Slam dunk, hit 100% of the three-pointers at the beginning!

After finishing their meal, Ryu walked out of the ramen shop with Ayako, letting out a satisfied burp.

"Senpai, this place is great. Next time, we should bring Akagi-senpai and the others. I'll treat them."

Patting his slightly bulging stomach, Ryu spoke with a contented smile.

"Of course! I come here often," Ayako replied proudly, tilting her head. "But I didn't expect you to eat so much."

"Ha ha, you know just like the saying: Don't judge a book by its cover," Ryu said, tucking the remaining change back into his wallet.

"Huh? Don't judge what?" Ayako blinked, confused.

"That's a proverb from my home country," Ryu explained with a mock-serious tone. "It means if you only look at someone's appearance, you might judge them wrong."

"Oh, I see! That's a good one. I should learn more about your culture," Ayako said, nodding as if she'd just had a revelation.

Ryu checked his watch—it was already past 7 PM.

After chatting for a few more minutes and seeing Ayako off, he turned toward the Shōhoku basketball gym.

When Ryu reached the gym, he noticed the lights were still on.

"Who's still training?" he wondered aloud.

By this time, most players should have gone home. Curious, he walked toward the gym.

As he stepped inside—

Bang!

The sound of a powerful dunk echoed through the building.

Ryu spotted a familiar figure—Rukawa Kaede—drenched in sweat, practicing alone.

"Rukawa? He hasn't gone home yet?"

Watching Rukawa's relentless training, Ryu couldn't help but be impressed.

Everyone praised Rukawa's skills, but few saw the hard work behind them. Training alone this late into the night showed his determination.

Maybe this is how a genius is made.

Walking into the gym, Ryu caught Rukawa's attention.

Rukawa glanced at him, his expression briefly showing surprise before returning to its usual stoic look.

"Ryu?" Rukawa mumbled, then gave a slight nod before resuming his dunk practice.

His movements became even more forceful, as if Ryu's arrival had sparked his competitive spirit.

Ryu shook his head, smirking. "Looks like I've got another rival for no reason."

Still, he wasn't too concerned. Improving his own skills was his top priority. If Rukawa ever challenged him, Ryu wouldn't hesitate to crush his confidence.

He started his dribbling drills without further delay.

Time flew by, and a week passed in the blink of an eye.

During that time, Ryu maintained a rigorous schedule. Morning runs with Ayako, team practices, and solo training—all without skipping a beat.

He even hosted a small gathering at his house for the basketball team.

Akagi and the others were stunned by the sheer size of Ryu's mansion.

By the end of the week, Ryu had grown closer to his teammates, who now had a deeper understanding of him.

Sitting in the corner of the gym, Ryu checked his status panel.

[Host: Ryu Yan]

Height: 180 cm

Weight: 68 kg

Stamina: C-

Speed: C

Strength: C+

Jumping Ability: B

Skills: Intermediate Dribbling, Full-Court Shooting, Super Start, Quick Recovery, Phantom Steal, Precision Passing, "C" Dribble Crossover, Mid-Air Hand Switch Dunk

After a week of hard work, his attributes had significantly improved. Most of his stats had risen by an entire grade.

"Everyone, gather up!" Akagi's booming voice echoed through the gym.

The players stopped their training and lined up neatly.

"Where's Miyagi? He's not here," Akagi asked, frowning as he scanned the group.

"I don't know. I haven't seen him at all today," Yasuda replied, scratching his head.

Kogure and the others shook their heads, equally clueless about Miyagi's whereabouts.

Even Ayako looked confused. She hadn't noticed Miyagi's absence because, ever since the practice match, her attention had been focused on Ryu.

Ryu recalled Miyagi's storyline and guessed he was likely dealing with Mitsui Hisashi. But that wasn't something he could interfere with—he could only silently hope for Miyagi's safety.

"Forget it," Akagi said. "Tomorrow is our practice match against Ryonan. Make sure you all rest well tonight."

"Let's show them what we're made of!"

Excitement lit up everyone's faces as they nodded in agreement.

Akagi's expression was filled with anticipation. The showdown with Ryonan was something he had been waiting for.

After announcing the key details, the team dispersed to prepare for the big game.

Each player left the gym determined to be at their best for tomorrow's match against Ryonan.