Sunday Morning – Tenkuu Gakuin Basketball Court
The warm rays of the early morning sun shone over the empty school grounds. The sound of birds echoed softly as Kagawa Ryota parked car near the gym. He stepped out wearing a light hoodie and shorts, holding his basketball bag over his shoulder. His movements were calm, confident, and full of quiet energy. The moment his shoes touched the gym floor, he felt alive again.
He took a deep breath and entered the court. The familiar smell of varnished wood and rubber filled the air. He looked around and saw someone waving from the far end.
Reiji: Hey, Ryota! Welcome, bro!
Ryota smiled faintly, walking toward him while tossing his ball lightly up and down. But as he got closer, he noticed two other familiar faces near Reiji.
Yoshito: Yo, Ryota! You finally made it to the team, huh?
Jung: Hey Ryota..
Ryota: Heh, thanks. Didn't expect to see you two here this early.
The three of them exchanged laughs and light jabs. The atmosphere felt natural and exciting, filled with energy. But before Ryota could ask what was next, a deep voice echoed from the gym doors.
???: Hey, welcome, guys.
Everyone turned around. A very tall, muscular man walked into the gym. His dark skin glowed slightly under the sunlight cutting through the windows. He wore black sunglasses, a white hoodie, and grey sweatpants. His presence alone made everyone stop and stare. His walk was slow and confident, like someone who had already seen every kind of court there was.
Yoshito: Uhh... who's that guy?
Jung: Yeah, wait... is he one of us?
Reiji: Oh, right! Let me introduce you guys. This is our new coach, Mr. Oliver Aien. But you can just call him Mr.Oli.
Oli: Sup, guys, just call me Oli.
His voice was deep but calm, with a slight foreign accent. He pushed his sunglasses up and grinned. He looked like someone who had stories written all over his face, but his cool expression made it hard to read them.
Jung: Wait, wait... hold on. Coach? This guy's our coach now?
Reiji: Yeah. I told you before, right? Mr. Oli's an old pro basketball player. Played in the Euro League for years.
Everyone's jaws dropped. Even Yoshito stopped spinning the ball in his hands.
Yoshito: No way... You're saying this guy is basically an NBA-level player?!
Ryota (Thinking): A pro...? No wonder he looks different. His aura's insane.
He quietly opened his system window through his mind link with Rui. The familiar transparent blue interface appeared before his eyes.
[STATUS INSPECTION: OLIVER AIEN]
Stamina – Level 88
Flexibility – Level 88
Strength – Level 88
Speed – Level 88
IQ – Level 88
Shooting – Level 88
Ancestral Level: NULL
Ryota (shocked): WHAT?!
Everyone turned to him immediately. Ryota froze, realizing what he'd just shouted.
Reiji: Hey, Ryota, you good?
Ryota blinked rapidly, forcing a smile.
Ryota: Ah! Uh... yeah, yeah! Just... surprised. That's all.
Coach Oli smirked, looking straight at him. It felt like his eyes could pierce through the glasses.
Oli: You're Ryota, right? The one everyone's been talking about. I heard you went from one of the weakest to one of the most promising players in just a few weeks. Impressive.
Ryota stood there, speechless. He didn't know whether to thank him or run away. His palms started sweating. This man wasn't just strong, he was something else entirely.
Ryota: Y-Yeah, that's me. I just... practice a lot.
Oli: That's good. Keep that mindset. Talent is nice, but hard work builds legends.
Oli extends his hand for a handshake, and compared to Ryota's, his hand is two or even three times larger, After that, they shaked hands.
Jung: Alright, we got a coach now, but... there's only four of us. We can't even run a proper scrimmage yet. We need one more player, at least.
Reiji: Don't worry. You'll see soon.
They all exchanged confused looks, but decided to trust their captain. Minutes passed. The team stretched, warmed up, and tossed the ball around. Ryota's movements were light, his new agility noticeable with every dribble and shot. Oli watched closely, nodding occasionally with a half-smile.
After about twenty minutes, the sound of footsteps echoed from the entrance.
???: Sorry I'm late.
Everyone turned their heads. Ryota's eyes widened immediately. Standing by the door was a tall guy with messy green and pink hair, yellow eyes that gleamed like a predator's, and a calm, cold expression.
Ryota (shouting): HEY! Aren't you the guy from the gym?!
The new guy raised an eyebrow and waved slightly.
Shi: Hey, Ryota... long time no see.
Yoshito: Wait, you two know each other?
Ryota: Yeah, I met him at the gym once. He was insanely fast. Almost made me fall just watching him move.
Shi: My name's Zhu Shi. I'm from China. Guess we'll be teammates now.
Reiji: Perfect timing, Shi. Now our team's complete.
He walked to the center of the court and clapped his hands, smiling proudly as everyone gathered around.
Reiji: Alright guys, from now on, this is the Tenkuu Gakuin Basketball Team. Let's do our best.
