Qing Junce's Pressure

Shohoku's bench.

After Qing Junce was substituted, he immediately returned to his seat.

The members of Shohoku, one after another, with excited expressions, did not hesitate to praise him.

"Qing Junce, you are truly amazing."

"Yeah! You could actually fight that Sendoh to a standstill."

"Maybe this time we can really beat Ryonan!"

Akagi Takenori also looked at Qing Junce with a complex expression.

He hadn't expected Qing Junce's strength to be this great.

However, he wouldn't be the type to openly praise someone like that.

Kogure Kiminobu came to Akagi Takenori's side and said excitedly, "Shohoku has really gained an incredible guy! Right! Akagi."

Although Akagi thought the same thing in his heart, his expression remained stern, and he snorted, "Hmph, a guy with no sense of time."

Ayako lavished him with praise, patting Qing Junce on the back and saying, "Qing Junce, so you're this strong! Even Sendoh got shut down by you. Shohoku is really going places now."

Qing Junce's expression was calm. "It was nothing special."

Shimizu Kanon then came to the front of the group, holding a stack of documents, and said, "Although we're currently down by 10 points, the advantage is still ours. Everyone needs to pay attention to the teamwork between their players, and be ready for Sendoh's potential passes. In the second half, you can..."

She began to explain Ryonan's player data and some key points to watch out for in the second half.

The Shohoku members listened intently.

Coach Anzai sat quietly to the side, like an old man detached from worldly affairs.

When Shimizu Kanon finished speaking, he finally turned his gaze to Qing Junce.

Seeing Qing Junce spacing out, she directly asked, "A-Ce, were you even listening?"

"Huh? What?" Qing Junce blinked, snapping back to attention.

Seeing his reaction, Shimizu Kanon couldn't help but feel exasperated.

She said irritably, "Honestly, you're always like this. We need to catch up! We're still behind! Can you please be more serious and not get blocked so easily?"

Huh?!

Qing Junce picked at his ear and then replied nonchalantly, "No way! I'm exhausted."

"A-Ce..." Shimizu Kanon pouted, looking annoyed.

Qing Junce sighed, then said, "But... that guy does have some skill. I'll be more serious in the second half."

Everyone who heard Qing Junce and Shimizu Kanon's conversation was utterly bewildered.

What was that?

From their conversation, it sounded like that wasn't Qing Junce's full strength before?

What a joke.

At the other end of the bench.

Rukawa Kaede, who had been silent the whole time, frowned.

His gaze fell upon Qing Junce, his eyes as deep as an abyss.

Akagi Takenori also looked at Qing Junce, his expression unreadable, his thoughts a mystery.

Ryonan's bench.

The Ryonan players were gathered in a circle.

Taoka Moichi was giving them a pep talk.

His heart felt heavy. "Listen, we need to strengthen our defense in the second half and not let Shohoku score easily."

"Yes..." the Ryonan players responded in unison.

Taoka Moichi shifted his gaze to Sendoh and said, "Sendoh, Shohoku's number 9 is your responsibility. You must shut him down completely."

Sendoh nodded. "I understand."

Despite this arrangement, Taoka Moichi still felt uneasy.

Qing Junce had put too much pressure on him, and it had come too suddenly.

He thought for a moment, then said to Uozumi, "Uozumi, if you have the chance, assist Sendoh."

His words stunned both Uozumi and the other Ryonan players.

Did the coach mean for Uozumi to help Sendoh defend Shohoku's number 9 together?

Wasn't that a bit excessive?

Even though some didn't understand, they didn't dare to say anything in front of the coach.

Uozumi, though slightly confused, nodded and replied, "Yes."

The second half of the game quickly began.

The players from both teams returned to the court.

Ayako curiously asked Shimizu Kanon, "Kanon, what did you mean earlier when you said Qing Junce wasn't serious yet? Was he not showing his full strength before?"

