11:47 PM - Sora's Apartment
Sora's eyes snapped open.
His body was drenched in sweat, his heart pounding like he'd just finished running a marathon. The ceiling of his small apartment swam into focus above him, illuminated by the pale moonlight filtering through the curtains.
What... what was that?
He'd been dreaming—or had he? The sensation was still there, lingering at the edges of his consciousness. A warmth spreading through his chest, like something had taken root deep inside him.
Sora sat up slowly, wincing as his abused muscles protested. His entire body ached from the 5-on-1 game. He glanced at the clock: 11:47 PM. He'd been asleep for hours.
His basketball shoes sat by his futon, still dirty from the day's battle. Just looking at them made him smile despite the pain.
I did it, Mom. I really did it.
He reached for his water bottle on the nightstand—
[SYNCHRONIZATION COMPLETE]
Sora froze.
The words had appeared in his vision. Not on a screen, not written anywhere, but floating in the air in front of him like a hologram made of golden light.
"What the—"
[Player's Road to Glory System Activated]
[Welcome, Host]
Sora scrambled backward, his back hitting the wall. The words followed him, staying centered in his vision no matter where he looked.
"This is a dream," he muttered. "I hit my head during the game. I'm hallucinating. That's the only explanation—"
[This is not a hallucination]
[The Basketball Legends System has selected you as its host]
[Analyzing host data...]
A strange sensation washed over Sora—not painful, but intensely weird, like someone was reading every cell in his body. Golden light surrounded him, pulsing in time with his heartbeat.
[Analysis Complete]
[Host Profile Generated]
A translucent screen materialized before him, displaying information in crisp, glowing text:
[Name: Kurumatani Sora]
[Age: 15]
[Height: 149 cm]
[Position: Point Guard]
[School: Kuzuryu High School (First Year)]
[Physical Attributes]
[Speed: 78]
[Stamina: 72]
[Strength: 45]
[Jumping: 68]
[Running: 80]
[Offensive Attributes]
[Close Shot: 65]
[Mid-Range Shot: 71]
[Three-Pointer: 83]
[Dunk: 12]
[Layup: 74]
[Dribbling: 76]
[Passing: 68]
[Defensive Attributes]
[Steal: 70]
[Block: 28]
[Rebound: 41]
[Interference: 58]
[General Attributes]
[Passing Control: 70]
[Court Vision: 72]
[Basketball IQ: 75]
[Clutch Performance: 80]
[Leadership: 58]
[Resistance to Interference: 65]
Sora stared at the numbers, his mind reeling. This was insane. This was impossible. But somehow, looking at those stats, he could feel the accuracy. His jumping really was better than his strength. His three-point shooting was his best offensive weapon. And that dunk rating...
"Twelve?" he muttered. "Seriously?"
[Your current physical capabilities limit your dunking ability]
[However, this can be improved through the system]
"The system," Sora repeated slowly. His heart was still racing, but curiosity was beginning to override fear. "What are you? What do you want from me?"
[The Basketball Legends System exists to help you achieve greatness]
[By completing quests and challenges, you will earn opportunities to acquire the skills, abilities, and attributes of legendary basketball players]
[Your first milestone has been achieved: Victory against overwhelming odds]
[Newbie Reward Package Available]
"Newbie reward?" Sora's hands were shaking now—not from fear, but from excitement. "You mean like... like a video game?"
[Affirmative]
[Would you like to claim your Newbie Reward Package?]
Sora hesitated. This was crazy. Systems that gave you supernatural basketball powers didn't exist. This had to be a dream, or a hallucination, or—
He looked at his shoes again. At the bruises on his arms. At the evidence of today's impossible victory.
"Screw it," he whispered. "Yes. I want to claim the reward."
[Excellent choice, Host]
[Newbie Reward Package Opening...]
The golden light intensified, swirling around him like a miniature tornado. Sora shielded his eyes as the brightness peaked—
[Congratulations!]
[You have received: Player Card Draw Ticket (Normal Tier) x1]
[You have received: Player Card Draw Ticket (Impact Tier or Above) x1]
[You have received: Skill Training Scroll (Basic) x3]
[You have received: Attribute Point Boost x10]
"Player card draw?" Sora's gamer instincts kicked in immediately. "So I can get... what, famous players' abilities?"
