Chapter Summaries

After Shendai Liufei’s report made Chi Tong Lingyu’s middle-school achievements famous, Chi Tong confronted the other personality within him over his desire to dominate the court. The two sides reached a subtle balance, leaving Chi Tong with a steadiness that concealed a sharper competitive edge.

• Mitsui Hisashi doubted the report’s claims that Chi Tong had single-handedly led Sacred Radiance to consecutive championships, while Takenori Akagi recalled Chi Tong’s exceptional performance against Ryonan.
• Chi Tong read Shendai Liufei’s report, considered her unexpected attempt to make him famous, and dismissed the attention as less important than the coming match.
• A voice representing Chi Tong’s other personality urged him to embrace his ambition and make Ryonan renowned, but Chi Tong insisted that he wanted to win together with his teammates.
• Chi Tong recognized that both personalities shared a deep desire for victory and struggled as their opposing presences clashed within him.
• The conflict settled into a subtle balance, and Chi Tong opened his eyes with steadiness and sharpness combined.

Chi Tong accepted the competing sides of his personality before Ryonan and Shohoku gathered to watch the four-to-two stage begin. Hainan and Shoyo entered the court to face off in the opening semifinal, while Ryonan and Shohoku awaited their afternoon game.

• Chi Tong woke after allowing his opposing personalities to coexist within him.
• Ryonan arrived at the gymnasium, where spectators recognized Chi Tong Lingyu, Sendoh, and Yu Zhu.
• Shohoku watched Ryonan from the stands as Sakuragi recalled their humiliating practice game and Rukawa briefly looked toward Chi Tong.
• Hainan and Shoyo entered the court amid loud cheers from their rival supporters.
• Ikegami Ryoji and Uekusa Tomoyuki discussed Hainan's yearly victories over Xiangyang and the importance of Maki Shinichi and Fujima Kenji.

Hainan and Shoyo began their Top 4 to Top 2 matchup, with Fujima Kenji leading Shoyo to a first-half advantage over Maki Shinichi’s team. Hainan surged back in the second half and led 65–61 by its midpoint.

• Chi Tong told Sendoh that Maki Shinichi was stronger than Fujima Kenji, though Shoyo still had a slim chance if Fujima could hold out.
• Hainan and Shoyo completed warm-ups, and the referee started their game in a packed gymnasium.
• Hanagata Toru scored Shoyo’s first points, and Fujima Kenji used the team’s height advantage to build a 22–15 lead while Hasegawa Kazushi stifled Jin Soichiro.
• Takato Riki adjusted Hainan’s tactics, and Jin Soichiro hit three consecutive three-pointers before Fujima and Hanagata helped Shoyo finish the first half ahead 43–38.
• Maki Shinichi powered through Shoyo’s defense as Kiyota Nobunaga stole the ball for fast breaks and Jin Soichiro made more threes, giving Hainan a 65–61 lead midway through the second half.

Hainan overwhelmed Shoyo 104–82 after a dominant second-half run, while Ryonan and Shohoku prepared for their afternoon game. The chapter left Shohoku gathered in the locker room as Akagi Takenori urged his team to give everything against Ryonan.

• Maki Shinichi sparked Hainan’s comeback, and Kiyota Nobunaga and Jin Soichiro helped extend its lead with steals, fast breaks, and three-pointers.
• Hainan’s defense disrupted Shoyo’s attacks, and a 12:2 run pushed the score to 77:63 before Shoyo’s timeout.
• Hainan continued to pull away as Shoyo’s stamina and confidence faltered, finishing the game with a 22-point victory, 104–82.
• Sendoh and Yueye Hongming reacted to Hainan’s win, while Chi Tong led Ryonan away to prepare for its afternoon match.
• Shohoku’s players gathered in the locker room before facing Ryonan, and Akagi Takenori reminded them of the stakes and urged them to give their all.

Shohoku and Ryonan prepared for their semifinal, with Shohoku’s players showing their nerves and Ryonan initially confident about facing them. Chi Tong revealed that she would start and warned her teammates that Shohoku now had national-level strength, then called out, “Discount!”

• Sakuragi teased Akagi about his dark circles, and Akagi admitted he had woken up at four in the morning.
• Mitsui dismissed Shohoku’s anxiety about Ryonan, then left for the restroom as his teammates realized how nervous he was.
• Ryonan’s players discussed Shohoku’s improvement and learned that Mitsui had once won a national championship and been named Most Valuable Player.
• Sendoh and Chi Tong agreed that Shohoku had become strong, and Chi Tong announced she would start.
• Chi Tong warned Ryonan that Shohoku had national-level strength and that they could lose if they did not take the team seriously.

