Chapter Summaries

Ryonan captain Chi Tong revealed that his unchanged offense had been designed to lure Shoyo into spending too much stamina while desperately closing the score gap. Fujima Kenji realized Shoyo had been trapped and was nearing physical collapse.

• Hanagata Toru promised to keep fighting as Shoyo cut Ryonan’s lead to within ten points and regained confidence.
• Chi Tong ordered Ryonan to continue its familiar attack, leaving Fujima Kenji uneasy about the lack of adjustments.
• Chi Tong told Fujima that the time bought by Ryonan’s early lead mattered more than the score itself.
• Taoka Moichi explained that Chi Tong had used Shoyo’s effort to catch up to drain its stamina.
• Fujima recognized that he and his teammates were already exhausted and understood that Ryonan had led them into a trap.

Chi Tong’s sudden burst of speed and Ryonan’s coordinated attack exposed how he had used the game’s pace to exhaust Shoyo and control the match. The first half ended with Ryonan leading 46–30, leaving Fujima shaken and Mu Shenyi wary of Chi Tong.

• Chi Tong blew past Fujima Kenji with a burst of speed and advanced toward Shoyo’s basket.
• Chi Tong drew Hanagata Toru’s attention while Yueye Hongming’s shot sailed into Shoyo’s hoop, extending Ryonan’s lead to 33–20.
• Chi Tong told Shoyo that its players were too exhausted to match Ryonan’s pace, and Fujima realized Chi Tong might have planned the situation from the start.
• The first half ended with Ryonan ahead 46–30, a thirteen-point lead that weighed heavily on Shoyo.
• Mu Shenyi watched Fujima leave the court in dejection, then focused on Chi Tong and recognized his control over the game.
• Shohoku’s players recalled Chi Tong’s words and realized the thirteen-point gap had been bait in his trap.

Chi Tong’s passing strategy wore down Shoyo while preserving Ryonan’s stamina, and he announced that he would take a more active role in the second half. The half resumed with Yu Zhu and Hanagata Toru contesting the opening tip, and Yu Zhu appeared to have the advantage.

• Gongcheng Liangtian and Miyagi Ryota recognized how Chi Tong had used passing and Shoyo’s urgency to control the game and exhaust them.
• Ayako warned Shohoku that Chi Tong had never seemed to go all out, suggesting his true strength exceeded what they had seen.
• Chi Tong told Ryonan to let Shoyo fight back while he handled the rest, revealing that he would shift toward offense in the second half.
• Ryonan’s players anticipated Chi Tong’s attack, recalling how he had scored against all five opponents in an earlier scrimmage.
• Yu Zhu and Hanagata Toru jumped for the opening tip, and Yu Zhu seemed to reach higher as Fujima Kenji wondered whether Hanagata’s stamina had waned.

Shoyo won the opening tip of the second half, and Fujima Kenji tried to launch a fast break against Ryonan. Chi Tong used the Eye of Heaven to read Fujima’s fake pass and drive, leaving Shoyo’s players stunned as the play unfolded.

• Hanagata Toru outjumped Yu Zhu and tipped the ball to Fujima Kenji, giving Shoyo the first possession of the second half.
• Fujima Kenji dribbled toward Ryonan’s half, but Chi Tong’s speed let him cut off the fast break.
• Fujima Kenji feinted a pass to Nagano Mitsuru before preparing to drive to the right.
• Chi Tong activated the Eye of Heaven and saw through Fujima Kenji’s feint and intended drive.
• Fujima Kenji drove past Chi Tong, and Shoyo’s players rushed toward the basket expecting a scoring chance.
• Shoyo’s players reached the basket, turned around, and froze at what they saw.

Chi Tong stole the ball from Fujima Kenji and scored on an unguarded fast break, leaving Shoyo stunned and Ryonan ahead 48–33. Fujima asked how Chi Tong had done it, but Chi Tong only said he had seen the opportunity and taken the ball.

• Chi Tong inexplicably stole the ball during Fujima Kenji’s drive, leaving Fujima staring at his empty hands.
• Chi Tong raced to Shoyo’s undefended basket and scored a layup, putting Ryonan ahead 48–33.
• Mu Shenyi, Maki Shinichi, and Shohoku’s players recognized Chi Tong’s steal from earlier games and wondered whether he could predict opponents’ moves.
• Fujima Kenji replayed the steal in frustration, then stopped Chi Tong and asked what he had done.
• Chi Tong calmly told Fujima Kenji that he had simply seen the opportunity and stolen the ball.

