Shohoku Prefectural High School
Basketball Club, Restroom
[Ding: Initiating binding of the Basketball Training System.]
[Ding: Binding successful. Activating System.]
[Ding: Commencing retrieval of host information.]
A series of mechanical voices echoed in Kazuto's mind.
[Character Information: Kiriyama Kazuto]
Height: 177 cm
Weight: 63 kg
Strength: 61
Speed: 69
Stamina: 59
Vertical Jump: 68
Note: Attribute Standards are 60 (Passing), 70 (Excellent), 80 (Genius), and 90 (Professional Level).
A transparent holographic screen materialized in Kazuto's consciousness.
'Basketball Training System? What's going on here?' he thought.
'These initial stats are terrible! I even have one below passing.'
Kazuto slowly opened his eyes and found a beautiful young woman standing before him.
She wore a baseball cap, her eyes sparkling with vitality
She had an elegantly arched nose, cherry-red lips, and wavy, permed hair tied into a high ponytail that added to her playful charm.
[Ding: Commencing retrieval of character information...]
As Kazuto studied the girl, a new notification sounded in his mind.
[Character Information: Ayako]
Occupation: Manager of the Shohoku Basketball Team
Measurements: XX, XXX, XXX
'The Shohoku Basketball Team? Have I transmigrated into the world of Slam Dunk?'
Upon learning the girl's identity, Kazuto was momentarily stunned before quickly grasping his situation.
At that moment, a flood of memories surged into his mind, rapidly merging with his own.
Through these fused memories, Kazuto gained a clear understanding of his new identity.
Two months prior, his father had moved the family to Japan to facilitate his business ventures.
Because of its proximity to their new home, Kazuto had been enrolled at Shohoku Prefectural High School.
Hoping to integrate quickly, he had joined the Shohoku Basketball Team on his first day.
However, having lacked physical training since childhood, his poor constitution caused him to collapse from heatstroke during earlier practice.
Having reviewed the memories, Kazuto fully accepted his new identity.
Seeing Kazuto awaken, Ayako, who had been watching over him, smiled warmly.
"You're awake! Are you feeling better?"
"Thank you for your concern, Senpai. I'm much better now," Kazuto replied politely, offering a nod.
Just then, the door to the restroom opened, and a refined-looking young man with glasses walked in.
Kazuto recognized him instantly.
It was Kiminobu Kogure, nicknamed "Four-Eyes," Shohoku's famously dependable bench player.
[Character Information: Kiminobu Kogure]
Height: 178 cm
Weight: 62 kg
Strength: 62
Speed: 66
Stamina: 67
Vertical Leap: 63
Looking at Kogure's stats, Kazuto finally understood why he was a permanent benchwarmer.
Even after playing basketball for three years, Kogure hadn't achieved a single attribute above the average threshold.
His stats were simply too mediocre.
"Ayako, Akagi asked me to check on Kazuto. Is he feeling any better?" Kogure inquired immediately upon entering.
Before Ayako could answer, Kazuto flashed him a faint smile. "Thank you for checking on me, Senpai. I'm fine now."
"That's good to hear!" Kogure nodded with a warm smile. "I used to be physically weak just like you. I joined the Basketball Club primarily to improve my fitness."
As Kogure spoke, Kazuto's mind conjured up the classic scene from Slam Dunk where Kogure first joined the club.
Amidst his reverie, two new system notifications chimed.
[Ding: System activation complete. Growth tasks initiated.]
[Ding: Main Quest 'Dribbling' - Phase 1 activated. Within ten minutes, complete 100 dribbles to unlock the achievement 'Newbie's First Steps' and receive one lottery ticket as a reward.]
'Ten minutes? That's tight. I need to get to the court immediately.'
Hearing the prompt, Kazuto didn't hesitate.
He stood up and headed straight for the door.
"Senpais, I'm fully recovered. Let's head back to the court. We shouldn't keep everyone waiting."
Seeing his sudden burst of energy, Ayako and Kogure's expressions changed.
They hurried after him, faces filled with concern.
Catching up to his side, Ayako's gaze softened. "Kazuto, training isn't something you can rush. It's better to rest until you've fully recovered."
Kogure nodded in agreement. "Ayako's right. Don't push yourself too hard."
"I promise, I'm really fine," Kazuto said with a dismissive smile, striding forward.
He was eager to get back—not just to complete his quest, but because his body genuinely felt completely refreshed.
Moreover, he had long been captivated by the Shohoku High School basketball gym, and he couldn't wait to see it in person!
...
Shohoku High School Basketball Gym
"Yohei, look! The exchange student is back."
Kazuto had just entered the gym when Takamiya Nozomi spotted him.
Hearing Takamiya's words, Yohei Mito, Ookusu, and the rest of the gang turned to look.
"That guy's physique is just too weak. He really doesn't seem suited for basketball," someone muttered.
"Compared to a freak like Sakuragi, the gap is enormous, of course."
"Even though his physique is lacking, he's incredibly patient. Kind of like Four-Eyes."
As Kazuto approached, Yohei Mito and the others exchanged quiet observations.
