"Teacher Taoka, you've come at just the right time. I am officially informing you on behalf of the school that Ryonan is revoking Gu Jin's student status."
Miyamasu Zehei, clutching his numb wrist, saw Taoka appear and seemed to find an outlet for his frustration. He puffed out his chest and declared loudly, trying to use his identity as a "school representative" to intimidate them.
"Gu Jin, you're expelled." Miyamasu Zehei tried to use this method to force Gu Jin into submission.
"What did you say?" Taoka Moichi's voice was like ice, the veins on his forehead throbbed, and the tactical notebook he was holding for the upcoming game crinkled loudly.
He took two large steps forward, almost pressing against Miyamasu Zehei, his spittle nearly spraying onto the other man's face. "Expel Gu Jin? On what authority? Miyamasu Zehei, who do you think you are?!"
"I'm the Chairman's assistant!" Miyamasu Zehei was yelled at and took a half-step back, but he still retorted stubbornly, "This is the School Board's decision. Gu Jin showed disrespect to his elders and confronted school staff. He is no longer suitable to remain at Ryonan!"
"That's utter nonsense!" Taoka Moichi, furious, laughed instead. He pointed at the documents on the ground and the pen that had rolled away. "I heard everything clearly from the doorway! You were holding a transfer agreement, forcing him to sign, and you were the first to try and drag him! Now you're trying to shift the blame? Do you think I, Taoka Moichi, am blind or deaf?"
He suddenly turned to Gu Jin, his tone softening instantly, but with an undisguised urgency: "Gu Jin, don't be afraid. With me here today, no one will dare to make things difficult for you."
Gu Jin looked at Taoka's tense profile, and the irritation that Miyamasu's interference had caused in his heart inexplicably subsided a lot.
"Coach Taoka, this is a school matter, it's not for a basketball team coach like you to interfere!" Miyamasu Zehei was still trying to put on airs. "If you obstruct any further, I'll report you to the School Board as well!"
"Report? Go report me now!" Taoka Moichi suddenly thumped his chest, making his own chest tremble. "Go tell Chairman Shenmu that if he dares to touch Gu Jin, I, Taoka Moichi, will resign from this coaching position today! I'd like to see who will support the Ryonan Basketball Team without someone who can lead the team to the National Tournament, and without this old veteran who's been here for twenty years!"
"Is the basketball team that important? Taoka Moichi, you're too conceited." Miyamasu Zehei's expression was very ugly.
He pointed at Miyamasu Zehei's nose, every word ringing clear: "You're the one who's conceited.
"Special Administrative Assistant? Bah!" Taoka Moichi's voice was laced with ice. "A fool like you, who doesn't even understand the significance of basketball to the school, is fit to be an administrative assistant?"
He pointed at Miyamasu Zehei's nose, every word like a stone hitting the ground: "Do you know how much corporate sponsorship Ryonan can attract if we advance in the National Tournament?
Are you aware of how many percentage points the reputation of a famous school's basketball team can boost enrollment rates?
To put it bluntly, you're just a good-for-nothing who got in through connections!" Taoka Moichi's voice suddenly rose, making Miyamasu Zehei's ears ring. "You can't even gauge the importance of basketball in Japanese schools, you don't even understand the authority and regulations for special scholarship students, all you care about are petty gains!
Why do you think Chairman Shenmu hasn't expressed an opinion on Gu Jin's matter? Is he a fool? Ten multimedia classrooms? Can that compare to a ticket to the National Tournament? Can it compare to the sponsorships companies bring to us? Can it compare to the weight of the Ryonan school emblem being remembered by fans nationwide?"
Even Chairman Shenmu is calculating the long-term benefits, but you, you're trying to uproot the team's foundation with ten broken classrooms—you don't know a damn thing about school affairs!"
I'm telling you, if Ryonan is truly ruined in your hands, ten Miyamasu Zeheis wouldn't be able to compensate for it!"
"I don't understand? Taoka Moichi, please be mindful of your position. It's just one less Gu Jin, what loss would the Ryonan Basketball Team suffer?"
"You don't know a damn thing!" Taoka's roar seemed to make the gymnasium roof vibrate. "Gu Jin is Ryonan's ace! He is the hope that can make Ryonan Basketball famous nationwide! How dare you decide his fate?"
Miyamasu Zehei was stunned by this barrage of angry shouts, his face turning red and then white. He opened his mouth, but for a long time, he couldn't find anything to say.
He hadn't expected Taoka to go to such lengths for a student, and more critically, he hadn't considered that Chairman Shenmu might have other intentions.
What if Taoka Moichi was telling the truth... he dared not think about it anymore.
"I'm telling you, Miyamasu Zehei," Taoka Moichi's voice lowered slightly, but carried an even more chilling coldness, "This matter isn't over today. Not only do you have to apologize to Gu Jin, but you also have to explain clearly to Chairman Shenmu how you used the school's name to engage in such short-sighted behavior!"
He turned and grabbed Gu Jin's arm, pulling him over with such force that he almost yanked Gu Jin off his feet. Yet, his whole body exuded a fierce protectiveness: "Come on, Gu Jin, we don't waste words on people like this. I have a new tactic here, and you're quick-witted, so let's study it together! I'd like to see who dares to mess with my players on Ryonan's turf!"
Miyamasu Zehei stood frozen in place, watching the two walk towards the court. He then looked at the neglected transfer agreement on the ground. The numbness in his wrist hadn't subsided, but a strange panic arose in his heart—it seemed he had really stirred up a big hornet's nest.
Miyamasu Zehei's face flushed red then paled, humiliated by Taoka's scolding. In the end, he could only sheepishly pick up the documents and pen from the floor, like a defeated rooster, tucking his tail between his legs and quickly leaving the gymnasium, even forgetting to close the door properly, leaving a swaying gap.
Taoka Moichi watched his disappearing back, then let out a heavy "Hmph," before turning to pat Gu Jin's arm, his tone much softer: "Gu Jin, don't take it to heart. That Miyamasu is just a useless crony, he has no real power, don't worry about him."
He paused, then emphasized: "To be honest, Chairman Shenmu talked to me about you before, and he thinks very highly of you. He's asked about the team's training progress several times, just hoping you can lead Ryonan to break out."
Taoka Moichi, still clearly angry, added: "That fool doesn't even realize how foolish what he did was.
He should understand the principle of 'no profit, no early rise,' right? But he just doesn't get it—if you were truly as dispensable as he thinks, would Ryokufu go to such great lengths to poach you?
The Fujisawa family isn't stupid; they wouldn't offer ten multimedia classrooms as bait if they didn't see your value!"
His eyes held a mix of frustration and fierce protectiveness: "Don't let people like that affect your mindset. Remember, you are Ryonan's core, our confidence to challenge the National Tournament. As long as I'm here, no one will lay a finger on you."
"Coach, don't worry." Gu Jin picked up the basketball from the floor, his fingertips gently pressing on the surface. The ball spun steadily in his palm. "Ryonan's court hasn't yet witnessed my champion's mark, and no one will take me from here."
He looked up at Taoka, his gaze unwavering, sweat trickling down his jawline and soaking into a small wet patch on the floor, as if silently carving a promise: "As long as the team needs me, as long as you are here, I will not leave."