Meanwhile, on Jung Ho's team's side of the court.
Jen Ryu looked distrustfully at the court where the opponent was already taking positions. His brows slightly furrowed, betraying mild irritation.
"Jung Ho, why is their captain on the court? Isn't our goal the preliminaries between us?"
"It's fine. This is the final test to make it into the main team. If you can beat him, your spot on the main team is guaranteed," Jung Ho smoothly lied, keeping his expression unreadable. Jen Ryu paused for a moment, then his face lit up with determination. He sharply turned to the others, clenching his fists:
"Great, then let's begin!"
Sung Wo, standing a little further away, grinned widely and sharply raised his hand before slamming it down, as if cutting through the air.
"Let the final bet begin! Tip-off!"
As soon as Sung Wo tossed the ball, Ming You pretended to yield the first possession to Jen Ryu—he nodded, smirked, and even took a slight step back, as if giving him a chance to start the attack.
Jen Ryu, suspecting no trick, confidently reached for the ball. But the moment his fingers closed around the leather surface, Ming You slipped his hand underneath. A lightning-fast swipe, a sharp flick—*SNAP!*—and the ball was already flying away, slipping out of the stunned opponent's grasp.
"Huh?" Jen Ryu froze for a second, his eyes widening in shock.
His brain hadn't even processed what had just happened when Ming You was already charging forward like a whirlwind, leaving only a faint trail of dust behind.
The defenders rushed to intercept, but he was untouchable—a feint left, a sharp turn right, and suddenly he was under the hoop. The ball bounced softly off the asphalt, Ming You leaped up as if the court itself had launched him, and the ball, ricocheting off the backboard, dropped through the net.
Jen Ryu, confident in his speed, lunged forward, trying to get past Ming You with a sharp crossover. But Ming You, as if predicting his move, swiftly extended his hand and knocked the ball straight out of his fingers. The ball bounced to the side, and Ming You slid past the stunned Jen Ryu, scooped it up, and dashed toward the hoop.
The defenders tried to block him, but Ming You faked left, then abruptly changed direction, leaving his opponent in the dust, and gently laid the ball into the basket from under the rim.
Jen Ryu gritted his teeth. His eyes burned—he couldn't believe he'd been outplayed so easily. He grabbed the ball and, without waiting for his team's support, launched another attack.
But Ming You just smirked. He deliberately gave Jen Ryu space, luring him into thinking he could break through. And the moment Jen Ryu made his move, Ming You once again swiped the ball away, intercepted it, and before anyone could react, blew past the defense. Crossing the free-throw line, he scored from under the hoop again.
Jen Ryu, completely absorbed in the game, didn't even realize Ming You was expertly manipulating his actions. Every time he got the ball, the opponent provoked him into reckless plays—either by stealing it again, with a mocking glance, or by suddenly shifting the rhythm. As a result, Jen Ryu, ignoring his team, kept charging forward alone, as if hypnotized.
But Ming You was always one step ahead. He anticipated every move, effortlessly intercepted passes, and blocked shots. It was as if he was reading Jen Ryu's mind like an open book. The ball kept slipping from his hands, and the score remained merciless—not a single point in his favor.
Jen Ryu's team watched helplessly, but he didn't even notice their signals. His stubbornness and blind confidence in his own strength played right into the opponent's hands.
"I'll beat you! At least one point—I'll definitely score at least one!" Jen Ryu roared in fury. His team immediately shouted back:
"Hey, don't forget about us!"
"Fine, then help me out!"
Thus, Jen Ryu had originally been a player who sincerely respected his opponents and valued his teammates. He always played fair, prioritizing the team's success over personal ambition. But under the influence of Ming You's cunning strategy, his character began to change. Gradually, step by step, he turned into an egotist obsessed only with proving his own superiority.
With every lost ball and every failed play, Jen Ryu lost more of himself. His once-noble playstyle gave way to reckless and thoughtless actions, and team spirit was replaced by a blind drive to prove his exceptionalism.
In the end, the match concluded with a humiliating score of 44-0 in Ming You's favor, but even such a victory brought no joy to his team.
