The classroom of 1-A buzzed with first-day energy as thirty students settled into their seats. Morning sunlight streamed through the windows, casting long rectangles of light across the polished floor. The chatter died instantly when the door slid open with practiced precision.
A woman stepped into the classroom with the confident stride of someone who commanded respect without demanding it. Standing at 5'8", she cut an elegant figure in her professional attire—a navy blue blazer over a cream blouse, paired with a matching skirt that fell just below her knees. Her glasses caught the light as she approached the podium, giving her an intellectual air that complemented her natural beauty.
"Stand," called the class representative, and thirty students rose in unison.
The teacher placed her books and notes on the podium with methodical care. "Good morning, everyone. Please be seated."
As chairs scraped against the floor, Rando Gensei found his attention drawn not to Ayaka Minazuki—the teacher whose reputation for both beauty and personality had preceded her through five years of service at Shirosaka High—but to the student occupying the desk beside his own.
The 220-centimeter giant from the recruitment booth.
Even seated, the boy's frame dominated the space around him. His desk seemed comically small beneath his massive forearms, and his legs stretched awkwardly into the aisle to accommodate his extraordinary height. There was something almost primal about his presence—a slumbering power that radiated from him even in his apparent state of disinterest.
Rando's KnK System activated without prompting:
[Player Analysis Activated]
[Subject: Hinata Kurobane]
[Player Stats: Hinata Kurobane]
[Name: Hinata Kurobane]
[Position: Center]
[Height: 220 cm]
[Year: 1st Year]
[Team: Shirosaka High School Basketball Club]
[Ability: Titan]
[Core Attributes:]
[Strength: A+]
[Stamina: A+]
[Defense (Paint): A]
[Defense (Perimeter): D]
[Rebounding: A]
[Shot Blocking: A]
[Vertical Jump: A]
[Speed: C]
[Mobility: C]
[Shooting (Mid-Range): E]
[Shooting (Free Throw): D]
[Basketball IQ: C]
[Presence/Aura: S]
Rando's eyes widened slightly. The stats were impressive enough, but what caught his attention was the ability designation: Titan. He mentally prompted the system for more information, and a new panel appeared:
[Ability: Titan]
[Core Traits:]
[Inhumane Physical Strength – He's not just big; he's immovable in the paint. Once he plants his foot, no one gets past.]
[Endless Stamina – Can run, jump, block, and wrestle without gassing out, making him an iron wall all game.]
[Mental Suppression Aura – His presence is so overwhelming that opponents hesitate, lose confidence, or even avoid the paint entirely.]
A chill ran down Rando's spine. This wasn't just size—this was specialized dominance. While Rando's own Aomine-based abilities made him a versatile offensive nightmare, this Hinata Kurobane was the immovable object to his unstoppable force. The perfect counter.
"Today, we'll begin by getting to know each other," Minazuki-sensei announced, her voice carrying a warmth that belied her professional demeanor. "When I call your seat number, please stand and introduce yourself to the class."
One by one, students rose and offered brief introductions—names, middle schools, occasional hobbies or aspirations. Rando paid minimal attention until the fifth student finished and a boy of average height stood up from the front row.
"I'm Daigo Hoshikawa," the boy announced with a confidence that seemed disproportionate to his stature. "I played point guard at Mizuno Middle School, and I'm joining the basketball club here. Looking forward to working with everyone!"
The system activated again:
[Player Analysis Activated]
[Subject: Daigo Hoshikawa]
[Player Stats: Daigo Hoshikawa]
[Name: Daigo Hoshikawa]
[Position: Point Guard]
[Ability: Freestyle Handles]
[Height: 175 cm]
[Year: 1st]
[Team: Shirosaka High School Basketball Club]
[Strength: E]
[Speed: C]
[Dribbling: C]
[Passing: D]
[Shooting (3pt): E]
[Stamina: D]
[Defense (Perimeter): D]
[Basketball IQ: D]
[Presence: E]
[Ability: "Freestyle Handles" – His dribbling is flashy and unpredictable, but lacks proper pacing and often overdribbles himself into traps.]
Rando almost snorted. Compared to the monster sitting next to him, this Hoshikawa kid seemed like a street performer rather than a serious player. Flashy handles with no substance—the exact opposite of the raw, efficient power that defined Aomine's style.
What exactly are these "Abilities"? Rando wondered, and the system responded immediately:
[System Information: Abilities]
[Abilities are an Individual's Innate Talent that have manifested into Skill. They are unique to each player and can develop through natural physical attributes or through repetitive training of specific skills.]
[In this world, basketball players who reach a certain threshold of specialization develop recognizable Abilities that define their playstyle and potential.]
Interesting. So in this basketball-dominant world, players developed specialized talents that became formalized as "Abilities." It wasn't unlike the Generation of Miracles from the anime, each with their distinct basketball identity.
"Seat 24," Minazuki-sensei called, breaking Rando's concentration.
That was his cue. Rando stood, feeling the eyes of his classmates shift to take in his height.
"Rando Gensei," he said simply. "Looking forward to the year." He sat back down without elaboration, preferring to maintain an air of mystery.
"Seat 25," the teacher continued.
The giant beside him rose slowly, his head nearly brushing against the ceiling lights. The classroom fell silent, all eyes locked on his towering frame. When he spoke, his voice was deep but oddly soft, as if conserving energy even in speech.
"Hinata Kurobane," he mumbled, then immediately dropped back into his seat with the heavy finality of a boulder settling into place.
Minazuki-sensei blinked twice, clearly taken aback by the brevity, but recovered quickly and moved on to the next student.