[Correct]
[The system contains players from the worlds of 'Slam Dunk' and 'Kuroko no Basket']
[Player Tiers are as follows:]
[- Normal: Role players, bench contributors]
[- Impact: Solid starters, key rotation players]
[- Star: Team aces, elite talents]
[- Legend: Generation of Miracles, Legendary players, Uncrowned Kings]
[Would you like to use your Player Card Draw Tickets now?]
Sora's hands trembled as he reached forward, his finger hovering over the glowing "YES" button that had appeared.
This was it. This was the moment that would change everything.
"Do it," he whispered. "Use the Impact Tier or Above ticket first."
[Initiating Player Card Draw...]
The room exploded with light. The golden glow formed into a massive wheel, segments spinning so fast they blurred together. Sora could see silhouettes—hundreds of them, thousands—each one representing a different player.
The wheel began to slow.
Sora held his breath.
Slower.
Slower.
Slower.
CLICK.
[Congratulations!]
[You have obtained: Impact Tier Player - Tatsuya Himuro]
[From: Yōsen High School (Kuroko no Basket)]
[Position: Shooting Guard]
[Specialty: Perfect Fakes, Mirage Shot]
A full-body hologram materialized in front of Sora. A young man with slick black hair, one side-swept fringe covering his left eye, and a mole under his right eye. His movements were elegant, almost dance-like, as he demonstrated a shooting motion.
[Player Profile: Tatsuya Himuro]
[Role: Yōsen's Ace, "Prodigy" Level Player]
[Known for: Perfect Fakes, Mirage Shot technique, polished orthodox style]
[Special Note: Trained by ex-WNBA player Alexandra Garcia. Skills comparable to Generation of Miracles level]
[Abilities Available:]
Skills:
Perfect Fakes (Signature Ability)
Mirage Shot (Ultimate Technique)
Slow Motion Shot
Pro-Level Agility
Orthodox Shooting Form Perfection
Consecutive Fakes Mastery
Attributes Available for Absorption:
Physical:
Speed: +5 Stamina: +8 Jumping: +7 Running: +5
Offensive:
Mid-Range Shot: +15 Three-Pointer: +8 Dribbling: +10 Passing: +8 Layup: +5
Defensive:
Steal: +8 Interference: +12
General:
Passing Control: +10 Court Vision: +8 Basketball IQ: +10 Resistance to Interference: +12
[Integrate abilities immediately?]
Sora stared at the interface, his mind racing. "Wait, I can use these right away?"
[Affirmative]
[Upon integration, you will instantly possess the knowledge and muscle memory]
[However, you must practice to use abilities creatively and avoid one-dimensional play]
[True mastery comes from making these techniques your own]
"I understand," Sora breathed. "Yes. Integrate everything."
[Beginning Integration of Tatsuya Himuro's Abilities...]
The sensation was overwhelming. Knowledge flooded into Sora's mind—not just theory, but feeling. Years of training under Alexandra Garcia compressed into moments. The subtle weight shifts of a perfect fake. The timing to make defenders bite. The elegant, polished technique that made every movement look like art.
But it wasn't just knowledge. Sora felt his body changing. His muscles felt denser, more responsive. His stamina reserves deepened. His vision sharpened, able to track movement with greater precision.
And then the Mirage Shot—the ultimate deception. The secret of throwing the ball twice, using perfect fakes to hide the second release in the shadow of the first. Sora could feel how to do it, his body understanding instinctively.
[Integration Complete: Tatsuya Himuro - 100%]
Sora gasped, his body tingling with newfound power. He looked at his hands and could sense it—the perfect form, the ability to fake so convincingly that even he would fool himself. But more than that, his entire body felt different. Lighter. Faster. More controlled.
"One more ticket," he whispered. "Use the Normal Tier ticket."
[Initiating Player Card Draw...]
The wheel spun again, this time with different silhouettes. When it stopped—
[Congratulations!]