Soon, Sakuragi Hanamichi, who was begrudgingly practicing basic dribbling off to the side, also noticed his return.
"Hey, exchange student, you okay?" Sakuragi asked.
He swaggered up to Kazuto, head held high, his face beaming with pride.
"Even though your physique can't compare to a genius like me, don't get discouraged! If you keep practicing, beating a guy like Rukawa should be no problem at all."
Kazuto shook his head with an amused smile.
'This guy really has a one-sided grudge against Rukawa,' he thought.
"Thank you for your concern, Sakuragi-kun. I'm fine now," Kazuto replied politely.
As they spoke, Kazuto silently pulled up Sakuragi's attributes:
[Character Information: Sakuragi Hanamichi]
Height: 188 cm
Weight: 83 kg
Strength: 83
Speed: 88
Stamina: 89
Vertical Jump: 92
Even though Kazuto was mentally prepared, he was still slightly taken aback.
Putting aside his total lack of basketball fundamentals, Sakuragi's physical specs were already bordering on professional levels.
Boom!
Just as Kazuto dismissed the screen, the thunderous sound of a slam dunk echoed across the gym.
A cool, aloof youth with choppy black hair had just viciously slammed the ball through the hoop.
Needless to say, the dunker was none other than Rukawa Kaede, the undisputed king of popularity in Slam Dunk.
Without hesitation, Kazuto checked his stats next.
[Character Information: Rukawa Kaede]
Height: 187 cm
Weight: 75 kg
Strength: 81
Speed: 85
Stamina: 72
Vertical Jump: 84
While Rukawa's attributes weren't quite as monstrous as Sakuragi's, the difference wasn't massive.
His only glaring weakness was his stamina, which definitely needed improvement.
"You guys! Stop daydreaming and get back to practice!"
A roar like a lion's bellow shattered Kazuto's focus.
He didn't even need to look to know who it was; the sheer force of the voice gave it away.
Turning his head, Kazuto saw a towering figure with a stern expression striding toward them.
It was Takenori Akagi, the captain of Shohoku and the foundational pillar of the team.
[Character Information: Takenori Akagi]
Height: 197 cm
Weight: 93 kg
Strength: 86
Speed: 78
Stamina: 82
Vertical Jump: 75
As Akagi approached, Kazuto instinctively checked his stats.
Standing before Kazuto, Akagi sized him up. "How's your condition? Are you alright? If you're not feeling well, I'll excuse you from today's training."
"I'm fine now," Kazuto replied, shaking his head.
After a brief pause, he added, "But the full-court stamina drills might still be a bit tough. Sakuragi and I will work on some basic conditioning and dribbling drills on the sidelines."
Akagi nodded approvingly.
He admired perseverance above all else, and Kazuto's proactive attitude was exactly what he wanted to see.
"Just be careful not to push yourself too hard if your stamina starts to lag," Akagi cautioned, before turning away to resume leading the rest of the team in practice.
"Go for it!" Kogure patted Kazuto on the shoulder with an encouraging smile before jogging after Akagi.
Once the two had left, Ayako smiled warmly. "Alright, junior. Let's get started."
"Right!" Kazuto nodded, picking up a basketball and immediately beginning his dribbling drills.
Seeing his focused, fluid movements, Ayako's eyes lit up with quiet admiration.
Whack!
Noticing Sakuragi still daydreaming, Ayako swung her clipboard, smacking him hard on the back of the head.
"Get to training already!"
"Ayako, I'm a genius! I don't need to train like ordinary people," Sakuragi grumbled, rubbing his head as he reluctantly shuffled back toward Kazuto.
Ayako glared at him. "You'd better focus. If Kazuto becomes a regular player before you do, you'll be stuck doing basic drills forever!"
Her words stung Sakuragi's pride deeply.
He shot a highly competitive, wary glare at Kazuto, terrified by the humiliating thought of being surpassed by him.
Kazuto paid no attention to their banter, his mind completely absorbed in counting the rhythmic bounces of the ball.
'96... 97... 98... 99... 100.'
[Ding! Main Quest 'Dribbling - Phase 1' completed. Achievement 'Newbie's First Steps' unlocked. Reward: One Lottery Ticket.]
[Ding! Main Quest 'Dribbling - Phase 2' activated. Accumulate 1,000 dribbles to unlock the achievement 'Practice Makes Perfect' and receive one Lottery Ticket as a reward.]
Two consecutive system notifications flashed across his vision.
Instead of immediately initiating the next phase, Kazuto checked his new buff.
[Newbie's First Steps (Passive Buff)] > Grants +10% Dribbling Speed, +10% Running Speed, and +10% Consistency.]
'A highly practical buff,' Kazuto mused.
Although each individual bonus was only 10%, their combined effect on the court was far greater than a simple 1+1+1=3 calculation.
Better yet, it was a permanent passive with no usage limits or cooldowns.
Most importantly, the effectiveness of this buff would scale with his improving basketball skills, making it increasingly potent as his base stats naturally increased.
'Now then... I wonder what surprises this lottery ticket holds.'
Eager to see his reward, Kazuto mentally opened his inventory and activated the lottery ticket.