Chapter Summaries

Chi Tong overwhelmed Bright Marsh with an intimidating presence, stealing the ball and scoring a three-pointer. As play continued, he dominated both ends of the court while the other players faded into the background.

• Chi Tong left three Bright Marsh players sprawled on the floor after driving under their basket and scoring.
• Chi Tong's presence unnerved both teams, and Sendoh noticed that he seemed different while Sawakita Eiji watched in shock.
• Chi Tong pressured Bright Marsh's power forward into passing, then intercepted the ball before it had fully left his hand.
• Chi Tong raced downcourt and made a three-pointer over Bright Marsh's center.
• Chi Tong continued dominating on offense and defense as Kirihara Sunren, Kobayashi, and Yamamoto Ryu realized something was wrong.

With two minutes left, Chi Tong’s solo play narrowed Bright Marsh’s lead, prompting its coach to call a timeout and assign Sawakita Eiji to defend him. As the game resumed, Chi Tong’s teammates watched him warily while, inside his mind, his second personality explained that Chi Tong had willingly yielded control because of his doubts about the team.

• Chi Tong’s steals, drives, and shots helped Sacred Radiance cut Bright Marsh’s lead to 80–76 with two minutes remaining.
• Bright Marsh called a timeout, and its coach told Sawakita Eiji to guard Chi Tong while the team continued double-teaming Sacred Radiance’s other threat.
• Sacred Radiance’s players watched Chi Tong cautiously as he sat with his eyes closed, and Sento wondered who he was.
• Inside Chi Tong’s consciousness, Chi Tong accused his second personality of taking over, but the second Chi Tong said Chi Tong had willingly handed him control.
• Chi Tong fell silent as he recognized that his distrust of his teammates had opened the way for the second personality.

Chi Tong’s second personality returned to the court and faced Sawakita Eiji, using the Eye of Heaven to anticipate his moves. Sawakita Eiji narrowly avoided Chi Tong’s attempted steal and recognized him as a terrifying opponent.

• Chi Tong’s second personality took control and returned to the court, declaring that victory depended on strength rather than teammates.
• Sawakita Eiji left Sendoh to face Chi Tong, while two Bright Marsh players double-teamed Sendoh.
• Sawakita Eiji praised Chi Tong’s ability and challenged him before receiving the ball and driving forward.
• Chi Tong used the Eye of Heaven to predict Sawakita Eiji’s movement and lunged for the ball.
• Sawakita Eiji switched hands at the last moment to evade the steal, then regarded Chi Tong with genuine wariness.

Chi Tong stole the ball from Sawakita Eiji and scored, then intercepted Bright Marsh’s next pass and faced Sawakita again. With Sacred Radiance trailing by two and just over a minute remaining, Chi Tong used Ankle Breaker to try to get past him.

• Chi Tong anticipated Sawakita Eiji’s drive, stole the ball, and raced downcourt to score a layup.
• The spectators and Sendoh reacted with shock as Chi Tong’s steal shifted the crowd’s attention toward Sacred Radiance.
• Bright Marsh’s point guard passed toward Sawakita Eiji, but Chi Tong intercepted the ball without looking.
• Chi Tong drove at Sawakita Eiji and activated Ankle Breaker, changing direction rapidly to get past his defense.

Chi Tong broke past Sawakita Eiji and passed to Sendoh, whose three-pointer put Sacred Radiance ahead of Meisei, 81–80, with thirty-four seconds remaining. Meisei began its final possession with Sawakita Eiji carrying the ball into Sacred Radiance’s half, where Chi Tong and Sendoh prepared to stop him.

• Chi Tong used a series of crossovers to throw Sawakita Eiji off balance, then drew two Bright Marsh defenders toward him.
• Chi Tong stepped back and passed to the unmarked Sendoh on the wing instead of driving past the defenders.
• Sendoh moved beyond the three-point line and made the shot, giving Sacred Radiance an 81–80 lead over Meisei.
• With thirty-four seconds left, Chi Tong and Sendoh prepared to defend Meisei’s final possession while anticipating that Sawakita Eiji would take the ball.
• Sawakita Eiji received the ball and charged into Sacred Radiance’s half.