This question also drew the attention of the other members of Shohoku.

Coach Anzai, who had been calmly observing, listened intently.

Shimizu Kanon slowly explained, "Well... you can't really say that. A-Ce is the type of player who gets better as the game progresses into the second half. You'll understand more later. Perhaps you'll even understand after this game."

It wasn't that she didn't want to explain.

She just didn't know how to.

On the court.

Sendoh approached Qing Junce. "You're Qing Junce, right? Why haven't I heard your name before?"

Qing Junce looked at him and replied, "I haven't heard your name either."

Qing Junce was just saying that.

Of course, he wasn't exactly lying.

If he hadn't watched Slam Dunk in his previous life, he definitely wouldn't have heard of Sendoh's name now.

"Is that so?" Sendoh didn't get angry.

Instead, he felt that Qing Junce had a point.

With a slight smile, he said meaningfully, "It looks like this year's prefectural tournament will be quite exciting. Let me see what you're capable of!"

Qing Junce grinned and looked at Sendoh. "Then let's see if you have what it takes."

For a moment, the atmosphere between the two became tense.

Beep...

A whistle blew.

The practice match between Shohoku and Ryonan officially began its second half.

From the start of the game, a clear division emerged on the court.

"What is this..." Aida Kenichi pointed at the court, looking confused.

"It feels like... everyone's gathered on one side!" a Ryonan substitute exclaimed.

Taoka Moichi crossed his arms, his expression serious. "This is to give the aces more space to operate and let them decide the direction of the game. This is a very rare situation."

Hearing this, the Ryonan substitutes were filled with admiration.

Aida Kenichi excitedly scribbled in his notebook, saying, "I see, ace versus ace! I didn't expect Shohoku's number 9 to be this strong. I have to write this down."

Taoka Moichi frowned, muttering to himself, "The key to winning or losing this game now rests with the aces of both teams."

Ryonan took the ball first.

After a series of passes, the ball eventually landed in Sendoh's hands.

Sendoh, upon receiving the ball, didn't attack immediately. Instead, he looked at Qing Junce and said, "Alright, let's begin!"

With that, the ball in Sendoh's hands hit the floor, and he flashed forward, darting to Qing Junce's right.

In the blink of an eye, Sendoh had already passed behind Qing Junce.

"He broke through," Koshino Hiroaki said in surprise.

"No, not yet," Uozumi said gravely.

As Sendoh, who had just broken past Qing Junce, moved forward, a red figure closely followed right behind him.

This person was none other than Qing Junce.

Sendoh also felt the figure rapidly approaching from behind.

He suddenly stopped his forward momentum, and the ball in his hands was thrown to the other side of the court.

Looking at the direction the ball was flying, it was heading towards Ryonan's power forward, Ikegami Ryoji, who was wearing jersey number 5.

He received Sendoh's pass and quickly drove into Shohoku's paint, preparing to jump up for a layup.

Ah...

Just then, Akagi Takenori leaped, spreading his arms wide, blocking Ikegami Ryoji's path to the basket.

"Here..." Suddenly, a voice sounded from behind Ikegami Ryoji.

He recognized it as Sendoh's voice and, without thinking, stopped his layup attempt and threw the ball directly back in the direction of the voice.

The ball returned to Sendoh's hands once more.

As Akagi Takenori, who had jumped, began to descend, he could only watch helplessly as Sendoh leaped up with the basketball.

Just as Sendoh was about to successfully complete his layup.

Qing Junce suddenly burst forward, stretching out his arm, and swatted the basketball away with a single slap.

Smack...

A crisp sound reached the ears of everyone present.

Sendoh's pupils quivered, but at this moment, he was powerless to do anything.

Landing back on the ground, Qing Junce said to Sendoh, "This sluggish fast break is useless."

Sendoh's expression turned somewhat grim.

He had already done his best to speed up the offensive pace, yet he still couldn't shake off his opponent.