1992, Japan Junior High School Basketball Championship – Finals!
Wako Junior High School, a long-standing powerhouse, faced off against the upstart contender, Fuqiu Junior High School!
"Oh!? Kaede Rukawa from Fuqiu has the ball again and charges forward! He's broken through three defenders on his own?!"
"Spin move—forty-five-degree layup—straight into the basket! Beautiful! Kaede Rukawa scores again!"
The commentator held his head in disbelief, eyes wide with shock. "Unbelievable! This doesn't feel like a junior high game at all! Kaede Rukawa is putting on a one-man show!"
As his voice rose with excitement, the crowd roared. Rukawa had just scored again, pushing the lead to an outrageous 6:32.
The stadium exploded in cheers. Girls waved banners that read:
"Kaede Rukawa, go!"
"We love you, Rukawa!"
"Rukawa is the best!"
Some of them even had nosebleeds from excitement.
As the score continued to widen, Wako Junior High's players rushed to serve and attack, growing more desperate.
But their sloppy coordination opened the door. Rukawa lunged from the side, attempting a steal. The Wako player panicked and clutched the ball tightly, but it was too late. Rukawa had both hands on it, initiating a fierce tug-of-war.
"BEEP!"
The referee blew his whistle and raised both thumbs—jump ball!
Seeing the chaos among his players, the Wako coach's expression darkened. He immediately called a timeout.
"Timeout requested by Wako Middle School," the referee announced.
The commentator tried to lift the mood. "Let's see how Wako plans to adjust. Can they turn things around? Let's keep watching!"
But the crowd didn't share his optimism. The booing echoed through the stadium. With such a massive gap, no one believed Wako stood a chance.
On the sideline, a Wako player limped off, wincing in pain.
"Sorry, Coach…" he muttered.
"You did your best. Go sit and get treated," the coach said with a sigh, waving him off.
Truthfully, the coach was ashamed. The score was humiliating. He scanned the bench until his eyes landed on a black-haired boy standing near the water cooler.
"Oliver! Get in there. Keep an eye on Rukawa."
"Me?" Oliver blinked, pointing at himself.
"Yes, you. Aren't you always begging for a chance to play? Now's your shot."
To be honest, the coach didn't think Oliver was cut out for basketball. Basketball favors height and strength—neither of which Oliver possessed.
He was only 165 cm tall. That alone was a death sentence in competitive basketball. On top of that, he was skinny and often struggled in physical matchups during training.
Normally, the coach wouldn't even consider putting him in. But Oliver's dedication was undeniable. He worked harder than anyone—first to arrive, last to leave. His love for the game was real, and the coach respected that.
Now, with nothing left to lose in their final game of the season, the coach decided to give him a chance. Maybe it wouldn't turn the tide, but at least Oliver could get a taste of the official court. No regrets.
Oliver took a deep breath and sipped water before heading out.
"Man… this crowd's ridiculous," he muttered, staring at the packed stadium.
Normally, junior high games wouldn't attract such an audience, but Rukawa was special. His presence had drawn scouts, coaches, and even college athletes to witness the rising star firsthand.
"Is this what protagonist-level popularity looks like? Unreal…" Oliver whispered.
That's right—Oliver wasn't from this world.
Just a month ago, he had been a CBA (Chinese Basketball Association) player in his prime. But after a tragic car accident, he found himself reincarnated into the world of "Slam Dunk."
Now, he was living as a middle schooler named Oliver, a transfer student from China attending Wako Junior High. Coincidentally, he had the same name as his previous life—and the same deep love for basketball.
But this body… was a mess. Thin, weak, and unskilled. His first few practices had left him dumbfounded at how bad his fundamentals were.
He went to the same school as Sakuragi Hanamichi, but they hadn't interacted much.
Like many isekai protagonists, Oliver had heard the signature ding in his head when he arrived:
"Two months until the Slam Dunk story begins. Basketball Superstar System has been loaded. Newbie Gift Pack available upon participation in an official game!"
He was excited, thinking he'd soar like Sakuragi. But reality hit hard—because the previous Oliver was so bad, he'd never even played in an official match.
So, the gift pack sat there, locked.
Until now.
The moment Oliver stepped onto the court, he heard the electronic voice in his mind again:
> "Official match participation detected. Basketball Superstar System activated. Newbie Gift Pack unlocked!"
> "Please choose one attribute to enhance: Strength, Endurance, Speed, Skill, Accuracy, Bounce."
"Let's go!" Oliver grinned. The system was finally online!
He quickly considered his options. Given their current situation, scoring was critical. His eyes landed on "Accuracy."
> "System, what does 'Accuracy' mean?"
> "Accuracy refers to the host's unguarded shooting success rate."
"Wait—unguarded? Seriously?"
Oliver nearly facepalmed. No opponent would just let him shoot freely. He was short—anyone could block him.
If he wanted to make up for his lack of height, he needed one thing: bounce.
"I'll choose Bounce!" he declared.
> "Attribute selected. Bounce raised to 85!"
"Eighty-five? What's that mean?"
Suddenly, a glowing status panel appeared in front of him:
---
Player Name: Oliver
Age: 15
Height: 165 cm
Weight: 60 kg
Strength: Poor – 20
Endurance: Good – 55
Speed: Poor – 20
Skill: Excellent – 75
Accuracy: Normal – 40
Bounce: Poor → Perfect – 85
Rating Scale:
0–20: Poor
21–40: Average
41–60: Good
61–80: Excellent
81–100: Perfect
---
"Man… these stats suck!" Oliver groaned.
Still, his "Skill" stat wasn't bad—likely due to his previous life's experience. And the endurance came from the body's constant training. But everything else? Tragic.
> "Beginning enhancement…"
A surge of warmth rushed through his legs. In an instant, he felt power—like springs had been installed in his calves.
Bounce: 85. Perfect rating.
Oliver was shocked and thrilled. What could a perfect vertical do in a junior high game?
"Alright… it's showtime!" he whispered.
This would be his first official game—and his first step to domination in this new world.
---
"Oh? Looks like Wako is sending in a new player! Could this secret weapon break the deadlock?" the commentator exclaimed.
But the audience didn't buy it.
"Secret weapon? More like secret kindergarten!"
"Are they joking? That kid's as tall as my little brother!"
"Haha! Go home and buy some candy, shorty!"
Even the Fuqiu players laughed.
"Hey, bean sprout! Call me 'big bro' and we'll go easy on you!"
"Don't worry, we'll let you shoot once or twice. Just don't cry if you miss!"
Rukawa barely glanced at Oliver before turning away, unimpressed.
No one—not the crowd, not the players—believed someone like him could make an impact.
Oliver didn't care.
He stood silently at the center line, ignoring the jeers. His eyes were locked on the ball.
"BEEP!"
The referee blew the whistle and tossed the ball into the air.
Rukawa leaped effortlessly, extending his hand—his vertical was incredible, even by professional standards.
But—
WHOOSH!
A shadow soared past him.
BANG!
The ball slammed directly off Rukawa's head!
He turned mid-air, stunned, his eyes wide with disbelief.
There, above him, was Oliver—grinning confidently in mid-air.
"Sorry," Oliver said calmly, "but this is my court now."
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