Everyone stood in a loose circle. Oli leaned on the wall nearby, still observing quietly behind his shades. His presence alone made the air feel heavier, but in a good way—it demanded focus and respect.
Reiji: So here we go.
Tenkuu Gakuin Basketball Team Roster:
Coach – Oliver Aien
PG – Kagawa Ryota
SG / PG – Zhu Shi
SF – Chu Jung
Captain PF / SF – Yoneda Reiji
C / PF – Miyata Yoshito
Ryota looked around the group. For the first time, he felt it—something deep, something burning inside him. A real team. Each person had their own energy, their own power.
Ryota (Thinking): Reiji's leadership and timing. Jung's steals and movement. Yoshito's defense and rebounds. Shi's speed and accuracy. And now Coach Oli's experience and strategy. This... this is something else.
He smiled. The thought of what they could become made his heart race.
Oli: Alright, boys. Let's start light today. I want to see how you move, how you think, and how you play together. No pressure. Just play.
Yoshito: You sure? Heh, this might get intense real fast.
Oli: That's fine. I like intensity.
Everyone laughed lightly, but inside, Ryota could feel the tension. He tightened his grip on the ball, hearing the faint hum of energy from Rui's system connection.
Rui (in his mind): This team... might be your biggest step forward, Ryota.
Ryota (Thinking): Yeah. I'll give it everything. No more watching from the sidelines.
As the ball hit the court and bounced up into his hands, Ryota took his position, eyes locked on Reiji. The morning light reflected off the floor, glowing around them like a spotlight.
Oli: Let's see what you've got, Tenkuu Gakuin.
Ryota grinned, his heart pounding, his eyes alive with fire.
Ryota (Thinking): This is it. The real beginning.
He dribbled once, twice, then crossed over. The sound of sneakers, the echoes of shouts, the thrill of motion—it all returned again. The court wasn't just wood and paint anymore.
It was destiny waiting to be rewritten.
Monday Afternoon – Tenkuu Gakuin Gymnasium
The sound of basketballs echoed inside the large gym. Every dribble, every squeak of a shoe on the polished wooden floor blended into a rhythm of focus and sweat. The team gathered around Coach Oliver, who stood in the center with his whistle hanging from his neck.
Oli: Alright, everyone. No duels for now, we are here to create chemistry and closeness and not rivals. We'll focus on fundamentals today. Shooting form, passing control, and dribble variation. Let's go through each pattern slowly and build from there.
The players nodded and formed a line. One by one, they started the dribbling drills that Oli demonstrated. His movements were sharp and fluid, his control absolute. The ball danced between his hands like it was part of him.
When Ryota's turn came, he tried to copy every move. The ball bounced from side to side, but his hands lagged behind. When he tried the crossover behind his back, the ball rolled away.
Ryota (Thinking): Tch... these are still locked in my system. It's hard to move the way Coach does. My body can't catch up.
He picked up the ball again and tried to focus, sweat dripping from his chin. His breathing was steady but filled with frustration. He glanced around, seeing his teammates manage to follow the drills more fluidly.
Oli: Good, good. Keep the rhythm. Ryota, try to stay loose. Don't overthink your hands. Let your instincts guide you.
Ryota: Don't worry, Coach. I'll practice hard and master it soon.
Oli: That's what I want to hear. And one more thing, Everyone gather here!
Everyone stopped and turned their attention to him. Oli's tone shifted into something more serious.
Oli: The school basketball scrimmage is coming up soon. I've brought in a few players from outside the school so you can play a friendly match with them. We've got about two to three weeks to prepare."
The team fell silent. They glanced at each other, a mix of excitement and anxiety in their eyes. Two to three weeks wasn't a lot of time.
Ryota (thinking): Two to three weeks, huh... That's more than enough time for me to level up.
Training continued until the sun dipped low. The air inside the gym felt heavy but charged. Sweat rolled down faces, shirts clung to backs, and no one complained. They all wanted to improve. They all wanted to win.
When Ryota finished a set of jump shots, a familiar chime echoed in his head.
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
+1 Ancestral Level Acquired
Current Level: 13
Select Four Attributes to Enhance
But he ignored it. He didn't even open the menu. Instead, he picked up the ball again and continued shooting. Over and over. He pushed his body to the limit. Push-ups between drills. Sit-ups during breaks. No time wasted.
Day turned into night, and day turned again. The pattern repeated endlessly, day by day and night by night, he balanced his studies and training for the few days.
Thursday Morning – Kagawa Residence
The alarm rang as usual. Ryota woke up and rubbed his eyes, feeling strangely lighter. He got up, stretched, and realized something was different. His muscles didn't ache as much. His movements were sharper and smoother.
He stood in front of the mirror and stared at his reflection. The thin, pale boy he used to be was gone. His body now looked lean, well-balanced, and healthy. His skin had cleared up, no more pimples. The dark circles under his eyes had faded. His hair even looked better.
Ryota (smiling): I'm stronger now.
He wiped sweat from his neck and brought up the system menu.
