Mitsui Hisashi's Blockade

"A-Ce, maybe we'll have a new team member returning today!" Shimizu Kanon said excitedly to Qing Junce as they walked towards the basketball gym.

Qing Junce's eyes, which had been half-closed, opened slightly, a flicker of curiosity flashing within them. "New team member?"

The image of the person he'd seen yesterday, who strongly resembled Miyagi Ryota, instantly flashed in his mind, and he asked tentatively, "Are you talking about that person who looks like Miyagi Ryota?"

"Huh? You actually know?" Shimizu Kanon looked surprised, pondering inwardly.

When did my childhood friend become so sharp?

Qing Junce pouted, acting nonchalant. "So, the person I saw yesterday really was him."

Shimizu Kanon's curiosity piqued, and she pressed further, "Strange, how do you know about Miyagi Ryota?"

Qing Junce casually brushed it off, "Just a coincidence."

He couldn't possibly admit that he knew everything from watching anime in his past life. If he said that, this little girl would definitely drag him to the hospital, thinking he had a problem with his brain.

Shimizu Kanon didn't press the issue. Instead, she recalled the information she had gathered. "I looked up Miyagi Ryota. He used to play point guard for the team and was very fast. Although not as fast as you, he was outstanding among his peers."

Her tone shifted, and she sighed regretfully. "Ah... it's a shame he's too short. Otherwise, he would have been a good assistant for you, A-Ce!"

"Tch!" Qing Junce scoffed dismissively. "I don't need anyone's help."

Just then, a group of people suddenly appeared ahead, blocking their path.

Qing Junce looked up and saw five delinquent youths forming a semi-circle, trapping him and Shimizu Kanon in the middle.

Shimizu Kanon was startled by the sudden turn of events, her face paling. She instinctively pressed herself tightly behind Qing Junce, her voice trembling slightly. "A-Ce..."

Qing Junce calmly shielded Shimizu Kanon behind him, his gaze indifferently sweeping over the uninvited guests. He quickly recognized the leaders among them.

The one with a buzz cut, a mature-looking face, and a fierce expression. Qing Junce remembered him as Hotta Norio, a third-year student.

Standing to Hotta Norio's right was a slightly overweight, bespectacled young man with an arrogant and overbearing demeanor. Qing Junce also had an impression of this person but couldn't recall his name for a moment. He had no impression of the other two.

Qing Junce merely glanced at them briefly before his gaze fell on the person in the center with long hair. Mitsui Hisashi. He was a former member of the Shohoku basketball team, the MVP during his middle school years, and a renowned three-point sharpshooter. However, he had suffered a leg injury due to an accident and had been in decline ever since.

"Kid, you're on the basketball team, aren't you!" Hotta Norio spoke first, his tone laced with provocation.

Qing Junce's expression was cold as he replied, "Does it matter to you whether I'm on the basketball team or not?"

"Kid, do you know who you're talking to?" the bespectacled delinquent shouted loudly.

Qing Junce completely ignored him, his gaze fixed on Mitsui Hisashi. "We don't know each other, do we? I don't like dealing with strangers. If you're asking for directions, find someone else. Please move aside."

"You punk, are you looking for a beating!" the bespectacled delinquent roared again.

"You're really noisy." Qing Junce picked at his ear, looking utterly impatient, as if the people in front of him were nothing more than insignificant ants.

At this moment, Mitsui Hisashi finally spoke. "You're a first-year student this year, aren't you! Since you're on the basketball team, you should know where Miyagi Ryota is, right?!"

"I don't know," Qing Junce interrupted him unceremoniously, saying coldly, "If you want to find someone, ask elsewhere."

Mitsui Hisashi's face instantly darkened, and he gritted his teeth. "The first-year brats this year are really arrogant!"

Hotta Norio chimed in, "It seems we need to teach you how to respect your seniors."

As soon as he finished speaking, the bespectacled delinquent and the other two, without a word, swung their fists and ferociously punched towards Qing Junce's face.

"A-Ce..." Shimizu Kanon's heart was pounding in her chest with anxiety.

"It's fine, they're just a few fleas," Qing Junce reassured her softly.

In an instant, the aura around him drastically changed. His previous nonchalant, lazy, and casual demeanor was swept away like a fierce gale, replaced by a cold, stern, and murderous chill. He was like a dormant primordial beast, about to devour its prey, exuding a terrifyingly sharp aura that spread outwards like a surging tide.

