I'll win

The days they spent together flew by. Two weeks of training and chatting had stripped away the awkwardness of their first meeting, leaving the four as close as old friends who had known each other for years.

The instant the bell rang to end their last class, all four rushed out of the classroom.

Propping his chin on one hand, Satoru Gojo leisurely took the sunglasses hanging from his collar and turned toward the other three, making an enthusiastic suggestion. "We're worn out from training, and we've got nothing to do anyway. How about some basketball at the sports grounds? Better than sitting around in the dorms."

Suguru Geto nodded in agreement. "Sure. It'll be a good chance to relax."

Their gazes all landed on Shoko. Resting her cheek on one hand, she slowly shook her head. "I'll pass. I've never played basketball. I don't know a thing about it. I'd only drag you down on the court."

"But I can sit on the sidelines and watch you play. Be your audience."

"That works too!" Satoru Gojo didn't mind at all, grinning boldly. "With a pretty girl cheering us on, we'll all be playing at two hundred percent."

The four strolled toward the outdoor sports grounds together. The gentle evening breeze swept away the day's stuffy heat and the weariness of their classes. The mood was relaxed and easy as they chatted and fooled around along the way.

Qingxiao walked at the side of the group, facing the two troublemakers beside him. When Satoru Gojo casually asked whether he could play, he raised an eyebrow and chuckled, his voice brimming with confidence and a touch of swagger-the classic showing-off mode reserved for close friends. "Basketball? I neva looze."

That instantly stirred Satoru Gojo's competitive spirit. He rubbed his hands together, itching to get started. "Oh? That cocky? Perfect! I'm taking you on today, and we're settling who's the best basketball player at Jujutsu High!"

Suguru Geto watched with a smile as he walked beside them, leisurely adding, "Who really is the strongest at Jujutsu High? Something to look forward to."

"I'll win."

Chatting and laughing along the way, the four soon arrived at the indoor basketball court. The three boys stretched to warm up, loosening their wrists and ankles and stretching their backs and waists. Shoko sat down on a courtside bench, dutifully taking her place as a spectator.

During a break in his warm-up, Satoru Gojo casually took the sunglasses off his nose and tossed them to Shoko. "Hold these for me."

Shoko caught them securely. The cool, smooth frames against her fingertips piqued her interest. Curious, she put them on and gently adjusted the frames.

She had expected them to let light through like ordinary sunglasses, but her vision instantly went pitch-black. She couldn't see a thing. Briefly startled, she instinctively blinked her long lashes, tilted her head, and gave it a couple of little shakes, trying to make out her surroundings through the lenses.

Finding that everything was still completely black, she couldn't help gently pressing the edges of the frames and poking the black lenses with a fingertip. Then she pushed the sunglasses up, revealing her clear, bright eyes, and looked in bewilderment at the three warming up on the court.

Warming up nearby, Qingxiao caught the scene out of the corner of his eye. His focused expression instantly softened, a faint smile flickering in his eyes. Even his warm-up movements unconsciously slowed a little.

Meanwhile, Satoru Gojo finished warming up, picked up the basketball from the floor, and gave it a deft twist. The black basketball spun rapidly on his long fingertip, his movements smooth and stylish.

"Geto, come play a warm-up round with me first!" Satoru Gojo called excitedly.

Suguru Geto stepped forward in response, and the two faced off, trading simple offensive and defensive moves. They were evenly matched, going back and forth in a lively contest, passing, driving, and jumping to shoot in seamless succession. After several exchanges, Satoru Gojo secured the win with his nimble movements and unexpected positioning.

Even more confident after winning, Satoru Gojo held the basketball and turned toward Qingxiao, who had long since finished warming up. Raising an eyebrow, he taunted him brazenly. "Qingxiao! You've been watching long enough. Don't just stand there enjoying the show! You were talking big earlier. Dare to come play me? No making excuses if you lose!"

Everyone's eyes instantly focused on Qingxiao.

Without sparing even a moment to mourn Suguru Geto's defeat, the next to arrive on the court was-Guyue Qingxiao.

Qingxiao straightened up and casually rolled his wrists, his joints giving a few light cracks.

"Sure." He walked slowly onto the court, his tone casual. "You can have the first possession, so you can't say I bullied you."

Satoru Gojo immediately tossed him the ball with a scoff. "Quit bragging. Beat me first!"

Qingxiao caught the incoming basketball securely and bounced it lightly twice, feeling its familiar touch. He couldn't help remembering the days when he had dominated the court before transmigrating. At the thought, he shook his head again.

"Come to think of it, the last time I played basketball was a year ago."

"Wonder if I've gotten rusty after so long."

After putting the ball into play, he took a deep breath, raised it, jumped, and confidently released his shot in one fluid sequence.

On the sidelines, Shoko instinctively sat up straighter too, obediently watching his movements as she silently waited to see his stylish shot.

Qingxiao took a deep breath, raised the ball, jumped, and released it. The whole sequence was smooth and crisp, looking flawless as he confidently launched a three-pointer toward the hoop.

The next instant.

The basketball traced a long arc through the air, missed both the backboard and the rim entirely, and slammed into the back wall with a clang.

