Rumors About the Captain

He looked at Chi Tong with a bitter smile. "I lost to you again. You're getting more terrifying by the day!"

Hearing Sendoh say that, the players around them who had no idea what was going on immediately became interested.

Yueye Hongming could not help asking, "Again?"

"Sendoh, you mean..." As he spoke, he raised a hand and pointed at Chi Tong, his eyes full of astonishment.

The others also turned their eyes toward Sendoh, waiting for his explanation.

Sendoh shrugged helplessly and sighed. "That's right. During middle school, Chi Tong beat me once in a one-on-one. Today was the second time."

The moment those words left his mouth, it was as if a nuclear bomb had exploded in everyone's minds. They were all so stunned that they could not speak.

Just then, applause rang out from the sidelines.

Taoka Moichi walked over while clapping, then announced loudly, "That's enough for today. Starting tomorrow, we'll resume normal training."

After saying that, his eyes gleamed as he gave Chi Tong a meaningful look.

"Chi Tong, come with me for a moment."

The others watched Chi Tong's departing back, their emotions complicated beyond words.

They knew that from this day onward, Ryonan had gained another ace like Sendoh.

In a secluded corner outside the Lingnan High School Basketball Gym, Chi Tong silently followed Tiangang Maoyi there.

Tiangang Maoyi turned around, and the stern expression on his face instantly changed into a genial smile.

"Chi Tong, I heard you and Sendoh were teammates in middle school?"

Chi Tong nodded calmly. "Yes, Coach. Sendoh and I met during our first year at Saint Radiance Middle School, and we only went our separate ways in our third year."

"Hm?"

"Saint Radiance Middle School?"

Taoka Moichi nodded lightly and said thoughtfully, "There were rumors that school had won two consecutive championships, but their results in the third year were far from ideal. Why was that?"

As a high school basketball coach, he naturally kept an eye on the Middle School League. He had long heard of Saint Radiance Middle School's back-to-back championships, and it was then that he began noticing Sendoh. Unfortunately, he had not been able to watch either of those first two years' games in person.

Later, after hearing Sendoh mention Chi Tong, he had planned to inspect the team himself in their third year. But unexpectedly, Chi Tong had already left Saint Radiance Middle School's basketball club that year, and the two had missed each other.

Because of that, he had always been curious. An ordinary person, after winning two straight championships, would surely give everything to chase a third title. Yet this boy had chosen to leave the basketball club instead. For a while, he could not quite figure Chi Tong out.

Chi Tong nodded calmly. "During my third year of middle school, I left the basketball club for some personal reasons."

"I see!"

Taoka Moichi nodded slowly, then asked, "Now that you've officially become a member of Lingnan High School's basketball club, what do you think of the team?"

The question was both concern and a test.

From Chi Tong's performance on the court just now, it was clear that he possessed tremendous control and an exceptional ability to dictate the rhythm. It could be said that he was born with the qualities of a leader.

Though Tiangang Maoyi still found it hard to believe, he truly saw the shadow of that person in Chi Tong: Mu Shenyi, captain of Kainan University Affiliated High School's basketball team.

What shocked him even more was that, based on Chi Tong's performance in the game, even if Mu Shenyi himself had taken the court, he might not have done any better. And that was precisely what Ryonan needed most right now.

Hearing Coach Taoka's question, Chi Tong looked at him, a gentle and composed smile appearing at the corner of his lips. "I do have some thoughts about the basketball club."

"First, as a point guard, Senior Uekusa is unable to effectively direct his teammates or organize the offense. More often than not, he waits for others to make their choices."

"Then there's his mid- and long-range shooting. While a point guard's primary responsibility is to organize the offense, stable mid- and long-range shooting is also indispensable."

"Yet Senior Uekusa's number of shots throughout the entire game was practically negligible."

"Defense, offense, consistency?"

The moment Chi Tong began speaking, his points were clear and his logic airtight. Every sentence struck directly at the heart of the matter with astonishing accuracy.

Tiangang Maoyi stood there listening, completely dumbfounded, his eyes widening further and further.

As a coach who had taught for many years, he had never analyzed Uekusa Zhizhi's problems as thoroughly as Chi Tong had.

But after Chi Tong finished, he thought it over and realized that it really was true.

Next, Chi Tong began calling out names one by one: Yu Zhu, Tsukino, Hong Ming, Shishang, Liang 2, and Sendoh. Every core player was mentioned, and his analysis of their problems was utterly unsparing.

After that, he turned his attention to the first-year newcomers, pointing out each person's technical weaknesses, mental state, and on-court habits.

As Tiangang Maoyi listened to Chi Tong lay everything out point by point before offering specific suggestions, his tone remained calm, yet every word cut like a blade.

Tiangang Maoyi was completely stunned, left with nothing but endless bewilderment and shock.

Was this guy really just a first-year newcomer?

He was practically a monster!

After the shock subsided, Taoka Moichi silently committed every suggestion Chi Tong had made to memory.

At that moment, a thought suddenly surfaced in his mind. If I let this kid be the team captain, I'd have so much less to worry about as coach!

Once Chi Tong had finished, Taoka Moichi's eyes lit up as he tentatively asked, "Chi Tong, if I made you the team captain, what would you do?"

"Are you confident you can lead the team well?"

At those words, Chi Tong looked Tiangang Maoyi straight in the eye. The corner of his lips lifted slightly into a steady, confident smile.

"Of course."

The reason he had said all that was because he wanted to compete for the captaincy. Originally, he had only intended to plant a seed in Taoka Moichi's mind and prove that he had the ability to serve as captain. He had not expected Taoka Moichi to raise the subject so directly.

But after thinking it over, he understood. The current captain was Uozumi. On one hand, it was because he had been with the team the longest; on the other, he was also an indispensable starting center.

But now that Sendoh had joined and quickly become the team's spiritual core, Uozumi's leadership role as captain had naturally been weakened as long as Sendoh was there.

But if Chi Tong became captain instead, the situation would be completely different.

With his strength and control on the court, he would surely stand alongside Sendoh and become a new spiritual pillar for the team.

Moreover, his innate leadership qualities would better unite the entire team as one.

Taoka Moichi lowered his head and pondered for a long time.

Finally, he raised his head, looked Chi Tong directly in the eye, and slowly said, "Chi Tong, I can give you an opportunity."

He paused, his tone turning solemn. "The team's current captain is Uozumi. Whether you can make everyone acknowledge you as captain will depend on you."

"I understand."

Chi Tong's expression remained unchanged as he answered calmly.

He was in no hurry. As long as he wanted it, the position of captain of Ryonan's basketball team would sooner or later be his. It was only a matter of time.

"Yes, Captain!"

Just then, a clear voice came from nearby. The two turned toward it and saw Shendai Liufei standing not far away, gently waving at them.