Time passed quickly.
Before they knew it, nearly a week had gone by.
That day was May 15.
Shohoku High School · Basketball Gym.
The gymnasium doors creaked open.
Shimizu Kanon and Ayako walked in together.
Ayako held a sheet of paper rolled into a cylinder. Before she even entered, she called loudly to everyone training inside, "Everyone, the match order has been announced!"
Ayako's words instantly drew everyone's attention, and their movements came to an abrupt halt.
The sound of their hurried breathing gradually quieted.
Ayako had no intention of keeping them in suspense. She walked straight to the spot where the whiteboard was placed, carefully unfolded the somewhat oversized sheet of paper in her hands, and firmly stuck it up.
Only then did everyone see that the paper was the schedule for the Kanagawa Prefectural Tournament.
The members of the Shohoku Basketball Club immediately crowded around like a tide. Curiosity flashed in every eye as they eagerly searched for the opponents in Shohoku's bracket.
Kogure Kiminobu looked around and asked curiously, "Kanon, didn't Qing Junce come with you? Why haven't I seen him?"
Shimizu Kanon's face was full of helplessness. She said guiltily, "We had to pick up the schedule, so I told A-Ce to come to the gym first by himself. He really didn't come!"
Kogure Kiminobu waved his hand with a smile and said indifferently, "It's fine. Having you here is the same anyway."
The rest of the Shohoku players had long since grown used to this. Without saying a word, they tacitly let it go.
After all, Qing Junce's strength spoke for itself.
Everyone's eyes began searching the schedule, and they soon found Shohoku's name.
"Our first opponent is Miuradai!" Miyagi Ryota said thoughtfully.
He did not know much about Miuradai.
Ayako explained, "Miuradai is also very strong! They performed quite well last year, defeating one opponent after another until they unfortunately lost to Kainan. I heard they've been training especially hard this year so they can defeat Kainan!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi scratched his head and asked curiously, "Kainan? Are they that strong?"
Kogure Kiminobu patiently explained, "Sakuragi, Kainan isn't merely strong. They've made it to the National Tournament for sixteen consecutive years and are a renowned powerhouse throughout the country."
"Heh heh... What's there to fear? With genius Sakuragi Hanamichi here, I'll beat them until they're running for their lives!" Sakuragi Hanamichi planted his hands on his hips and shouted smugly.
"Hmph, what an outrageous boast." A voice came from the back of the group, mercilessly retorting against Sakuragi Hanamichi.
"What did you say, you neither-man-nor-woman freak!" Sakuragi Hanamichi instantly flew into a rage and spun around to fire back.
The newcomer was none other than Mitsui Hisashi.
By then, he had returned to the Basketball Club.
He looked like an entirely different person.
His formerly flamboyant long hair had been cut off, replaced by a neat, refreshing crop of short hair.
The two missing front teeth in his mouth had also been replaced with false teeth. He looked spirited, handsome, and considerably more composed.
The story began the day after Qing Junce and Rukawa Kaede's previous showdown.
That day, Mitsui Hisashi had brought a group of delinquents to the Basketball Club in menacing fashion. He had originally intended to cause trouble for Qing Junce and reclaim the face he had lost after being intimidated last time.
However, he did not know that Qing Junce had no sense of time.
When he arrived at the gym and failed to see Qing Junce, he vented his anger on Sakuragi Hanamichi, Rukawa Kaede, and the others.
Sakuragi Hanamichi and Rukawa Kaede naturally refused to stand there and be humiliated, so a full-blown brawl broke out.
Later, by the time Qing Junce and Shimizu Kanon arrived at the gym, the incident was already drawing to a close.
Qing Junce only saw Mitsui Hisashi kneeling before Coach Anzai, sobbing uncontrollably and saying that he wanted to play basketball and the like.
The next day, Mitsui Hisashi returned to the team looking like a completely different person.
Perhaps he still harbored some resentment. The moment he saw Qing Junce, he challenged him.
The outcome was obvious.
In front of everyone, Mitsui Hisashi was beaten so badly that he questioned his entire existence.
From then on, Mitsui Hisashi had no choice but to admit that Qing Junce's strength was indeed far beyond his own.
Mitsui Hisashi extended a finger toward a spot on the schedule and said seriously, "If we want to challenge Kainan, we have to defeat Shoyo first."
Although he had been away from the Basketball Club for two years, he still remembered some of the famous powerhouse teams.
Ayako nodded in agreement and added, "Mitsui-senpai is right. Shoyo was last year's runner-up, with strength second only to Kainan."
At that moment, Shimizu Kanon took out a stack of documents and began distributing them one by one. As she handed them out, she said, "These are the materials I compiled on Miuradai. Take a look first!"
