Ryonan's Phantom Sixth Man Heads to Hiroshima (Part One)

After saying all that, Xiangtian Yanyi's chest was still rising and falling slightly, but the weight that had been pressing on her heart suddenly seemed to lift. Chi Tong...

Seeing the light in her eyes, he finally gave a faint smile. His tone softened too, losing its earlier blunt chill.

"Then would you like to hear my suggestion?"

Day by day, the National Tournament drew closer.

At the Lin Nan High School Basketball Gym, sneakers squeaked against the floor and basketballs thudded in a tight, powerful rhythm, just as they always had.

Yet something unusual had quietly emerged amid the familiar sounds.

Xiangtian Yanyi, who usually sat courtside with a notebook and meticulously recorded data, seemed like a different person lately.

She no longer just sat quietly off the court. Every day, she arrived earlier than anyone else. After practice ended, she stayed alone in the gym, doing movements no one could make sense of. Sometimes she jumped in place; sometimes she suddenly crouched. Even the way she swung her arms looked nothing like basketball training.

"Have you guys noticed?"

Yueye Hongming stopped dribbling to catch his breath and looked toward Xiangtian Yan in the corner.

"Yi."

"Yanyi's been acting a little strange lately."

Shishang Liang'er wiped away his sweat and followed his gaze. "Yeah, she's been working especially hard."

"That's not what I mean."

Yueye Hongming rolled his eyes. "I mean, what exactly is she practicing?"

"Those moves don't look like basketball drills at all, do they?"

Sendoh stopped passing the ball and narrowed his eyes, silently watching her practice rapid footwork against the wall over and over.

At Koshino's words, everyone began speculating.

"Wait, did Yanyi learn Captain Chi Tong's secret technique?"

"Did Captain Chi Tong really give Xiangtian Yanyi some private coaching?"

They traded guesses and looked