After the game and the referee's final whistle, as deep night fell outside, Ming You slowly approached Taek Jung. People gradually dispersed, leaving behind only echoes of the recent emotions. Under the dim glow of the streetlights, Ming You spotted a familiar figure.
Taek Jung stood off to the side, exchanging words with his teammates. But the moment he noticed Ming You, his face immediately twisted into a mocking smirk. He lazily pushed off the bench and took a few steps forward.
"Not bad, how you wrecked them. I knew you'd win, sure, but to calculate every team's victory—that's some skill, heh."
He pulled a wad of cash from his pocket and carelessly tossed it to Ming You.
"Your cut."
"As always, a pleasure doing business with you," Ming You replied with a feigned smile, turning back toward the court.
Taek Jung grinned broadly, his rough features softening. He slapped his knee before answering:
"Likewise, Ming You. Hope you'll come back with more of your crazy ideas."
Taek Jung laughed, his voice loud and infectious, filling the space between them.
"Here's your winnings, friends." Ming You slowly dumped a thick stack of bills onto the front bench, smoothing them out with his fingers. His team immediately reached for the money, counting and dividing it among themselves.
"Thanks, man. Never thought we'd earn cash for doing nothing, heh," Jung Ho chuckled, flipping through the bills, while his guys exchanged smug grins.
"So, Haru, hitting up the brothel?" Lu Shen nudged him with a smirk.
"In your case, the jerk-off den."
The team—except Ming You—burst into loud laughter at Haru Lin's retort. Lu Shen pretended to be "angry," while Jung Ho glanced at Ming You.
"You coming with us?"
"This isn't a full victory yet. You're celebrating too early."
Lu Shen walked around Haru Lin and looked up at Ming You:
"Come on, Ming, no need to be so sour all the time, huh?"
"Do as you like, but I think I'll go to sleep."
"Ming's right, we have school tomorrow," Jung Ho glanced at everyone before continuing. "I'm heading home too."
"Fine, screw you then," Lu Shen said mockingly. "What about you, Hong? Huh?"
He looked around and suddenly exclaimed loudly:
"Where the hell did he go?!"
Haru Lin gave him a skeptical look, then turned onto another street, waved his hand, and said:
"He's been home for a while now, and I'm heading out too. Goodbye, masturbator."
"Go to hell!"
Meanwhile, the freshmen were also about to leave when they were stopped by a group of thugs who suddenly emerged from the benches.
"Hey, kids, where do you think you're going?" Taek Jung slowly looked them over, his lips twisting into an unpleasant smirk. "You're debtors, by the way!"
So Ho frowned, clenching his fists. He took a step forward, trying to keep his voice from shaking.
"What the hell do you mean we owe you anything?"
Sung Wo approached leisurely, his heavy boots thudding against the asphalt. He tilted his head, looking down at them.
"It means you lost! We'll give you a week to pay up if you want to stay in one piece. For now… fine, go ahead."
The freshmen exchanged glances, pale with fear and confusion. A second later, they quickly turned and nearly ran off, disappearing into the dark streets.
…
The next morning at school, near the gym doors, twelve freshmen from the Yoshido Basketball Club gathered. Their faces were tense, their eyes filled with dissatisfaction. All night, they couldn't forget how they'd been set up, forced to take on someone else's debts. Now they were being threatened, and they weren't about to take it.
At the head of the group stood So Ho—the most determined of them. It was he who suggested immediately talking to the coach and sorting things out. The others supported him, knowing they couldn't handle this alone.
As soon as the gym doors opened, the boys stepped inside. Their gazes immediately went to the coach's office at the far end of the hall, right across from the locker rooms.
Knock-knock.
"Come in," Chang Wo said calmly but firmly, not looking up from the papers on his desk.
The door slowly opened, and So Ho was the first to step inside. His face was tense, his fingers slightly clenched into fists. The other freshmen followed hesitantly, lining up behind him in an uncertain row. A heavy silence hung in the air.
"Coach Chang Wo…" So Ho began, his voice trembling slightly before he steadied himself. "We'd like to file a complaint against the main team members."
