Kanagawa Prefecture – Ryonan High School
The school day had just ended, and the campus buzzed with laughter and chatter. Two girls stood near the school gates, adjusting their bags and preparing to head home, when something—or rather, someone—caught their eye.
"Hey, look over there," one of them whispered, nudging her friend. "That guy's hair… it's yellow!"
The other turned her head slightly and blinked in surprise. "Yeah, and he's… kinda handsome, isn't he?"
The first girl giggled nervously. "Wait—he's walking this way!"
The two girls quickly averted their gaze, pretending to be immersed in a casual conversation, though their glances kept flickering toward the tall, striking boy with yellow hair as he approached.
Without hesitation, the boy stopped right in front of them.
"Excuse me," he said with a friendly smile, "can you tell me how to get to the basketball team?"
For a moment, neither of the girls answered. They were too stunned by his confident presence and attractive features, their hearts fluttering from nerves. He looked at them expectantly, still smiling.
Realizing they had left him hanging, one of the girls finally pointed down the path. "Um, just go all the way to the end and turn left," she said, blushing.
"Thanks!" the boy replied, giving a slight nod before turning to walk away.
But after a few steps, he paused, turned back, and flashed them a charming grin.
"By the way, I'm Kenichi Uesugi," he said. "I'm joining the basketball team. I hope you'll come cheer for me in the next game."
The girls watched him disappear down the path, still slightly dazed.
"Kenichi Uesugi?" one murmured. "Have you ever heard of him being on the team?"
"Nope. I only know about Sendoh—he's the star, and so good-looking!"
"Well, are we going to go cheer for this guy?"
"Of course! He's even cuter than Sendoh!"
······
Kenichi followed the directions and made his way toward the basketball hall, noticing curious glances from students along the way. He knew why: the yellow hair. It made him stand out like a beacon.
But there was nothing he could do about it. This wasn't his original body, after all.
Kenichi Uesugi had crossed over—transported into another world. When he first arrived, everything was unfamiliar. But once he realized where he was, a wave of nostalgia and disbelief washed over him.
This was the world of Slam Dunk.
His favorite anime from childhood, one he had watched countless times, suddenly became his new reality. The courts, the players, the rivalries—everything was real now.
Before he could process it all, a cold, synthetic voice echoed in his mind:
[Ding!][Crossover complete. Initiating system scan…][Template system selected: Kise Ryōta.]
Kise Ryōta?
The blonde prodigy from Kuroko no Basket? The one who could replicate any move he saw—and even reach the elusive Zone?
Kenichi's mind raced as a panel of stats appeared before him:
[Template: Kise Ryōta][Experience: 0%]0% unlocks basic imitation.50% unlocks advanced skill: Perfect Copy.99% offers a chance to unlock the ultimate ability: ZONE.
[Experience gain method: On-court data.]The better the performance, the faster the growth.
[Primary Talent: Basic Imitation – unlocked.Can replicate all basketball moves witnessed, including those seen by Kise himself.]
[Advanced Talent: Perfect Copy – locked.]
[Ultimate Talent: ZONE – locked.]
[Ultimate Mission: Win the national championship to unlock Stage 2 and enter a new world.]
The information flooded his brain. Kenichi took a deep breath, trying to take it all in.
He had the potential to replicate the moves of Kise Ryōta—even some that he hadn't witnessed himself, but which Kise had. That meant he could eventually mimic techniques from all the great players of the Kuroko no Basket universe.
If he could reach 50% experience, he'd unlock Perfect Copy—giving him the combined abilities of the Generation of Miracles. Just imagining it made his blood rush with excitement.
But for now, he had a more immediate goal: join Ryonan's basketball team and start gaining experience.
Since he had appeared at Ryonan High School, it only made sense to join their team. It was nearby, and more importantly, he wouldn't have to run around unfamiliar territory.
In that, he shared the same reasoning as another famous player—Kaede Rukawa.
Today was the recruitment day for the basketball club. Kenichi had no idea where the basketball hall was, which explained his earlier encounter with the girls.
As he neared the end of the hallway, the distinct sound of bouncing balls echoed through the corridor. He turned the corner and stepped into the gym.
Inside, players were practicing intensely. The rhythmic sound of dribbling, sneakers squeaking on polished wood, and focused voices filled the space.
Then he saw him—wearing the white No. 7 jersey, commanding the court with confident strides.
Sendoh Akira. The ace of Ryonan High.
Kenichi watched from the sidelines, eyes narrowed, adrenaline stirring.
"You're the ace for now," he thought with a smirk.
"But soon... I'll be the one standing at the top."