Chapter Summaries

Aiwa Academy’s players studied Ryonan High School and discussed the threat posed by Sendoh and Chi Tong Lingyu. Long Zeduo warned them that Chi Tong could make an entire team formidable, leaving Aiwa wary of facing Ryonan.

• Sawakita Eiji told a newcomer that Ryonan was so strong Aiwa might lose to them.
• Aiwa Academy’s players gathered at their inn to review profiles of Ryonan’s players.
• Nakajima Jiren and Xiao Quanquan noted that Ryonan had beaten Hainan and reached the National Tournament after Chi Tong Lingyu joined.
• Long Zeduo recalled that Chi Tong had led his middle-school team to an overwhelming victory and had never lost.
• Zhu Xingda acknowledged Sendoh’s skill, while Long Zeduo urged the team to be especially wary of Chi Tong’s ability to strengthen the whole team.

Aiwa Academy’s players reviewed Ryonan’s roster, and Zhu Xingda warned them not to underestimate Xiangtian Yanyi despite her weak individual stats. At Ryonan’s inn, Xiangtian Yanyi briefed her teammates on Aiwa’s key players and identified a weakness in Nakajima Tsugito’s shooting.

• Zhu Xingda warned Chi Tong and the Aiwa Academy players that Xiangtian Yanyi’s movement and passing could disrupt their rhythm.
• Tanabe Kenichi arrived and began discussing Aiwa Academy’s tactical plans against Ryonan.
• Xiangtian Yanyi told Ryonan that Chuxin Da was a well-rounded national-level player capable of challenging Sawakita Eiji.
• Chi Tong explained how Chuxin Da’s scoring-focused style differed from Maki Shinichi’s tempo control, while Sendoh Akira welcomed the challenge.
• Xiangtian Yanyi described Nakajima Tsugito’s strengths and noted that close defense sharply reduced his shooting percentage.

Xiangtian Yanyi briefed Ryonan on Aiwa Gakuin’s elite players, and Chi Tong concluded that the national semifinalists would be a difficult matchup. Taoka Moichi entrusted Chi Tong with the tactics, and Chi Tong began with a cautious man-to-man defensive plan, assigning Sento Zhang to guard Zhu Xingda.

• Xiangtian Yanyi described Lei Tianzhenglun’s elite three-point shooting, Xiaoquan Chun’s post game, and Long Zeduo’s steady fundamentals.
• Chi Tong assessed Aiwa Gakuin as a balanced team whose overall lineup could challenge Ryonan, especially if he did not play.
• Yueye Hongming and Uekusa acknowledged Aiwa Gakuin’s strength, and Taoka Moichi warned the players not to underestimate them.
• Taoka Moichi asked Chi Tong to handle the tactical arrangements, and Chi Tong chose to begin with positional man-to-man defense.
• Chi Tong assigned Sento Zhang to guard Zhu Xingda and warned him to watch for passes to Lei Tianzhenglun.

Chi Tong and Ryonan prepared to face Aichi Gakuin, then went to Hiroshima Central Gymnasium to scout Sannoh Industrial High School against Luo'an High School. The chapter ended as Sannoh emerged to a deafening welcome from the packed crowd.

• Chi Tong assigned Yueye Hongming and Tsukino to closely guard Aichi Gakuin's perimeter shooter and explained that he would adjust the plan during the game if needed.
• Ryonan traveled to Hiroshima Central Gymnasium to watch Sannoh Industrial High School play Luo'an High School before their afternoon match.
• The Ryonan players were stunned by the packed stands and reporters waiting to see Sannoh, and Shishang Liang'er said the crowd had come for the famed team.
• Luo'an High School entered to a muted response, and its players headed to the bench while feeling overlooked.
• Sannoh Industrial High School emerged in white jerseys, and the entire gymnasium erupted in cheers.

Ryonan watched Sannoh Industrial High School face Luo'an and saw Sannoh dominate the paint while Sawakita Eiji showcased his scoring and playmaking. The game continued with Luo'an struggling to contain Sannoh's overwhelming strength.

• Xiangtian Yanyi, Yueye Hongming, Ikegami Ryoji, and Chi Tong watched Sannoh Industrial High School enter and assessed its players, including Sawakita Eiji.
• The referee started the game between Sannoh Industrial High School and Luo'an.
• Sannoh Industrial High School's center overpowered Luo'an's center with a dunk, steals, and rebounds, controlling the area under the basket.
• Sannoh Industrial High School's power forward repeatedly secured rebounds and gave his team second-chance attacks, leaving Luo'an unable to counter effectively.
• Yu Zhu studied Sannoh Industrial High School's center as the Ryonan group reacted to Sannoh's dominance in the paint.
• Sawakita Eiji broke past his defender for a layup, made a three-pointer, and passed to an open teammate while Luo'an tried to trap him.