[You have obtained: Impact Tier Player - Junpei Hyūga]
[From: Seirin High School (Kuroko no Basket)]
[Position: Shooting Guard]
[Specialty: Clutch Shooting, Three-Point Specialist]
A second hologram appeared. A young man with short dark brown hair and glasses, his shooting form perfect, confidence radiating from every pixel.
[Player Profile: Junpei Hyūga]
[Role: Team Captain, Clutch Shooter]
[Known for: "Barrier Jumper" technique, exceptional three-point accuracy, leadership under pressure]
[Special Note: Can perform at peak level during clutch moments]
[Abilities Available:]
Skills:
Barrier Jumper (Signature Move)
Clutch Time Mentality (Passive)
Quick Release Three-Pointer
"Earth" Shooting Form (Foul Baiting, Stable, reliable from any angle)
Balanced Shooting (Left-Right hand side equality)
Catch-and-Shoot Mastery
Off-Ball Movement
Leadership Presence
Attributes Available for Absorption:
Physical:
Stamina: +8 Strength: +5 Jumping: +4
Offensive:
Three-Pointer: +22 Mid-Range Shot: +7 Close Shot: +15 Layup: +8
Defensive:
Interference: +15 Steal: +10 Block: +5
General:
Court Vision: +5 Basketball IQ: +8 Clutch Performance: +22 Leadership: +12 Resistance to Interference: +8
[Integrate abilities immediately?]
"Yes!" Sora said without hesitation.
[Beginning Integration of Junpei Hyūga's Abilities...]
More knowledge flooded in. Hyūga's struggles, his growth, his evolution from a traumatized middle schooler to a clutch captain. The Barrier Jumper—that devastating step-back three-pointer that created space with impossible speed. The "Earth" shooting form—grounded, stable, reliable.
Sora felt another wave of physical enhancement wash over him. His legs felt stronger, capable of explosive movements. His core stabilized, giving him better balance. His endurance expanded further.
And most importantly—the correction Sora desperately needed. His right-hand dominance was being balanced out. He could feel his left side equalizing, his shooting form becoming perfectly ambidextrous.
[Integration Complete: Junpei Hyūga - 100%]
[Combined Skills Analysis...]
[Warning: You now possess two distinct shooting styles]
[Himuro's Elegant Orthodox Style + Hyūga's Clutch Shooting]
[Practice required to blend techniques and avoid predictable patterns]
Sora stood up, despite his exhausted body, and moved to the small open space in his apartment. He mimicked a shooting motion—and felt the difference immediately.
His form was perfect. Not just good—perfect. The balance between his hands, the arc, the release point. He could feel Hyūga's stability merged with Himuro's elegance.
He practiced a step-back motion—the Barrier Jumper. Even without a ball, his body knew exactly how to execute it. The quick jab step away, the explosive jump, the smooth release. His legs felt powerful, capable of generating force he'd never had before.
Then he tried Himuro's fake. His body flowed through the motion so naturally it felt like breathing. A shot fake that could fool anyone, followed by a drive or another fake—the possibilities were endless.
"This is incredible," Sora whispered. "But the system's right. I can't just use these one-dimensionally. I need to make them my own, combine them in ways even Himuro and Hyūga never thought of."
[Correct]
[Your unique height and physical attributes allow for creative applications]
[For example: Barrier Jumper + Perfect Fakes = Unpredictable step-back with deceptive timing]
[Or: Mirage Shot + Clutch Mentality = Ultimate pressure-moment technique]
[Player Profile Updated]
[Name: Kurumatani Sora]
[Age: 15]
[Height: 149 cm]
[Position: Point Guard/Shooting Guard]
[School: Kuzuryu High School (First Year)]
[Physical Attributes]
[Speed: 83]
[Stamina: 88]
[Strength: 50]
[Jumping: 79]
[Running: 90]
[Offensive Attributes]
[Close Shot: 80]
[Mid-Range Shot: 93]
[Three-Pointer: 113]
[Dunk: 12]
[Layup: 87]
[Dribbling: 86]
[Passing: 76]
[Defensive Attributes]
[Steal: 88]
[Block: 33]
[Rebound: 41]
[Interference: 85]
[General Attributes]
[Passing Control: 90]
[Court Vision: 85]
[Basketball IQ: 93]
[Clutch Performance: 102]
[Leadership: 82]
[Resistance to Interference: 85]
[Integrated Players:] - Tatsuya Himuro (100%) - Junpei Hyūga (100%) [Skills Mastered:] - Perfect Fakes - Mirage Shot - Barrier Jumper - Balanced Shooting - Quick Release - Clutch Time Mentality (Passive) - Earth Shooting Form - Orthodox Form Perfection
Sora stared at his updated stats, his hands shaking. His three-point shooting had jumped from 83 to 113. His Basketball IQ had soared to 93. His speed was now 83, his stamina 88. Even his physical attributes had increased dramatically.