Chi Tong overwhelmed Fujima Kenji’s defense, stole the ball, and drove toward Shoyo’s basket. He then broke through Hanagata Toru and Takano Shoichi, leaving Hanagata off balance.

• Fujima Kenji used Takano Shoichi’s screen to try to evade Chi Tong, but Chi Tong anticipated it and stayed in his path.
• Chi Tong stole the ball when Fujima Kenji stepped back to pass to Nagano Mitsuru, then raced toward Shoyo’s basket.
• Hanagata Toru and Takano Shoichi teamed up to block Chi Tong near the paint and refused to move aside.
• Chi Tong used rapid crossovers and a feint to get past their defense, causing Hanagata Toru to lose his balance and fall backward.

Chi Tong overwhelmed Shoyo with his defense and scoring as Ryonan extended its lead and seized momentum. Nagano Mitsuru drove toward the basket and leaped for a dunk, but a defender appeared beside him.

• Chi Tong sent Hanagata Toru and Takano Shoichi tumbling with his crossover, then scored to put Ryonan ahead 50:33.
• Spectators and players from other teams reacted with shock to Chi Tong's dominance, while Sakuragi Hanamichi vowed to beat him next time.
• Chi Tong repeatedly stole the ball from Fujima Kenji, and Ryonan's defense shut down Shoyo's other attackers.
• Nagano Mitsuru drove toward the basket and jumped to dunk as Yu Zhu and Sendoh moved to stop him.
• A figure suddenly appeared beside Nagano Mitsuru as he rose for the dunk.

Chi Tong broke Fujima Kenji’s resolve as Ryonan continued to dominate Shoyo, widening the lead until Shoyo’s chances of a comeback disappeared. Hainan’s players recognized that Ryonan had become a serious threat, while Chi Tong shifted to setting up his teammates.

• Sendoh stole the ball from Nagano Mitsuru, and Uozumi passed it ahead to Chi Tong.
• Fujima Kenji rushed to stop Chi Tong, but Chi Tong dribbled past him and declared that Fujima’s era was over.
• Chi Tong scored, prompting the crowd to praise him and compare Ryonan’s strength to Hainan’s.
• Mu Shenyi warned Hainan that Ryonan might beat them, and Jin Soichiro pointed out the team’s strengths.
• Ryonan stretched its lead to thirty points as exhausted Shoyo collapsed, while Chi Tong began passing to open teammates.

Ryonan defeated Shoyo 109:59, ending the game with Chi Tong scoring over Fujima Kenji after breaking his balance. Shoyo’s players broke down after the final buzzer, while Chi Tong’s dominant performance stunned the arena and thrilled Tiangang Trade.

• Shoyo’s cheer squad rallied the exhausted team, moving neutral spectators to applaud their persistence, while Mu Shenyi and Hainan left the arena wary of Ryonan.
• Chi Tong dribbled at Fujima Kenji, activated Ankle Breaker, and sent Fujima crashing to the floor despite his desperate effort to stay upright.
• Chi Tong said his next shot would end the game and expressed respect for Shoyo’s fighting spirit before scoring the final basket.
• The final whistle confirmed Ryonan’s 109:59 victory, a fifty-point defeat that left Shoyo’s players in tears and Fujima Kenji stunned on the floor.
• Chi Tong returned calmly to Ryonan’s bench, leaving spectators astonished by his command of both passing and dominance, while Tiangang Trade trembled with excitement.

Ryonan defeated Shoyo 109–59, securing its place in the National High School League and ending Shoyo’s era. After the game, Shendai Liufei brought Chi Tong to her family residence, where she planned a report celebrating Ryonan and welcomed him inside.

• Taoka Moichi celebrated Ryonan’s victory over Shoyo and reflected on how Chi Tong had helped fulfill his long-awaited goal of reaching the national tournament.
• Taoka Moichi considered the upcoming game against Hainan and hoped Ryonan might challenge its dominance.
• In the car, Shendai Liufei told Chi Tong she was preparing a report to publicize Ryonan’s strength, and Chi Tong accepted her explanation.
• Shendai Liufei invited Chi Tong into her family’s residence, and he agreed to stay.
• Mako welcomed Chi Tong, then arranged matcha daifuku, pickled plums, and hot matcha at Shendai Liufei’s request.
• Shendai Liufei showed Chi Tong decorations in the house as she led him toward the living room.

Over dinner, Shendai Liufei worried that she and Chi Tong might attend different universities, and Chi Tong promised to tell her when he decided. After he left, Shendai Liufei spoke with her mother, who teased her about her feelings for him and urged her to be more proactive.