Shohoku and Ryonan entered the arena before their game, and Ryonan’s overwhelming presence unsettled their opponents and drew the attention of other schools. As the teams prepared to take the court, Ryonan’s coach entrusted Chi Tong with on-court command.

• Shohoku entered the arena to supportive cheers that revealed the spectators had little confidence in them.
• Chi Tong led Ryonan out, and the team’s confident presence drew thunderous cheers and stunned the watching players.
• Mu Shenyi, Fujima Kenji, Hanagata Toru, Mitsui Hisashi, and Akagi reacted to Ryonan’s unexpectedly imposing aura.
• Anzai Mitsuyoshi recognized that Ryonan was using psychological pressure to seize the initiative and suspected Chi Tong had devised the approach.
• Tiangang Maoyi told Ryonan to follow Chi Tong’s commands during the game, and the referee called both teams onto the court.

Ryonan captain Chi Tong took the court from the start and told Akagi that Shohoku was destined to lose. Before the game began, Chi Tong made Sakuragi Hanamichi inexplicably fall with a touch to his shoulder, leaving the players and spectators baffled.

• Chi Tong joined Ryonan’s starting lineup, and Akagi vowed that Shohoku would defeat them before Chi Tong declared Shohoku’s defeat inevitable.
• Sakuragi Hanamichi challenged Chi Tong, who touched his shoulder and caused him to topple onto the court.
• Players including Kiyota Nobunaga, Jin Soichiro, Maki Shinichi, and Fujima Kenji could not tell how Sakuragi had fallen.
• Gongcheng Liangtian helped Sakuragi up, and Sakuragi tried to confront Chi Tong before Miyagi Ryota restrained him and reminded him the referee was watching.

The Ryonan–Shohoku game began, and both teams traded quick attacks as Akagi and Liu Chuanfeng scored for Shohoku while Ryonan answered. The contest remained close as Yu Zhu controlled the paint and Ryonan kept Shohoku from pulling ahead.

• The referee started the game, and Akagi won the opening tip against Yu Zhu before passing to Miyagi Ryota.
• Akagi received Miyagi Ryota’s pass and dunked over Yu Zhu to give Shohoku a 2–0 lead.
• Sendoh passed to Yueye Hongming, who scored over Mitsui Hisashi to tie the game at 2–2.
• Liu Chuanfeng broke past Sendoh and dunked over Yu Zhu as three girls in the stands cheered for him.
• Mitsui Hisashi caught Miyagi Ryota’s pass and made a three-pointer, while Yu Zhu secured rebounds and helped Ryonan keep the score close.

Ryonan and Shohoku traded baskets through a tense first half, with Chi Tong masking his abilities before breaking through to set up Yu Zhu’s tying dunk at the buzzer. The teams entered halftime tied 47–47, while Hainan and Shoyo’s observers sensed something unusual about the game.

• Yu Zhu battled Akagi Takenori for rebounds and scoring chances as Ryonan and Shohoku opened with an intense exchange.
• Sendoh drew two defenders and passed behind his back to Ikegami Ryoji, who scored, while Yueye Hongming added points with perimeter shots.
• Chi Tong used simple feints against Miyagi Ryota to pass to Sendoh for a layup, then continued making steady passes that created chances for Ryonan.
• With thirty seconds left, Rukawa hit a double-clutch shot to put Shohoku ahead 47–45.
• With ten seconds remaining, Chi Tong accelerated past Miyagi Ryota and lobbed the ball to Yu Zhu, who dunked to tie the score 47–47 as the first-half buzzer sounded.
• Jin Soichiro and Kiyota Nobunaga told Mu Shenyi that the game felt strange, and Mu watched the court without answering.

Shohoku and Ryonan entered halftime tied, but Shohoku questioned why Chi Tong had seemed so unthreatening after their earlier fifty-point loss. Chi Tong ended his test of Shohoku and sent Fukuda Kicchou in to score and keep Sakuragi Hanamichi away from the paint as the second half began.