Mitsui Hisashi and the others felt a chill run down their spines, as if they were being stared down by a bloodthirsty beast, as if their lives would vanish like a candle in the wind the next second. The three delinquents who had rushed forward to beat Qing Junce froze in place the moment they felt this terrifying aura, as if under a paralyzing spell. They looked at Qing Junce with eyes full of fear, as if they had seen a ghost, and no longer dared to take a step forward. Large beads of sweat rolled down their foreheads and slid down their cheeks.

Mitsui Hisashi also stared at Qing Junce with disbelief, his body trembling uncontrollably. Qing Junce didn't even look at them. He took Shimizu Kanon's hand and calmly walked through the group of five. None of them dared to step forward and stop him. Only after Qing Junce and Shimizu Kanon had disappeared into the distance did Mitsui Hisashi and the others heave a sigh of relief, as if a great burden had been lifted.

Hotta Norio spoke with lingering fear, "What's that guy's deal? He seemed pretty dangerous."

The delinquent with glasses swallowed hard, his voice still trembling, "That was terrifying. I really thought I was going to die just now."

At this moment, Mitsui Hisashi's expression was so dark it looked like it could drip water.

He turned his head, staring intently at Qing Junce's receding figure. His teeth gnashed together, his eyes filled with humiliation and hatred.

He, the dignified third-year delinquent leader, had been so scared by a first-year brat that he couldn't move. This was simply a profound disgrace.

"Damn you!" he cursed under his breath. "The Basketball Club..."

On the other side, Qing Junce, who had walked far away, quickly returned to his usual lazy demeanor.

Shimizu Kanon also let out a long sigh, saying with lingering fear, "You scared me to death. I thought you were going to fight them."

Qing Junce looked relaxed, as if everything that had just happened was a trivial matter. "Even if we had fought, there would be nothing to fear."

"But what if you got hurt?" Shimizu Kanon asked, her face full of worry.

Qing Junce waved his hand dismissively, "Those guys weren't even a challenge."

"But it's really strange, you actually used that move," Shimizu Kanon said thoughtfully.

Qing Junce naturally understood what she was referring to, and replied calmly, "I just thought it would be more efficient."

Shimizu Kanon couldn't help but laugh, "I never expected your move could be used to 'break up a fight'."

Qing Junce's lips twitched slightly, and he silently grumbled, "Break up a fight? That was intimidation, alright!"

Too lazy to deal with this imaginative girl any longer, the two soon arrived at the entrance of the basketball gym.

As soon as they pushed the door open, Qing Junce and Shimizu Kanon froze.

Inside the gym, most people were standing on the sides of the court.

On the court, two people were lying on the ground in extremely peculiar poses.

It was Sakuragi Hanamichi and Miyagi Ryota. Miyagi Ryota was on top of Sakuragi Hanamichi, his hands tightly gripping the latter's legs.

Sakuragi Hanamichi, with his butt sticking out, was constantly arching his body forward, his arms stretched out long, trying to reach the basketball on the ground in front of him.

The two men's actions were incredibly comical, even bordering on suggestive.

This scene left Shimizu Kanon dumbfounded.

Qing Junce couldn't help but twitch his lips either.

What on earth were these two up to?

Kogure Kiminobu noticed Qing Junce and Shimizu Kanon entering and greeted them, "You're here!"

"Kogure-senpai," Shimizu Kanon replied politely, then asked with a confused expression, "What's going on here?"

"Uh... well, it's just as you see," Kogure Kiminobu said helplessly, gesturing towards Miyagi Ryota and Sakuragi Hanamichi on the ground. He explained, "That guy is Miyagi Ryota. He was hospitalized and couldn't attend basketball club practice."

Ayako added from the side, "He's also a problem student. You'll have your hands full with him."

Just then, Rukawa Kaede walked directly to Qing Junce, basketball in hand, and said calmly, "Let's have a match."

As soon as he said this, the surroundings instantly quieted down considerably.

Several first-year students couldn't help but sweat for Rukawa Kaede.

The scene of Qing Junce utterly dominating Rukawa Kaede last time was still fresh in their minds.

"Rukawa Kaede really has courage. If it were me, I probably would have given up by now," Yamada Tadashi remarked with admiration.

"Yeah," Kuwata Toki nodded in agreement.

Qing Junce shrugged and walked to the other side of the court. "I'm bored anyway, so I'll play with you."

Upon hearing this, everyone's interest was immediately piqued.

The gazes that had been focused on Miyagi Ryota and Sakuragi Hanamichi wrestling on the ground now all shifted to Qing Junce and Rukawa Kaede. They gathered around the half-court, eagerly anticipating the start of this showdown.