Chi Tong and Sendoh worked together to outmaneuver Sawakita Eiji, using his breakthrough past Chi Tong to set up Sendoh’s steal. Chi Tong took the ball and raced ahead, while Sawakita Eiji realized Bright Marsh had left Sendoh unmarked.

• Chi Tong and Sendoh broke through Bright Marsh’s double-team and attacked Sawakita Eiji from both sides.
• Sawakita Eiji slipped past Sendoh and Chi Tong, while Chi Tong’s Eye of Heaven faltered as he predicted Sawakita Eiji’s route.
• Chi Tong deliberately let Sawakita Eiji pass, creating a blind spot for Sendoh to ambush him and knock the ball away.
• Chi Tong and Sendoh sent the stolen ball to Chi Tong, who sprinted ahead as Sawakita Eiji and Bright Marsh chased him.
• Sawakita Eiji noticed that none of his teammates had marked Sendoh and realized the danger.

Saint Radiance Middle School defeated Bright Marsh 83–80 to win the national tournament after Chi Tong Lingyu and Sendoh combined for the decisive play. Days later, Chi Tong pondered how he had regained control during the final possession as the team’s championship fame spread and its veteran players retired.

• Chi Tong passed to Sendoh, who scored just before the buzzer to give Saint Radiance an 83–80 victory over Bright Marsh.
• Sawakita Eiji accepted the loss, remembered Chi Tong and Sendoh’s decisive teamwork, and vowed not to lose next time.
• Several days later, Chi Tong wondered whether his will or subconscious had taken control during the championship game when the Eye of Heaven showed danger.
• Sendoh noticed that Chi Tong sometimes seemed unusually detached and intimidating after the match.
• Saint Radiance’s championship made Sendoh and Chi Tong famous throughout the middle school basketball world.
• The third-year players and second-year starters Yamamoto Ryu and Ito Hongshu announced their retirements, leaving Sendoh and Chi Tong as the only members of the original core lineup.

Chi Tong took over as captain of Saint Radiance Middle School and rebuilt the team around strength, leading it to a second consecutive National Tournament championship. After the victory, Sendoh told Chi Tong he planned to leave and move to Kanagawa, while Chi Tong avoided saying where he would go after middle school.

• After Kirihara Sunren stepped down, the players unanimously made first-year Chi Tong captain, and Sendoh supported the choice.
• Chi Tong imposed an elimination-based training system that ignored seniority, and Coach Nakamura watched as the team improved under his leadership.
• Saint Radiance swept the National Tournament by huge margins, with Sendoh starring and Chi Tong directing the offense with his passes.
• Saint Radiance defeated Bright Marsh Middle School and Sawakita Eiji in the final to win its second consecutive championship.
• Sendoh told Chi Tong he planned to leave for Kanagawa, where an older man had recruited him, and said his family’s decision was the main reason.
• When Sendoh asked which school Chi Tong would attend after middle school, Chi Tong said it was too early to decide and withdrew behind his icy demeanor.

Chi Tong told Sento and Shendai Liufei that he was taking a year off from the basketball club, while keeping his mysterious personal reasons to himself. As the new school year began at Lingnan High School, students and clubs gathered for recruitment.

• Chi Tong told Sento he planned to leave the basketball club for a year, and Sento questioned his decision to give up the chance at a three-peat.
• Chi Tong said the team's failure to win again would be its own problem, leaving Sento unsettled by his cold demeanor.
• Shendai Liufei expressed concern about Chi Tong's recent changes, and he told her he wanted to rest for personal reasons.
• Shendai Liufei supported Chi Tong, and he thanked her before the two walked away together as black sedans followed them.
• The new school year began at Lingnan High School, where clubs set up recruitment booths and two eye-catching students drew attention as they approached.

Chitong Lingyu and Shendai Liufei arrived at Lingnan High School, where Chitong would attend after Sendoh invited him to join the school. Their striking appearance drew everyone’s attention as they entered the campus.

• Sendoh called Chitong at coach Tiangang Maoyi’s request and encouraged him to attend Lingnan High School after describing his basketball talent to the Ryonan team.
• Chitong agreed to attend Lingnan High School because he had not yet chosen a school, and Shendai Liufei joined him.
• Chitong and Shendai Liufei arrived at Lingnan High School and admired its campus.
• Chitong and Shendai Liufei entered the school, immediately attracting the attention of students throughout the campus.

