THOUGH SHIRATORIZAWA had many little interludes, with team members viewing Kobayashi Aotori's psychological activities through heavy filters, in reality, it's been less than a minute.

"Heh." A familiar low laughter rang out. Everyone turned towards the source of the sound, and Iwaizumi Hajime, who was extremely familiar with the voice, had three black lines sliding down his forehead.

At the source of the sound, Oikawa Tooru stood with his arms crossed. His handsome face full of arrogant dissatisfaction as he looked at Kobayashi Aotori. His eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke with his distinctive high-pitched voice:

"Suddenly using such an oppressive move... Whether it's in response to the confrontation just now or as intimidation, your goal must be to dampen our team's morale, right?!"

Huh? Dampen morale? Kobayashi Aotori was completely confused. However, before he could explain, Oikawa's follow-up words swiftly followed. His sharp gaze fixed on Kobayashi Aotori, and the way he pointed made Aotori want to deliver a famous line, but he held back.

"You cunning man!"

His voice wasn't particularly low, but it was just enough for both teams to hear clearly.

The sudden reminder surprised the members of Aoba Johsai, even Iwaizumi Hajime looked somewhat astonished at Kobayashi Aotori.

Looking at that handsome face, framed by short, navy-blue hair, a face devoid of emotion yet carried a hint of nonchalance.

Hmm... He is indeed very handsome. But, isn't he clearly a completely different type of jerk from that jerk Oikawa?!

Who would have thought he's also the cunning type?

Unaware of the insults he was receiving from the team members behind his back, Oikawa Tooru, reminded by his own words, confidently extended one finger, pointing at Kobayashi Aotori, "Don't think that just because you show off your muscles, Aoba Johsai will be scared of you!"

Hmm, these muscles are not the same as those muscles.

At that moment, Kobayashi Aotori was actually pondering the first half of Oikawa's statement. "In response to the confrontation just now"?

He suddenly remembered, he must be referring to that moment.

It was an interlude just after the morning match had ended, long before the start of the current match—

—AOTORI HAD JUST FINISHED watching the second half of the match between Karasuno and Aoba Johsai and was heading towards Shiratorizawa's resting area.

While passing the restroom, Kobayashi Aotori suddenly had a strange feeling, so he turned and entered it.

But just as Kobayashi Aotori was about to step out, a familiar figure walked out from the direction of the men's restroom—

Oikawa Tooru.

The other party also seemed surprised at encountering Kobayashi Aotori at the restroom entrance. But a mischievous smile immediately appeared on his face.

"Hmm? Isn't this Mr. Dynamite?"

Without waiting for Kobayashi Aotori's response, Oikawa continued with a cheerful smile:

"What brought Mr. Dynamite here? Could it be you were waiting specifically for me?"

Why would I wait for you, a grown man? Or are you a girl who needs a female classmate to accompany you to the restroom?

...No, wait, I'm not a girl!!

Kobayashi Aotori looked at the other person strangely, his narrow hazel eyes squinting slightly, sweeping over Oikawa's entire body.

That glance seemed to say everything and nothing at the same time.

Feeling a bit awkward under Kobayashi Aotori's gaze, Oikawa Tooru, however, was Oikawa Tooru. In the next moment, he once again wore a brilliant smile, walked up to Kobayashi Aotori, and patted his shoulder:

"This time will be different from our last training match, Mr. Dynamite."

"Compared to the hasty ending last time, I'll make sure you enjoy yourself a bit more this time." He said ambiguously, his voice slightly provocative, sounding like a taunting fox.

However, Kobayashi Aotori was only concerned about the hand placed on his shoulder.

—Did he wash his hands? He should have, right?

However, upon hearing Oikawa's words, Kobayashi Aotori raised an eyebrow, feeling inexplicable. He wore an expression that seemed to say, "Are you an idiot?" Not knowing how arrogant he appeared, he tugged at the corner of his mouth and offered a friendly reminder:

"Instead of this, I think you should pay attention to the upcoming match against Karasuno."

After all, it was a narrow victory, and it's better to be more prepared.

Kobayashi Aotori sincerely thought about it, recalling the already blurry manga plot in his mind.

However, this sincere advice sounded extremely harsh to Oikawa Tooru—

【Want to face me? You're not qualified.】

"...Oh—?"

Seemingly getting an unexpected response and hearing the "subtext" in Kobayashi Aotori's words, Oikawa Tooru's face slowly darkened, his chuckle rising in pitch, hiding his not-so-good mood:

"Ah, even after a month, Mr. Dynamite's taunting skills haven't weakened, huh~"

Veins popped on his forehead, and the muscles on his face twitched slightly. However, he wore a "kind" smile on his face, uttering each word clearly, "I really don't know if you're overly confident in that shorty or if you're actually mocking Seijoh."

——Hinata, who inexplicably got shot, felt an arrow in his knee.

T.N.: 躺枪 (tǎngqiāng): Literally "lying down and getting shot," this phrase is slang for getting blamed or caught in the crossfire for something unrelated to oneself. It means being dragged into a situation or taking the blame without any involvement.
膝盖中了一箭 (xīgài zhōngle yī jiàn): This phrase references the popular meme "I took an arrow to the knee" from the video game "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim." It has come to mean experiencing an unexpected and significant setback or misfortune.

Seeing Oikawa suddenly in a low mood, Kobayashi Aotori felt that the other party might have misunderstood his intentions.

This was the first time Kobayashi Aotori genuinely realized that his words could be misinterpreted. While this could be called a milestone moment, his way of handling it wasn't very appropriate—

Kobayashi Aotori's hazel eyes stared at the other, attempting to display a friendly smile, but it only made his inherently aggressive face more arrogant:

"I'm just stating the facts. Don't overthink it, Mr. Grand King."

