๐ซ Chapter 0.5: "The First Spark"
"Every legend starts somewhere. This was mine." โ Riku
---
Page 1 โ Flashback Begins: Local Playground, 4th Grade
Small cracked basketball court. Sunset. Kids are playing 3v3. Riku walks up, a small backpack slung over his shoulder. He's newly reborn, around 9 years old.
Narration (Riku):
> "When I got my second shot at life, I promised I'd change everything... starting with who I stood beside."
---
Page 2 โ A Boy Named Phantom
A flashy kid wearing a headband is destroying kids in 1v1. He moves like he's floating. No one can stop him.
Kid on the sideline:
> "That's Phantom. No one beats him."
Riku (thinking):
> "So that's him. In my past life, I met him late... but this time, I'm making sure he becomes my brother early."
---
Page 3 โ Riku Steps Up
Riku walks right onto the court.
Riku:
> "Let me run one. Me vs. you."
Kids (laughing):
> "You serious? He's gonna break your ankles, bro."
Phantom (smirking):
> "You sure, kid? You look like you never dribbled in your life."
Riku:
> "Not yet. But I will."
---
Page 4 โ The 1v1
Phantom takes it easy at first โ but Riku surprises him. Even without copying talents yet, Riku's footwork and defense are way more mature than his age.
Phantom (thinking):
> "This kid's weirdโฆ like he's been playing for years already."
*Riku lands a single shot. One. But Phantom's smile widens.
---
Page 5 โ After the Match
Phantom (laughing):
> "Okay, okay. You got heart. That shot was nasty."
"Name's Phantom. Yours?"
Riku:
> "Riku."
Phantom (offering a fist bump):
> "You play like you've seen the future or something."
Riku (smiling subtly):
> "Something like that."
---
Page 6 โ Narration Closes
Narration (Riku):
> "He didn't know I had a system. He didn't know I came from the future. He just saw me โ and believed."
> "That's why Phantom became my first real teammate. My first real friend."
"My brother, before the world even knew my name."
---
โ End of Chapter 0.5: "The First Spark"