His eyes darted to the side, as if afraid the coach already knew the truth and would side with them.
Chang Wo slowly lifted his head, his brows slightly furrowed.
"What happened?" he asked, setting his pen aside.
So Ho took a deep breath.
"They made us play for money. At first, we didn't understand what was happening because they told us it was just friendly matches… you warned us about this yourself. But when we tried to leave…" He paused for a second, recalling the unpleasant details. "Some guys started threatening us. And those guys… they were working with the main team players."
"What?!" Chang Wo shot up from his chair, sending it screeching back. "How could my team do this to potential talents?!" His voice was sharp, nearly a shout. He quickly composed himself, but the tension in his shoulders remained. "Was it someone specific?"
His first thought was Ming You—that guy was way too cunning and arrogant.
So Ho shook his head.
"But… all the main players took the money. So they're all in on it."
Chang Wo closed his eyes for a moment, pinching the bridge of his nose. Then he exhaled and lowered his hand.
"Alright, boys. I'll talk to them and give them a proper reprimand. If the threats get worse—straight to the police. For now, go ahead, I've got a class soon."
"Thank you, Coach," the freshmen murmured quietly before quickly filing out of the office. The door clicked shut behind them, leaving Chang Wo alone with his heavy thoughts.
After classes, once the final bell rang, Chang Wo slowly made his way to the classroom where his main team members were. When he stepped inside, silence fell over the room. He scanned the students and said in a low voice:
"Jung Ho, Ming You, Lu Shen, Hong Ren, Haru Lin—I expect you in my office. I've got bad news for you."
The class buzzed with surprise, and all eyes turned to the named students. The team exchanged glances, slight confusion flickering across their faces. They nodded silently, gathered their things, and rose from their seats.
Lu Shen, nervously gripping a pen in his hand, stepped closer to Ming You and whispered:
"Ming You, are you sure everything's gonna be okay?"
Ming You only smiled faintly, but his eyes were resolute.
"Everything's under control. I already know what to say."
A curious voice came from the corner of the classroom:
"What's even going on?"
Ming You didn't even turn. His face remained impassive, but his voice carried a slight chill.
"Nothing bad. Alright, guys, let's go."
He was the first to head for the door, and the others followed. They walked down the hallway in silence, only occasionally exchanging glances.
When they arrived, the coach's office was thick with tension. Only Ming You remained unshaken, his face expressionless and his gaze cold.
"Lu Shen, close the door, please," the coach said, keeping his voice steady, but a hint of irritation seeped through.
Lu Shen nodded and hurriedly complied, his fingers trembling slightly as he turned the handle. He returned to his spot, head lowered, and braced himself along with the others to listen.
"I was told that you, under the pretext of friendly games, forced the newcomers to play for money. Captains don't behave like that," the coach crossed his arms, his eyebrows furrowing into a harsh crease.
"Absolutely right, I made them play so we could earn off them," Ming You replied without a hint of shame, the corners of his lips curling into a sly, almost mocking smile.
"How dare you say that so shamelessly!" Chang Wo jerked his head up, his fists clenching, eyes blazing with fury.
"Easy there, buddy," Ming You just smirked, his grin widening. "They should know the price of defeat. It's their fault they couldn't win."
"How dare you! Show some respect for others! Especially for me, not to mention your own team!" the coach suddenly raised his voice, his face reddening with anger.
"Only those who obey me deserve my respect," Ming You shrugged, his voice icy. "So if that's all you have to say, we'll be going now."
He turned toward the exit, blatantly ignoring the coach.
"Get out of this team!" Chang Wo shouted so loudly his voice cracked slightly. "I'll make sure you're expelled from the school for this behavior!"
Ming You paused at the door and slowly turned back, his gaze sliding over the coach.
"Go ahead and expel me. But the truth is, the entire starting team will leave with me."
"That's right, Coach," Jung Ho immediately chimed in, his eyes gleaming with greed. "If Ming You is kicked out, we're leaving too."
"Exactly! The basketball club will completely fall apart!" Haru Lin supported him, nodding toward Ming You.
Chang Wo gritted his teeth, his fingers digging into his palms.
