LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 2: Starting Strong, Full-Court Shooting Skill!
Shohoku High School, Basketball Gym.
The gym stood in a corner on the southern side of the campus.
Inside, the basketball team members were already busy training.
As Ryu stepped into the gym, his handsome face and upright posture immediately caught the attention of several female students nearby.
"Wow! Look at him! He's so handsome. Is he on the basketball team too?"
"I've never seen such a good-looking guy around here before."
"Do you think he's as skilled as Rukawa Kaede?"
In no time, many of the girls who saw Ryu became instant fans. Truly, appearances were everything.
Hearing their chatter, Ryu gave a polite nod and smile in response.
"He smiled at me!"
"So cute!"
The girls who had been discussing his looks were now blushing, hands on their cheeks, swaying side to side as if they might melt on the spot.
Ryu was slightly surprised but thought, Seems like I can enjoy some benefits from my appearance in this life.
He turned his attention to the basketball court.
At the moment, everyone was focused on their training, unaware of his arrival.
"Does this count as completing the task?" he wondered.
He quickly scanned the players—most of the basketball team members were present.
Just then…
Ding!
Task completed.
Reward: Beginner's Gift Pack.
Would you like to open it?
The system's voice echoed in his mind.
Ryu nodded to himself. So the first task was really simple.
Before his transmigration, he had played many games, and beginner tasks were always easy.
A slight smile appeared on his lips.
"A beginner's gift pack, huh? Looks like my path to greatness is starting now," he thought, his heart racing with excitement.
In his previous life, Ryu had always dreamed of playing basketball. But his strict parents had constantly said, "Focus on your studies. Playing basketball won't get you anywhere."
It had frustrated him deeply.
But now, in this new world of Slam Dunk and with a cheat-like system, how could he not aim high?
"Open!" he said eagerly.
Ding!
Congratulations, Host!
Rewards: Beginner Dribbling Skill and Shintaro Midorima's Full-Court Shooting Skill.
Ryu raised an eyebrow as he read the rewards.
The beginner dribbling skill seemed minor, but the second reward was the real prize. He couldn't help but gasp.
"Damn, this is amazing!"
Memories of Shintaro Midorima from Kuroko no Basket flooded his mind. Midorima's full-court shots, with their impossibly high arcs and a 100% accuracy rate as long as his shooting form wasn't disrupted, were legendary. The only drawback was the increasing preparation time for longer shots.
But even that didn't diminish the skill's value.
As Ryu marveled at his new abilities, a glowing screen appeared before his eyes, visible only to him.
It displayed his personal stats:
Host: Ryuhiko Yan
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 68 kg
Stamina: D
Speed: D+
Strength: C
Jumping Ability: B-
Skill: Full-Court Shooting
(Note: D = 60–69 (Passable), C = 70–79 (Average), B = 80–89 (Excellent), A = 90–99 (Perfect))
"What? This weak?"
Ryu was dumbfounded. His stamina was only a D, barely passable, and his other stats weren't much better. Only his jumping ability was decent. It was a blow to his pride.
As he felt a tinge of disappointment, another screen appeared detailing his skill attributes.
Beginner Dribbling Skill - Makes dribbling smoother and reduces stamina usage to 70% of normal.
Full-Court Shooting Skill - Allows shooting from any position on the court with 100% accuracy. Stamina consumption increases with distance.
Ryu carefully reviewed the attributes and nodded in satisfaction.
The beginner dribbling skill might not seem flashy, but the reduced stamina usage was a big help given his low stamina.
As for the full-court shooting skill, the stamina cost seemed minor. After all, an international basketball game lasted only 40 minutes. It wouldn't drain him too much.
He made up his mind to quickly train and improve all his stats. Imagine reaching all A's—it would be incredible.
Feeling a surge of excitement, Ryu began daydreaming about the glory ahead.
"Ryu-kun, why are you here at the gym?"
The cheerful voice of Ayako snapped him back to reality. She had noticed him sitting on the sidelines and walked over.
"Oh? Ayako-san?"
Ryu looked at her, surprised. Her slightly tanned skin and wavy hairstyle matched perfectly with her image from the original series.
"Ah, Ayako-senpai, the school doctor said I'm fine now," he replied, waving politely.
Ayako gave him a quick once-over. Besides his good looks, nothing stood out, but he seemed polite and approachable.
She patted his shoulder and laughed.
"Good to hear! Since you're here, why don't you meet the team?"
After all, a basketball team member who didn't know his teammates wasn't acceptable.
Ryu shook his head slightly, amused by Ayako's straightforwardness.
She's just like in the original.
He smiled and replied, "Sure! I've been looking forward to meeting everyone!"