Sun rose and set; time passed like water.
In the blink of an eye, two years had gone by.
Since that day, Akashi's life had returned to normal—or at least, outwardly.
But only he knew how much he had changed.
Though he acted kindly and behaved like any ordinary child, deep within him burned an unshakable, inexplicable urge.
It was his other personality—the cold, calculating Seijuro Akashi—pushing him quietly.
Had he not consciously restrained it, he feared he would have become that emotionless, commanding self, radiating danger without effort.
Of course, perhaps part of it was simply his age. He was still young.
Despite already possessing the extraordinary talents reminiscent of Seijuro Akashi, Akashi had not yet decided whether he would pursue basketball.
To be blunt, his life was one of luxury. Born into a prominent family, he lacked nothing. There was no pressing reason to chase basketball—yet.
For two years, he had lived in calm routine.
Yet to ordinary people, Akashi was nothing short of a god at school.
Whatever he did, he excelled. Top of every class, unmatched by his peers.
The girls' eyes sparkled whenever they saw him; boys envied him quietly.
Some even tried to challenge him—but Akashi barely noticed.
Now in fourth grade, the time had come to choose a club.
Neon Elementary offered a dazzling array of options: sports clubs, cultural clubs, and everything in between.
Akashi's gaze fell upon a familiar name.
Basketball Club.
"Akashi Seijuro."
Three boys suddenly appeared, surrounding him. Their expressions were full of mischief.
Akashi looked at them calmly. "Is there a problem?"
He recognized them immediately—the usual troublemakers. He had ignored their provocations before, considering them mere nuisances.
But that only fueled their resentment.
"Akashi Seijuro," the tallest boy said, voice laced with arrogance, "do you dare to compete with us once we join the club?"
Akashi yawned slightly. "Not interested."
The boy smirked. "Scared? If you are, you can be my little brother from now on."
Akashi sighed, rising to leave.
But the two boys flanking the tall boy blocked his path.
"Trying to run? You can go… but only if you apologize to our boss first."
"Yeah, just obey, and we'll let you leave."
Akashi remained unfazed. Annoying, yes—but inconsequential.
He turned slowly toward the tallest boy. "What exactly do you want to compete in?"
The boy's grin widened. "Basketball. I've already joined the club. You always come first, don't you? Think you can beat me?"
Akashi considered him for a moment, noting the boy's height advantage. "Fine. I'll compete. But if you lose, don't bother me again."
The tall boy's eyes lit up. "Then it's settled. Don't even think of running away. I'll be waiting at the gym after school."
With a wave, the three left, leaving Akashi utterly indifferent.
To him, they were nothing more than flies buzzing in the air—annoying, but irrelevant.
Time passed. Soon, the dismissal bell rang.
Akashi packed his bag and headed toward the basketball gym.
The sound of bouncing balls and squeaking sneakers reached him even before he entered.
Inside, students ran across the court, dribbling, passing, and shooting.
Among them were the three boys who had challenged him.
The tallest noticed Akashi immediately. "I thought you'd cry and run!" he sneered.
Akashi ignored him. Placing his bag on the bench, he said calmly, "I'm in a hurry. How do you want to compete? Let's start."
The boy's annoyance deepened. "Don't think you can win just because you're smart. Watch me defeat you!"
Akashi's calm voice cut through him. "1v1… or all three at once?"
The commotion drew the attention of the basketball club members.
"Who's that?"
"Isn't that Kino? I heard he's amazing at basketball!"
"The red-haired one… the top student. How did he provoke Kino?"
The tall boy's smugness only grew. To show his confidence, he tossed the ball to Akashi.
"Go first. Don't say I bullied you if you lose."
The instant Akashi touched the ball, a flood of memories and instincts surged through him.
It wasn't unfamiliar—it was long-lost familiarity.
Images of dribbles, passes, and steals flashed through his mind:
Ankle Breaker. Ultra-Range Defense. 100% Steal. Emperor Eye.
Each move felt as though it had always been part of him.
Akashi realized the truth: he now possessed Seijuro Akashi's talents.
Not a mere system, not a temporary skill—but an innate golden finger, a natural gift, awakened in this body.
The "system" analogy could wait. Right now, he had a challenge.
Snapping out of his thoughts, his eyes focused on the tall boy.
The boy, confident just moments ago, now felt an instinctive unease.
Akashi didn't speak. He simply began dribbling.
And with that first touch, the court itself seemed to acknowledge: something extraordinary had arrived.