Everyone finished eating and the dishes were nearly cleared by Clara. Daniel gets up from around the table leaving the kids and grabbed the remote and turned on the TV in the living room.
The screen flickered to life, revealing a packed arena, roaring crowds, and the tense final moments of a match.
["And it's set point here in the third and final set of the Volleyball Supreme Championship! Rio Thunders trail the Beiji Blazers, 20 to 22!"] the commentator announced excitedly.
Jordan's eyes drifted to the screen.
Beiji's ace served with a brutal jump float, and Rio's libero barely saved it. The rally was intense fast-paced, powerful, every movement crisp and urgent.
His breath hitched.Something in his chest stirred. Familiar. Painful. Beautiful.
Daniel glanced at his son, noticing the stillness in his expression. He remembered clearly Jordan had sworn off volleyball. Said it was dead to him. "Ah uh, I'll turn it off, son. My bad," Daniel said.
Jordan snapped out of his trance. "No wait. It's okay, Dad. I… I actually want to watch it."
Daniel froze. "What'd you say?"
Clara peeked up from gathering the plates and looks at Jordan. "Wait what? You said last month you didn't want anything to do with volleyball. You called it a waste of time."
From across the table, Mina piped in while sipping her juice. "And yet his volleyball posters, trophies, and DVDs are still in his room."
Jordan turned toward her with a raised brow.
She shrugged. "What? We were all thinking it."
He chuckled softly, then leaned back in his chair. His voice was quieter, but firmer now. "Yeah, I know. I didn't get rid of them… because I'm not done with volleyball. Not yet. Not now. Not ever."
His family stared at him. Clara slowly sat back down. "Jordan… are you saying you're going back to volleyball?"
He nodded.
"The future was bad without it," he said without thinking then caught himself.
Everyone blinked.
"…What future?" Clara asked, puzzled. "What do you mean?"
Jordan shook his head quickly. "Oh nothing. Don't worry about it. I'm just… thinking out loud."
Daniel leaned forward with a grin. "Well, I don't care what made you rethink your decision but I'm glad you changed your mind. Yes my son is back Time to start placing my bets on his team again."
"You're not serious," Clara muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose.
Mina rolled her eyes. "But seriously… what change your mind?"
Jordan stared at the TV. Another spike. The crowd erupted.
"I thought about it. I need volleyball more than I realized," he said. His tone was somber, but resolved.
"My future needs it."
"Hmm." Mina tilted her head. "I guess that makes sense."
Clara stepped closer and placed her hand on his forehead. "Are you sure you're feeling alright? You're acting… different. Like, really different."
She smiled gently, but her eyes searched his face.
"I'm fine, Mom," Jordan said. "Just… finally seeing things clearly."
From the TV, the commentator's voice rose again.
["The Beiji Blazers are looking unstoppable! With their ace Kingsley Jones, they might just secure this win and move on to the finals!"]
Daniel groaned. "Damn! I put my money on the Rio Thunders. I just lost a thousand dollars…"
Clara spun toward him. "You what?"
Mina and Jace had already gone upstairs by now. Clara began clearing the last of the plates, muttering under her breath.
"I'll help," Jordan said, getting up and taking dishes from her hands.
"Thank you, baby." Clara looked toward her husband. "And you! I told you no more gambling!"
"Yeah, yeah," Daniel grumbled. "Sorry…"
"Sorry doesn't get back our thousand dollars!"
Jordan glanced up from the sink, a quiet smile tugging at his lips. "He didn't lose it."
They both turned to him.
"What do you mean?" Daniel asked.
Jordan dried a plate, still watching the screen over his shoulder.
"Rio Thunders win this match. " He said to them
I… I remember. Even though I quit volleyball and didn't want anything to do with it I accidentally saw them wining the finals so that means they must have won the semi finals to be able to win the finals He thinks to himself
Clara paused. "You're sure?"
"Yes," Jordan said confidently.
Daniel leaned back in his chair. "Well damn. I'll hold you to that."
The rally on the screen continued. Rio's setter tossed the ball high and Reid Lawson, the Thunders' ace, came flying in from the back row.
BOOM!!
A cannon shot of a spike blasted past the blockers and hit the floor.
["And THAT'S IT! RIO THUNDERS WIN! THEY'RE GOING TO THE FINALS!"] the commentator shouted.
"WHOOO!!" Daniel jumped to his feet, nearly knocking over his coffee. "You were right! You were RIGHT!"
He turned to Jordan. "How did you know?!"
"I didn't," Jordan said with a small smile. "I just… had a feeling."
Clara sighed, arms crossed. "Look what you did. Got my baby involved in gambling now."
"Hey, it worked!" Daniel said, grinning like a kid. "We just made ten grand!"
Jordan laughed, heading for the stairs.
"I'm going to my room."
"You need to tell me your secrets first!" Daniel called after him.
Jordan paused at the top of the stairs. His smile faded slightly as he looked back at the living room at his parents. Together. Alive. Whole.
"I don't have any dad just got lucky I hope you enjoy work today though."
Maybe I really did get a second chance for a reason. Jordan thinks to himself.
And as he disappeared down the hallway, the screen behind him showed Reid Lawson being lifted by his teammates, gold confetti starting to fall.
Jordan stepped into his room and gently closed the door behind him.
The buzz of the crowd from the TV still echoed faintly downstairs, but here… it was quiet. Still. Peaceful.
His eyes swept the familiar surroundings the posters, the trophies gathering dust, the scratched volleyball in the corner. A fragment of his old life, untouched.
A smile tugged at his lips.
"I'm so glad… they're all okay."
He leaned against the door for a second, letting himself soak in the moment. His heart swelled. Clara, Daniel, Mina, Jace... Together. Laughing. Arguing. Living.
But then
It hit him.
Hard.
A crashing wave of memories that tore the smile from his face.
The shouting. The slammed door. The silence that followed.
His mother packing bags in the dead of night.
Jace crying, not understanding why Dad wasn't coming with them.
His father proud, stubborn, broken drinking more, smiling less.
Then Mina.
The accident.
She wasn't supposed to be on that road. She never came home.
Jordan's knees buckled slightly, and he dropped onto his bed, eyes wide.
No…
Not this time.
He remembered the funeral. The weight. The regrets. The shattered pieces of his family scattered across cities, countries. His move to Canada. Living with his older sister distant, cold. A shell of the life he once had.
He clenched his fists.
"System," he called aloud, his voice shaky.
A faint hum filled the air, and then
A translucent blue screen shimmered into existence before his eyes.
[SYSTEM ONLINE]
[Yes?]
Jordan's eyes burned, but his voice was clear.
"I traveled back in time… to fix my mistakes. To become the greatest volleyball player. Better than the Sky Kings. If not one of them."
[Confirmed.]
His eyes narrowed, gaze hardening.
"But that's not all I want. I want to change the future. I want to protect my family. Can I stop what's going to happen to them while I'm here?"
The screen flickered.
[Yes. You can.]
[However… only if it does not interfere with your main objective.]
[I exist to help you achieve your highest volleyball potential. That remains the priority.]
Jordan nodded slowly, breathing out.
"I know. And I won't fail in that. But I won't sit back and watch them fall apart again, either."
[Understood.]
He sat upright now, adrenaline kicking in, his mind racing.
"You mentioned quests. Leveling up. Skills."
[Correct.]
[You will receive quests based on your actions, situations and growth.]
[Quests unlock rewards: Skills, Stats, points, Titles,]
"Ok good"
[New System Notification]
[New Skill Acquired: Dream World]