Sannoh Industrial overwhelmed Luo'an 138–44, showcasing its depth and conditioning. The Ryonan group considered how difficult a matchup Sannoh would be, while Chi Tong focused on Sawakita Eiji and wondered how much strength the team had still concealed.

• Sannoh Industrial’s point guard organized the offense and disrupted Luo'an’s play with relentless defense, while Sawakita Eiji dominated his matchup.
• Sannoh led Luo'an 58–21 at halftime and kept its starters on the court, continuing to score and defend at high intensity.
• Luo'an struggled to score as Sannoh extended the lead, and Sannoh won the game 138–44.
• The Ryonan group marveled at Sannoh’s dominance and minimal fatigue, and Ikegami Ryoji attributed it to the players’ exceptional stamina.
• Chi Tong mentally evaluated a possible Ryonan–Sannoh matchup, doubted Ryonan could win without him playing, and studied Sawakita Eiji’s performance.

After watching Sannoh’s overwhelming win, Chi Tong rejected doubts about his own ability and led Ryonan away to prepare for their afternoon game against Aiwa Academy. On the way to lunch, Ryonan ran into Hainan, and Chi Tong and Mu Shenyi exchanged looks.

• A voice in Chi Tong’s consciousness warned that Sannoh Industrial High School had hidden strength, but Chi Tong insisted he would lead Ryonan to victory and defeat Sannoh.
• Chi Tong told the Ryonan players to leave and prepare for their game against Aiwa Academy.
• Xiangtian Yanyi worried about Sannoh’s strength and her incomplete scouting, while Yueye Hongming, Shishang Liang'er, Sento, and Ikegami Ryoji urged her to focus on preparation and performance.
• Ryonan headed out to find lunch before their two o’clock game against Aiwa Academy.
• Ryonan encountered Hainan near the gymnasium entrance, and Chi Tong and Mu Shenyi met each other’s gaze.

Chi Tong and Ryonan encountered Hainan before their game against Aiwa Academy, and Chi Tong dismissed Aiwa as a threat despite Mu Shenyi's warning. As Ryonan gathered in the Hiroshima Central Gymnasium locker room, the team remained confident and prepared to face another national powerhouse.

• Mu Shenyi asked Chi Tong whether Ryonan had come to watch Sannoh, and Chi Tong said Sannoh would eventually become an obstacle in Lingnan's path.
• Maki Shinichi vowed Hainan would defeat Sannoh, while Kiyota Nobunaga also challenged Ryonan; Yueye Hongming reminded them that Ryonan had already beaten Hainan.
• Mu Shenyi warned Chi Tong that Aiwa Academy and its captain, Morishige Hiroshi, were formidable, but Chi Tong said Aiwa could not threaten Ryonan and that he would bring Morishige down himself.
• Chi Tong led Ryonan away, and Mu Shenyi told Hainan to stop dwelling on Ryonan and focus on its own game.
• Ryonan gathered in the Hiroshima Central Gymnasium locker room before facing Aiwa Academy, and Tiangang Maoyi observed the team's confidence and credited Chi Tong with its growth.

Aiwa Academy and Ryonan prepared for their National Tournament matchup, with both coaches urging their teams to follow their plans and play with full effort. The teams entered the packed gym to loud cheers, and the chapter ended before tipoff.

• Coach Tanabe Kenichi told Aiwa Academy to build its offense around Zhu Xingda and contain Sendoh and Ryonan's number fourteen.
• Taoka Moichi led Ryonan out of the locker room after the players answered his call to go to the court.
• Reporters and spectators gathered in Basketball Gym No. 3 and debated whether Ryonan could defeat Aiwa Academy.
• Chi Tong led Ryonan into the gym as Zhu Xingda led Aiwa Academy, drawing loud cheers from both teams' supporters.

Ryonan and Aiwa Academy began their game, with Yu Zhu winning the opening tip and Sendoh leading Ryonan into its first attack. The chapter left Yueye Hongming’s three-point attempt disrupted by Lei Tianzhenglun’s closeout.