The court instantly fell deathly silent.

The evening breeze blew gently past. The awkwardness was absolute.

Two seconds later, Satoru Gojo was the first to crack, doubling over with laughter that rang throughout the court. "Hahahaha! Unbeatable across the whole school? That's your invincible three-pointer? How do you even miss everything that badly?"

Suguru Geto chuckled nonstop too, making a rare teasing remark. "Looks like those glorious past achievements were a little inflated."

Even Shoko on the sidelines couldn't help pressing her lips together and secretly laughing, her eyes curving. She was afraid of embarrassing him, but she couldn't hold it in, her shoulders trembling slightly.

With everyone teasing him, Qingxiao's composure shattered completely. His face reddened, and he looked thoroughly embarrassed.

Qingxiao cursed inwardly, For fuck's sake, can't you let me show off without a hitch just once?

The thing I feared most happened anyway. That goddamn Murphy's law is still chasing me. No, I really have to take this seriously, or they'll laugh at me for three years!

With that thought, Qingxiao stubbornly insisted, "An expert never wins the first round. I gave you that one. Again!"

"Sure, sure, sure. Just don't keep making excuses when you lose!" Satoru Gojo immediately agreed, grinning obnoxiously, his eyes full of amusement as he waited to watch Qingxiao fail. "I'm taking the first possession this round. Time you faced reality!"

The second round soon began. Satoru Gojo attacked first with the ball, relying on his agility to keep changing direction and position, using feints to try to disrupt Qingxiao's rhythm. His play was flashy and tricky.

But this time, Qingxiao had fully found his form again.

His footwork was steady, and with the advantage of his height and reach, he kept Satoru Gojo firmly outside. His anticipation was frighteningly accurate. He easily saw through every route Satoru Gojo tried to take, reaching out for a precise steal with clean, decisive movements.

Evading Satoru Gojo's attempts to hold him up, Qingxiao launched a swift counterattack with the ball, used a Euro step to get past him, and easily scored with a fadeaway jumper.

In less than a minute, Qingxiao decisively took the second round, turning things around.

Suguru Geto watched with smiling eyes and offered his assessment. "Not bad. Looks like that claim about being the strongest wasn't just bragging."

Shoko breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines too, her eyes curving as she chuckled. She had felt embarrassed for him earlier, but now, watching him play with such composure and style, her eyes were full of admiration.

Qingxiao lightly dusted off his palms and looked at the frustrated Satoru Gojo, gloating. "One-one. Nothing to say now?"

Having been overtaken, Satoru Gojo's competitive spirit was fully ignited.

"Best of three. Last round!"

"Come on. I'll beat you until you admit it."

The battle erupted at once. The two traded moves, but Qingxiao couldn't break through Satoru Gojo's defense and nearly had the ball stolen.

Unable to drive through, Qingxiao quickly backed off, putting distance between himself and Gojo and retreating all the way beyond the half-court line.

Satoru Gojo froze. "Hey, hey, hey! That's too far! You couldn't even make a three-pointer. If that goes in, I'll eat it!"

Qingxiao ignored him entirely. Looking composed, he gathered the ball in both hands, bent his knees, and lowered his hips.

"He's not going to shoot. What's he trying to do?" Though Satoru Gojo thought hard, he couldn't figure it out.

In just a few seconds, Qingxiao adjusted his breathing and strength, then jumped straight up under everyone's astonished gazes!

The evening breeze abruptly lifted the hem of his shirt. The boy's figure was straight and crisp as he hung in the air, full of power.

He practically flew across half the court. Satoru Gojo wanted to stop him but had no way to do it. He couldn't exactly use jujutsu.

Qingxiao snapped his wrist, viciously slamming the ball down with one hand!

Boom-!

A tremendous crash shook the court.

The sturdy rim instantly bent under the enormous impact, and the entire transparent backboard shattered, glass fragments clattering across the floor.

Dust flew, and tremors lingered.

The court fell deathly silent again.

Satoru Gojo stood frozen in place, his pupils trembling, disbelief written all over his face.

Suguru Geto's smile vanished completely too. He stared openmouthed at the fragments covering the floor and the warped rim, unable to speak for a long time.

Shoko's eyes widened slightly on the sidelines too, and she silently marveled.

Beside the shower of tiny glass fragments, Qingxiao landed steadily, his posture as straight as ever. He raised an eyebrow slightly at Satoru Gojo, strode over, and lightly patted his shoulder. "I said vict'ry was a foregone concloosion. You deaf or somethin'?"

Suguru Geto stared blankly at the completely deformed basketball stand, still unable to believe it. "So that means..."

"The strongest's record is engraved in the gym. Qingxiao won!" Shoko chimed in.

Satoru Gojo looked at Qingxiao before him. "You're seriously strong. I even feel like I didn't make you go all out."

Qingxiao looked back at Satoru Gojo. "That really was unforgettable! Satoru, I probably won't forget your defense for the rest of my life."

Meanwhile, Masamichi Yaga, who had just reached the gym entrance, heard the tremendous crash, and a cross-shaped vein bulged on his forehead.