Shohoku Bench Area
After stepping off the court, Qing Junce sat down casually, his expression calm as ever.
The moment he sat, praise began pouring in from the Shohoku bench.
"Qing Junce, that was insane!"
"Yeah! You're going toe-to-toe with Sendoh!"
"We might actually beat Ryonan this time!"
Excitement buzzed through the team.
Even Akagi Takenori looked at Qing Junce with a complicated expression. He hadn't expected him to be that strong.
Still, he wasn't the type to hand out compliments easily.
Kogure Kiminobu leaned over and said, beaming, "Shohoku's got a real monster this year, huh? Right, Akagi?"
Akagi crossed his arms and grunted, "Hmph. He's still a guy with no concept of time."
Ayako, on the other hand, had no such reservations. She clapped Qing Junce on the back. "You were amazing! Even Sendoh couldn't stop you. With you on the team, Shohoku's will finally be taken seriously."
Qing Junce responded with a shrug. "En, not bad."
Just then, Shimizu Kanon stepped forward holding a stack of notes.
"Even though we're still down by ten, we've actually got the advantage now," she began. "But we need to keep an eye on Ryonan's coordination and always watch for Sendoh's passing."
She moved fluidly into a breakdown of Ryonan's players, pointing out tendencies, weak spots, and threats. The team leaned in, listening closely.
Coach Anzai, as always, sat off to the side—calm, quiet, like an old monk untouched by worldly noise.
When Kanon finished, her gaze drifted to Qing Junce.
He looked like he was zoning out.
"Ace, are you even listening?"
"Eh?" Junce blinked, coming back to reality. "What'd you say?"
Kanon sighed. "Seriously? We're still behind, and you're spacing out? Can you please take this seriously and not let them walk all over us?"
Qing Junce picked at his ear, stretching lazily. "I don't want to. I'm tired."
Kanon's eye twitched. "Ace…"
He scratched his head and sighed. "Fine. That guy's decent. I'll get serious in the second half."
Everyone around them stared.
Wait—what?
That wasn't his full strength just now?!
You're joking... right?!
Even Kaede Rukawa, who had been quiet the whole time, frowned slightly, eyes fixed on Junce with an unreadable intensity.
Akagi glanced over too, his gaze full of complicated emotions.
Ryonan Bench
The Ryonan players formed a huddle around Coach Taoka.
His tone was serious. "We're going to tighten our defense in the second half. Don't let them score easily."
"Yes, sir!"
Then, he turned to Sendoh.
"Sendoh. Shohoku's No. 9… He's your responsibility. Don't let him get past you."
Sendoh nodded. "Got it."
Still, Taoka's brows furrowed.
That pressure Qing Junce gave off—it wasn't normal.
He hesitated, then looked to Uozumi. "If there's a chance, help Sendoh double him."
That stunned everyone.
Even Uozumi was taken aback.
The coach wants our center to help double-team one guy?
Still, no one objected.
Uozumi, though confused, nodded. "Understood."
The Second Half Begins
Both teams returned to the court.
Ayako leaned toward Kanon. "Hey… what did you mean earlier? That Junce wasn't even serious yet?"
That question caught the attention of the rest of Shohoku—and even Coach Anzai, who subtly perked up.
Kanon tilted her head thoughtfully. "Hmm... let's just say Ace is the type to get better the longer he plays. You'll see for yourselves soon. Probably before this match ends."
She wasn't dodging the question.
She just didn't know how to explain it.
On the Court
Sendoh stepped forward and stopped in front of Qing Junce.
"So, you're Qing Junce, huh? Funny—I've never heard your name before."
Junce shrugged. "I've never heard yours either."
He wasn't kidding. If not for his past life and watching Slam Dunk, the name Sendoh Akira would mean nothing to him.
Sendoh chuckled. "Fair enough. Sounds like we'll be seeing more of each other at this year's tournament. I'm looking forward to it."
Qing Junce smirked, leaning in slightly. "We'll see… if you can even keep up."
Tension crackled between them.
Beep!
The whistle blew.
The second half of Shohoku vs. Ryonan had begun.
Immediately, the court layout changed.
"…Huh?" Aida Hikoichi blinked in confusion. "Why does it feel like... everyone's spread out?"
A Ryonan sub murmured, "They're giving space to the aces."
Taoka, arms crossed, nodded. "It's rare… but this layout gives the team's star players full control. From here on, it's ace vs. ace."
Aida's pen scribbled furiously. "Unbelievable… So Shohoku's No. 9 really is their ace!"
Taoka muttered under his breath. "From now on… this match is in their hands."
Ryonan Ball
After some passing, the ball landed in Sendoh's hands.
He didn't attack right away. He looked directly at Junce.
"Let's go."
Suddenly, the ball dropped to the floor, and Sendoh exploded to Junce's right.
In a blur, he passed behind him.
"Breakthrough!" Koshino exclaimed.
"No," Uozumi said seriously. "Not yet."
A red flash shot after Sendoh instantly.
Qing Junce was right behind him.
Sendoh felt it too.
He abruptly stopped and swung the ball across the court—a no-look pass to Ikegami Ryoji (#5) on the far side.
Ikegami caught it, drove into Shohoku's paint, and jumped for a layup—
"Here!"
Sendoh's voice rang out behind him.
Ikegami trusted him without hesitation.
He pulled back and passed—a return dish back to Sendoh, who now had a clear path.
Akagi, mid-air, was already descending. He couldn't stop it.
Sendoh rose with the ball.
But—
SWAT!
A red blur cut in.
Junce appeared out of nowhere and slapped the ball out of his hands.
SLAP!
The crisp echo rang across the gym.
Sendoh hit the floor, stunned.
Qing Junce stood over him, arm still outstretched.
"That kind of slow-speed fake attack doesn't work on me."
Sendoh's expression darkened.
He had pushed himself—accelerated harder than usual—and still, he'd been blocked.