Chi Tong and Shendai Liufei enrolled in Class 1-1, where their striking appearance drew everyone’s attention. After Chi Tong decided to join the basketball club and invited Shendai Liufei along, several delinquents confronted them on the way and demanded that Chi Tong hand her over.

• Chi Tong and Shendai Liufei completed registration and discovered they had both been assigned to Class 1-1.
• The pair entered their classroom, attracting admiring stares and stirring envy among their classmates.
• During free activity time, Chi Tong said he planned to join the basketball club, while Shendai Liufei admitted she had not chosen a club.
• Chi Tong invited Shendai Liufei to accompany him to the basketball club, and she agreed.
• Several delinquent boys from Lin Nan High School surrounded Chi Tong and Shendai Liufei, taunted Chi Tong, and demanded that he give them his girlfriend.

Chi Tong intimidated Lingnan High School’s delinquents when they tried to bully him and Shendai Liufei, then reunited with Sendoh at Lin Nan High School. Sendoh sensed that Chi Tong had changed and felt an unfamiliar pressure from him.

• A delinquent reached for Chi Tong, but Chi Tong’s icy presence overwhelmed the group and made them back away in fear.
• Chi Tong told the delinquents to get lost, and he and Shendai Liufei walked on while she blushed as she watched him.
• After Chi Tong and Shendai Liufei left, the delinquents discussed their fear and agreed not to provoke him again.
• Chi Tong and Shendai Liufei met Sendoh, and Chi Tong greeted his old friend warmly.
• Sendoh said he had worried Chi Tong would quit basketball, then sensed that Chi Tong had changed and felt an unfamiliar pressure from him.

Chi Tong returned to basketball after taking a year away to resolve the struggle between his two personalities, and Sendoh brought him and Shendai Liufei to register at Ryonan. As they approached the gym, Sendoh warned that the players might challenge Chi Tong, who intended to establish his authority through his strength.

• Chi Tong told Sendoh that he had only intended to take a year off, and said Sacred Radiance's championship result no longer concerned him.
• Sendoh reflected on Chi Tong's growth, his near-complete command of his abilities, and how he had learned to switch between his two personalities' playing styles.
• Sendoh led Chi Tong and Shendai Liufei toward the Basketball Gym and warned Chi Tong that the team might not welcome him warmly.
• At Lingnan High School's gym, Yueye Hongming, Uekusa Tomoyuki, and Ikegami Ryoji discussed Chi Tong's arrival and the threat he posed to Uekusa's starting position.
• Uekusa clenched his towel and said Chi Tong would have to prove himself with his strength.

Sendoh returned to the Ryonan gym with his old teammate Chitong Lingyu and Shendai Liufei, interrupting the introductions. Chitong introduced himself as a new member and declared that he had joined to win the championship, leaving the team and coach stunned.

• Tiangang Maoyi arrived at the gym, gathered the players, and began introductions while Sendoh was away.
• The second- and third-years introduced themselves, followed by the first-year newcomers.
• Sendoh returned with Chitong and Shendai Liufei and introduced Chitong as his former middle-school teammate.
• Chitong announced that he was joining the Lingnan High School basketball club and that his goal was to win the championship.
• The players and Tiangang Maoyi reacted with shock and disbelief at Chitong's declaration.

Chi Tong declared that he would lead Ryonan to a championship, stunning the team before the coach arranged an intrasquad match to test the newcomers. The match began with Chi Tong facing captain Yu Zhu for the opening tip, where Chi Tong’s leap surpassed the taller upperclassman’s.

• Chi Tong insisted that victory was everything and said leading Ryonan to a championship was inevitable.
• Yueye Hongming, Ikegami Ryoji, and the others reacted with disbelief, while Sendoh introduced Chi Tong to the team.
• Tiangang Maoyi arranged an intrasquad match between the newcomers and upperclassmen, and the upperclassmen resolved to teach Chi Tong a lesson.
• Xiangtian Yanyi greeted Chi Tong and felt overwhelmed by the pressure of his gaze.
• Chi Tong faced Yu Zhu for the opening tip and leaped higher, leaving the captain astonished by his explosiveness.

