Chapter 1: The Basketball Dream: A New Beginning

"Did you watch last night's game? Michael Jordan was unstoppable! He single-handedly took down the Pacers. He's the greatest of all time in my book!"

"Reggie Miller was incredible too. His three-point shooting is lethal. It's a shame he couldn't lead his team past the Bulls!"

"I personally prefer watching battles in the paint. After seeing Shaquille O'Neal's dominance, I'm convinced he'll be the next big man to take over the league!"

In the heart of Amherst, Massachusetts, on the campus of the University of Massachusetts, basketball was a constant topic of discussion. Despite not being a school known for a deep basketball tradition, the love for the game thrived.

All around campus, conversations about the NBA filled the air, from dorm rooms to dining halls. In a country where basketball was more than just a sport—it was a culture—such discussions were a daily ritual.

"Ethan, I watched the Magic-Knicks game today, and I'm still hyped!"

The voice belonged to a towering young man in a dorm room, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he turned to his roommate.

"Shaq is an absolute monster! He's only in his fourth year, but he went head-to-head with Patrick Ewing and held his own! I want to be a player like that—I want to make it to the NBA!"

The person he was addressing, however, seemed far less enthused. Compared to his animated roommate, the young man sitting on the bed remained unfazed, his focus elsewhere.

Marcus Camby shook his head. His roommate, Ethan Walker, was one of the few people on campus who seemed completely uninterested in basketball.

"I'm heading to the gym. We'll talk later!"

With that, Marcus grabbed his bag and left, leaving Ethan alone in their dorm.

Ethan was different from most students at UMass. Unlike Marcus and many others, he hadn't come to school for basketball or sports. He was here to study education, dreaming of making a difference in the world of academics rather than on the court.

Standing at 6'7" and weighing 220 pounds, he had the perfect build for basketball, but the game had never really interested him.

Setting down his textbook on pedagogy, Ethan stretched his arms. But as he moved, something strange happened—his entire body froze in place.

He couldn't move. He couldn't speak.

For nearly five minutes, he remained like that, locked in an eerie stillness.

Then, just as suddenly as it had started, the sensation faded.

"What the hell…?"

Ryo touched his forehead, confused. Just moments ago, he had been reading a sports manga back in 2020, yet now, he found himself in an unfamiliar environment.

His heart pounded as a wild thought crossed his mind.

Did I just… travel through time?

It sounded absurd, but as someone who had devoured countless time-travel novels, he knew there was only one explanation.

Yes—he had been transported back in time!

As realization dawned, his mind flooded with memories that weren't his own. Everything about his new identity, his background, and this world suddenly became clear.

He was no longer Ryo Takahashi, an ordinary college student from 2020.

Now, he was Ethan Walker, a student at the University of Massachusetts in 1996!

Rushing to the mirror, he stared at his reflection. A chiseled, undeniably handsome face stared back at him.

"Damn… I look like a model!"

As a huge fan of basketball anime, Ethan couldn't help but notice the resemblance to a certain character he had always admired—one known for both his looks and skills.

But good looks weren't enough.

If he could have anything, he wanted something far more valuable—talent.

Specifically, the ability to copy any move he saw, just like his favorite anime character.

Perfect imitation—now that was a skill that could change everything.

In his previous life, he had always dreamed of what it would be like to have such an ability, to experience life as a chosen one on the court.

But dreams were just that—fantasies.

Until now.

[Ding! System initialization complete. The Basketball Mastery System has been activated!]

Ethan's breath hitched as a robotic voice echoed in his mind.

Wait… did he just hear that correctly?

His palms grew sweaty.

A system?

He had imagined this moment a thousand times, but now that it was happening, he struggled to stay calm.

Taking a deep breath, he clenched his fists and focused.

"System… what do you do?"

[Congratulations, Host. You are now the sole owner of the Basketball Mastery System!]

Before he could react, a glowing interface appeared in front of him, filled with stats, abilities, and a single word that sent a chill of excitement down his spine.

[Talent: Perfect Imitation.]

Ethan's eyes widened.

His dream… had just become reality.