Chi Tong vs. Sendoh

Many people noticed the changes happening within the Basketball Team.

During the team's practice matches, everyone clearly felt the leap in their abilities. This kind of rapid improvement had never happened before.

Other than 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 reserve players, who had once been timid and hesitant, had all become more confident.

The reserves' growth also sparked a sense of urgency in the regular players. Through that chain reaction, the entire Basketball Team became fiercely competitive, and the team's overall strength began growing rapidly as well.

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

Naturally, the team's changes did not escape his notice. He found that when he worked with his teammates, the obvious stiffness from before had vanished, and everything had become much smoother. He had watched the team's transformation over this period, which gave him an even deeper understanding of Chi Tong. There was shock, admiration, praise, and fighting spirit.

He realized Chi Tong was nowhere near as simple as he appeared. Elite passing, elite ball handling, broad vision, sharp basketball instincts, flexible and varied playmaking abilities, and all sorts of lethal tactical schemes—every bit of it opened Sendoh's eyes. All he could think was, Holy crap, this guy!

Fortunately, someone like that was on the same team as him.

That day, after the Basketball Club finished training, everyone packed up and left. Only Sendoh and Chi Tong remained in the Gymnasium, silently practicing. At first, they simply trained on their own without disturbing each other.

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

No one knew how long passed before the sounds in the Gymnasium finally stopped.

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

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

Chi Tong did not refuse. He agreed without hesitation.

"Sure." Although he mainly played point guard, he would not back down from a challenge. Besides, he also wanted to test just how far his current abilities had progressed. Sento was just the right opponent.

Before long, the two stood facing each other beyond the three-point line on one side of the court.

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

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

Sendoh's eyes narrowed. He closed in instantly and slid sideways, sealing off the driving lane almost at the same moment Chi Tong made his move.

"You almost got past me. Good thing I stopped you."

Sendoh chuckled.

Chi Tong said nothing. He quickly shifted his center of gravity back, made a fake move, and tried to force his way through from the right again.

Sento used the same tactic, reacting swiftly as he slid sideways once more and blocked the route on the right.

Chi Tong did not grow anxious because of it. His expression remained calm, as though everything before him had long been within his expectations.

Next, Chi Tong suddenly accelerated. Switching the ball between his hands, he stepped out as though wind had sprung beneath his feet and drove toward Sendoh's right again. But because Sendoh had shifted his weight to the right earlier, it was difficult for him to widen his defensive coverage there any further.

Chi Tong spotted that tiny opening and drove right past Sendoh's right side.

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

Yet at the very instant he went up for the layup, Sendoh somehow recovered at an unbelievable speed and caught up in time to help defend.

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

But Chi Tong's expression remained as calm as clouds drifting in a clear sky. He showed no surprise at Sendoh suddenly catching up behind him.

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

"Interesting!"

The corner of Sendoh's mouth curled up, and the fighting spirit 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 at his rear side.

It looked like Sendoh wanted to hold Chi Tong off and wait for an opening.

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

Chi Tong's mismatched eyes contracted 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 hand was about to touch the basketball, Sendoh's lips slowly curved upward. He twisted his wrist, then immediately took a step back.

Seeing Sendoh's movement, Chi Tong instantly stepped forward and closed right in on him.

However, Sendoh did not stop after his step-back. He rose directly into the air, lifting the basketball and aiming at the hoop ahead.

At that sight, Chi Tong's pupils shrank.

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 there was no way he could block him.

Whoosh!

Sendoh launched the basketball from his hand.

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

Chi Tong looked at Sendoh with a deep gaze.

Sendoh looked back at Chi Tong, a smug smile appearing on his face.

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

Chi Tong inwardly complained, So this guy was still holding a grudge over that three I sank in his face?

Sendoh was pretty vindictive, but Chi Tong was not the kind of person who would remain unmoved after being provoked either.

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

She had an exquisite face capable of enchanting countless young boys. Wearing Saint Radiance Middle School's JK uniform, her long black hair draped over her shoulders, its slightly curled ends adding 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 already met Shendai Liufei.

When she learned that Chi Tong had truly come to Saint Radiance Middle School, Shendai Liufei had been overjoyed. She had only casually offered the suggestion 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 also similar, 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 that era, basketball had not yet become something every teenager knew well. Most had only heard of it or seen it once or twice, with only a little understanding of it.