Su Xiaoqi's earth-shattering dunk not only delayed the start of the game but also made Kawai Mari cling to him even more obsessively.
"Kawai Mari, can you please stay away from me? I've told you thirty times already—I have a girlfriend."
Su Xiaoqi was getting increasingly annoyed by this human-shaped sticker attached to him. How could he have forgotten that every female character in Slam Dunk had a fangirl streak? From Akagi Haruko at the top to Rukawa's fan club and even that reporter obsessed with Sendoh—without exception, they all shared this trait.
Kawai Mari responded, "Then this is my thirty-first reply: bring your girlfriend here to meet me, and then I'll believe you."
Su Xiaoqi pressed a hand to his forehead, looking utterly defeated. "Haruko, Ayako, please help drag her away. Thanks."
Mari crossed her arms. "I'm the team advisor. I have every right to sit here."
Seeing that she wouldn't budge, Su Xiaoqi reluctantly compromised, "Fine. Keep quiet for now. After the game, you can interview me however you want. Deal?"
Mari's eyes lit up with victory. "You said it yourself—the length of the interview is up to me."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say."
Su Xiaoqi had already made up his mind—the moment this game ended, he was bolting. This world was becoming too much of a headache to stay in any longer.
Game Resumes After Backboard Replacement
Over an hour later, after the staff frantically installed a new basketball hoop (with Su Xiaoqi footing the bill—though for Hanamichi, it was pocket change), the game was finally set to begin in ten minutes.
"Remember—at least a fifty-point lead by halftime."
As the players from both teams stepped onto the court, the previously quiet crowd erupted in cheers. However, when they didn't see Su Xiaoqi among Shōhoku's starting lineup, they began chanting his name in unison.
This was entirely thanks to the "Sakuragi Gang"—the trio of delinquents who had skipped class to watch the game. They had hyped Su Xiaoqi up to legendary status, stopping just short of revealing his otherworldly origins while spilling every other detail they could.
Under the crowd's watchful eyes, the players from Shōhoku and Taiyō gathered at center court for the opening tip-off.
After Su Xiaoqi's rim-shattering dunk, Taiyō's players had become much more subdued, though their eyes still burned with resentment.
Tweet!
With the referee's whistle, the ball was tossed into the air, and the game officially began.
First Half Domination
Shōhoku's players, fueled by adrenaline and the promise of skill cards, immediately went into "rabid dog" mode. They were determined to crush Taiyō while also showing off for their coach.
But just five minutes into the game, the entire gym—including players from Ryōnan, Shōyō, and Kainan—was left speechless.
What kind of basketball was Rukawa Kaede playing?!
On Ryōnan's side, Aida Hikoichi gaped at the court. "Coach... was Rukawa holding back during our practice match?!"
Coach Taoka's face darkened. "How should I know?!"
Shōhoku already had an unstoppable force in Sakuragi. Now, with Rukawa pulling off impossible moves and the mysterious Su Xiaoqi as their coach, the thought of facing them was downright terrifying.
Over at Shōyō's bench, every player wore a grim expression. Maki Shin'ichi, standing with them, patted Fujima Kenji's shoulder sympathetically. "Good luck."
Fujima hesitated before asking, "Could you stop him?"
Maki gave a wry smile. "Do I look like I can defy physics?"
By the midway point of the first half, no one cared about the score anymore—Taiyō was already trailing by over thirty points, and the outcome was inevitable. What fascinated the crowd now was the verbal battle unfolding on the court.
Taiyō's players, frustrated and humiliated, were hurling insults at Rukawa.
Shōhoku's players were also yelling at Rukawa.
Because while Rukawa had already scored 42 points, the rest of the starters had barely contributed—Akagi with 4, Mitsui with 3, and Miyagi and Kogure still at zero.
Timeout: Shōhoku Adjusts
Su Xiaoqi called for a timeout just as Taiyō subbed in their "secret weapon"—Naitō Tetsuya, a supposed 196cm, 155kg behemoth with 11-second 100-meter dash speed.
(Su Xiaoqi squinted. No way this guy actually weighs 155kg.)
Ignoring Mari's questioning look, he huddled the team together.
"Taiyō's about to start playing dirty. Be careful." He then smirked. "Also—Rukawa's got 42 points. The rest of you might want to step it up."
Miyagi immediately protested. "Coach, that's not fair! Rukawa's cheating!"
Su Xiaoqi raised an eyebrow. "And if you had his abilities, you wouldn't show off?" He turned to the others. "Rukawa didn't slack off after losing to Hanamichi. So why are you complaining? Or is your so-called 'love for basketball' just this shallow?"
The trio fell silent, but by the end of the timeout, they vowed to prove themselves through their performance.
Su Xiaoqi nodded in approval before turning to Rukawa. "They're going to target you. Play it safe for now—your body still needs more training."
Rukawa simply nodded. "Understood."
Meanwhile, Miyagi whispered to Mitsui, "Pass to me. I'll score, and you rack up assists. Deal?"
Mitsui frowned. "Why not pass to Akagi?"
Miyagi rolled his eyes. "Captain's got Hanamichi backing him—he'll get skill cards anyway. We need to work together."
Mitsui grinned. "Say no more. I'll shoot until my legs give out."
Hanamichi, meanwhile, tugged at Su Xiaoqi's sleeve. "Big bro, why bother with all this?"
Su Xiaoqi smirked. "I'm building your future rivals. Crushing them later will be way more fun, right?"
Second Half: Total Annihilation
Naitō did cause some initial trouble, and Taiyō did resort to underhanded tactics—just as Su Xiaoqi predicted.
Mari shot to her feet, furious. "This is disgusting! I'm reporting them!"
Su Xiaoqi yanked her back down. "Sit. I'm not even mad. Just watch."
Mari instantly deflated. "...Okay."
Despite Taiyō's dirty plays, the point gap only widened. Miyagi and Mitsui's pick-and-roll combo shredded their perimeter defense. When they adjusted, Akagi and Kogure dominated the paint. And Rukawa? He still scored whenever he felt like it.
By the end of the first half, the score stood at 82-24—a 58-point lead.
Halftime Breakdown
Su Xiaoqi examined his bruised starters. "Solid overall, but plenty of flaws."
"Mitsui, Rukawa—your stamina is pathetic. How are you supposed to satisfy a woman like this?"
"Akagi, Kogure—you're too soft. Real men play rough."
"Miyagi—you checked out Ayako twenty-seven times. Next time, I'll tie her to you so you can stare until you puke."
The entire team howled with laughter. Ayako turned beet red and smacked Miyagi on the arm.
"Go get patched up. We'll handle the second half." Su Xiaoqi cracked his knuckles. "If any Taiyō player leaves this gym standing, I've failed."
The team shuddered, silently offering prayers for Taiyō's unfortunate souls.
Then—
"COACH!" Hanamichi suddenly shouted, pointing dramatically. "The white-haired idiot is sleeping! Should we beat him up first?!"
Su Xiaoqi's eye twitched. There, curled up on the bench with a pillow and blanket, was Gintoki, snoring away.
He kicked Gintoki off the bench. "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!"
Gintoki blinked drowsily. "...Xiaoqi? Is it lunchtime yet?"
Su Xiaoqi's veins bulged. "HANAMICHI—HELP ME MURDER THIS IDIOT."