Infinite Rebate: I Get Richer Every Time I Spend

Lucas stood by the roadside for several minutes before he finally managed to flag down another taxi.

The driver rolled down his window just enough to look him over, his eyes lingering on the bruises scattered across Lucas’s arms and the sweat-soaked shirt clinging to his body.

"Where to?"

"Ashford University."

The driver nodded and unlocked the doors.

Lucas slid into the back seat with a quiet groan. The moment he leaned against the seat, every muscle in his body began protesting at once.

Three hours of street basketball had taken far more out of him than he’d expected. His shoulders felt heavy, his ribs still ached every time he breathed too deeply, and his forearms burned from constantly fighting for the ball.

At that moment, he wasn’t even confident he had enough strength left to drive himself home.

The taxi pulled away from 24 Mob District, leaving the noisy streets behind. Neither of them spoke during the ride.

Lucas simply rested his head against the window, watching the city lights blur past while replaying everything Ghost, Tank, Spider, and Bones had taught him.

By the time they reached Ashford University, nearly an hour had passed.

Lucas paid the driver, thanked him, and slowly made his way toward the student parking lot.

His Bugatti sat exactly where he’d left it earlier that day. He unlocked the door, tossed the worn shoebox Old Man Reed had sold him onto the passenger seat beside his basketball bag, practice jersey, and the rest of his gear, then climbed into the driver’s seat.

The engine came to life with its familiar growl.

A few minutes later, the Bugatti rolled through the front gate of the villa.

The sound of the engine immediately caught the attention of the girls relaxing in the front yard.

Mia looked up first.

"Lucas is back."

Daisy smiled as she stood up, and Mia followed close behind. The two of them walked toward the driveway to greet him, but the closer they got, the more their expressions changed.

Lucas opened the driver’s door and stepped out slowly.

Much too slowly.

He normally moved with an easy confidence, but today every movement looked stiff. His shoulders were tense, his shirt was wrinkled and damp with sweat, and there were fresh scrapes along his forearms that hadn’t been there when he’d left that morning.

"...Lucas?"

Mia frowned immediately.

"What happened to you?"

"I’m fine," Lucas replied with a tired smile. "Just had a pretty intense workout."

"A workout?"

Daisy looked him up and down.

"What kind of workout leaves you looking like you got into a fight?"

Lucas laughed softly.

"Something like that."

Before he could take another step, the three girls had already moved to either side of him.

"Easy."

"Careful."

"We’ve got you."

Lucas couldn’t help laughing.

"You girls are making it sound like I’m dying."

"You can still walk."

"I know."

"Then walk."

Mia rolled her eyes.

"But we’re still helping."

Even though Lucas insisted he didn’t need anyone holding him up, none of them listened. They stayed beside him all the way into the house.

Once inside, Lucas stretched his sore shoulders and let out a long breath.

"I just need a shower."

"And then I’m sleeping for the next ten hours."

Nobody argued with that.

Lucas headed upstairs, stripped off his dirty clothes, and stepped beneath the cold shower.

The icy water poured over his body, washing away the sweat, dust, and grime from the streets.

Every sore muscle relaxed little by little beneath the steady stream, and by the time he shut the water off, he already felt much lighter than before.

"...Much better."

He wrapped a towel around his waist and walked out of the bathroom.

Only to stop in his tracks.

Mia.

Daisy.

And Debbie.

All three of them were standing inside his bedroom.

On the bed sat several bottles of massage oil, ointment, clean towels, and a first-aid kit.

Lucas blinked.

"...What exactly are you three planning?"

Mia crossed her arms.

"You’re obviously hurting."

"I’m already fine."

"No."

"You took a shower."

"That’s different."

Lucas chuckled helplessly.

"Seriously, I recover fast."

"We noticed."

Daisy pointed at the bruises still visible across his shoulders.

"That doesn’t mean we’re letting you ignore those."

Lucas tried to protest again, but the three girls weren’t interested in listening.

A few moments later, he found himself lying face down across the bed while they carefully applied ointment to the bruises along his shoulders and back.

"See?"

Mia said while gently working the tension out of his shoulder muscles.

"They’re all stiff."

"I told you."

Lucas muttered into the pillow.

"I’ve been tackled for three hours."