As the class transitioned into their first lesson on Health and Physical Education—a subject that seemed particularly relevant given Rando's new circumstances—he found himself stealing glances at the giant beside him. Kurobane sat with a peculiar stillness, his massive hands folded on the desk, his expression blank. There was no hint of the monster the system had described—just a seemingly lethargic teenager who happened to be built like a small mountain.
Halfway through Minazuki-sensei's explanation of the year's curriculum, Rando made his decision. He leaned slightly toward Kurobane and whispered, "Hey."
The giant's head turned with glacial slowness, his eyes finding Rando's with mild confusion, as if surprised anyone would address him directly.
"Let's be friends," Rando said, extending his hand beneath their desks. It was a calculated move—in this new world, with his new abilities, he would need allies. And what better ally than the most physically imposing player he'd encountered?
Kurobane stared at the offered hand for what felt like an eternity, his expression unreadable. Then, with the deliberate movement of continental drift, he extended his own hand—a massive thing that engulfed Rando's completely—and shook once.
"Yes," he said, his voice a low rumble. "You friend. I friend. We friends from today."
The childlike simplicity of the response caught Rando off guard. There was something almost endearing about the way this physical behemoth expressed himself with such basic language. It was as if all his developmental energy had gone into his body, leaving little for verbal sophistication.
Rando couldn't help but notice the sheer size of Kurobane's hand during their brief handshake. It was easily large enough to palm a basketball with room to spare—a natural advantage in rebounding and shot-blocking that most players could only dream of.
The morning passed in a blur of introductory lessons and administrative announcements. When the lunch bell finally rang, Rando stood and stretched, feeling the enhanced flexibility of his Aomine-infused body. It was still strange—knowing he possessed abilities he'd never trained for, reflexes he'd never developed through practice.
"We should head to the gymnasium," he said to Kurobane, who remained seated, staring blankly ahead. "For the basketball club tryout."
Kurobane nodded slowly and rose to his full height, drawing gasps from nearby classmates who hadn't fully appreciated his stature until that moment. Together, they left the classroom and entered the hallway.
The effect was immediate. Conversations stopped mid-sentence. Heads turned. Eyes widened. The pair created a ripple effect of reactions as they moved through the corridor—Kurobane's 220 centimeters leading the way, with Rando's own impressive 192-centimeter frame following close behind.
"You're already famous," Rando commented, noting the whispers that followed in their wake. "First day and everyone knows who you are."
Kurobane didn't respond, his gaze fixed forward as if the attention meant nothing to him. His stride was unhurried but covered ground quickly due to his enormous legs. Rando found himself taking extra steps to keep pace.
"Have you played basketball before?" Rando asked, genuinely curious about the giant's background.
"Yes," Kurobane replied after a thoughtful pause. "Since small."
"Small? You?"
"Was small once," Kurobane said with complete seriousness. "Long ago."
Rando suppressed a smile. There was something almost comical about imagining this titan as a child, though he supposed everyone started somewhere.
They reached the gymnasium—a massive structure that stood separate from the main school building. Its high ceilings and broad footprint spoke to the importance of indoor sports at Shirosaka High. Through the glass doors, Rando could see multiple courts laid out side by side—volleyball, badminton, and basketball all accommodated within the same expansive space.
The size made sense in a world where basketball held cultural significance comparable to what football had been in Rando's previous life. Schools would naturally invest in proper facilities to nurture talent from an early age.
As they pushed through the doors, the familiar sounds of squeaking shoes and bouncing balls greeted them. The gymnasium was already alive with activity—volleyball players setting up nets, badminton enthusiasts practicing serves, and in the far corner, a group of students gathered around what could only be the basketball court.
Rando spotted Miyu Takamine's distinctive short hair as she moved among the gathered first-years, clipboard in hand. Nearby, Captain Renji Fukuhara stood with arms crossed, observing the newcomers with analytical eyes.
A new notification appeared in Rando's vision:
[KnK System Alert: Basketball Environment Detected]
[Performance Enhancement Activated]
[Zone State: Available]
[Recommendation: Observe team dynamics before revealing full capabilities]
Rando felt a surge of anticipation. This was it—his first real opportunity to test Aomine's abilities in an actual basketball setting. He glanced at Kurobane, wondering if the giant felt the same excitement, but the taller boy's expression remained impassive.
"Gensei-kun! Kurobane-kun!" Miyu called out, waving them over. "You made it! We're just about to start the orientation for new members."
As they approached the group, Rando noticed how the other first-years instinctively created space around Kurobane, like smaller planets adjusting their orbits around a new sun. Even Renji, who had seemed so composed during their first meeting, couldn't hide a flicker of awe as he took in Kurobane's full height up close.
"Welcome," Renji said, recovering quickly. "We're glad you both decided to join us." His eyes lingered on Kurobane for a moment longer before shifting to address the entire group. "In a few minutes, we'll begin our introductory session. For today, we just want to see where everyone stands in terms of basic skills."
Rando nodded, his fingers tingling with the desire to feel a basketball in his hands. Beside him, Kurobane remained silent, a slumbering giant waiting to be awakened.
Among the gathered first-years, Rando spotted Daigo Hoshikawa from their class, already chatting animatedly with a group of similarly sized boys. The point guard caught Rando's eye and gave a confident nod, as if they were already rivals.
Little does he know, Rando thought, feeling the latent power of Aomine's abilities flowing through his veins. This isn't just any basketball club anymore. Not with what I can do now.
He glanced up at Kurobane, whose massive presence seemed to cast a literal shadow over the court.
And not with what he might be capable of either.
The gymnasium lights reflected off the polished wooden floor, creating a
n almost hallowed glow around the basketball court. For the others, this was just the beginning of high school basketball.
For Rando Gensei, it was the dawn of something far more significant.