Akagiri Appears (2)

Chi Tong stood still in Ryonan's half of the court. He slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping over the Shohoku players opposite him, but his words were directed at his own Ryonan teammates. "It's about time we ended this game."

His voice was calm, yet it struck everyone's eardrums like a heavy hammer.

Then he tilted his head slightly toward Yu Zhu, who was guarding the basket.

"Yu Zhu-senpai, I'm leaving the blocks to you!"

Yu Zhu stared at Chi Tong's back. Without another word, he gave a firm nod. "All right." The game resumed.

Ryonan inbounded the ball. There were no elaborate screens, no circuitous passing plays. The basketball was sent directly into Chi Tong's hands without hesitation.

The ball thudded against the floor again and again, its rhythm steady to the point of coldness.

Chi Tong stood in the backcourt, his steps composed. Like a general walking alone along the edge of a battlefield, he dribbled unhurriedly, as though he were merely taking a stroll.

Yet the moment the ball reached Chi Tong, the rest of Ryonan sprinted toward the frontcourt in unison, quickly spreading out and charging into Shohoku's half.

That sight made the Shohoku players' hearts sink.

Too strange!

A normal offense relied on cuts, movement, pick-and-rolls, and the coordination of all five players. But Ryonan's approach now seemed to run completely counter to that. One man held the ball at the rear while the other three charged into enemy territory like vanguards, as though they feared nothing as long as that man remained behind them.

Did they trust him that much?

Akagi stood in his own half, brow tightly furrowed, his gaze locked on Chi Tong's every movement.

Unless the ball handler possessed overwhelming strength, one steal would leave the three players in front unable