Chapter 24 — Throwing the Ball Through the Rain

The free throw fundraising event took place in the rain, but the field was half-covered. Each person contributes according to their ability to throw five shots. Those who don't want to throw can help clean the ball or keep track of the score. Mai Chi returned just in time, carrying the selection invitation. She didn't say whether she was accepted or not, just said she wanted to try.

An stood next to the registration board. One parent asked if the money would be used to fight the parking lot project. An replied that the fund is only used for supplies, maintenance and free classes; Planning decisions belong to the council. Ms. Hanh heard it and nodded. Bap wanted to hang a big slogan, but Tran chose a small sign with a specific purpose.

Children miss more throws. Vy guided each person, Mai Chi fixed her wrist, Nhien sat and wrote down the numbers. Bap is in charge of the mic, but this time it's plugged in correctly. Phong places a towel in a smooth corner and checks the electricity every hour. An threw last, hitting all five balls, but she did not receive the reward. She put the money in the box and wrote her name like everyone else.

A former student came, handed over a large envelope and asked if he could talk to Thu Ha. Ms. Hanh refused to provide information, but invited him to leave a message at the school. He said he used to be the scoreboard controller in the final match last year. He doesn't remember who made the jump score board, he only remembers that the system was temporarily fixed by an adult in the organizing committee. He was afraid to speak up because his family worked for the school.

An did not ask for his name. She asked him to write down what he remembered, clearly stating the certain parts and the uncertain parts. He agreed. Ms. Hanh will receive it privately and will not post it online. Nhien said the more people the story is, the harder it is to tell, but they still have to maintain each person's rights.

At the end of the day, the fund had enough money to replace the scoreboard circuit and buy first aid equipment. Bap announced the numbers, along with income and expenditure records. Mr. Vinh came and said he had never seen a basketball field that could take care of so many things on its own. An answered without making the decision herself; the yard users did.

That night, An called her old coach and asked to postpone the selection for a week. She wants to play the final first. The coach said the opportunity wouldn't wait long, but agreed. An hung up the phone, not sure if she made the right choice, only knowing she didn't choose because she was afraid.

The next morning, An told her mother that she had rescheduled the appointment. Mom asked if she was sure. An said she wanted to finish what she started at the yard, but then still tried it out. Her mother told her there was no need to turn her decision into an oath. If circumstances change, she has the right to speak again. An saw that sentence as an open door, not a rope.

The team returns to the final training schedule. Nhien requires everyone to practice under two conditions: dry field and lightly wet field. She doesn't let her run in standing water, just practices turning and communicating. Vy asked if it rained in the final, would she still be able to play? Ms. Hanh said the organizers decided based on safety, not on the wishes of the audience.

Mai Chi was brought to the yard early by her mother, bringing her math test. During break time, she did her homework on the chair, An sat next to her without speaking. Bap wanted to ask for the answer, Mai Chi told him to study on his own. Nhien looked at that scene and reminded everyone not to use competition achievements to evaluate learning. She was once praised for "sacrificing everything for the team", but now she doesn't want anyone to repeat it.

Phong completed the new scoreboard circuit. He organized a blind test: An and Mai Chi scored by hand, Bap entered it on the board, Tran compared it. Once Bap entered incorrectly, the board jumped one point. He reported it immediately, corrected it and recorded the reason. Phong didn't scold him, just asked to try again. The team sees the system as safe not because there are no errors, but because errors are seen.

During the small press conference, someone asked if the team was using Thu Ha's story to create drama. An replied that they did not disclose the details because Ha had not given permission; What the team learned was the right to ask to see the minutes and to ask questions first. The questioner was disappointed, but Ms. Hanh supported the answer. Bap said he would then make a video with no secrets, only test steps.

The night before the final, An put the captain's armband in her pocket, next to the new selection schedule. She texted Nhien that if the rain was too heavy, she wanted to hear the stop signal before hearing the audience. Nhien replied: "That's why I trust you."

In the morning, the sky was clear for a while and then the clouds came. Ms. Hanh called the organizers to confirm the criteria for stopping the match: standing water, thunder, visibility and field temperature. Bap writes on the board, Phong prepares towels and measuring tools. An audience member asked if they stopped, would the team be considered weak? An said the team protects the players before protecting the image.

