A week passed quickly.
It was the morning of the long-awaited practice match with Ryonan High.
In front of the Shohoku High School gates, the entire basketball team had gathered.
Well… almost everyone.
Two people were still missing — Qing Junce and Shimizu Kanon.
"That bastard is late again," Akagi Takenori growled, a thick vein bulging on his forehead.
Kogure Kiminobu tried to soothe him. "Akagi, calm down! You know Junce is always late…"
Akagi snapped, "What are you saying? If he shows up late to every game, how are we supposed to compete seriously?!"
Kogure opened his mouth to respond but couldn't come up with anything.
Just then, Sakuragi Hanamichi stepped in, smugly. "Told ya! That guy's hopeless. We should've just left him behind from the start!"
"Idiot," Kaede Rukawa muttered with a cold glance.
"What did you say?!" Sakuragi barked, instantly fired up.
Ayako checked her watch and sighed. "We're out of time. And I didn't think Kanon would be late too…"
Suddenly, her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen. "It's Kanon."
Everyone turned to listen.
Ayako answered, and Kanon's voice came through:"Sorry, Ayako! Ace is still sleeping! I'll wake him up now and get him to Ryonan as fast as possible. You guys go on ahead!"
When Ayako relayed the message, Akagi's face turned stormy.
"That damned slacker…" he muttered, fists clenched.
Yasuda Yasuharu offered nervously, "C-Captain… it's just Qing Junce being himself, maybe try to—"
BAM!
Before he could finish, Akagi socked him on the head and growled, "Enough. We're going."
Meanwhile — at Qing Junce's house
Shimizu Kanon barged into his room, shaking him by the shoulders.
"Ace! Get up already! We have a game today! MOVE!"
Still half-asleep, Qing Junce groaned, "Ughhh… Kanon, stop yelling. Let me sleep…"
Seeing him so hopeless, Kanon's eyes glinted mischievously.
"Alright, don't blame me then!"
She disappeared briefly — then returned with a glass of ice water.
Without hesitation, she yanked back the blanket and poured it straight onto his neck.
"AHHH—COLD COLD COLD!!" Qing Junce screamed, leaping out of bed in a shivering panic.
He turned to glare at Kanon, dripping wet, as she stood there giggling.
She said sweetly, "Told you to get up. We're late. Everyone's already left. Unless you want to miss the whole match?"
Qing Junce groaned. "Ughhh…"
But just as he was about to get out of bed, he paused.
He looked up at her.
She looked back, confused.
"What?" she asked.
"I'm changing. Wanna see my body?"
Her face turned bright red. "W-What?! NO!"
She spun around and bolted out of the room, fuming and flustered.
Qing Junce chuckled to himself but sighed.
He did want to go back to sleep, but with Kanon around, he'd probably wake up in an ice bath next time.
Defeated, he got dressed.
A few minutes later, he emerged from his room.
Kanon pointed to the table. "I made breakfast. Eat up. We're leaving right after."
"Yeah, yeah. I'll wash up first," Qing Junce yawned, scratching his head as he headed to the bathroom.
At Ryonan High — Basketball Gym
Shohoku had already arrived.
Standing across from them was Ryonan's coach — Taoka Moichi. A stern-faced man in his forties, wearing a green short-sleeve shirt and blue slacks.
He approached Coach Anzai, gave a respectful bow, and said, "Coach Anzai, you've come all this way. I should've paid you a visit instead — forgive me."
"Hohoho," Anzai chuckled, waving it off. "No need, no need."
The players from both teams exchanged surprised looks. Even the first-years were caught off guard.
"Wait… is our coach that important?" one whispered.
Ayako answered proudly, "Of course. Coach Anzai was once a legend."
Akagi stepped forward to greet Taoka. "I'm Akagi Takenori, Shohoku's captain. Pleased to meet you."
"Captain Akagi, it's a pleasure," Taoka replied, then added with a smile, "Our own Uozumi has been dead-set on beating you. Do go easy on us."
Just then, Uozumi, Ryonan's towering captain, stepped forward.
"I'm Uozumi. Captain of Ryonan. Looking forward to this match."
He was over two meters tall and built like a fortress — an imposing presence, just like Akagi.
The two captains locked eyes.
It was like lightning struck between them. Invisible pressure filled the gym as their auras clashed.
The other players could only gulp in awe at the intensity.
Finally, the moment passed.
Preparations for the match began.
In Shohoku's Locker Room
The team stood at attention, lined up and waiting.
Coach Anzai entered, holding a list in hand.
"Let's begin distributing uniforms."
Everyone straightened.
Ayako stood nearby, ready with the jerseys.
"Center — Akagi, No. 4."
"Small Forward — Kogure, No. 5."
"Shooting Guard — Yasuda, No. 6."
"Point Guard — Shiozaki, No. 8."
As each number was called, Ayako handed over the corresponding uniform.
Sakuragi stood in the back, practically drooling.
He watched the jerseys with sparkling eyes.
Then—
"Power Forward — Kaede Rukawa, No. 10."
Sakuragi twitched. He glared at Rukawa, fuming. That damn fox got his jersey before me?!
Still, he gritted his teeth and waited.
Then came the final announcement.
"And lastly… Qing Junce, No. 11."
BOOM.
It was like a bomb exploded in Sakuragi's brain.
He didn't get called.
He stormed up to Coach Anzai, yanking his chin. "Pops! Why don't I have a jersey? Even that latecomer got one! What gives?!"
"Shut up, moron!" Akagi barked, dragging him away. "You've been playing for, what, two days?! You think you're ready to start?!"
Sakuragi fought back, "But you said rebounds control the world!"
Akagi's face darkened. "I said control the game — not hand out starting spots! Idiot!"
He sighed. "Even as a sub, you'll get your chance to play."
Sakuragi pouted, grumbling, "It's just a benchwarmer spot anyway…"
The locker room descended into chaos as Sakuragi flailed and complained.
Even the Ryonan players outside paused, wondering what the commotion was.
Eventually, Coach Anzai calmed Sakuragi down using a secret weapon…
With enough whining and persistence, Sakuragi finally snatched Kaede Rukawa's No. 10 jersey.
Which meant, as in the original timeline, Rukawa was reassigned to No. 11.
As for Qing Junce — he was quietly given the now-vacant No. 9.