The next morning at school, near the gym doors, twelve newcomers to the Yoshido basketball club had gathered. Their faces were tense, and their eyes showed clear dissatisfaction. They couldn't forget how they had been set up, forced to take on someone else's debts. Now they were being threatened, and they had no intention of tolerating it.
At the head of the group was So Ho—the most resolute among them. It was he who suggested immediately talking to the coach and sorting everything out. The others supported him, understanding they couldn't handle it alone.
As soon as the gym doors opened, the guys went inside. Their gazes immediately turned towards the coach's office, located at the far end of the hall, directly opposite the locker rooms.
Knock-knock.
"Come in," said Chang Wo calmly but firmly, without looking up from the papers on his desk.
The door slowly opened, and So Ho was the first to cross the threshold. His face was tense, his fingers slightly clenched into fists. The other club newcomers timidly followed him, lining up behind him in an uncertain row. A heavy silence hung in the air.
"Coach Chang Wo..." began So Ho, his voice trembling slightly, but he quickly composed himself. "We'd like to file a complaint against the main team members."
His eyes darted sideways, as if he was afraid the coach already knew the truth and would take their side.
Chang Wo slowly raised his head, his brows slightly furrowed.
"What happened?" he asked, putting his pen aside.
So Ho took a deep breath.
"They forced us to play for money. At first, we didn't understand what was happening because we were told it was just friendly matches... after all, you warned us about this yourself. But when we were about to leave..." He paused for a second, recalling the unpleasant details, "...some people started threatening us. And these people... they were in cahoots with the main players."
"What?!" Chang Wo shot up from his chair, causing it to slide back with a dull screech. "How could my team do this to potential talents?!" His voice was sharp, almost rising to a shout. He immediately checked himself, but the tension in his shoulders remained. "Was it someone specific?"
His first thought was Ming You—he was just too cunning and arrogant.
So Ho shook his head.
"But... all the main players got 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, guys. I'll talk to them and give them a proper reprimand. If the threats become more serious—go straight to the police. For now, you can go, I have a class soon."
"Thank you, Coach," the newcomers said quietly, hastily exiting the office. The door closed behind them with a soft click, leaving Chang Wo alone with his heavy thoughts.
After classes, when the final bell rang, Chang Wo slowly made his way to the classroom where his main team studied. When he crossed the threshold, silence fell over the room. He scanned the students and said in a hollow voice:
"Jung Ho, Ming You, Lu Shen, Hong Ren, Haru Lin, I expect you in my office. I have bad news for you."
The class was surprised, and they turned their gazes towards those mentioned. The team exchanged glances, slight bewilderment flashing across their faces. They nodded silently, gathered their things, and rose from their seats.
Lu Shen, nervously clutching a pen in his hands, stepped closer to Ming You and asked quietly:
"Ming You, are you sure everything will be okay?"
He only smiled slightly, but his eyes showed determination.
"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 around. His face remained impassive, but his voice held a slight coldness.
"Nothing bad. Alright, guys, let's go."
He was the first to head for the door, and the others followed him. They walked down the corridor in silence, only occasionally exchanging glances.
When they arrived, the atmosphere in the coach's office was tense. Only Ming You maintained an unshakable calm; his face was expressionless, his gaze cold.
"Lu Shen, please close the door," the coach said, trying to keep his voice even, but a hidden irritation was detectable in his tone.
Lu Shen nodded and hastily complied, his fingers trembling slightly as he turned the handle. He returned to his spot, head lowered, and prepared to listen along with the others.
"I've been told that you, under the pretext of friendly matches, forced the newcomers to play for money. Captains don't act like that," the coach crossed his arms over his chest, his brows furrowed into a stern line.
"That's correct. I was the one who forced them to play so we could make money off them," Ming You replied without a trace of embarrassment, the corners of his lips lifting in a sly, almost mocking smile.
"How dare you speak about it so brazenly!" Chang Wo jerked his head up, his fists clenched, his eyes flashing with fury.
"Take it easy, buddy," Ming You just smirked, his smile widening even further. "They need to learn the price of defeat. It's their fault for not being able to 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 are worthy of my respect," Ming You shrugged, his voice icy. "So if that's all from you, we'll be going."
