is not a row of chairs with a fixed number; New players add ways to play.

Mai Chi made a video call from the gym, the sound of the ball on her side was loud. She said the audition required everyone to call out clearly and change positions. An laughed because they practiced that. Mai Chi said she missed, but the coach asked who she saw. The question made her miss An. The team did not turn the call into a livestream; Bap only wrote a few lines after Mai Chi agreed.

Tran updated the calendar, adding a substitute entry when Mai Chi was absent. One parent responded that the schedule was too complicated. Tran explains the schedule to the person on duty, while players only need to see their frame. An suggests making the short version on the board, the full version in the file. They don't force people to read everything to get in.

Phong checked ball number two and discovered that the ball's surface was smooth. He classified it as a light practice ball, not used for competition. Bap asked why he didn't throw it away. Phong said objects can still be useful if used for the right purpose. An thought that sentence was also true for humans, but didn't say it because it sounded too much like a speech.

At the end of the session, An sent Mai Chi a photo of the signal board, hiding the names of those who did not want to appear. Mai Chi responded with a short audio clip, saying she understood the team could operate while she was gone. An listened and found that sentence both happy and a bit sad. She put away her phone and passed the ball to Huyen.

Huyen caught the ball with both hands, held it longer than usual, then asked An if she could be the first passer in the next match. An said it's okay, as long as you call the recipient's name. Huyen nodded and tried running around. There was no cheering on the field in the afternoon, only the sound of shoes and calling each other's names, but An knew a new role had just begun.