His calm voice flowed out slowly, and Oikawa's eyes widened in disbelief, his chest slightly heaving with anger, followed by a sneer.

Listening to Kobayashi Aotori's 'tea-like' words, Oikawa Tooru, who was initially furious, gradually relaxed his expression and said with a sigh:

T.N.: 茶里茶气 (chá lǐ chá qì): This phrase is modern Chinese slang that can be translated to "sarcastic" or "passive-aggressive." It literally means "tea-like" but is used to describe speech that is subtly mocking or filled with hidden barbs.

"No wonder, I thought of this from the beginning..." He shook his head at this point, showing a face full of compassion:

"Mr. Dynamite, you've actually bullied others in school before, haven't you?"

Such a terrible personality and skilled rhetoric, keeping himself appear clean and untainted.

...Huh? Hearing such a "malicious" remark, Kobayashi Aotori's eyes darkened, suddenly feeling a burst of anger.

Talk if you want to talk, provoke if you want to provoke. Why are you resorting to personal attacks?

Why suddenly put such a shit pot on myself!!

T.N.: 屎盆子 (shǐ pén zi): Shit pot. This is a slang term used to describe being falsely accused or blamed for something unpleasant.

Facing the seemingly "unfazed" but actually infuriated Kobayashi Aotori, Oikawa Tooru shrugged indifferently.

"Alright, alright. I knew Mr. Dynamite wouldn't be so easy to deal with. Should've guessed it earlier."

After saying this, he suddenly leaned in closer to Kobayashi Aotori's face, so close that their noses were almost about to touch. Startled, Kobayashi Aotori didn't dare to make any sudden movements, afraid that the tense and oppressive atmosphere would turn into a comedy scene.

From the unseen third perspective, two tall and handsome men—one with a lazy demeanor and the other with a cold expression—appeared to be a classic showdown between the protagonist and antagonist from a classic shounen manga. The overwhelming aura and sparks in their eyes added to the dramatic tension.

Hmm... but this kind of dramatic scene is a bit awkward when viewed from the first-person perspective—

He could hear Oikawa Tooru's murmurs exploding in his ear, even discerning the other's breath clearly. The pressure intensified, giving him the feeling of being stared down by a big cat.

Ah, maybe calling it a tiger isn't too far off.

The oppressive aura was overwhelming, their eyes slightly narrowed, the atmosphere behind them seemed to solidify.

A large cat against a majestic eagle, both glaring fiercely at each other with sharp eyes, ready to launch their most ferocious attack at any moment.

However, after an uncertain period, Oikawa Tooru's aura suddenly dissipated —

Oikawa Tooru's eyes narrowed slightly, and the sharp smile on his handsome face now had a hint of playfulness: "Well, it's almost time~"

"The match later... please be careful~ Mr. Dy-na-mite."

With those words, he gave Kobayashi Aotori's handsome face a scrutinizing look, took a step back suddenly, nodded with a smile as if he hadn't just been angry, and instantly reverted to his usual playful demeanor.

Waving his hand gracefully, he left without waiting for Kobayashi Aotori's reaction.

Leaving Kobayashi Aotori, who breathed a sigh of relief, looking around. Fortunately, there were no bystanders.

— END OF FLASHBACK —

KOBAYASHI AOTORI recalled a lot, but in reality, only a few seconds had passed. He looked at Oikawa, who had provoked him and then turned away without looking at him, blinking his eyes.

Hmm... so it was about that incident.

Looking at it this way, it really is... a ghost!!

T.N.: "鬼" (ghost) is a slang term used to describe someone who is tricky, cunning, or sly. The term "鬼" can metaphorically refer to a person who is difficult to deal with or who behaves in an unexpected, tricky manner.

So, I'm begging you all to go find Ushijima Wakatoshi! These plotlines should be his responsibility!

What bathroom smack talk, what showdown between two captains... What does this have to do with me!

That damned restroom! I'm never going there again!!

——In a much later time, Kobayashi Aotori would once again hate himself for forgetting the pain after the scar had healed.

T.N.: This phrase "好了伤疤忘了疼" (hǎo le shāng bā wàng le téng): Forgotten the pain after the scar had healed, is a common Chinese idiom meaning that someone forgets the lessons of past suffering after the suffering has ended, implying a lack of caution or care based on previous painful experiences.

But that's a story for another day.

Right now, on the current court, seeing Kobayashi Aotori suddenly in a low mood for some reason, Ushijima Wakatoshi blinked in confusion.

Just now... did he glance at me?

Was it an illusion?

—————

HOWEVER...no matter how many interludes occur before the match, the game will always begin.

Playfulness, harsh words, warm-ups, it's all over. What remained was the cruelty of the competition.

Following everyone onto the court, Kobayashi Aotori stood in his position with a calm expression. Smelling the distinct odor of the place most known to him in his previous life, he felt a faint heat emanating from his tape-wrapped hand.

In an instant, the familiar state of selflessness enveloped him again. Kobayashi Aotori slowly closed his eyes, his heating fingers moving slightly. Under the bandages, his fingers tightened, gradually recalling the most familiar sensations.

The sounds around him faded into nothingness, and as his eyes reopened, they were devoid of emotion—

Across from him, Kindaichi instinctively lowered his head as he met those eyes.

Cold sweat slowly trickled down his forehead—

As expected of Kobayashi Aotori.

No matter how his personality might have changed after entering high school, evolving from the initial indifference to a seemingly adept use of indirect sarcasm, the essence of a person does not change.

—A man of extreme pride, whose eyes never accepted anyone.

Kobayashi Aotori stood in place, his deep hazel eyes gently rotating. His expressionless face was filled with a focused demeanor, aa he squeezed his shoulder with one hand.

At this moment, he was already indifferent to the thoughts of others because—

The game—

had begun.