He turned towards the door, demonstratively 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 entirely for this behavior!"
Ming You stopped at the door and slowly turned around, his gaze sliding over the coach.
"You can expel me. But the truth is, the entire main 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 towards Ming You.
Chang Wo gritted his teeth, his fingers digging into his palms.
"Damn that Ming You..." he whispered under his breath, feeling a mix of powerlessness and rage.
The coach let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly as if under the weight of the decision he had to make.
"Alright, this time you'll get off with a warning. But if this happens again, I'll have to expel all of you. A weaker, decent 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 following behind him, exchanging glances.
As soon as the team left the gym, Coach Chang Wo was left alone. A deep sigh escaped his chest, and his fingers involuntarily clenched into fists. His usually calm face was contorted with a mask of rage.
"That son of a bitch..." he hissed through gritted teeth, as if each word burned his lips.
He spun around sharply and punched the wall, but even this outburst of anger brought no relief. His eyes burned, and the same thoughts circled in his head.
"What the hell is he even doing here!?" His voice trembled with uncontrolled fury. "And how did my friendly team turn into such scumbags?.."
He ran a hand over his face, trying to pull himself together, but the image of Ming You surfaced before his eyes again, and his lips twisted into a contemptuous smirk of their own accord.
"Ming You... I'll outplay you someday..." he whispered, and his voice was a mix of hatred and cold resolve.
…
Meanwhile, in the locker room where the group of basketball club newcomers sat, a tense silence reigned, broken only by the creak of benches and the rustle of sportswear. All attention was on 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!" burst from between his clenched teeth. He threw a towel against the wall as the realization hit him that the main team would still be training in the gym.
Jen Ryu, sitting nearby, looked up grimly. His face was twisted in a grimace of disgust.
"The team itself is okay, but that 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 lifted his gaze. His fingers gripped the edge of the bench so hard his knuckles turned white.
"I agree, the guys are genuinely good, but Ming You is corrupting them all... He needs to be removed from the team!"
Jen Ryu thought for a moment. A spark of recollection flashed in his eyes.
"What about the former captain, Jung Ho?" he began, lowering his voice. "Back when we were playing for stakes, I learned from him that he was the captain and gave his position to Ming You because of his leadership qualities." He smirked, but there wasn't a trace of amusement in it. "Maybe we should create a new basketball club, but without Ming You?"
So Ho froze, considering the words. His breathing became steadier, his gaze firmer.
"Maybe you're right. We should try."
Jen Ryu stood up abruptly.
"Alright then, let's go!"
The group of newcomers, leaving the locker room and then the gym, headed to Jung Ho's classroom. At that moment, he was just exiting the lecture hall, and Jen Ryu immediately called out to him:
"Jung Ho, we have a proposal for you."
He stopped and gave him a cold look.
"I don't want anything from you."
"But you want your captain position back, don't you? We're planning to create a new team where Ming You won't corrupt us. Please, join us!" Jen Ryu didn't give up, 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 deservedly took the captain's position."
"Please, we have no one else to turn to for help!" Jen Ryu's voice trembled, but Jung Ho remained adamant.
"I said no. Leave."
He turned and walked away, leaving the newcomers in complete despair. They silently watched him go until So Ho broke the silence:
"Looks like the plan failed. He's no less enamored with money than the others."
He put a hand on Jen Ryu's shoulder, trying to encourage him somehow. Jen Ryu sighed, but then lifted his head firmly.
"Fine then, we'll create the team ourselves."
So Ho smiled and immediately supported him.
"Great idea, I'm in."
The other newcomers also nodded, expressing their agreement.
"Excellent! So Ho, you should be the captain. You were the first to stand up against Ming You!"
Jen Ryu put an arm around his shoulder and turned him towards the team, as if presenting the new leader. So Ho was slightly embarrassed, but didn't refuse.
"I think you'd be a better captain, but since you insist and everyone agrees, I don't mind."
"We're in!" the newcomers chorused, clenching their fists in determination.