Mitsui Hisashi and Sakuragi Hanamichi Absent

The next day.

Shohoku High School Basketball Gym.

Qing Junce arrived a little earlier than usual.

However, the basketball gym today was filled with an abnormal atmosphere.

For some reason, Sakuragi Hanamichi was staring intently at everyone he saw, muttering, "I'll kill you with my eyes."

Upon seeing Qing Junce arrive, Sakuragi Hanamichi immediately ran over excitedly and began to stare intently at Qing Junce.

"Kill you... kill you... kill you with my eyes..." Sakuragi Hanamichi mumbled as if chanting a spell.

Qing Junce stared back at Sakuragi Hanamichi, his expression completely unchanged.

Shimizu Kanon, standing nearby, blinked rapidly, her eyes wide with confusion.

What was going on?

Had Sakuragi Hanamichi lost his mind?

This wouldn't do.

No matter what, Sakuragi Hanamichi was a valuable player for the team.

Shimizu Kanon asked with concern, "Sakuragi-kun, are you feeling unwell? Do you need to go to the hospital?"

Sakuragi Hanamichi ignored Shimizu Kanon, continuing to stare fixedly at Qing Junce without blinking, still muttering, "Kill you... kill you... kill you with my eyes..."

Uh...

Shimizu Kanon didn't know what to do for a moment.

Ayako quickly pulled Shimizu Kanon away, saying, "Don't mind that idiot. I don't know what he learned from Captain Akagi, but he's been like this since he arrived today."

Akagi Takenori, who was training on the court, faltered and almost fell over upon hearing this.

His face was covered in dark lines, and a bead of cold sweat dripped down his forehead. For some reason, he felt a pang of guilt.

Last night, Sakuragi Hanamichi had found him and asked him to teach him some special moves.

Annoyed at the time, he had pointed to his eyes and said, "Stare at your opponent and make them too intimidated to move."

Who knew how Sakuragi Hanamichi had interpreted that.

Meanwhile, Qing Junce.

Seeing Sakuragi Hanamichi's eyes bloodshot, he was truly speechless.

This guy in front of him must be an orphan, right!

How had he survived this long with such intelligence?

He didn't want to waste any more time here.

With a blank expression, he simply turned and walked away.

Seeing Qing Junce leave first, Sakuragi Hanamichi burst into laughter. "Hahahaha... I knew it! This move really works. Just watch this genius dominate the upcoming games!"

The others in the gym couldn't help but twitch their lips.

Shimizu Kanon finally understood what had happened and couldn't help but laugh, "Sakuragi-kun is certainly full of spirit!"

Rukawa Kaede cursed the idiot under his breath and then approached Qing Junce, saying, "Let's have a match."

This was not the first, second, or third time Rukawa Kaede had challenged Qing Junce.

Previously, Rukawa Kaede had challenged Qing Junce almost every day, but Qing Junce didn't always accept.

Of course, every time he agreed to a one-on-one with Rukawa Kaede, he had crushed him without fail.

This time was no exception.

Witnessed by everyone, Rukawa Kaede was once again completely dominated by Qing Junce.

Three days later.

Another day at the Kanagawa gymnasium.

However, something was different from the previous two times.

A dark cloud seemed to hang over the Shohoku team.

Today, not only Qing Junce and Shimizu Kanon were late, but Mitsui Hisashi and Sakuragi Hanamichi were also absent.

Suddenly, two starting players were missing.

Kogure Kiminobu paced back and forth, muttering, "I can understand about Qing Junce, but what's going on with Mitsui and Sakuragi? They're still not here, what's happening?"

He turned to Akagi Takenori and asked, "Could something have happened to them? Akagi."

However, as soon as he turned and saw Akagi Takenori's face, his hair stood on end, and cold sweat poured down his forehead.

Akagi Takenori looked like a volcano about to erupt, his face flushed, his teeth gritted so hard they were audibly grinding, and the veins on his forehead pulsed as if something was about to burst through his skin.