"Damn that Ming You…" he muttered under his breath, feeling helplessness mix with rage.
The coach let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly as if weighed down by his decision.
"Fine, you'll get off with a warning this time. But if this happens again, I'll have to expel all of you. A weaker but honorable team is better than strong immoral players."
Ming You didn't even dignify that with a response. He pushed the door open and walked out, the others exchanging glances before following him.
As soon as the team left the hall, Coach Chang Wo was left alone. A deep sigh escaped his chest, and his fingers involuntarily clenched into fists. His usually calm face twisted into a grimace of fury.
"That son of a bitch…" he hissed through gritted teeth, as if each word burned his lips.
He spun around and punched the wall, but even that outburst didn't bring relief. His eyes burned, and the same thoughts swirled in his head.
"What the hell is he even doing here?!" His voice trembled with uncontrolled anger. "And how did my friendly team turn into such scumbags?.."
He dragged a hand down his face, trying to compose himself, but the image of Ming You flashed before his eyes again, and his lips curled into a scornful smirk.
"Ming You… someday, I'll outplay you…" he whispered, his voice laced with hatred and cold determination.
Meanwhile, in the locker room where the group of basketball club newcomers sat, a tense silence reigned, broken only by the creaking of benches and the rustling of sports uniforms. At the center of attention was So Ho—his burning eyes and clenched fists betrayed his fury. He tapped his sneaker nervously against the floor before abruptly jumping to his feet.
"Those bastards got off with just a warning, what the hell!" he spat through gritted teeth. He hurled a towel at the wall when it hit him that the main team would still be practicing in the gym.
Jen Ryu, sitting nearby, lifted his head with a scowl. His face twisted in disgust.
"The team itself is fine, but Ming You is a real asshole," he corrected, exhaling slowly as if trying to contain his anger.
Mei Yu, who had been silent until now, sharply looked up. His fingers gripped the edge of the bench so hard his knuckles turned white.
"I agree, the guys are actually decent, but Ming You ruins everything… He needs to be removed from the team!"
Jen Ryu paused in thought. A spark of recollection flickered in his eyes.
"What about the former captain, Jung Ho?" he began, lowering his voice. "Back when we were playing for bets, I heard from him that he used to be captain and gave the position to Ming You because of his leadership skills." He smirked, but there wasn't a trace of amusement in it. "Maybe we should form a new basketball club—without Ming You?"
So Ho froze, considering the words. His breathing steadied, and his gaze hardened.
"Maybe you're right. We should try."
Jen Ryu stood up abruptly.
"Great, then let's go!"
The group of newcomers left the locker room and then the gym, heading straight to Jung Ho's classroom. Just as he was stepping out of the lecture hall, Jen Ryu called out to him:
"Jung Ho, we have a proposal for you."
He stopped and gave them a cold look.
"I don't want anything from you."
"But don't you want to take back the captain's position? We're forming a new team where Ming You won't corrupt us—please, join us!" Jen Ryu persisted, looking at him with hope.
But Jung Ho just shook his head.
"I'm not interested. I'm fine with my team, and Ming You rightfully earned the captain's spot."
"Please, we have no one else to turn to for help!" Jen Ryu's voice wavered, but Jung Ho remained unmoved.
"I said no. Leave."
He turned and walked away, leaving the newcomers in utter despair. They silently watched him go until So Ho broke the silence:
"Looks like the plan failed. He's just as obsessed with money as the rest."
He placed a hand on Jen Ryu's shoulder, trying to encourage him. Jen Ryu sighed but then lifted his head firmly.
"Fine, we'll form the team ourselves."
So Ho smiled and immediately supported him.
"Great idea. I'm in."
The other newcomers nodded in agreement.
"Perfect! So Ho, you should be the captain—you were the first to stand up against Ming You!"
Jen Ryu slung an arm around his shoulder and turned him toward the team, as if presenting their new leader. So Ho flushed slightly but didn't refuse.
"I think you'd be a better captain, but if you insist and everyone agrees, then I don't mind."
"We're in!" the newcomers chorused, raising their fists in determination.