He felt it too. His body was different—not just in knowledge, but in capability. He was faster, more agile, more durable. His court vision had expanded, allowing him to see plays develop before they happened.
"This is insane," he breathed. "I'm basically a different player now. A different person."
He looked at the clock: 11:58 PM.
"I need to test these new abilities," he decided, grabbing his shoes. "There's an outdoor court near the river that should still be open."
------
The outdoor court near the river was deserted at this hour, but the automatic lights were still on, casting harsh white light over the concrete. Sora had the place entirely to himself.
He laced up his shoes—his wings—and picked up one of the public-use basketballs from the rack.
The moment his fingers touched the leather, everything clicked.
His new knowledge wasn't theoretical. It was real. His body knew exactly what to do.
Sora started with a simple shot from the free-throw line.
The ball felt different in his hands. His grip was perfect—orthodox, stable, the "Earth" form that Hyūga had mastered. He released it smoothly.
SWISH.
He moved to the three-point line. Set his feet. Released.
SWISH.
Again. And again. Every shot felt effortless, natural, like he'd been shooting this way for years instead of minutes.
But more than that, Sora noticed his body responding differently. He moved between spots faster. His jumps felt more explosive. His stamina wasn't draining nearly as quickly as it should.
After twenty consecutive makes, Sora decided to test the advanced techniques.
"Barrier Jumper," he muttered.
He dribbled twice, then executed the move. A quick jab step backward—leaving his center of gravity forward in that impossible way—then an explosive jump and release.
The elevation was incredible. He hung in the air longer than he ever had before.
The ball arced high and true.
SWISH.
"Holy shit," Sora laughed. "It actually works! And I jumped so much higher than usual!"
He tried it again. And again. Each time, the technique felt more natural, more his. The system had given him the knowledge, but his unique height and build added new dimensions to it. His low center of gravity made the jab step even more deceptive. His improved jumping made it nearly unblockable.
Next: the Mirage Shot.
Sora dribbled to the elbow, set up like he was going for a normal jump shot. Then—
He released the ball upward at his peak. Caught it. Released again.
To anyone watching, it would look like one smooth motion. But in reality, there were two distinct releases, the first creating a shadow that hid the second.
The ball went in, but Sora frowned.
"That felt... clunky. I'm doing it mechanically, not naturally."
He tried again. This time, he added one of Himuro's subtle fakes before the shot—a slight shoulder movement that suggested a drive. Then the Mirage Shot.
Better. But still not perfect.
"The system's right," Sora said to himself. "I have the knowledge, but I need to practice to make it truly mine. To use these techniques creatively, not just copy them."
He spent the next two hours experimenting. Combining the Barrier Jumper with fakes. Adding a hesitation dribble before the Mirage Shot. Testing how his small size could make these moves even more effective.
His improved stamina meant he could practice longer without tiring. His enhanced speed let him move between positions faster. His increased court vision helped him imagine defenders and teammates more vividly.
By 2:30 AM, Sora had made well over five hundred shots, each one teaching him something new about his abilities.
His body was tired, but not exhausted like it would have been before. The stamina increase was real, tangible.
Finally, at 3:00 AM, Sora decided to call it a night. He made his way home, his arms burning pleasantly but his heart soaring.
Tomorrow, he would show everyone at Kuzuryu High what real basketball looked like.