Suppressing his anger, he growled in a low voice, "Who knows about those three brats..."

In the stands.

Akagi Haruko arrived with her two younger sisters.

Seeing that Mitsui Hisashi and Sakuragi Hanamichi were missing from Shohoku's lineup, Akagi Haruko looked worried and asked doubtfully, "What's going on with Sakuragi... and Mitsui-senpai too..."

On the other side.

The Ryonan team also arrived.

They were also surprised to see so many people missing from Shohoku.

Aida Kenichi asked in confusion, "It's understandable that Qing Junce isn't here, but why aren't Mitsui Hisashi and Sakuragi here? What's going on?"

Koshino Hiroaki crossed his arms and analyzed, "Sakuragi Hanamichi might have been expelled. But Mitsui Hisashi not being here is a bit strange."

Aida Kenichi's mind raced: Could it be that those two are doing some secret training? If so, could Qing Junce be doing the same? No, no, I need to write this down quickly.

With that thought, he began to write and draw in his notebook.

Time ticked by.

The expressions of the Shohoku players grew worse, and the dark clouds above their heads began to flash with lightning.

A somber atmosphere gradually spread across Shohoku's bench.

Just then, two figures emerged from the player tunnel entrance of Shohoku.

"Finally made it."

A familiar voice suddenly rang out behind the Shohoku players.

The Shohoku team turned around and saw Shimizu Kanon and Qing Junce standing before them.

Upon seeing Qing Junce, Kogure Kiminobu's dark clouds instantly vanished. He immediately stepped forward and said, "It's Qing Junce! That's great, I don't have to worry with you here."

Huh?

Qing Junce and Shimizu Kanon looked bewildered.

What did he mean?

Kogure Kiminobu explained, "I don't know what's going on, but Mitsui and Sakuragi didn't show up. We were just worried about it! Now that you're here, you can play in their place."

Hearing this, Shimizu Kanon looked around and indeed couldn't see Mitsui Hisashi or Sakuragi Hanamichi. "Could it be that Sakuragi-kun and Mitsui-senpai also overslept?"

His words caused the surrounding people to have dark lines across their foreheads.

Ayako walked over and said, "Today's opponent is Koryo High School. Their strength is similar to Miuradai, but we can't be careless."

Akagi Takenori looked at Qing Junce and said, "Since those two aren't here, you'll play first!"

He felt a little relieved upon seeing Qing Junce.

Qing Junce took off his jacket, revealing his number 9 jersey, and said, "In that case, I'll warm up first!"

However, everyone around him was looking at him in confusion.

Sensing their gazes, Qing Junce asked, "What's wrong?"

Ayako put her hand to her forehead and said, "We're wearing the white uniforms today."

Qing Junce looked down at his red jersey.

Shimizu Kanon looked embarrassed and quickly pulled Qing Junce towards the locker room, shouting back, "I'll take him to change, we'll be back soon."

The Shohoku players all sighed helplessly.

Akagi Takenori closed his eyes, looking troubled, and said, "Honestly, one by one, they just don't make things easy."

Soon, Qing Junce returned after changing into his jersey.

The players from both teams walked onto the court and took their positions.

Seeing Qing Junce, wearing the number 9 jersey, take the court, many people in the stands perked up.

News had already spread about Shohoku having a powerful number 9 player.

They hadn't seen him last time, so this time they observed him carefully.

"Qing Junce is playing!" Aida Kenichi exclaimed excitedly.

Koshino Hiroaki remarked, "He's not late today!"

"That's not the point!" Ikegami Ryoji said. "The opponent is Koryo, Shohoku doesn't need to put Qing Junce on the court at all."

Sendoh explained, "It's because of the starting lineup, right? Shohoku's bench depth is very weak. Mitsui and Sakuragi aren't here, and the only one who can replace those two is him."

Beep...

A whistle blew.

The referee tossed the ball high into the air between the two teams.

The game between Shohoku High School and Koryo High School officially began.