• Mu Shenyi and Fujima Kenji noticed Chi Tong’s calmness and suspected that Ryonan had more planned, while Hanagata Toru reacted to the tied score.
• Ayako encouraged Shohoku’s players, and Miyagi Ryota questioned how Chi Tong had once led Ryonan to beat them by fifty points.
• Anzai Mitsuyoshi observed that Ryonan’s players looked composed, while Tiangang Maoyi praised their control of the game and told them to follow Chi Tong’s instructions.
• Chi Tong said the test against Shohoku was over, recalled suggesting that Ryonan test Shohoku in the first half, and announced that it was time to take the pieces.
• Chi Tong sent Fukuda Kicchou into the game and instructed him to score while keeping Sakuragi Hanamichi away from the paint.
• The second half began with Uozumi and Akagi preparing for the tip-off as Akagi wondered what Chi Tong was planning.

The second half began with Uozumi winning the jump ball and setting up Sendoh for a quick score against Shohoku. Miyagi then faced Chi Tong on Ryonan’s defensive end, hesitating under the pressure as Shendai Liufei watched from the press area.

• Uozumi outjumped Akagi and tipped the ball to Chi Tong, who passed it to Sento Zhang.
• Sendoh used a passing feint to get past Rukawa, then evaded Mitsui Hisashi’s block and scored a layup.
• Miyagi Ryota brought the ball up for Shohoku’s counterattack but stopped when Chi Tong blocked his path.
• Shendai Liufei photographed the standoff and remarked on Miyagi’s courage to Xiangtian Misheng and Nakamura Taizao.

Shendai Liufei told Mukai Minsheng that Akagiri was the strongest, then Chi Tong stole the ball from Miyagi Ryota and drove toward Shohoku’s basket. After evading Sakuragi Hanamichi, Chi Tong faced Akagi under the basket as Sakuragi charged in from behind.

• Mukai Minsheng learned that Shendai Liufei belonged to Lingnan High School’s News Club and had attended the school himself.
• Shendai Liufei said she knew Akagiri from before Lingnan and insisted that he was the strongest.
• Chi Tong swiftly stole the ball from Miyagi Ryota and charged toward Shohoku’s half.
• Chi Tong used quick crossovers and a sudden stop to get past Sakuragi Hanamichi.
• Chi Tong entered the paint with Akagi waiting ahead, then stepped aside to evade Sakuragi’s charging pursuit.

Chi Tong scored while Sakuragi Hanamichi collided with Akagi and was struck by the ball, prompting Akagi to knock him down again when he tried to fight Chi Tong. Enraged, Sakuragi charged toward Ryonan’s basket, leaving Yueye Hongming behind as Yu Zhu waited beneath the hoop.

• Sakuragi Hanamichi crashed into Akagi during Chi Tong’s shot, and Chi Tong scored while they fell.
• Akagi punched Sakuragi Hanamichi, and the ball then bounced off the floor and hit Sakuragi in the head, knocking him down again.
• Sakuragi Hanamichi accused Chi Tong of attacking him and tried to charge after him, but Mitsui Hisashi and Miyagi Ryota restrained him.
• Akagi knocked Sakuragi Hanamichi down when he continued struggling, then the game resumed.
• Miyagi Ryota passed to Sakuragi Hanamichi, who charged toward Ryonan’s basket, brushed past Yueye Hongming, and found Yu Zhu waiting beneath the hoop.

Ryonan exploited Shohoku’s missed shots and turnovers to widen the gap, with Sendoh, Yueye Hongming, and Fukuda Kicchou scoring. The chapter left Shohoku under mounting pressure after Sakuragi Hanamichi fouled Fukuda during a dunk.

• Fukuda Kicchou knocked the ball from Sakuragi Hanamichi, and Yu Zhu launched a long pass that Sendoh caught and scored on.
• Liu Chuanfeng tried to pass to Mitsui Hisashi, but Chi Tong intercepted and secretly passed to Yueye Hongming, who made a three-pointer.
• Chi Tong passed through a double-team to Fukuda Kicchou, who drove into Shohoku’s interior.
• Sakuragi Hanamichi collided with Fukuda Kicchou while trying to block his dunk, drawing a foul as Fukuda slammed the ball through the hoop.

Shohoku fell fourteen points behind Ryonan as Fukuda Kicchou scored a basket and free throw after drawing a foul from Sakuragi Hanamichi. During the timeout, Anxi Guangyi explained that Ryonan was deliberately targeting Sakuragi and began laying out Shohoku’s next plan.

