PAGE 1 – LOST IN TIME
[Full Splash Page]
A cold street. A car speeds by.
Riku Takeda, 26, lies bleeding, his eyes half-open. The glow of headlights fades into darkness.
Narration (Riku):
> "I never had talent. I never had a shot. But even at the very end... I still dreamed of being on that court."
PAGE 2 – FLASHBACK TO FAILURE
Panel 1:
Riku in middle school, sitting on the bench, watching his teammates celebrate.
Panel 2:
High school tryouts. Riku dribbles awkwardly. The coach shakes his head.
Panel 3:
Riku watches from the bleachers as his childhood friends become stars — on TV, in magazines.
Panel 4:
A medal flashes on-screen. His rival, Jin Kazama, receives it, eyes cold and focused.
Narration:
> "They were born gifted. I wasn't."
PAGE 3 – THE ADULT REUNION GAME
Panel 1:
A dusty old gym. Riku walks in with worn-out sneakers and a steelworker's jacket.
His old friends — now semi-pros — laugh and stretch.
Panel 2:
Yuji (friendly):
> "Yo! Riku! Didn't think you'd show!"
Panel 3:
Jin (cool and distant):
> "He still plays?"
Panel 4:
Riku tightens his laces, nodding silently.
PAGE 4 – THE SPARK RETURNS
Panel 1:
The game begins. Riku hustles but falls behind. He misses layups, fumbles passes, can't keep up.
Panel 2:
Sweat drips down. His hands tremble.
Panel 3:
Jin steals the ball from him with ease.
Jin (smirking):
> "Still chasing a dream you'll never reach?"
Panel 4:
Riku freezes. His heart burns. His grip tightens.
Narration:
> "I didn't belong here…
But I didn't want to let go either."
PAGE 5 – THE ACCIDENT
Panel 1:
Night. Riku walks alone under streetlights, tired, defeated… but something in his chest feels alive.
Panel 2:
He clutches his chest where his heart beats fast.
Riku (whispering):
> "Why do I still care… after all this time?"
Panel 3:
Headlights.
Panel 4:
CRASH
Riku is hit. His world fades.
PAGE 6 – REBIRTH
Panel 1:
Light. A soft breeze. A familiar ceiling.
Panel 2:
Riku sits up in bed — smaller, younger. He stumbles to the mirror.
Panel 3:
He sees a boy — himself — maybe 11 years old.
Riku (wide-eyed):
> "No way… I'm back?"
PAGE 7 – THE SYSTEM AWAKENS
Panel 1:
Suddenly — a blue digital screen appears before his eyes.
> [System Activation Detected]
Initializing…
Welcome, Riku Takeda.
System Name: Heavenly Copy System
Panel 2:
He stares in disbelief as more information loads.
> ✅ Unlimited Talent Slots: UNLOCKED
🧠 Copied Talents are Permanent
⚠️ S, SS, T, U, L-tier Talents are Exceptionally Rare
⏳ Copy Cooldown Activates ONLY on copying S-tier or above (No copying allowed during cooldown)
Panel 3:
System pings.
> Nearby Target Detected: "Yuji Tanaka" – Talent: Basketball Prodigy (B+)
Copy Available: YES – No Cooldown
Panel 4:
Riku stares out the window. Young Yuji Tanaka is playing outside on the schoolyard court.
Riku (softly):
> "B+... Not S… but it's real. It's talent I never had."
Panel 5:
He presses [COPY].
> ✅ Talent Acquired: "Basketball Prodigy – B+"
PAGE 8 – FIRST USE
Panel 1:
Riku rushes outside in slippers and pajamas.
Panel 2:
He grabs a ball. Begins to dribble — it's tighter. Crisper. Natural.
Panel 3:
He steps back and launches a three-pointer.
SFX: SWISH
Panel 4:
He stands frozen. Then he grins — bigger than he has in years.
Riku:
> "It's not an S…
But this time—this life—I'm not starting from nothing."
PAGE 9 – TEASING THE FUTURE
Panel 1:
Close-up of the System screen.
> [Talent Logbook Unlocked]
Slot 1: Basketball Prodigy – B+ (Permanent)
Slot 2: EMPTY
Slot 3: EMPTY
...∞
Panel 2:
Riku walks away from the court.
> "I'll copy them all."
"One by one."
Panel 3:
He passes a talentless bully kid dribbling badly.
System Prompt (gray):
> No Copyable Talent Detected
Panel 4:
He stops briefly. Looks toward the horizon.
Narration:
> "And when I find that one-in-a-million talent…"
Panel 5:
Close-up on Riku's determined eyes.
> "I'll take it too."