• Shendai Liufei asked Chi Tong which university he planned to attend, and he promised to tell her once he decided.
• Shendai Liufei asked Chi Tong to seal his promise with a pinky swear, and he agreed.
• Chi Tong said goodbye and left, while Shendai Liufei watched his car disappear into the night.
• Shendai Liufei answered a call from Madam Shendai and reassured her that she was doing well in Kanagawa.
• Madam Shendai asked about Shendai Liufei and Chi Tong, then encouraged her to act on her feelings before someone else pursued him.

Shendai Liufei’s parents discussed her relationship with Chi Tong and agreed that her happiness mattered most. The next day, Takato Riki warned Hainan’s basketball team that Ryonan’s decisive win over Shoyo showed how dangerous Chi Tong had made them.

• Shendai Liufei told her mother she would handle her relationship with Chi Tong herself, and Shendai Mom reassured her that she should not let herself be wronged.
• Shendai Mom told Shendai Dad that Liufei was doing well in Kanagawa and had said Chi Tong ate at her home; they agreed to prioritize their daughter’s happiness.
• At Kainan University Affiliated High School, Takato Riki asked the players to assess Ryonan’s fifty-point victory over Shoyo.
• Kiyota Nobunaga dismissed Ryonan’s win, and Mu Shenyi struck him and ordered him to answer the coach seriously.
• Mu Shenyi warned the team that Chi Tong had raised Ryonan’s offense and defense, and that Hainan could suffer a humiliating defeat if it stayed arrogant.

Hainan’s players and coach assessed Ryonan as a national-level threat, with Takato Riki recognizing Chi Tong as the force that transformed the team. As they prepared for their championship game, Takato urged Hainan to rely on its experience and defend its standing as Kanagawa’s king.

• Kiyota Nobunaga apologized after Mu Shenyi pointed out that his words had been inappropriate.
• Mu Shenyi told Takato Riki that Ryonan had reached national level, praising Uozumi’s defense, Sendoh’s all-around game, and Chi Tong’s leadership and ability.
• Mu Shenyi compared Chi Tong’s composure and control to Sannoh’s Fukatsu, while Jin Soichiro, Muto Tadashi, and Takasago Kazuma agreed that Ryonan was a formidable opponent.
• Takato Riki reviewed Ryonan’s game against Shoyo and concluded that Chi Tong connected the team and surpassed Mu Shenyi’s talent at the same age.
• Takato Riki reminded Hainan’s players that they were Kanagawa’s reigning champions and that their National Tournament experience gave them an advantage over Ryonan.

Hainan prepared for its afternoon showdown with Ryonan while spectators packed the gymnasium for the final day of the Kanagawa qualifiers. As Shoyo and Shohoku prepared to fight for third place and the last national tournament berth, Ryonan and Hainan arrived to watch and faced off in a tense exchange.

• Takato Riki ordered Hainan to simulate Ryonan's lineup and style of play instead of doing intense training before their game.
• The final day of the Kanagawa qualifiers began, with Shoyo versus Shohoku set to determine third place and the final national tournament berth, followed by Ryonan versus Hainan for the championship.
• Mukai Minsheng and Nakamura discussed the packed stands, Shoyo's losses, Fujima's final year, and Shohoku's unexpected rise.
• Chi Tong led Ryonan into the gym as Mu Shenyi led Hainan, and the two teams stopped at the tunnel entrance to size each other up.
• Ryonan and Hainan's competing presence drew the spectators' attention as they eagerly anticipated the afternoon game.

Ryonan and Hainan exchanged tense words before the Shoyo versus Shohoku game began. Ryonan’s Chi Tong predicted Shohoku would win, and Shohoku took control of the opening tip with Sakuragi’s improved jumping ability.

• Maki Shinichi told Chi Tong and Lin Yu he looked forward to their match, and Chi Tong said its outcome had already been decided.
• Maki sensed two dangerous, contrasting auras in Chi Tong and became more serious about the afternoon’s game.
• The Shoyo and Shohoku teams entered the arena, and Ryonan’s players discussed which team was more likely to win.
• Chi Tong said Shohoku’s strength had surpassed Shoyo’s after facing Hainan.
• Sakuragi replaced Akagi for the opening tip, outjumped Toru Hanayuki, and tapped the ball to Miyagi Ryota.
• Miyagi drove toward Shoyo’s perimeter defense, but Hasegawa Kazushi stepped up to block his path.

Shohoku dominated Shoyo throughout the game, building a massive lead as Shoyo struggled to find an answer to their balanced offense. The final whistle left the gym silent as the scoreboard confirmed Shoyo’s crushing defeat.