• Fukuda Kicchou drew a defensive foul on Sakuragi Hanamichi, made the basket and free throw, and extended Ryonan’s lead.
• Shohoku called a timeout with five minutes gone in the second half and the score at Ryonan 69, Shohoku 55.
• Anxi Guangyi told Shohoku that Ryonan was baiting Sakuragi into fouls to get him sent off.
• Anxi Guangyi suggested that Ryonan’s focus on Sakuragi meant they feared something about him, then picked up the tactical board to explain the plan.
• On Ryonan’s bench, Yueye Hongming and Ikegami Ryoji credited Chi Tong’s warning, while Yu Zhu reflected on how closely he matched up with Akagi Takenori.
• Shendai Liufei praised Chi Tong’s team, and Mukai Minsheng wondered how Chi Tong’s simple plays had exposed Shohoku’s weaknesses.

After the timeout, Shohoku regained its composure, and Liu Chuanfeng scored after a missed dunk and a rebound. Chi Tong then beat Miyagi Ryota with an unconventional turn and drew Sakuragi Hanamichi into the air before passing toward the open space beside the basket.

• Shohoku resumed play with renewed composure, and Miyagi Ryota guarded Chi Tong closely.
• Liu Chuanfeng drove past Sendoh, passed beneath his armpit to Akagi Takenori, then grabbed the rebound after Sendoh blocked Akagi's dunk and scored.
• Sendoh smiled at Liu Chuanfeng's play, and Liu Chuanfeng told him, "I'll be waiting."
• Chi Tong used a spinning turn to get past Miyagi Ryota and drove toward Shohoku's basket.
• Chi Tong jumped as if to shoot, drew Sakuragi Hanamichi into a leap, and passed toward the open space to the left of the basket.

Chi Tong escaped Shohoku’s defense with an elbow pass that let Fukuda Kicchou dunk, stunning the arena and putting Shohoku on guard. After play resumed, Akagi passed the ball to Miyagi Ryota, who faced Chi Tong uncertainly.

• Liu Chuanfeng tried to steal Chi Tong’s pass to Fukuda Kicchou, but Chi Tong redirected the ball behind himself.
• Akagi moved to intercept the pass, but Chi Tong stopped it with his elbow and sent it back to Fukuda Kicchou.
• Fukuda Kicchou caught the ball and dunked into Shohoku’s undefended basket.
• The spectators, players, and coaches reacted with astonishment to Chi Tong’s elbow pass.
• Akagi passed the ball to Miyagi Ryota, who hesitated as he faced Chi Tong again.

Shohoku cut Ryonan’s lead to eight points as Sakuragi Hanamichi’s unexpected screens and interference helped turn the game around. With the crowd sensing a comeback, Chi Tong created space from Miyagi Ryota and Mitsui Hisashi, leaving his next move uncertain.

• Mitsui Hisashi made a three-pointer after Miyagi Ryota passed him the ball.
• Sakuragi Hanamichi’s well-timed screens helped Mitsui Hisashi score and let Miyagi Ryota break free for a layup.
• Sakuragi Hanamichi disrupted Yu Zhu’s balance, allowing Takenori Akagi to seize the ball and dunk.
• Shohoku narrowed the score to 84:76, prompting Taoka Moichi and spectators to worry that Ryonan’s lead was slipping away.
• As Miyagi Ryota and Mitsui Hisashi trapped Chi Tong, he paused his dribble and stepped backward to create space.

Chi Tong shocked the gym by deliberately scoring in his own basket, then confronted Ryonan’s players for losing focus despite their lead. He left them chastened and warned that he would rather concede than let their complacency worsen.

• Chi Tong stepped back and deliberately shot the ball into his own basket, stunning everyone in the gym.
• Kiyota Nobunaga, Jin Soichiro, Fujima Kenji, the Shohoku bench, and the reporters struggled to understand his action.
• Chi Tong walked over to Ryonan’s players, whose deference to their first-year captain shocked spectators and rival leaders.
• Chi Tong told Yu Zhu, Yueye Hongming, Fukuda, Kichijo, and Sendoh that they had lost urgency and were falling apart after being caught up by a few points.
• Chi Tong said he would rather admit defeat than let the gap grow wider, hoping the players would regain their composure.

Chi Tong restored Ryonan’s confidence and led a coordinated attack that scored against Shohoku. As Shohoku began its response, Chi Tong activated the Eye of Heaven and intercepted Ryota Miyagi’s pass, leaving Ryonan with possession.

• Chi Tong reassured Ryonan’s players, calming them and rekindling their fighting spirit.
• Chi Tong passed to Yueye Hongming, who moved the ball to Fukuda Kicchou for a basket.
• Ryota Miyagi slowed Shohoku’s offense and tried to pass to Mitsui Hisashi after feinting against Chi Tong.
• Chi Tong activated the Eye of Heaven, changed direction, and intercepted Ryota Miyagi’s pass.