Mai Chi wrote a message to her mother, telling her the estimated time and the plan if the match was changed. Mom replied that she would come but she didn't need her to pick her up. Vy brought ginger candy for coughs, Nhien brought medical records, Lam brought a sign board. Each person has a job, so An doesn't have to control everything.

During the warm-up, the opponent asked about the hand score sheet. Tran explained that both sides sign after each round. The opponent's captain agreed and also suggested sending someone to compare to avoid misunderstandings. Thank you, seeing transparency does not make them weaker; it leaves both teams on the same ground.

The rain started right before the whistle. The organizers postponed the event for ten minutes, and the audience was guided to the roof. Water flows through the drain, but the east corner is still slippery. Phong and the technician measured, Ms. Hanh said it was not possible. An saw a few people disappointed, but no one objected when they heard the reason. Nhien held up the circle and the whole team waited.

After twenty minutes, light rain brought the field to temporary conditions. The referee asked the captains of both sides if they agreed. An did not answer for her teammates; she asked Mai Chi, Vy and Nhien by signal. All three nodded. The match started with the smell of water and the sound of the audience holding their breath.

An didn't know if she would throw the last ball or pass it to whom. She just knows that if a person is hurt, if the scoreboard is wrong, if the field is slippery, they will stop to ask. The armband on her wrist was heavier than usual, but it didn't drag her down.

In the first half, the opponent led by five points. An heard the call from the stands, but looked at Nhien's hand in the technical area. Circle, then open hand. She slowed down and passed out. Mai Chi cuts in, Vy pulls the follower, Lam receives in Bap. Not a pretty ball, but correct. Bap records the time, Tran compares the scores.

Midway through the half, an opposing player missed because of a small splash of water. The referee stopped the match. Ms. Hanh called a technician. Phong brought a towel but did not clean the area himself without permission. An stood outside, listening to a few spectators complain. Nhien told her: “If they fail, I can fail too.” An nodded and waited with the team until the field met the conditions.

Mai Chi was closely marked, Vy had to receive the ball more. I was nervous, but An asked if I wanted to try. Vy nodded. The first time I passed wrongly, the next time I kept it and scored. No one calls me Mai Chi's replacement; I'm just Vy for one turn. Bap wrote the correct name in the book.

In the final half, the team equalized each point. Nhien was tired from sitting for a long time, reported pain level four, Ms. Hanh took her to the medical area. An didn't look for too long. She asked Mai Chi if there was a new signal, Mai Chi used her open hand. The team continued, not turning Nhien's departure into a crisis.

At the last minute, An had the ball. She saw the basketball rim, Mai Chi was marked, Vy was below, Lam was empty. She passed it to Lam. Lam threw, the ball bounced off the rim. Vy caught it, passed it out, and An threw it in. The whistle blew, but An didn't know whether the team won or lost. The scoreboard is compared, the team is one point higher.

Before taking photos, An asked each person if they agreed. An opponent did not want to appear, so Bap hung up. The rain stopped, but the field still had water stains. The team cleans up, records the incident, and then receives congratulations. Finals don't have a single moment; it has dozens of small options that keep the game safe.

When the bus brought the team back, Nhien sat next to the window and placed an ice pack on her knee. An didn't ask if the match was worth it, just asked where she wanted to get off so she wouldn't have to go around. Nhien chose the side gate because there were few steps there. Mai Chi called from the gym, telling the audience how the team stopped to clean the field. She said someone asked why they didn't take advantage when their opponents lost their rhythm. An replied that was their rhythm: no one was left behind by a trail of water.

The next day, the scorecard was sent back because the referee detected a plus error. The team is still one point ahead, but they don't use old photos to show off. The team updated the new version, Bap asked his opponent's permission before posting. One person texted that he was happy because his name was not misspelled. An read the news over and over again, realizing that justice sometimes begins with a sharp mark.

She sent the new scorecard back to the whole team.

Bap replied "received", then deleted the old version from the shared folder. Please keep a copy with the date so you can know later why the score changed. An likes how they don't pretend everything is right from the start. A match may end on the field, but responsibility for it lasts until the figures are confirmed.