Our training week kicked off in full force.
Each day was a mix of drills, strategy sessions, and basic offense-defense routines. We weren't aiming for complexity—at least, not yet. Some of us were total newbies, and cramming too much into our heads would only backfire. Simple and solid—that was our motto.
Of course, that didn't mean training was easy. Coach Tsugawa—our so-called "General Ramen"—turned out to be a training devil. He may have shown up with a noodle strainer once, but on the court? He cooked us alive. His drills started light, but the intensity escalated until it felt like we were digging through the layers of hell itself.
And surprisingly, one of the MVPs of the week wasn't a player. It was Sayaka.
She turned out to be a basketball nerd in the best way possible. Not only did she understand the flow of the game, but she also had a knack for explaining it. Whether it was spacing, defensive rotations, or the logic behind certain plays, Sayaka broke it all down with the patience of a seasoned teacher. Even Coach Tsugawa gave her nods of approval.
Thanks to her, I managed to absorb more strategy in a week than I ever had in my past life.
Then there was the system—Echo. Based on its recommendation, I decided to use a Training Booster during one of our sessions.
The result? My Physical attribute jumped from C to C+.
I could feel it immediately—my movements were sharper, my stamina recovery better. It was like my body had been unlocked just a bit more. Naturally, I wanted to pop another booster right away, but Echo warned me:
[ Caution: Overusing boosters in short intervals reduces their effectiveness. Current spike due to accumulated training. ]
I clicked my tongue. Fair enough. Still, the difference was insane. If this was just a C+, I couldn't even imagine what A or S-tier Physical felt like.
Two days before our match, Coach Tsugawa gathered us in the gym.
"In two days, we're heading to Toyonaka High School," he announced. "Tomorrow is a rest day—don't slack off, just recover. Now, good news—our uniforms are done. And this is the roster for the game."
He grabbed a Chalk and wrote on the board:
All of us nodded in agreement. It was the best lineup we had for now. Kaito still struggled with his heart condition, and Hiroki's confidence wasn't quite game-ready. Coach made it clear, though:
"For the bench, be ready—you'll be playing too."
Just then, the gym doors slid open. Sayaka and Takeshi walked in carrying boxes.
"Excuse us," Sayaka said with a grin. "Uniform delivery."
One by one, she handed them out.
I got number 8—my old number from my past life. I always loved it. A never-ending loop. A symbol of infinity. Fitting.
Rei took 3. Aizawa picked 21. Taiga, naturally, took 23—Jordan's number. Rikuya wore 4, an omen number in Japan. Hiroki ended up with 33, and Kaito, our captain, got 10. It suited him perfectly.
The uniforms themselves? Sleek. Black and crimson with a swirling void design. Sayaka explained it was inspired by our school name—Horizon. Like the event horizon of a black hole. The message was clear:
Get too close, and we'll pull you in.
"Alright, go get changed," Takeshi-sensei said.
"Ehh? We're not playing today though," Rei muttered.
A few minutes later, we emerged one by one in full gear. Coach Tsugawa, Sayaka, and even Takeshi were all wearing matching team shirts.
That's when I noticed something else—Takeshi was setting up a camera.
A proper camcorder. 2009's best.
But to me? It looked ancient. Bulky. Heavy. Analog.
That's what happens when you've lived in the future. From my perspective, it was a fossil. But for this timeline? It was top-tier tech.
"Is that thing even working?" I whispered.
"Of course," Takeshi said proudly. "This baby's state-of-the-art. I'm documenting everything—photos, videos, even game footage. I taught Sayaka how to use it too, just in case I can't come along."
Sayaka gave me a thumbs up, holding the camera like a pro.
"Alright, gather up!" Takeshi shouted. "Time for a team photo."
We shuffled into formation.
"First one's formal—vintage style. Just like the old sports teams."
Taiga and Aizawa immediately started bickering over who stood where.
"No, you move left. You're too wide."
Rikuya stepped between them silently and fixed the arrangement with one hand. Crisis averted.
"Okay! Everyone ready? Three, two, one—say cheese!"
"Alright, now one with free poses!" Takeshi called out.
We exploded into chaos—peace signs, goofy gestures, exaggerated flexes. Even I got caught up in the excitement. I wasn't about to be outdone by these high schoolers, even if I was technically older than everyone here in my soul.
"We win!!" someone shouted.
"Winnnn!!" we all echoed, arms in the air.
That was the moment. Our first official team photo.