• Miyagi Ryota assisted Mitsui Hisashi for Shohoku’s opening three-pointer, and Sakuragi Hanamichi soon stole Fujima Kenji’s pass and dunked to give Shohoku a five-point lead.
• Shohoku kept scoring after Shoyo’s timeout, and by halftime Liu Chuanfeng’s fast-break dunk made the score 56:25.
• Fujima Kenji opened the second half with a three-point play, but Shohoku answered with a 7:0 run led by Liu Chuanfeng, Sakuragi Hanamichi, Miyagi Ryota, and Mitsui Hisashi.
• Akagi grabbed rebounds and scored before assisting Mitsui Hisashi on another three-pointer, helping Shohoku extend its lead to 88:42 midway through the second half.
• Shoyo continued trying to close the gap, but the final whistle ended the game as the gym fell silent.

After Shohoku routed Xiangyang and secured the final National Tournament berth, the crowd gathered for the decisive Ryonan–Hainan game. Shendai Liufei admitted her closeness to Chi Tong Lingyu, while Maki Shinichi waited in Hainan’s locker room, eager to begin the match.

• Shohoku defeated Xiangyang 115–65, eliminating Shoyo and earning third place and a National Tournament berth.
• Shendai Liufei met Mukai Minsheng and Nakamura Taizao in the packed gym’s press area before the Ryonan–Hainan game.
• Mukai Minsheng teased Shendai Liufei about liking someone on Ryonan’s team, and she said she and Chi Tong Lingyu were close friends from Lin Nan High School.
• Coach Takato Riki entered Hainan’s locker room and found Maki Shinichi waiting tensely for the game to start.
• Maki Shinichi asked whether the game had begun, and Takato Riki told him there was still time.

Hainan and Ryonan prepared for their final preliminaries game, with Takato Riki entrusting Hainan’s on-court decisions to Mu Shenyi and Tiangang Maoyi placing Ryonan’s game plan in Chi Tong’s hands. Both teams entered Gymnasium No. 1 to a roaring crowd, setting the stage for their showdown.

• Takato Riki reminded Hainan that Ryonan’s Chi Tong and Sendoh could adapt their tactics, then entrusted Mu Shenyi with directing the team on court.
• Tiangang Maoyi told Ryonan that Chi Tong would command the game and left the team’s arrangements to him.
• Chi Tong urged Ryonan to give everything in the final and declare that victory belonged to Ryonan.
• Fans from teams including Shohoku and Xiangyang filled Gymnasium No. 1 and waited for the teams to emerge.
• Ryonan entered first, led by Chitong Lingyu and followed by Sento, Yu Zhu, Koshino, Ikegami, and Xiangtian Yanyi.
• Maki Shinichi led Hainan onto the court with Jin Soichiro, Takasago Kazuma, Kiyota Nobunaga, and Muto Tadashi following.

Ryonan and Hainan faced off before their game, and Kiyota Nobunaga tried to provoke Ryonan’s players. After they ignored and mocked him, he impressed both teams with his exceptional dribbling during warm-ups, while Chi Tong remained focused on Mu Shenyi.

• Kiyota Nobunaga bragged about Hainan’s strength, but Ryonan’s players mocked him and Chi Tong exchanged a calm look with Mu Shenyi.
• Mu Shenyi ordered Kiyota Nobunaga to return to Hainan’s lineup after he grew furious at being ignored.
• During warm-ups, Kiyota Nobunaga dribbled with dazzling speed and control, drawing the attention of the crowd and Ryonan’s players.
• Yueye Hongming, Shishang Liang'er, and Uozumi acknowledged Kiyota Nobunaga’s skill, while Sendoh stayed composed and Chi Tong did not react.

Ryonan and Hainan began their Kanagawa championship game after a tense warm-up, and Hainan won the opening tip. Hainan's first attack was disrupted by Ryonan's defense, but Jin Soichiro recovered the loose ball near the sideline.

• Ryonan ignored Kiyota Nobunaga's showy warm-up, leaving him frustrated as both teams finished preparing in silence.
• The starting lineups gathered for the opening jump ball, and Takasago Kazuma tipped the ball to Kiyota Nobunaga despite Yu Zhu's height advantage.
• Kiyota Nobunaga raced into Ryonan's half, but Sento blocked his path and pressured him until he passed to Muto Tadashi.
• Muto Tadashi drove into the paint for a dunk, but Fukuda Kicchou swatted the ball away toward the sideline.
• Jin Soichiro saved the loose ball before it went out of bounds and prepared to continue Hainan's attack.