The next morning, the school was unusually quiet, especially in the Yoshido Basketball Club's locker room. Ming You arrived first and sat on the bench, waiting for the others.
The rest of the team, dressed in rumpled school uniforms, showed up only twenty minutes later. Their steps were heavy, their faces pale, and their eyes teary from the bright light. Last night's victory celebration had taken its toll—everyone except Ming You was nursing a splitting hangover. Some groaned, covering their faces with their hands, while others gulped down water, trying to recover.
"What a night! Thanks, Ming You! We'll give it our all for victories like that!" Jung Ho grinned widely, savoring the memories of the previous night's festivities. Haru Lin, lazily stretching on the bench, chimed in:
"Yeah, I still can't get those girls out of my head."
"By the way, where's Lu Shen?" Hong Ren glanced around.
"Probably still passed out somewhere. Wonder if he had any fun before blacking out?" Haru Lin quipped, and the team burst into laughter—including Ming You's forced chuckle.
But less than a minute later, an indignant voice rang out as Lu Shen appeared in the doorway. His face was still flushed, and his gaze slightly unfocused.
"I didn't pass out!"
"We thought you'd be sleeping it off for a couple more days after a night like that," Haru Lin couldn't resist teasing him.
"How could I not come thank Ming You for such an evening?"
"If it weren't for him, you'd still be a virgin!" The team erupted in laughter again. Only Ming You offered a faint smile, pretending to share in the amusement.
"Alright, guys, pull yourselves together. It won't look good if we hit the court like this," Ming You said calmly but firmly.
"Yes, Captain!" the boys chorused.
"Just call me by my name."
"Yes, Ming You!"
"Enough chatter. Let's go." His words hung in the air, and the team obediently nodded, dispersing to freshen up.
"Lu, you need to sober up the most," Hong Ren couldn't resist, eyeing his flushed face.
"I'm fine!" Lu Shen snapped, but his protests were drowned in another wave of laughter.
After everyone had washed up, changed into their basketball gear, and composed themselves, the players scattered around the locker room, exchanging jokes and reminiscing about the previous night. Gradually, they settled onto the wooden benches—some lazily stretching, others checking their phones.
The silence was broken by the creak of the door. Several minutes after the team had settled in, a man walked in. He looked about thirty-five, his movements calm yet confident, as if accustomed to being noticed the moment he entered.
He had short chestnut hair, lightly streaked with gray, lending him an air of maturity despite his athletic build. He wore a simple, slightly worn gray T-shirt and blue sweatpants that matched his blue sneakers. His neatly tied gray shoelaces completed the look of someone who valued comfort but paid attention to detail.
"Alright, guys, looks like everyone's here."
"Coach Chang Wo? We almost forgot we had practice with you today," Jung Ho muttered sleepily, scratching the back of his head. The coach responded with an approving smile.
"Your week of independent training is over. Judging by your 'matured' faces, it did you good. Glad to see your initiative."
"Heh, if only he knew how we really 'matured' last night," Haru Lin whispered, drawing a quiet snicker from Lu Shen.
"Let's get down to business," Chang Wo cut in, shifting his gaze from Ming You to the former captain. "Oh, by the way, Jung Ho, did we really get a new starting player so quickly after the last one left?"
"Yeah, Coach. He's the strongest and smartest among us. Thanks to his strategies and skills, he can easily lead us to the top of the school league, so we made him our captain," Jung Ho said, winking at Ming You. Chang Wo frowned in surprise.
"What? A new captain? Why'd you just hand that role to a newcomer?"
"Because, as he said, I'm the most capable player here," Ming You replied indifferently, answering for the former captain.
"You're pretty arrogant, but if the team accepts you, I won't object. Just—could you cut your hair? It's past your eyes; it'll get in the way during games," the coach said, pointing at Ming You's hair.
"If it bothered me, I'd have cut it already."
"Suit yourself, Ming You. Alright, guys, let's move on," Chang Wo continued, scanning the players. "We've got a group of newcomers from other schools joining us, and I have a task for you."
The core team of Yoshido listened intently, exchanging glances as they hung on every word.
"Each of you will temporarily act as captain for a group of newcomers. You'll also organize friendly matches between your groups. This way, we'll scout talented players to strengthen our bench and potentially add them to the main roster, giving them a shot at tournaments," the coach explained, raising a finger. Ming You lifted his head and asked emotionlessly:
"Got it. But where are these newcomers now?"
Chang Wo, still adjusting to the new captain, answered:
"They'll come after supplementary classes. Later, I'll assign them to your groups. For now, prepare yourselves as captains. Good luck scouting talent."
With that, the coach left, closing the locker room door behind him and leaving the team alone.
Silence filled the air. All eyes turned to Ming You, awaiting his decision. He slowly scanned his teammates, gauging their reactions.
"I don't object to the coach's idea, but we'll only recruit players loyal to us."
"Whatever you say—we'll give it our all!" Jung Ho said enthusiastically, and the others nodded in agreement.
"For now, we can shoot some hoops or do whatever until the newcomers arrive," Ming You instructed, calmly glancing at the benches.
His words were met with confident nods—everyone knew how to spend their free time. Jung Ho immediately headed for the basket, practicing shots from different distances. Each of his throws was precise and calculated, as if he were already mentally preparing for the upcoming matches.
