Ryonan High School Gymnasium
For a brief moment after the final whistle, the stadium was gripped by an eerie silence.
No cheers.
No movement.
Everyone's eyes were locked on one person.
Qing Junce.
That final, no-look, backward shot—it echoed in their minds on repeat, like a scene out of a dream.
"This guy…" Sendoh chuckled helplessly, breaking the silence.
"Did that really just happen?" Aida Hikoichi rubbed his eyes, stunned. "Am I hallucinating?"
Coach Taoka stared blankly at Qing Junce, his lips slightly parted, still unable to process what he'd seen.
Second Floor, Spectator Stand
Haruko gripped the railing, bouncing with excitement. "Ahhh—Qing Junce!! That was incredible!! He actually made that shot!!"
On the Shohoku bench, jaws were hanging open.
Kogure shook his head with a wry smile. "That guy… He really is a handful."
Ayako blinked. "Did he just throw that on instinct?"
But Shimizu Kanon crossed her arms and grinned. "Nope. He can do it. That's just Ace being Ace."
And just like that, the match was over.
Shohoku had claimed an overwhelming victory.
It was a result no one—except perhaps Qing Junce and Kanon—could have predicted.
Outside the Ryonan Gym
The two teams lined up for farewells.
Coach Taoka approached Coach Anzai, offering a respectful handshake.
"Coach Anzai, thank you for the match. And… congratulations on acquiring such an incredible player."
He didn't name him outright.
But everyone knew—he meant Qing Junce.
Taoka could already see it: the storm Qing Junce was about to unleash across Kanagawa.
Anzai chuckled softly. "Ohohoho~ No, no. It's all the result of the kids' hard work."
Elsewhere
Akagi was beaming.
After all, they'd just crushed the #4 team in the entire prefecture.
He shook hands with Uozumi. "Next time, we'll meet in the official tournament."
Uozumi responded with determination, "Next time, I'll win."
Sendoh walked over and extended his hand toward Qing Junce. "You're incredible. But next time—I'm taking the win."
Qing Junce… didn't move.
He just stared at the hand, clearly not interested in shaking it.
Until—
Kanon, quick on the uptake, grabbed Qing Junce's hand and forced it into Sendoh's.
"Be polite," she whispered with a sweet smile.
"Oi—Kanon…" Junce sighed.
"Ehehe~" she giggled, proud of herself.
Sendoh blinked, a little taken aback.
Qing Junce finally muttered, "Then bring me something more interesting next time."
Kanon facepalmed. "Ace, seriously?"
She turned to Sendoh with an apologetic smile. "Don't take it the wrong way. That's just how he is."
After a beat, Sendoh laughed. "I'll see you at the tournament then."
Back at Ryonan's Side
The Shohoku team began to leave.
Ryonan's players stood quietly, watching them go.
Coach Taoka turned to his team, voice firm. "I don't think I need to spell this out for you."
Everyone stiffened.
"Starting tomorrow—hell training. Twice the workload."
"Ughhh…"
Groans echoed from the team.
The Next Day – Kanagawa Erupts
The news of Shohoku's crushing victory over Ryonan hit the basketball scene like a category twelve typhoon.
Shoyo High School – Basketball Club Room
A tall figure sat quietly, reading the morning paper.
Soft chestnut hair, gentle features, calm, thoughtful eyes.
His name: Fujima Kenji—Shoyo's captain and player-coach.
His jersey: green and white, No. 4.
His demeanor: composed, elegant—and now, unreadable as he stared at the report.
Then, the door opened.
Another player stepped in, tall and lean, wearing glasses and a No. 5 jersey.
Hanagata Toru.
The team's vice-captain, and second only to Fujima in both status and skill.
"Fujima, there you are!"
He noticed the paper. "Oh. Reading that?"
Fujima nodded. "Ryonan lost to Shohoku."
Hanagata snorted. "Hmmp! Just a kid's game. Doesn't mean much."
Fujima didn't respond immediately.
After a moment, he said quietly, "This is our final chance. I can't afford mistakes. Not even one."
Hanagata pushed up his glasses. "You're right. And there's only one real wall left—Kainan."
Kainan University Affiliated High School – Basketball Court
"Whoa… Ryonan actually lost to Shohoku?" said a voice from the bleachers.
Wearing a white and purple jersey, No. 10, with spiky, unruly hair and a forehead band, the boy grinned as he scanned the article.
Kiyota Nobunaga, Kainan's proud freshman.
He turned toward the court. "Hey, Captain! Did you see this?"
On the court, a towering figure was training, shirt soaked in sweat, dark skin gleaming under the lights.
Kainan's No. 4.
Shinichi Maki.
Rugged. Built like steel. Calm as a mountain.
The kind of presence that filled a room—even when silent.
He didn't even glance at Kiyota as he replied, "That doesn't matter. Our opponent isn't in Kanagawa."
He resumed his drills without pause.
Kiyota smirked and tossed the paper aside. "Man, Captain Amu is too cool. Well then, guess it's time for this year's super rookie to take the stage."
Across Kanagawa, Every Team Reacted
Some grew cautious of Shohoku.
Others scoffed, unconcerned.
But one person… was paying very close attention.
The Reporter – Aida Yayoi
Elegant, with long black hair and bright, intelligent eyes. Sharp features, quiet poise, and a graceful maturity.
Aida Yayoi, a sports reporter—and secretly, Sendoh's biggest fan.
She was also a first-year student at Ryonan… and Aida Hikoichi's older sister.
When she first heard Ryonan lost? She laughed it off.
Until her brother confirmed it.
Then came shock. Disbelief.
Because she knew what kind of team Shohoku had been.
Perennial first-round exits.
But now… they'd crushed the county's #4 team.
By over 30 points.
It sounded impossible.
But what truly rattled her—
Ryonan lost because of one player.
One.
"Who could possibly do that to Sendoh…?"
Her instincts as a journalist screamed at her.
This wasn't just a match.
This was the start of something huge.
She didn't hesitate.
"I need to go to Shohoku," she said aloud, her expression set.
"I need to meet the one who crushed Ryonan single-handedly—Qing Junce."