[UPDATED STATS]
Stamina – Level 20
Flexibility – Level 20
Strength – Level 18
Speed – Level 20
IQ – Level 18
Shooting – Level 22
Ancestral Level: 26
He unlocked these new skills for the past few days of training.
In and Out Dribble.
Fadeaway.
Behind-the-Back Pass.
Rui (System): Congratulations, Ryota. You've leveled up faster than expected. Your training efficiency has increased drastically.
Ryota: Heh. Guess all those sleepless nights paid off.
He closed the system window and looked at himself again in the mirror, flexing his arm slightly. His confidence was higher than ever.
Monday Morning – Tenkuu Gakuin
The sound of a car engine hummed as Ryota parked near the school entrance. The morning sun reflected off the polished black hood of his car. He stepped out, wearing his usual school uniform, but something about his presence was different. His posture, his expression, even his walk radiated quiet confidence.
As he walked down the hall, the students turned their heads. Whispers followed him from every direction.
Student A: Wait, is that Kagawa Ryota?
Student B: No way. He looks completely different.
Student C: He used to look like a zombie... now he's kinda good-looking.
Ryota pretended not to hear them, walking with calm steps. His eyes stayed focused forward until he spotted a familiar face waving from the end of the corridor.
Reiji: Yo, Ryota! Finally! You've been missing in action since practice started.
Ryota: Haha, just been busy training. Needed to catch up.
Yoshito: You look different, man. Did you go through some transformation arc or something?
Jung: Hmph. Not bad. Maybe now you can actually keep up.
Ryota: We'll see about that.
They laughed together before heading to their classrooms. The mood felt light but determined. The team was slowly becoming a real unit.
Afternoon Practice – Tenkuu Gym
The entire team was already gathered when Ryota arrived. Everyone was shooting, stretching, or working on their own routines. Oli blew his whistle, calling them to line up for scrimmage drills.
After warm-ups, Ryota decided to activate his Inspect ability.
[STATS – REIJI]
Stamina – Level 38
Flexibility – Level 30
Strength – Level 46
Speed – Level 53
IQ – Level 34
Shooting – Level 42
Ancestral Level: Null
[STATS – CHU JUNG]
Stamina – Level 36
Flexibility – Level 32
Strength – Level 39
Speed – Level 51
IQ – Level 32
Shooting – Level 53
Ancestral Level: Null
[STATS – YOSHITO]
Stamina – Level 35
Flexibility – Level 29
Strength – Level 61
Speed – Level 42
IQ – Level 33
Shooting – Level 30
Ancestral Level: Null
[STATS – SHI]
Stamina – Level 42
Flexibility – Level 29
Strength – Level 32
Speed – Level 64
IQ – Level 34
Shooting – Level 47
Ancestral Level: Null
Ryota nodded. Everyone was improving steadily. Their progress was visible not just in numbers but in how they moved and communicated.
Out of curiosity, he turned his Inspect ability toward his coach.
[STATS – OLIVER AIEN]
Stamina – Level 89
Flexibility – Level 89
Strength – Level 89
Speed – Level 89
IQ – Level 89
Shooting – Level 89
Ancestral Level: Null
Ryota (Thinking): Holy... Coach is insane. Even his stats are balanced. He must still be training on his own. No wonder he's so sharp.
He smirked slightly.
Ryota (Thinking): It's good that I can inspect everyone now. Our chemistry must've improved. Before, I couldn't even check Shi's stats because I didn't trust him enough. Guess that's changed too.
Reiji: Hey! Stop spacing out, Ryota. Coach's watching.
Ryota: Oh, right. Let's go.
They continued the drills for hours, passing, shooting, and learning new offensive plays. The air was full of energy and competitiveness.
Later That Evening
As practice ended, Oli called everyone together.
Oli: Alright team, listen up. The scrimmage is coming up soon, so don't underestimate the players I've brought in. They are not your average opponents. They are good. We have about a week left, so keep training hard. We will take the last three days before the match to rest. Understood?
Team (in unison): Yes, Coach!
The team's voices echoed through the gym. Their motivation was high, and the bond between them was stronger than ever. Even Jung, who used to be quiet and cold, had started to open up. Yoshito was more focused and less lazy. Shi no longer looked suspicious or distant. Something about training together every day had pulled them closer.
Everyone chuckled, the tension easing. They grabbed their things and prepared to leave the gym.
Reiji: You've changed a lot, man. Not just physically, but your energy. It's like you're a completely different person. You didn't just improve a little. You improved a lot.
Ryota (smiling): Thanks. Let's keep this up. We'll make the team proud... and maybe even my father.
Reiji raised a can of energy drink.
Reiji: Then let's make it official. To the team.
Ryota: To the team.
Their cans clinked together with a satisfying sound. For a brief second, everything felt right — the sweat, the training, the exhaustion. It was all leading somewhere.
The team walked out of the gym under the evening sky, their silhouettes fading under the orange glow.
To be continued...