• Ryonan and Aiwa Academy’s starters took their positions as the crowd waited for the opening whistle.
• Yu Zhu outjumped Xiaoquan Chun and tipped the ball to Sendoh, giving Ryonan possession.
• Sendoh drove toward Aiwa’s defense, then passed to Fukuda Kicchou when Zhu Xingda blocked his path.
• Ryonan moved the ball to Yueye Hongming, who set up for a three-pointer beyond the arc.
• Lei Tianzhenglun anticipated Yueye Hongming’s shot and rushed over with both arms raised, disrupting his shooting rhythm.

Yueye Hongming’s pass set up Fukuda Kicchou and Yu Zhu for a forceful attempt at the basket, but Koizumi Chun disrupted Yu Zhu’s dunk and Aiwa Gakuin recovered the rebound. Zhu Xingda led the counterattack toward Ryonan’s basket with Sento chasing him.

• Yueye Hongming passed to Fukuda Kicchou, who drove into Aiwa Gakuin’s interior before Koizumi Chun blocked his path.
• Fukuda Kicchou passed to Yu Zhu, whose dunk attempt hit the rim after Koizumi Chun jabbed the ball.
• Nakajima Tsugito grabbed the rebound and passed to Long Zeduo, who sent the ball to Zhu Xingda.
• Zhu Xingda drove toward Ryonan’s basket and opened a small gap on Sento as Sento pursued him.

Aiwa Gakuin opened the game with a three-pointer after Zhu Xingda faked a shot and passed to Lei Tianzhenglun, putting Ryonan behind 0–3. Chi Tong then took possession and pierced Aiwa Gakuin’s defense with a fast pass to Yu Zhu in the paint.

• Zhu Xingda drew Sendoh Akira into a shot defense, then passed to Lei Tianzhenglun, who made a three-pointer for Aiwa Gakuin.
• Sendoh Akira and Zhu Xingda traded a brief taunt as Aiwa Gakuin fell back on defense.
• Chi Tong advanced slowly with the ball while Long Zeduo and Zhu Xingda watched him closely.
• Chi Tong stopped at midcourt and fired a precise pass through Aiwa Gakuin’s defense to Yu Zhu, who was open in the paint.

Yu Zhu scored for Ryonan after Chi Tong sent a precise long pass through Ai He Academy’s defense, leaving the opposing players impressed by his skill. Ai He Academy resumed its attack under Zhu Xingda’s direction, and a red-clad player cut between Zhu Xingda and Sendoh as they met near the center line.

• Chi Tong passed from midcourt through a narrow gap in Ai He Academy’s defense, and Yu Zhu caught the ball and dunked to make the score 2–3.
• Long Zeduo, Koizumi Chun, Nakajima Shijin, Lei Tianzhenglun, and Zhu Xingda reacted with shock and reassessed Chi Tong’s passing ability.
• Zhu Xingda told Ai He Academy’s players to stay calm and follow their plan, then carried the ball toward Ryonan’s half.
• Sendoh prepared to stop Zhu Xingda near the center line, but a red-clad player cut between them and blocked their path.

Ryonan and Aiwa Academy traded scores in a fast-paced contest, but Aiwa’s stronger perimeter shooting and interior defense gradually gave them the lead. With the score at 21-26, Mukai Minsheng warned that Ryonan was falling behind despite the appearance of an even match.

• Zhu Xingda used Nakajima Tsugito’s screen to get free and hit a three-pointer, putting Aiwa Academy ahead 6-2.
• Chi Tong drove past Long Zeduo and passed to Fukuda Kicchou, who drew defenders before feeding Yueye Hongming for a three-pointer that cut the gap to 6-5.
• Both teams exchanged baskets as Chi Tong orchestrated Ryonan’s offense and Zhu Xingda led Aiwa Academy’s attack.
• Aiwa Academy gradually built a five-point lead, reaching 26-21 through stronger three-point shooting and defense inside.
• Mukai Minsheng observed that Ryonan relied mostly on two-pointers while Aiwa Academy had made more three-pointers.

Ryonan erased Aiwa Academy’s eight-point lead through a burst of scoring, tying the game as the first half neared its end. Chi Tong and Sendoh launched a fast break that set up Fukuda Kicchou, who caught a pass and was trapped between Xiaoquan Chun and Nakajima Tsugito.

• Shendai Liufei trusted Chi Tong to turn the game around, while Tiangang Maoyi told Xiangtian Yanyi not to call a timeout.
• Sento, Yu Zhu, Chi Tong, Fukuda Kicchou, Yueye Hongming, and Sendoh led Ryonan’s comeback from an eight-point deficit to a 46-46 tie.
• Chi Tong threw a long pass to Sendoh, who drove forward and bounced a return pass to Chi Tong.
• Fukuda Kicchou shook off Nakajima Tsugito and charged toward the paint as Chi Tong sent the ball toward him.
• Xiaoquan Chun and Nakajima Tsugito closed in on Fukuda Kicchou and trapped him between them.

