[Volume 3 Cover]
...
The next morning, the school was unusually quiet, especially in the Yoshido basketball club's locker room. Ming You was the first to arrive and sat on a bench, waiting for the others.
The rest of the team, dressed in worn-out school uniforms, showed up only twenty minutes later. Their steps were heavy, their faces pale, and their eyes teared up from the bright light. The previous night's victory celebration had left its mark — everyone except Ming You had a splitting headache from a hangover. Some were groaning, covering their faces with their hands, others were drinking water in large gulps, trying to pull themselves together.
"Last night was unforgettable, thank you, Ming You! We'll give it our all for victories like that!" Jung Ho grinned widely, savoring the memories of the previous celebration. Haru Lin, stretching lazily on the bench, supported him:
"Yeah, I just can't get those girls out of my head."
"By the way, where's Lu Shen?" Hong Ren looked around.
"Probably still passed out somewhere. I wonder if he managed to have any fun before he blacked out?" Haru Lin tossed out, and the team laughed in unison, including Ming You's forced laughter.
But less than a minute later, an indignant voice was heard, and Lu Shen appeared in the doorway. His face was still flushed, and his gaze was slightly hazy.
"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 didn't miss the chance to tease him.
"How could I not come to thank Ming You for such an evening?"
"If it weren't for him, you'd have remained a virgin forever!" The team erupted in laughter. Only Ming You smiled faintly, pretending to share in the general merriment.
"Alright, guys, pull yourselves together. It wouldn't look good if we went to practice in this state," Ming You said calmly but firmly.
"Yes, Captain!" the guys chorused.
"Just call me by my name."
"Yes, Ming You!"
"Let's go already, enough chatting." His words hung in the air, and the team, nodding obediently, dispersed around the locker room, trying to recover.
"You, Lu, need to get it together the most," Hong Ren couldn't resist, glancing at his red face.
"I'm fine!" Lu Shen snapped, but his excuses were drowned out by a new burst of laughter.
After everyone had washed up, changed into their basketball uniforms, and composed themselves, the players scattered around the locker room, exchanging jokes and discussing the past evening. Gradually, they began to settle on the wooden benches. Some were stretching lazily, while others checked their phones.
The silence was broken by the creak of the door. Several minutes had passed since the team had settled in, and a man entered the room. He looked about thirty-five. His movements were calm yet confident, as if he was accustomed to his entrance always being noticed.
He had short chestnut hair, slightly touched with gray, which gave him an air of dignity despite his athletic appearance. He was wearing a simple, slightly worn gray t-shirt and blue sweatpants that matched his blue sneakers. Neatly tied gray shoelaces completed the image of a man who valued comfort but wasn't lacking in attention to detail.
"So, guys, looks like everyone's here."
"Coach Chang Wo? We'd almost forgotten we had a session with you today," Jung Ho responded in a sleepy voice, scratching the back of his head. The coach, in turn, gave an approving smile and said:
"The week of independent training is over. Judging by your matured faces, it did you good. Very happy about your independence."
"Heh, if only he knew how we really matured last night," Haru Lin chuckled under his breath, eliciting a soft laugh from Lu Shen.
"Let's get down to business now," Chang Wo interrupted them, after shifting his gaze from Ming You to the former captain. "Oh, by the way, Jung Ho, did we get a new starting player to replace the one who left so quickly?"
"Yes, Coach, he's the strongest and smartest among us. Thanks to his strategies and strength, he can easily lead us to the top of the school league, so we decided to make him our team captain," said Jung Ho, winking at Ming You. Chang Wo began to express surprise:
"What? A new captain? Why did you so easily give a newcomer such a position on the team?"
"Because, as he said, I am the most effective player here," Ming You replied indifferently on behalf of the former captain.
"You're quite arrogant, but since the team has accepted you, I don't really have any objections. But could you cut your hair? It's below your eyes, it really gets in the way during play," said the coach, pointing at Ming You's hair.
"If it bothered me, I would have cut it long ago."
"Suit yourself, Ming You. Alright guys, let's get to business now," Chang Wo continued, looking over all the players. "A group of newcomers from other schools has joined us, and I have a task for you."
The Yoshido team's starters continued to listen attentively to their coach. The players exchanged glances, trying to catch every word.
"Each of you will temporarily take on the role of captain for each group of newcomers. You also need to conduct friendly matches between your groups. This way, we will select talented newcomers, thereby replenishing the ranks of the substitute players and making them members of the main team, giving them the opportunity to participate in tournaments," the coach explained, raising his index finger. Ming You lifted his head and asked without any particular emotion:
"I see. But where are these newcomers now?"
Chang Wo, trying to get used to the team's new captain, replied:
"They'll come after supplementary classes. Later, I'll come to you and assign the players to groups. For now, prepare yourselves as captains. Good luck in selecting the talents."
The coach left, closing the locker room door behind him, leaving the team alone.
Silence hung in the air. All eyes were fixed on Ming You, awaiting his decision. He slowly looked over his comrades, assessing their reaction.
"I don't object to the coach's idea, but we will only select players who are loyal to us."
"Whatever you say, we'll give it our all!" Jung Ho said enthusiastically, and all the other players nodded in agreement.
"For now, we can shoot some hoops or do our own things until the newcomer groups arrive," Ming You instructed his team, calmly surveying the benches.
His words were met with confident nods — everyone knew how to occupy their free time. Jung Ho immediately headed for the basket, practicing shots from different distances. Each of his shots was precise and measured, as if he was mentally preparing for the upcoming matches.
Hong Ren, leaving the locker room with him, focused on dribbling. The ball obediently bounced between his feet, sometimes speeding up, sometimes slowing down, as if merging with the rhythm of his movements. He experimented with new techniques, occasionally glancing at his comrades in the locker room as if assessing their progress.
Lu Shen and Haru Lin, without wasting time, settled on the benches, opening their textbooks. They whispered, discussing assignments, occasionally taking short breaks to watch the others practice.
Ming You, meanwhile, leaned back on the bench, tilting his head back. His gaze was fixed on the gym ceiling, but his thoughts were clearly revolving around the upcoming meeting with 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 instantly lined up in a row, taking their position next to the coach. Ming You stood closest to the coach, his posture and gaze betraying him as the team's informal leader.
Opposite them, in uneven but diligent rows, stood twenty-five newcomers to the Yoshido basketball club. Their eyes showed excitement, curiosity, and determination.
"Attention, guys. Now you will all play friendly matches and go through the selection process for substitute players, and perhaps some of you might even make it to the main team. Now I will assign you to groups under each member of the main team."
Chang Wo began dividing the players into groups of five, carefully assessing each one's skills and compatibility. He aimed to create balanced teams where the strengths of some would compensate for the weaknesses of others. After some thought, he assigned the groups to Ming You, Jung Ho, Lu Shen, Hong Ren, and Haru Lin.
When the last player had taken his place, the coach nodded with satisfaction and continued:
"Now that you are in a group with each of the main players, you can start following their instructions and competing against each other." After the explanations, Chang Wo shifted his gaze to the main team and said: "Once you finish selecting the new team members, give me the list of recommendations."