Akagiri VS Sendoh

Many people had noticed the changes in the basketball team.

During the team's practice matches, everyone could clearly feel the leap in their abilities. Such rapid improvement had never happened before.

Aside from the coach, Kirihara Sunren and Sendoh felt it most deeply.

As the team captain, Kirihara Sunren was naturally extremely sensitive to changes within the team.

He had noticed it on the second day after Chi Tong joined the team.

The substitute players, who had once been timid and submissive, had all become more confident.

The substitutes' growth had also stirred a sense of urgency in the regular players. Through this chain reaction, the entire basketball team had become intensely competitive. As a result, the whole team's strength had rapidly improved as well.

Sento was the strongest player on the team aside from Chi Tong.

Naturally, the team's changes had not escaped his notice. He found that when he worked with his teammates, the obvious stiffness from before had disappeared, and everything had become much smoother. He had witnessed the team's changes over this period, and it gave him a deeper understanding of Chi Tong. There was shock, admiration, praise, and fighting spirit.

He realized that Chi Tong was nowhere near as simple as he appeared. Elite passing, elite ball-handling, broad vision, sharp basketball instincts, flexible and varied playmaking, and all kinds of lethal tactics—every bit of it opened Sendoh's eyes. He could only exclaim, "Damn, this guy!"

Fortunately, that kind of person was on the same team as him.

That day, after the basketball club's training ended, everyone packed up and left. Only Sendoh and Chi Tong remained in the gymnasium, quietly practicing. At first, they each focused on their own drills without disturbing the other.

For a time, the only sounds in the gymnasium were sneakers scraping across the floor, basketballs striking the ground, and basketballs hitting the backboard.

No one knew how much time passed before the sounds in the gymnasium finally stopped.

Sendoh and Chi Tong, both drenched in sweat, looked at each other.

Sendoh spoke first. "Want to play a game?"

Chi Tong did not refuse and decisively agreed.

"Fine." Although he mainly played point guard, he would not back down from a challenge. Besides, he also wanted to see just how far his current abilities had reached. Sento was the perfect opponent.

Before long, the two faced each other outside the three-point line on one side of the court.

Chi Tong slowly dribbled the basketball without rushing to attack. His eyes, sharp as an eagle's, locked onto Sendoh's every movement. Sendoh swayed from side to side like a beast ready to pounce at any moment.

Just then, Chi Tong suddenly changed direction, took a step forward, and drove straight toward Sendoh's left side.

Sendoh's gaze sharpened. He immediately closed in and slid sideways, sealing off the driving lane almost the moment Chi Tong made his move.

"You almost got past me, but luckily I stopped you."

Sendoh chuckled.

Chi Tong said nothing. He quickly pulled his weight back, made a fake drive, and tried to force his way through from the right again.

Sento used the same move again. With quick hands and fast feet, he slid sideways and blocked the route on the right once more.

Chi Tong did not grow impatient because of this. His expression remained calm, as though everything before him had already been within his expectations.

Then, Chi Tong suddenly accelerated. As he switched the ball between his hands, he stepped out as if the wind were beneath his feet and drove toward Sendoh's right side again. However, because Sendoh's center of gravity had shifted right earlier, it was difficult for him to widen his defensive coverage on that side again.

Chi Tong spotted that tiny opening and broke through Sendoh's right side.

He was incredibly fast, reaching the basket in the blink of an eye. Without the slightest hesitation, he went straight into a three-step layup.

Yet at the instant he went up for the layup, Sendoh retreated and recovered on defense at an unbelievable speed, catching up in time.

Sendoh leaped up behind Chi Tong, ready to disrupt his shot.

Yet Chi Tong's expression remained as calm as ever. He was not surprised in the slightest by Sendoh suddenly catching up from behind.

His layup motion suddenly changed. He switched the basketball to his other hand, then flicked it up with a scoop shot. The ball dropped steadily into the basket, and after landing, Chi Tong turned to look at Sendoh behind him.

"Interesting!"

The corner of Sendoh's mouth curled upward, and the battle intent in his eyes grew stronger.

The offense and defense switched. Sendoh attacked!

Like Chi Tong, Sendoh did not rush to attack at first. He assumed a triple-threat stance and deliberately protected the ball behind his body.

It seemed Sendoh wanted to hold out against Chi Tong and wait for the right opportunity.

But the next moment, Sendoh's figure flashed, and without any warning, he charged toward Chi Tong's side.

Chi Tong's mismatched eyes narrowed sharply. He stepped sideways in the direction of Sendoh's drive, while his palm swiftly swept toward the basketball in Sendoh's hand.

"I knew you'd do that!"

As Chi Tong's palm was about to touch the basketball in his hand, Sendoh's lips slowly curled up. He twisted his wrist, then immediately took a step back.

Seeing Sendoh's movement, Chi Tong immediately stepped forward and pressed close to him.

However, Sendoh did not stop after his step-back. Instead, he leaped into the air, raising the basketball as he aimed at the hoop ahead.

Seeing this, Chi Tong's pupils contracted.

Sendoh was currently around 180 centimeters tall, three centimeters taller than him.

Though it was only three centimeters, Sendoh's jumping ability was not weak, and this was a fadeaway jumper.

Chi Tong knew that no matter what he did, he could not block it.

Whoosh!

Sendoh shot the basketball from his hand.

The basketball sailed over Chi Tong's head before dropping into the hoop behind him.

Chi Tong looked at Sendoh, his gaze profound.

Sendoh looked at Chi Tong and revealed a smug smile.

"I haven't forgotten how you hit that three-pointer right in my face before!"

So this guy was still holding a grudge over that three-pointer I hit in his face before!

Sendoh was quite the grudge-holder, but Chi Tong was not the kind of person who would remain unmoved after being provoked.

Just as Chi Tong and Sendoh were facing off, a beautiful figure arrived at the entrance of the gymnasium.

She had an exquisite face capable of captivating countless young men. She wore Saint Radiance Middle School's JK uniform, with long black hair draped over her shoulders, the ends slightly curled to add a touch of playfulness. Her light brown eyes shimmered like rippling water.

She was none other than Shendai Liufei, whom Chi Tong had met at the banquet before.

On the first day of school, Chi Tong had met Shendai Liufei again.

When she learned that Chi Tong had really come to Saint Radiance Middle School, Shendai Liufei had been overjoyed. She had only made the suggestion casually at the time, never expecting Chi Tong to actually come.

From that day onward, the two often ran into each other and chatted at school. Since their family backgrounds were similar as well, they gradually became close friends who could talk about anything.

When Shendai Liufei learned from Chi Tong that he had joined the basketball club, she was extremely surprised and curious. In this era, basketball was not yet something every young person knew about. Most had merely heard of it or seen it once or twice and had only a basic understanding of it.