Everyone accepted the documents and scanned the information recorded on them. Their eyelids began twitching violently.
Name: Murasame Kengo (Miuradai Basketball Club captain)
Jersey Number: 4
Position: Small Forward
Year: Third Year
Height: 186 cm
Weight: 69.2 kg
Personality: Arrogant and conceited, with no respect whatsoever for other teams. Skilled at committing small fouls behind the referee's back. Will stop at nothing to win and has no sense of sportsmanship.
Recommendation: Ignore his verbal provocation. When guarding him, remain in the referee's field of vision as much as possible. Avoid close contact unless necessary, and use passing in place of dribbling attacks whenever possible.
Name: Araki Kazuo
Jersey Number: 5
Position: Point Guard
Year: Third Year
Height: 187 cm
Weight: 67 kg
Personality: Arrogant and fond of trash-talking.
Recommendation: Ignore his verbal attacks and stay alert for deliberate fouls.
The information on each Miuradai player was incredibly detailed, covering everything from strength analysis and personality profiles to response strategies.
The Shohoku players were already familiar with Shimizu Kanon's ability to gather intelligence, so they managed to remain calm.
However, this was Miyagi Ryota and Mitsui Hisashi's first time seeing it. They were utterly stunned, standing there like wooden chickens.
Was this really something a human could do?
Anyone who did not know better would think Shimizu Kanon was a relative of Miuradai's!
How did she even have information on the opposing coach?
And what was the deal with their favorite foods and hobbies?
Was she sure she wasn't joking?
Even a professional spy would probably have trouble investigating things this thoroughly!
At that moment, Miyagi Ryota and Mitsui Hisashi looked at Shimizu Kanon with awe.
They felt as though they had no secrets before her, utterly exposed and shivering in the cold.
Shimizu Kanon continued, "Miuradai's overall strength is fairly ordinary. However, one player deserves attention: this year, they recruited a new player named Naito Tetsuya. He's 196 centimeters tall and weighs 155 kilograms. He used to play rugby, but the Basketball Club coach took notice of him and recruited him. All we know for now is that he's very fast—he can run 100 meters in eleven seconds—and that he should also be extremely strong."
First-year Kuwata Toki swallowed unconsciously and said softly, "From the looks of it, Miuradai doesn't seem that scary after all."
Sasazuka Tomoya nodded along. "Yeah, I think so too."
Yamada Tadashi looked as though he had discovered a new continent. He said excitedly, "I suddenly feel that working as a manager has a very promising future."
A faint smile hung at the corner of Kogure Kiminobu's mouth, but his smile carried a hint of anticipation and emotion. "No matter what, this is our final summer, Akagi."
"Mm." Akagi's expression was solemn as he nodded and declared, "All right. We have to win. First, we'll defeat Miuradai."
"Yeah..." Everyone shouted in unison, their voices echoing throughout the entire gym.
Ryonan High School · Basketball Gym.
"Defense... defense... defense..."
Their earth-shaking cheers rang out without end.
The Ryonan players were tirelessly carrying out an intra-team practice, seriousness and focus written across every face.
Aida Kenichi watched them with both delight and worry. "Ever since we lost to Shohoku, everyone's been carrying enormous pressure. It all stems from one person."
Whenever he recalled Qing Junce slaughtering his way across the court that day, his body trembled faintly.
There was excitement, along with a trace of fear.
He was excited because Qing Junce was simply too strong.
He had never seen such a powerful player.
He was afraid for the very same reason: Qing Junce was too strong.
If they encountered him in a match, whether Ryonan could defeat him remained unknown.
With that thought, he also shouted at the top of his lungs, "Everyone, keep it up!"
On the rooftop of Shohoku's school building.
Ah-ha...
Qing Junce let out a huge yawn and slowly opened his eyes.
The setting sun on the horizon resembled a gigantic ball of fire, dyeing the sky a brilliant orange-red.
He gazed at the sunset, a trace of confusion in his eyes, and muttered, "The sun's almost gone down!"
He straightened up as though he had suddenly remembered something. "Did Kanon tell me something earlier? Strange... Why can't I remember?"
"That's right, I still have to go train at the gym." Just as he was about to stand, he shook his head. "Forget it. It's already so late. I probably won't make it in time for training anyway."
"My stomach happens to be empty. I should go home first. I'll worry about training tomorrow." With that thought, he stood, patted the dust from his clothes, turned around, and slowly left the rooftop.
Elsewhere.
Shimizu Kanon was sitting in the classroom of Class 1-7 with her arms crossed, looking furious as she muttered nonstop, "Where on earth did that big idiot A-Ce run off to?"
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