After Kudo's retirement ceremony…
"Kudo, what are you planning to do in the future?" Coach Tang Ze asked kindly.
"This... I haven't really thought about it yet," Kudo replied helplessly. In truth, he was still worrying about it.
"Well, if you're unsure, why not become my assistant coach?" Tang Ze suggested.
"Assistant coach?!"
"Yes. I watched your performance in the finals and reviewed the team's past footage. Your skills are solid, you have a great overall view of the court, and your tactical awareness is very professional," Tang Ze said, eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. "You still have areas to improve, sure, but with some experience, you could become a top-tier coach. So why not join me for a few years as an assistant and gain that experience?"
Tang Ze was thinking to himself:Kudo is highly respected by the team. If I can get him as my assistant, I'll be able to take full control of the team in no time.
"Is that so? Thank you for the offer, Coach Tang Ze," Kudo responded politely. "But I'll need some time to think about my future and consult with my family."
If this were the old Kudo Shinichi, he might have agreed immediately, Kudo thought to himself.But I don't even know the basics of coaching yet. If I say yes, I'll be exposed in no time. How embarrassing would that be? -_-||
"That's a shame," Tang Ze said, clearly disappointed. "If you change your mind, you're welcome anytime."
"I will. Thanks again, Coach. Now that everything's settled, Kawasaki and I will be heading out."
"Goodbye, Coach Tang Ze," Kawasaki added.
"Take care, both of you," Tang Ze replied.
After that, Kudo and Kawasaki left the gym.
"Kudo, you really should have accepted Coach Tang Ze's offer. That was such a great opportunity," Kawasaki said on the way back to the apartment, his voice filled with envy.
"Is it really that rare?" Kudo asked. He had just arrived in this world and didn't know how things worked.
"Of course it is!" Kawasaki replied, surprised. "You'd be the assistant coach of Fukazawa Sports University—under a well-known coach like Karasawa! With that on your resume, you'd be coaching your own college team in no time. I was seriously jealous of you."
"Haha, is that so..." Kudo said with a slightly stiff smile.
"Totally! What else can we do with our basketball skills?" Kawasaki sighed. "Basketball isn't even a mainstream sport in Japan, and there's no pro league right now. Most of us were admitted on sports scholarships. After graduation, our options are limited—coach somewhere, open a sporting goods shop, or maybe write for a sports paper. We don't know anything outside basketball."
Haha, I wasn't even a sports recruit—I got in because of family connections, Kudo thought with a wry smile.And now, my basketball level doesn't even match yours anymore.
"So, Kawasaki, what are your plans now?"
"Me?" Kawasaki said, "Well, even though we have three months left until graduation, winter break is coming soon. I'm planning to go back to Kanagawa and look for a stable job."
"If you're going back to Kanagawa, you should visit Coach Anzai. I wonder how he's doing."
"Of course I'll visit him," Kawasaki said. "Hey, Kudo—your hometown is Kanagawa too, right? Want to come with me?"
"I'll think about it," Kudo replied with a sigh. "Let's see how things go."
"So what are you going to do?"
"I really don't know yet," Kudo admitted. "I'll see what my family has to say."
"I'm seriously jealous, you know," Kawasaki muttered. "Your family's loaded—they'll help you find a good job. I have to figure everything out on my own."
"Yeah... I guess," Kudo replied, feeling a bit awkward.
That night, Kudo lay in bed, deep in thought.
"What am I supposed to do with my life now? If I hadn't gone to the U.S. in the original timeline, I'd have become a coach... but now? I can't even do that!"
"Damn it, why did I have to be the one to time-travel? Everyone else who travels gets overpowered abilities or cheats. Me? I'm even more useless than the original Kudo Shinichi!"
He gritted his teeth in frustration."God, if you're going to make me time travel, at least give me a cheat. Let me be the protagonist for once!"
And as if the heavens had heard his cry, an ethereal electronic voice echoed in his mind.
"Ding! SD System is activating... Activation successful. Scanning host... Scan complete. Host identified. Do you wish to bind?"
"What the hell?!" Kudo gasped. "Am I imagining this?!"
"Ding! Host confirmed. Do you wish to bind? Countdown: 30, 29, 28..."
"Uhh…"
"20, 19, 18..."
Screw it! No time to think!"Bind!" Kudo said.
"Confirm binding?"
"Confirm!" he replied firmly.
"Ding! Binding successful. SD System activated."
Kudo winced as a sharp pain pierced his head. Once it passed, a glowing interface appeared in his mind.
"...Oh my god."He stared at it in disbelief, then finally whispered, "It's real..."
As the reality set in, excitement bubbled inside him.
"I don't know where this system came from, but… could I actually be the protagonist now?"
"Ding! This system originates from the 23rd century. It was created by Dr. Oak, a super Slam Dunk fan, out of frustration with the series. Due to unknown circumstances, it traveled through time and bonded with the host."
"What can this system do?" Kudo asked eagerly.
"Because its creator, Dr. Oak, lacked athletic talent, the SD System is designed to help train players and enhance the host's basketball intellect. It adjusts to the host's unique traits."
**"Ding! Main tasks unlocked:
The Rise of a Rookie Coach
Conquer Kanagawa."**
"What are these tasks?"
"Tasks are divided into mandatory and optional categories. Main tasks are mandatory and essential to the host's growth. Completion earns rewards; failure results in penalties."
"Okay, let's see the first one."
Main Task 1: The Rise of a Rookie CoachObjective: Learn the professional knowledge required of a basketball coach as quickly as possible and become qualified.Reward: UnknownPenalty: Unknown
"Wait, why are both the rewards and penalties unknown? I'm not gonna die if I fail, right?"(←_← Too many infinite survival novels, Kudo.)
"Don't worry. This system focuses on growth. Penalties won't be life-threatening, and rewards/penalties depend on task completion level."
"Phew, that's a relief. Let's check the second task."
Main Task 2: Conquer KanagawaObjective: Since most of Slam Dunk's story is set in Kanagawa, the host must take over a high school basketball team there before the plot officially begins.Reward: UnknownPenalty: Unknown
"So I really have to go back to Kanagawa," Kudo muttered.That's fine. It's my hometown, and my family has influence there. With some connections, task two shouldn't be too hard. O(∩_∩)O
"As for task one... I need to study fast. Thankfully, I already bought a bunch of coaching books when I had to fill in temporarily. No need to go book-shopping again."
Just as he was planning his study routine, a new alert rang in his mind.
Self Task: The Strength of a Star PlayerObjective: You were a top university player, but currently you're a basketball noob. This doesn't match your identity. Regain your former skill level within 3 months.Reward: UnknownPenalty: Unknown
"...Seriously?"
"I have to play basketball too? And wait, what's with this self-task— is it mandatory?"
"Self-tasks are personalized missions assigned based on the host's status. They are mandatory."
"Great. ╮(╯▽╰)╭ I didn't want to, but skipping it sounds worse. I have a bad feeling about the penalty, so I might as well start training. I'm still in decent shape.""Three months, huh... that's when we graduate."