PAGE 1 – OPENING: NATIONAL YOUTH CAMP INVITATION
Panel 1:
Early morning. Riku opens his locker at school and finds a sealed envelope with a gold logo:
> JAPAN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CAMP
Panel 2:
Letter content (voiceover style):
> "Congratulations. You've been selected for a one-week trial at the National Youth Basketball Camp.
Location: Shizuoka Sports Arena.
Attendance: Optional. Evaluation: Elite."
Panel 3:
Riku stares at it, stunned.
Riku (thinking):
> "This is where the real monsters show up."
Panel 4:
A whisper from the system glows faintly at the corner of his vision.
> High-Rank Talent Possibility Detected within upcoming location.
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PAGE 2 – ARRIVAL AT THE YOUTH CAMP
Panel 1:
The giant sports complex looms. Banners hang:
> "Japan Youth Development Camp – Invite-Only."
Panel 2:
Boys from all over the country warm up on multiple courts — some tall, some muscular, some lightning quick.
Panel 3:
Riku walks in wearing a plain hoodie and beat-up sneakers, a duffel bag over his shoulder.
> System Ping:
Scanning...
Multiple A-tier talents detected.
Riku (thinking):
> "No cooldown active. I can still copy."
"But I won't waste my slot on anything less than S."
---
PAGE 3 – FIRST PRACTICE MATCHES
Panel 1:
Coach splits the court into several 5v5 matchups. Riku is placed on the "unranked" team with players nobody knows.
Panel 2:
Opposing team captain (cocky):
> "Yo, we're against the no-name squad. Easy buckets."
Panel 3:
Whistle blows. First play. Riku steals the ball instantly, using "Defensive Instinct – A".
Panel 4:
Fast break. He breaks ankles with "Street Handle King – A" and finishes with a smooth layup.
Panel 5:
Coaches watching raise their eyebrows.
Coach 1 (whispering):
> "That kid… who is he?"
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PAGE 4 – RUMORS OF A PRODIGY
Panel 1:
Later, players sit in the bleachers. Riku hears whispers.
Player 1 (whispering):
> "Hey, did you hear about the 'One-Shot Prodigy'?"
Player 2:
> "You mean Takashi Rindo? The kid who scored 81 points in a middle school game?"
Panel 2:
Riku's system pings HARD.
> High-Rank Talent Detected Nearby
Target: Takashi Rindo – Talent Grade: UNKNOWN
Panel 3:
Riku jolts a little, eyes wide.
Riku (thinking):
> "...That might be it. The first S."
---
PAGE 5 – ENTER: TAKASHI RINDO
Panel 1:
Door opens. A lean but focused kid with sharp eyes enters the gym in silence. Everyone turns. No smile. No flash. Pure calm.
Panel 2:
He walks past the others straight to the shooting machine and starts hitting flawless jumpers.
Panel 3:
System UI zooms in with a sharp beep.
> Talent Identified:
"Zone Efficiency – S"
Cooldown if copied: 24h
Warning: No other copying allowed during cooldown.
Panel 4:
Riku's breathing grows heavier.
Riku (thinking):
> "If I take it… I'll be locked out. But this is a real S-tier."
---
PAGE 6 – THE DECISION
Panel 1:
Riku closes his eyes.
Riku (thinking):
> "No hesitation. I said I'd chase greatness."
"Let's start here."
Panel 2:
He mentally presses [COPY].
> ✅ Talent Acquired: "Zone Efficiency – S"
⏳ System Cooldown: 24 hours – Copy Locked
Panel 3:
Immediately, his mind clears. The court feels "slower." Everything — angles, passes, shots — flows like water.
Panel 4:
Riku walks back to the court. Calm, steady… changed.
Coach:
> "You're up, Riku."
---
PAGE 7 – ZONE ACTIVATION
Panel 1:
Riku brings the ball up.
Panel 2:
Everything sharpens. Player positions. Defensive gaps. Passing lanes.
He's in the zone.
Panel 3:
He drives. A perfect behind-the-back bounce pass. Bucket.
Panel 4:
Three plays later — another assist. Then a midrange jumper.
He looks untouchable.
Panel 5:
Takashi Rindo, watching silently from the sideline, squints.
Takashi (thinking):
> "...Someone else sees the court like me?"
---
PAGE 8 – THE COACHES WHISPER
Panel 1:
Head Coach turns to Assistant.
Head Coach:
> "That Takeda kid… what school did he say he came from?"
Assistant:
> "He didn't. No records on him before this year."
---
PAGE 9 – CLOSING TEASER
Panel 1:
Riku, now sweaty and smiling, walks off the court as the buzzer sounds.
Panel 2:
System glows faintly again.
> System Cooldown Remaining: 23h 44m
Panel 3:
Riku (smirking):
> "This is only the beginning."
---
✅ End of Chapter 3