"Three hours?"

Mia looked genuinely surprised.

"...What were you doing?"

"Learning."

"Apparently the hard way."

The girls exchanged glances before shaking their heads.

One worked on his shoulders, another carefully massaged the soreness from his arms, while the third eased the tight muscles in his legs after hours of running across unforgiving concrete.

Lucas had never experienced anything like it before.

Every aching muscle slowly loosened beneath their careful hands, and the exhaustion he’d been holding back all day finally caught up to him.

His eyelids became heavier.

His breathing slowed.

The conversation around him gradually faded into the background.

By the time the girls finished cleaning up the oils and putting everything away, Lucas hadn’t moved at all.

He was already asleep.

He slept peacefully.

The next morning...

Lucas’s eyes suddenly flew open.

For a moment, he just lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Then his eyes drifted toward the digital clock beside the bed.

8:17 AM.

His pupils instantly shrank.

"...Shit."

Lucas practically launched himself out of bed.

He had overslept.

Badly.

Coach had made it crystal clear yesterday.

Everyone had to report to Ashford University before 6:00 a.m.

The team bus would leave exactly at six.

No exceptions.

No waiting.

Lucas slapped a hand against his forehead.

"The bus..."

Last night’s massage had completely knocked him out. After everything his body had endured on the streets, the moment he lay down, he’d fallen into the deepest sleep he’d had in years.

Without wasting another second, Lucas sprinted into the bathroom.

Five minutes later...

The shower was already off.

He burst out of his room wearing nothing but a pair of black boxers, his damp hair still dripping onto the floor.

Everything he needed for the tournament~his Ashford basketball uniform, sneakers, travel bag, and equipment~had already been left inside the Bugatti the night before.

He didn’t even think about it.

He bolted downstairs two steps at a time.

Downstairs...

Mia, Daisy, and Debbie were in the kitchen preparing breakfast.

The three girls looked up at almost the same time.

Then froze.

A half-naked Lucas had just sprinted past them like his life depended on it.

"...Lucas?"

Daisy blinked twice before bursting into laughter.

"Seriously?"

"Where are you even going dressed like that?"

Lucas didn’t stop.

"I’m late!"

His voice echoed through the house as he threw open the garage door.

The Bugatti sat exactly where he’d left it.

He yanked the driver’s door open, climbed inside, and immediately grabbed his basketball uniform from the passenger seat.

The jersey.

The shorts.

Compression gear.

Everything went on at unbelievable speed.

He was halfway through pulling the Ashford jersey over his head when footsteps hurried into the garage.

The three girls had followed him.

By the time Lucas finished putting on his shorts, Mia was already standing beside the driver’s door with her arms folded.

She took one look at him...

Then at the basketball jersey.

Her expression immediately changed.

"You overslept, didn’t you?"

Lucas let out a helpless sigh while pulling on his sneakers.

"The team bus left at six."

"I completely slept through my alarm."

Mia shook her head.

"I knew it."

She attended Ashford University herself.

Of course she knew what today was.

Today wasn’t just another game.

It was the semifinal.

If Ashford won...

They would advance to the championship.

If they lost...

The season was over.

Debbie hurried back into the house before returning a few seconds later with a sandwich and a bottle of water.

"At least eat something."

"You can’t play basketball on an empty stomach."

Lucas accepted both with a grateful smile.

"I’ll eat on the way."

"There isn’t time to stop."

Mia reached over and casually adjusted the collar of his jersey before brushing a wrinkle off his shoulder.

Then she smiled.

"We’re coming too."

Lucas paused halfway through fastening his seatbelt.

"Huh?"

"The tournament."

"We’re going."

Daisy grinned.

"Someone has to cheer for our superstar."

"And don’t even think about embarrassing yourself after all that training."

Even Debbie smiled softly.

"We’ll be there."

Lucas couldn’t help smiling.

"Then I’ll see you guys there."

He stuffed the sandwich into his mouth, started the engine, and the Bugatti immediately came alive with a deep growl that echoed throughout the garage.

A second later...

The garage door rolled open.

The Bugatti shot forward, blasted through the front gate, and disappeared onto the road.

Lucas only had one thought running through his mind.

Please...

Don’t let the game start before I get there.

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