In episode five hundred and forty, he smiled helplessly. "That's true. You're different from us."
Sendoh and Chi Tong were already very familiar with each other, so he spoke casually and meant nothing else by it. Chi Tong understood that as well.
Chi Tong merely smiled faintly. "Right now, I'm the same as everyone else—just another member of the team."
That afternoon, sunlight pierced through the clouds and shone upon the dome of the Tokyo Sports Arena, reflecting a dazzling brilliance. Under the guidance of the coaching staff, the group arrived at the arena in high spirits.
It was a grand day. Representative teams from sixteen prefectures across Japan had gathered together, ready to display their talents on this stage.
The moment Chi Tong and the others entered the arena, they immediately sensed an entirely different atmosphere.
If the National Tournament was a passionate struggle of youth, then the Autumn National Sports Festival was a true basketball feast.
The venue buzzed with voices. Players from all over wore neat uniforms and gathered in small groups to talk.
Yet the instant the Kanagawa Prefecture Representative Team appeared, the previously noisy arena quieted noticeably. Countless gazes turned toward them at once—some curious, some awed, some deeply envious, and some filled with fighting spirit.
It couldn't be helped. Among all the teams participating in this Autumn National Sports Festival, the Kanagawa Prefecture Representative Team's lineup was simply too extravagant—terrifying, even.
There was Ryonan, fresh off winning the National Tournament championship; Shohoku High School, which had just taken third place in the National Tournament; Kainan University Affiliated High School, a powerhouse that had consistently remained among the national top four for years; and Shoyo High School, with Fujima Kenji and Hanagata Toru. How could a team like that not draw attention?
"Hey, is that