[You can't understand how they can smile after losing. Are they really satisfied with just being in the top 32?]
[Your ambition ignites completely. Your real life had been full of failures—you need success.]
[With the seniors gone, you're named the new captain of Hozumi Academy's Basketball Club.]
[Before leaving, the third-years come to you one by one, telling you to keep pushing next year. They promise to keep following your progress.]
[You nod without hesitation. "My goal hasn't changed," you tell them. "It's still the championship."]
[They freeze, feeling the pressure rise again—then sigh in relief, realizing it's not their problem anymore.]
[The National Tournament wraps up with Teiko Junior High claiming the title once again.]
[You watch the finals. They've gone completely insane—Aomine Daiki drops forty points in one half, ending the game in twenty minutes flat.]
[You feel a crushing weight settle on your shoulders.]
[Summer break arrives, but club activities don't stop. You order your teammates to come back at least twice a week for full-day practices.]
["Either we die in the top 32 again next year," you tell them, "or we go further. Your choice."]
[No one dares respond. They all know you didn't really give them a choice.]
[Since you became captain, the pressure's only gotten heavier.]
[Even during break, you train every single day at full intensity.]
[Your teammates notice—you're always the first one to show up and the last one to leave. The complaints start fading.]
[Still, a few players can't handle it and quit. You don't react.]
[People without pride aren't worth keeping.]
[Under your relentless regimen, your body returns to peak condition. You can tell—if you faced Hayama Kotaro again now, you'd have a real shot at winning.]
[After the National Tournament comes the Autumn National Sports Festival and the Winter Cup.]
[Japan holds three major national tournaments every year: the summer National Tournament, the autumn sports festival, and the winter qualifiers.]
[But as a middle schooler, Hozumi Academy can't join the latter two—they're for high school teams.]
[Before you know it, a full year passes.]
[Your first Simulation is complete.]
"Phew."
"So that's it, huh?" Souta exhales deeply.
He watches his simulated self on the screen, lost in thought.
He realizes that version of himself is far too obsessed. You can't live your whole life like Jordan or Kobe—it's exhausting.
[Simulation complete.]
[You've gained the talent: Fundamental.]
[You've gained National Tournament experience.]
[You've gained daily training experience.]
[Your simulation level has increased to 3. You've received 15 attribute points.]
[Receive rewards now?]
"Receive."
Souta doesn't hesitate.
A flood of memories crashes into his mind.
Strangely, it doesn't hurt at all—it feels natural, like those memories had always been there.
He stretches his arms and rolls his shoulders.
"That's the feeling I've missed."
Like a rusted machine freshly oiled, his body feels light and ready.
He knows it—that's the sign his body's returned to its optimal game shape.
"Fifteen attribute points total. Five per level-up. Not bad."
He looks at his stats panel.
[Kasugano Souta]
[Gender: Male]
[Age: 14]
[Simulation Level: 3]
[Occupation: Amateur Basketball Player]
[Special Skill: None]
[Special Talent: Fundamental]
[Available Attribute Points: 15]
[Victory Points: 0 (Simulation unavailable)]
[Power: 70 | Speed: 65 | Stamina: 78 | Technique: 77 | Mental: 118]
Pretty low.
Aside from his mental stat—probably boosted by having lived two lives—the rest of his physical stats are all under 80.
It really shows how insane Fundamental is. Even with those mediocre numbers, it made him strong enough to catch Momoi Satsuki's attention and earn Hayama Kotaro's praise.
"Stamina's fine for now. I recover fast anyway—sleep's enough. Let's boost speed first."
He dumps all 15 points into speed, bringing it up to 80.
Each attribute covers a wide range:
Power includes grip strength, core, lower body, upper body.
Stamina covers endurance, muscle fatigue, injury risk.
Speed means first-step quickness, sprint speed, vertical jump.
Mental affects basketball IQ, learning ability, tactical awareness, and drive to win.
The gains are solid.
Just one Simulation, and Souta already felt twice as strong as he'd been a year ago.
Knock, knock, knock...
Right on cue, a sound came from the door.
From outside, Kasugano Haruka's voice called, "Souta, dinner's ready."
"Coming."
Souta stepped out and joined them at the table.
Just three people—him and the Kasugano siblings.
Dinner was… too simple. Barely any meat, mostly vegetables.
To be fair, Haruka was doing his best. For a guy his age, he carried a lot.
Aside from school, he took care of both Souta and Sora, handled all the housework, and worried about where their next meal would come from.
Souta looked at him. The boy's face was weighed down with exhaustion and worry—the kind you only saw on someone forced to become the head of the family far too soon.
And yet, Haruka was only fourteen.
Next Simulation, I'll find a way to fix our financial problems too, Souta thought silently, eating in silence.
He'd read plenty of webnovels where transmigrators had photographic memories and could become world-famous authors with just a laptop. Wealth, fame, maybe even a cute anime girlfriend—it all sounded easy for them.
But he wasn't one of those lucky ones. His grades were trash.
He'd have to find another way.