Ryonan rallied against Aiwa Gakuin in the final seconds of the first half, taking a 49–46 lead as the buzzer sounded. Aiwa’s players struggled to understand how their early advantage had disappeared.

• Fukuda Kicchou passed out of a double-team to Yueye Hongming, but Lei Tianzhenglun blocked Yueye’s three-point attempt.
• Chi Tong recovered the ball before it went out of bounds and passed ahead to Sendoh, who made a three-pointer as the first-half buzzer sounded.
• Ryonan took a 49–46 lead into halftime.
• Nakajima Tsugito, Lei Tian Zhenglun, and Koizumi Junya expressed frustration and confusion over how Ryonan had overtaken them.

During halftime, Aiwa Academy planned to rely on Zhu Xingda and Lei Tianzhenglun’s scoring to regain control, while Ryonan prepared to counter their two-guard attack. Chi Tong decided to defend Zhu Xingda himself and assigned Sendoh to mark Lei Tianzhenglun as the second half approached.

• Tanabe Kenichi told Zhu Xingda and Lei Tianzhenglun to prioritize shooting, while Long Zeduo was tasked with making things difficult for Sento and the team was told to watch Chi Tong’s passes.
• Tanabe Kenichi counted on Aiwa Academy’s three-point shooting to restore their lead, and Zhu Xingda agreed with the plan.
• Taoka Moichi warned Ryonan to tighten perimeter defense and asked Chi Tong how he would respond to Aiwa Academy’s adjustments.
• Chi Tong announced that he would personally defend Zhu Xingda to disrupt Aiwa Academy’s offense.
• Chi Tong assigned Sendoh to guard Lei Tianzhenglun and help maintain Ryonan’s scoring efficiency.

Ryonan led Aiwa Academy 49-46 at halftime, prompting Mukai Yayo and Shendai Liufei to assess the team’s championship potential and Chi Tong’s influence. Sannoh Industrial High School arrived after the first half, and Sawakita Eiji was unsettled by the close score because he knew Chi Tong’s ability.

• Chi Tong assigned Yueye Hongming to defend Aiwa Academy’s number twelve and disrupt his connections with his teammates.
• Mukai Yayo concluded that a win over Aiwa Academy would establish Ryonan as a national semifinalist contender, while Shendai Liufei trusted Chi Tong to take control in the second half.
• Sannoh Industrial High School’s players arrived at the arena after halftime, including their ace, Sawakita Eiji.
• Sawakita Eiji saw that Ryonan led Aiwa Academy 49-46 and questioned why the score was so close despite Chi Tong’s presence.

Ryonan and Aiwa Gakuin began the second half with Aiwa changing its offense to focus on the perimeter. Ryonan anticipated the shift and switched defenders, leaving Chi Tong to guard Zhu Xingda.

• Sawakita Eiji wondered whether Ryonan had deliberately kept its first-half lead narrow to hide its strength.
• Uozumi lost the opening tip when Xiao Quanquan tipped the ball upward, jumped again, and sent it to Nakajima Tsugito.
• Nakajima Tsugito advanced the ball and passed to Lei Tian Zhenglun outside the three-point line, following Aiwa Gakuin's new perimeter-focused offense.
• Sendoh switched onto Lei Tian Zhenglun while Yueye Hongming took Long Zeduo, and Chi Tong stepped up to guard Zhu Xingda.
• Lei Tian Zhenglun and Zhu Xingda were both stunned to see Chi Tong defending Aiwa Gakuin's captain.

Ryonan captain Chi Tong guarded Zhu Xingda and intercepted Lei Tianzhenglun’s pass, then immediately set Sendoh up for a fast break. The play impressed Aike Academy and the Sannoh Industrial High School players, who recognized the chemistry between Chi Tong and Sendoh.

• Ryonan assigned Chi Tong to guard Zhu Xingda while Sendoh defended Lei Tianzhenglun.
• Chi Tong stayed with Zhu Xingda through his feints, then cut into the passing lane and stole Lei Tianzhenglun’s pass.
• Chi Tong sent the ball straight to Sendoh, who broke away from Lei Tianzhenglun and raced toward the frontcourt.
• Aike Academy’s players and the Sannoh Industrial High School players were astonished by Chi Tong and Sendoh’s coordination.
• Sawakita Eiji confirmed that Chi Tong and Sendoh had been his opponents in middle school, and a muscular Sannoh player asked if they had teamed up to defeat him.