Chi Tong remained quiet while the upperclassmen built a commanding lead, then took control of the ball and created an open three-pointer for the freshmen. After the shot cut the score to 11–22, the freshmen began their counterattack.

• Chi Tong won the opening tip and passed to Xiangtian Yanyi, but the upperclassmen stole the ball and Uozumi dunked to take a 2–0 lead.
• The upperclassmen dominated the game as Yueye Hongming, Ikegami Ryoji, and Uekusa Tomoyuki mocked the struggling freshmen and Chi Tong.
• Chi Tong told Xiangtian Yanyi and the others to pass him the ball, then advanced toward the upperclassmen with a renewed intensity.
• Chi Tong burst past Uekusa Tomoyuki and passed to an unguarded freshman shooting guard, who made a three-pointer to narrow the score to 11–22.
• Chi Tong retreated on defense as the next possession began and the freshmen launched a counterattack.

Chi Tong repeatedly stole the ball from the upperclassmen and set up scoring chances, bringing the freshmen back to a 36–36 tie. After Sento recognized that Chi Tong had barely attacked, he said he could no longer hold back and turned serious.

• Chi Tong intercepted Yueye Hongming’s pass and helped Xiangtian Yanyi score a layup.
• Chi Tong stole the ball from Uekusa Tomoyuki and passed it through his legs to the freshmen’s power forward, who scored.
• Chi Tong kept stealing and passing as the freshmen caught up and tied the game at 36–36.
• Tiangang Maoyi praised Chi Tong’s point-guard potential, while Sento noticed that Chi Tong had left the offense to his teammates.
• Sento said he could no longer hold back, and his gaze turned serious as he faced Chi Tong.

Chi Tong and Sendoh began their full-speed duel, with Chi Tong’s defense forcing Sendoh into a tense battle and eventually creating a turnover that gave the rookie team a three-point lead. Sendoh then advanced again and tried to drive past Chi Tong from the left.

• Chi Tong announced that the real game was beginning, and Tiangang Maoyi decided to keep watching instead of stopping the match.
• Sendoh cautiously faced Chi Tong, then traded increasingly fast crossovers with her as both players fought fiercely for control of the ball.
• Chi Tong lunged for Sendoh’s ball, prompting him to pass, but her play sent the ball off Uekusa Tomoyuki’s thigh and caused a turnover.
• Xiangtian Yanyi recovered the ball and passed to the rookie shooting guard, who scored a three-pointer to put Rookie Team ahead 39–36.
• Sendoh brought the ball forward again and tested Chi Tong’s defense before accelerating into a drive from the left.

Chi Tong dominated the intra-squad game with precise passing, relentless defense, and spectacular scoring, repeatedly getting the better of Sendoh. The first-years defeated the upperclassmen 64–54, and Taoka Moichi recognized Chi Tong as a potential ace alongside Sendoh.

• Chi Tong blocked Sendoh’s layup, stole the ball, and delivered a concealed pass that led to a fast-break score.
• Chi Tong disrupted Sendoh’s jumper, stole the rebound, and broke past Uekusa Tomoyuki and Ikegami Ryoji on a counterattack.
• Sendoh pressured Chi Tong, but Chi Tong beat him with a double-clutch shot and scored.
• The first-years defeated the upperclassmen 64–54, leaving Taoka Moichi impressed by Chi Tong’s talent.

After Chi Tong defeated Sendoh for the second time, Coach Taoka Moichi recognized Chi Tong’s leadership ability and tested his knowledge of Ryonan’s players. Chi Tong made clear he wanted the captaincy, and Taoka offered him a chance to earn the team’s acknowledgment.

• Sendoh revealed that Chi Tong had beaten him once in middle school and again that day, shocking the Ryonan players.
• Taoka Moichi ended practice and took Chi Tong aside to ask about his middle-school team and his impressions of Ryonan.
• Chi Tong analyzed the weaknesses of Ryonan’s core players and newcomers, impressing Taoka with his detailed suggestions.
• Taoka asked whether Chi Tong could lead the team as captain, and Chi Tong confidently agreed.
• Taoka told Chi Tong that he would have to earn the team’s recognition because Uozumi was the current captain.
• Shendai Liufei approached and called out to Chi Tong and Taoka.