Morning – Kagawa Residence, Tokyo, Japan
The sunlight slipped through the curtains, brushing against Ryota's face.
He slowly opened his eyes and stretched his arms, expecting the usual soreness from yesterday's intense training. But instead, he felt... light. His body didn't ache. His mind wasn't sluggish.
Ryota (Thinking): Huh? Why do I feel... not tired?
He sat up and clenched his fists. His muscles responded smoothly. There was no heaviness. He stood up and walked to the mirror, tilting his head as he examined his reflection.
His eyes widened. His body looked... different.
Still thin, yes, but his shoulders weren't as narrow anymore. His arms seemed slightly firmer, his chest a bit tighter. It wasn't dramatic, but the difference was there — subtle, yet real.
He flexed both arms, grinning.
Ryota: Rui... what the hell are you? This is so cool. Thank you for making me stronger!
Rui: That is nice to hear from you. Now, would you like to see more of the system? Since you are now comfortable, perhaps you want to see what else it can do.
Ryota: What—there's more?!
Rui: Precisely.
Ryota leaned closer to the mirror, eyes shining with curiosity.
Rui: After reaching Ancestral Level 10, you will unlock System Points — a function similar to a real-life shop. With these points, you can buy various items such as potions, energy drinks, equipment, and more.
Ryota: Wait, so it's like an in-game shop?
Rui: Exactly. However, there are rules. You can earn System Points only by winning official basketball matches. But you cannot cheat. If you attempt to manipulate a win, the system will penalize you.
Ryota: Penalty?
Rui: Your stamina will be drained for one full hour. You will experience complete exhaustion as punishment.
Ryota: Whoa, that's... harsh. But fair, I guess. So I have to win properly.
Rui: Indeed. Integrity is a core parameter of this system.
Ryota: Wait—equipment? What do you mean by that? Don't tell me I can buy swords or something!
Rui: No. Equipment here refers to basketball gear: shoes, training outfits, gloves, wristbands—anything that enhances your athletic performance. These items provide stat bonuses while you are wearing them.
Ryota: Ohh, okay! So they're like buffs!
Rui: Correct. Allow me to show you your Equipment and Booster Stats. Currently, since you have not purchased or used any items, they remain zero.
[Equipment & Booster Stats] (Different from Real Stats)Stamina – 0Flexibility – 0Strength – 0Speed – 0IQ – 0Shooting – 0
Ryota: So, if I drink, like, an energy drink from your shop that has +5 Stamina, that "0" becomes 5? Meaning my Stamina Level 4 will temporarily become Level 9?
Rui: Yes, that is correct. You are keeping up well, Ryota.
[CURRENT BASE STATS]Stamina – Level 4 + 5 from energy drink = Level 9Flexibility – Level 2Strength – Level 8Speed – Level 4IQ – Level 12Shooting – Level 2
Ancestral Level: 6
Rui: Furthermore, more features will unlock as you progress — such as the Relationship Tracker and the Knowledge Database. However, some remain inaccessible until certain conditions are met.
Ryota: Relationship tracker? Knowledge database? Damn, I'm getting excited. I feel so overpowered already... I could probably join the NBA right now!
He laughed, scratching the back of his head.
Ryota: ...But nah. I'm already 17. It is too late already.
Outside, the soft sound of rain began to fall.
Ryota (Thinking): It's raining... and we've got no school today. Perfect day to train.
Afternoon – Kagawa Residence
He dropped to the floor and started doing push-ups.
One... two... three...
His arms burned, but he didn't stop.
After several sets, he wiped the sweat from his face and moved on to pull-ups, then sit-ups, then squats. When he was done, he cleaned the house, did his homework, answered messages, then ate a heavy meal before starting another round of training.
The rain outside kept pouring, but Ryota didn't care. He was in the zone.
Hours passed. His body trembled with exhaustion, but his heart raced with satisfaction.
Then, a familiar chime echoed in his mind.
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
+1 Ancestral Level Acquired
Current Level: 7
Select Four Attributes to Enhance
Ryota (Thinking): hmmm which ones.. maybe these stamina and Flexibility 2 each!
[UPDATED STATS]Stamina – Level 6Flexibility – Level 4Strength – Level 8Speed – Level 4IQ – Level 12Shooting – Level 2Ancestral Level: 7
Ryota collapsed on the floor, breathing heavily but smiling wide.
Ryota (Thinking): Damn... I'm really improving. Slowly, but surely.
After resting for a bit, he stood up, took a long bath, and got dressed.
Evening – Central Mall, Tokyo
He grabbed his car keys and headed out. The sky was still gray from the rain, but the streets were calm.
He parked near the mall, humming lightly as he walked through the entrance. His eyes darted around the sports section — balls, jerseys, sneakers, everything he needed.
He picked up a basketball and bounced it a few times.
Ryota (Thinking): Not bad... good grip.
Then he saw a basketball ring on display.
A wide grin spread across his face.
Ryota: This is it. I'm definitely buying this.
He grabbed the ring, the ball, and a few other training items. Then he turned to the shoe section. Rows of colorful sneakers lined the shelves. He scanned through each pair until one caught his eye — clean, lightweight, perfect for quick footwork.
Ryota (Thinking): Yeah... these feel right.
He tried them on and nodded with satisfaction.
When he reached the counter, the total flashed: 120,000 yen.
Ryota: Not bad. Totally worth it.
Night – Kagawa Residence, Backyard
By the time he got home, the rain had stopped.
He unloaded everything, arranged the items neatly, and walked to the backyard — where an empty space waited.
He spent an hour assembling the new basketball ring.
When it was finally standing tall, he stepped back and admired it.
The faint evening light reflected on the new rim.
Ryota (Thinking): This... this is it. I love this.
He grabbed his ball, spun it in his hand, then took a deep breath.
He aimed, released — swish. The ball cut cleanly through the net.
A smile formed on his face as the echo of the shot faded through the quiet air.
Ryota (Thinking): This is just the beginning.
He dribbled again, feeling the rhythm, the weight, the pulse of his growing strength.
The system hummed faintly in his mind, waiting... observing.
Rui: Training efficiency: 87%. You are improving at an impressive rate, Ryota.
Ryota: Heh. Watch me go higher, Rui.
He took another shot. Another swish. Another smile.
To be continued...