Hong Ren, having left the locker room, focused on dribbling. The ball obediently bounced between his feet, now speeding up, now slowing down, as if merging with the rhythm of his movements. He experimented with new techniques, occasionally glancing at his teammates in the locker room as if assessing their progress.
Lu Shen and Haru Lin, not wasting any time, settled on the benches with their textbooks open. They whispered to each other, discussing assignments, occasionally pausing to watch the others train.
Meanwhile, Ming You leaned back on the bench, tilting his head upward. His gaze was fixed on the gym ceiling, but his thoughts were clearly occupied with the upcoming introduction to the newcomers. He wasn't just waiting—he was analyzing, evaluating, making plans.
Exactly half an hour later, Coach Chang Wo gathered all the players with a sharp whistle. The main team immediately lined up in a row, taking their positions beside the coach. Ming You stood closest to him, his posture and gaze betraying his role as the team's unofficial leader.
Opposite them, in uneven but earnest rows, stood twenty-five newcomers to the Yoshido Basketball Club. Their eyes reflected excitement, curiosity, and determination.
"Listen up, guys," Coach Chang Wo began. "You're all about to play some friendly matches and go through the selection process for reserve players—and maybe even make it to the main team. Now, I'll divide you into groups, assigning each to a member of the main squad."
Chang Wo started sorting the players into groups of five, carefully assessing each one's skills and compatibility. He aimed to create balanced teams where strengths would compensate for weaknesses. After some deliberation, he assigned the groups to Ming You, Jung Ho, Lu Shen, Hong Ren, and Haru Lin.
Once the last player took their place, the coach nodded in satisfaction and continued,
"Now that you're in your groups, follow the main players' instructions and compete against each other." After the explanation, Chang Wo turned his gaze to the main team and said, "Once you finish selecting the new members, give me a list of recommendations."
The main team nodded in response, and the coach left the gym. His departure seemed to ease the tension—shoulders relaxed, but only briefly. Once Chang Wo was gone, the main team's eyes turned back to Ming You. Their gazes held familiar expectation mixed with slight impatience.
"I have instructions for you, but I'll say it away from prying eyes," Ming You said, pointing toward the locker room door.
He paused, glancing at the newcomers standing awkwardly to the side. Their presence was still a formality, and Ming You made sure they knew it.
"As for you, newcomers, wait a couple of minutes while we prepare your assignment." Without waiting for a response, Ming You turned and headed toward the locker room, confident the main team would follow without question.
The basketball club newcomers stood motionless, exchanging uneasy glances in silence.
Meanwhile, the main team followed Ming You without a word. The locker room fell quiet, the only sound being the dull thud of the closing doors. Once everyone was seated on the benches, Ming You lifted his head and flashed a sly smirk.
"Right now, these new members are nothing but walking wallets full of money."
"So we're supposed to rob them? Or demand payment for training?" Jung Ho asked, confused.
Ming You continued impassively,
"No, we'll do something much smarter. We'll take them to the streetball court and have them play for bets—earning us money while increasing their loyalty to us."
Lu Shen straightened up, folding his arms behind his head, and said optimistically,
"Great idea! But what if they end up in debt or aren't loyal to us?"
"In that case, I already have a solution," Ming You replied with a faint smile, as if he'd hoped for exactly that outcome. "We'll use a rather dirty method—drowning them in debt. And when it comes to debts, the gangs know how to handle things."
"Alright," Jung Ho agreed. "So, we'll take them there?"
Ming You stood up from the bench and headed for the locker room exit, answering bluntly,
"Yes. But I'll be the one to call them."
The newcomers, who had been idly dribbling balls and chatting in small groups, suddenly fell silent. Their attention was drawn to Ming You, who strode confidently ahead of the main team.
He stood out not just because of his status but also because of his calm, collected demeanor. His gaze was fixed forward, as if he could already see a goal beyond everyone else's reach. The other players froze, cutting off their conversations, and turned toward him.
Even those who hadn't paid attention before were now watching Ming You intently.
"Alright, guys," he clapped his hands, then continued, "We'll compete by playing streetball—getting used to crowds of spectators and fans. So gather your things and follow us."
One of the newcomers, a guy of average height with short chestnut-brown hair, stepped forward slightly. He stood a little apart from the others, and his expression showed not so much protest as genuine confusion.
"But why can't we just play here in the gym?"
"So Ho's right—why go outside?" another newcomer chimed in, nodding toward the first. He was taller, but his voice carried the same note of doubt.
Ming You gave them an impassive look before calmly replying,
"As I said, you need to get used to the pressure of an audience."
So Ho nodded silently and followed the others toward the locker room. His face remained neutral, but inside, he felt a slight tension.
The new members of the Yoshido Basketball Club quickly gathered their things, exchanging short phrases. Without looking back, Ming You strode forward, and the newcomers immediately trailed after him as if drawn by his unspoken authority. The rest of the main team followed at a slight distance, exchanging occasional remarks.
By the time they arrived, a crowd was already gathering. People slowly streamed toward the court, forming a living ring around the playing area. The air was thick with tension—everyone was waiting for the match to begin, whispering and glancing toward the arriving players.
On the central bench sat Taek Jung with his lackeys. He calmly discussed something with his closest aides, occasionally glancing at the approaching opponents. His confidence and composure marked him as someone used to controlling the situation.
"Wait here for now," Ming You said, turning to the team. "I'll talk to the organizers so you can all play."
Making sure he was understood, Ming You turned and strode firmly toward Taek Jung.