The basketball landed straight in Chi Tong's hands.
After catching the ball, Chi Tong did not immediately pick up the pace and charge forward as usual. Instead, he planted both feet firmly and slowly looked over every player on Mingpeng Industrial High School's side.
His gaze was calm but sharp, like a hunter sizing up his prey.
From Takeuchi Yusi to Morishige Hiroshi and the other Meihou Industrial players, he took in everyone's positioning and expressions, as though rapidly calculating something.
Takeuchi Yusi raised her eyebrows slightly, her eyes fixed on Chi Tong, her mind full of questions.
She could not tell whether Chi Tong was stalling or preparing some kind of play. After all, he had never moved at such a slow pace since the game began.
She clenched her fists, not daring to relax in the slightest. Every muscle in her body tensed, ready to respond to Chi Tong's next move.
At last, Chi Tong moved. He bounced the basketball rhythmically against the floor, the sound especially distinct in the relatively quiet arena.
He stepped forward, walking slowly toward Mingpeng Industrial's half. His pace was unhurried, yet carried a peculiar rhythm.
Takeuchi Yusi kept her eyes locked on the basketball in his hands, afraid of missing even the smallest detail.
But before she could think further, the instant Chi Tong's left foot crossed the halfway line, Takeuchi Yusi's pupils contracted. Her eyes flew wide, disbelief written all over her face.
At that very instant, she had clearly seen the basketball Chi Tong was dribbling vanish into thin air.
The basketball was gone. Takeuchi Yusi's mind went blank, and she instinctively looked at Chi Tong's hands. They were empty.
She quickly scanned her surroundings, but could not catch so much as a glimpse of the ball.
She even wondered