Invitational Practice Match

In Episode 44, even Yu Zhu himself had personally given up his position. What right did they have to speak up?

Even Sendoh could not help feeling surprised. This guy had only joined the team two days ago, hadn't he? Yet he had already become captain so quickly. Though Sendoh had anticipated it, the speed of it still shook him.

At that moment, the first-years' gazes toward Chi Tong contained not only awe, but admiration as well.

A first-year captain was something they had never heard of. If word got out, it would probably shake the entire high school basketball world in Kanagawa and even across the nation.

And from that day onward, Chi Tong quietly began a modest reform of the team in his capacity as captain.

Ryonan's starting lineup had already been fixed, so he did not make any drastic changes. Instead, he offered detailed and precise adjustments to each player's current training methods.

At first, everyone remained skeptical, but within a few days, they discovered that Chi Tong's suggestions suited them remarkably well. Whether it was addressing technical weaknesses or optimizing stamina distribution, every recommendation hit the mark and produced immediate results.

Gradually, the players' abilities improved steadily, while their doubts about Chi Tong quietly turned into trust and gratitude.

However, there was one thing Chi Tong had never changed. He continued the iron rule from middle school: the capable rose, the weak fell, and anyone lacking sufficient strength remained on the bench regardless of grade.

Tiangang Maoyi did not object to this. Since he had chosen Chi Tong as captain, he had given him the greatest trust and authority. As long as Chi Tong did not go too far, he would not interfere. If anything truly needed correcting, he would naturally step in.

That day, inside the basketball gym, Tiangang Maoyi stood before the players and solemnly announced, "In one week, we'll be playing a practice match against Shohoku."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across everyone.

"Their player, Akagi Takenori, is one of the top centers in the prefecture and cannot be underestimated. Furthermore, they've brought in a first-year super rookie this year—Liu Chuanfeng."

At that, his tone suddenly turned grave. "Shohoku is no longer just Akagi Takenori's one-man team. You must take them seriously. Do not underestimate them!"

Everyone responded in unison, their momentum surging.

Tiangang Maoyi nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Continue training."

At the command, the players threw themselves back into practice. However, their conversation had already shifted to the upcoming practice match against Shohoku.

"A practice match against Shohoku, huh?"

Xiangtian Yanyi muttered softly, a thoughtful glint flashing through her eyes.

She decided to make time to visit Shohoku and gather some intelligence.

She was now specifically responsible for gathering outside information on behalf of the team, a role she had volunteered for herself.

Her skills were not particularly strong, and she had no height advantage either. But since her older sister, Xiangtian Miesheng, worked as a reporter, she had absorbed a great deal through exposure. Combined with her own sensitivity toward data and observation, she had some talent for intelligence analysis.

Chi Tong had approved this work as well. They could not exactly expect him, the captain, to personally stake out the place.

Though Xiangtian Yanyi was nowhere near the freakish data monster Taojin Wuyue from Kuroko's Basketball, having her around meant that even if the intelligence was not comprehensive, it would not negatively affect the team.

Something was better than nothing.

"Shohoku, huh!"

Yueye Hongming muttered under his breath, a trace of disdain appearing on his face.

"They're just a team that got eliminated in the first round last year. They're not even ranked in Kanagawa."

Shishang Liang'er also looked relaxed. "Akagi is the only one on their team who poses any threat. As for everyone else..."

"Hmph. They're not worth mentioning at all. Don't let your guard down!"

A calm yet blade-sharp voice suddenly rang out. It was Chi Tong.

His tone was flat, and his eyes were still as an ancient well, as though he were merely stating something entirely ordinary.

Yet to Yueye and Shishang, those words struck like thunder. Their bodies jolted, and they instinctively straightened their backs.

For some reason, ever since Chi Tong had become captain, his presence had grown increasingly sharp, as though every word he spoke carried invisible pressure.

They had instinctively developed a sense of awe toward him, not because of seniority, but because of the double intimidation of strength and authority.

Chi Tong's gaze swept over the two of them as he continued, "Anything can happen on the court. Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. There have never been few cases of the weak defeating the strong."

"Well said!"

Tiangang Maoyi immediately took over, approval flashing in his eyes as his satisfaction with Chi Tong deepened further.

"Though Shohoku was not strong in the past, we still cannot be careless. We must crush them with everything we have. Our goal is the National Tournament!"

Sendoh stood to one side and sighed helplessly, wearing an expression of troubled resignation.

I knew it. Now that this guy's become captain, there probably won't be many easygoing days left.

Meanwhile, at Shohoku High School's basketball gym, a booming shout echoed through the hall. The speaker was nearly two meters tall, dark-skinned, with features as sharp as chiseled stone and an imposing presence as steady as a mountain.

He was none other than the captain of the Shohoku Basketball Team, Akagi Takenori.

The moment his words fell, the players who had been training immediately stopped and quickly ran to the center, forming neat rows and standing straight. This alone was enough to show Akagi Takenori's authority and standing within the team.

Looking around, Shohoku's players were not especially tall overall, with most of them on the shorter side. However, two of them stood out in particular.

One was a black-haired boy standing among the group. He was over 180 centimeters tall, close to 190, with a cold face and indifferent eyes, as though he cared nothing for anything around him. He was the first-year super rookie Liu Chuanfeng whom Tiangang Maoyi had mentioned.

The other was a red-haired boy standing beside Liu Chuanfeng. He was roughly the same height as Liu Chuanfeng, but his face was full of arrogance. His eyes occasionally slanted toward Liu Chuanfeng with obvious provocation and ill intent, as though he were ready to start trouble at any moment.

His name was Sakuragi Hanamichi, another first-year rookie who had joined Shohoku this year.

Aside from those two, who stood head and shoulders above the rest, the remaining players appeared extremely ordinary. They were the third-year Mumugong Yan, the second-year An Tian Jingchun, the second-year Chaoqi Zheshi, the second-year Jiaotian Wu, and the first-year Shijing Kentaro.

Ahem. Standing at the front of the lineup was an elderly man with graying hair, a kind face, and a plump, round body. He was Anxi Guangyi, the coach of the Shohoku Basketball Team.

He slowly began, "I came today to talk about the practice match. Our opponent is Ryonan High School, and the game has been scheduled for one week from now."

Before he had even finished speaking, the atmosphere in the gym changed abruptly. Every second- and third-year player who knew anything about Ryonan had their expressions change dramatically.

"Ah!"

"Ryonan!"

Yasuda cried out in alarm, while Mumugong Yan also looked terrified. "We're really going to play a practice match against one of the prefecture's top four?"

Cold sweat seeped across Kakuta Gatsu's forehead, and his voice trembled. "Are we really going to face such a strong team?"