At the end of Episode 590, his gaze settled on Ichinokura Satoshi, who stood not far in front of him.
Ichinokura Satoshi stared fixedly at Chi Tong before him. That familiar, suffocating pressure enveloped him, leaving his throat dry and tight, making even swallowing feel difficult.
He opened his mouth, his voice carrying a trace of barely perceptible hoarseness and gravity. Slowly, he spoke, as if confirming something—or murmuring to himself. "It's the same as it was at the National Tournament... Are you finally going all out?"
Chi Tong shook his head gently, his expression as calm as ever. There was even a hint of warmth in his eyes, without the slightest trace of fierce oppression. Instead, he exuded a composed, approachable air from above.
The corners of his lips lifted slightly into a faint smile. In an even, clear voice, he explained, "I told you before. I've been taking this game seriously from the very beginning."
"Only..." Chi Tong deliberately paused, a trace of mischief flashing through his eyes. Then he revealed a meaningful smile and continued, "While this is indeed my strongest state, I don't intend to win this game by relying on myself alone."
"What?"
"His strongest state?"
"But he doesn't intend to win alone?"
"What exactly does that mean?"
Ichinokura Satoshi shuddered, his face filled with shock and confusion. His brows knitted tightly as he struggled to grasp the deeper meaning behind Chi Tong's words.
The others from Akita were the same, their faces blank with bewilderment and their eyes full of doubt.
Chi Tong did not explain immediately. His eyes merely brimmed with trust and expectation for his teammates as he continued pointedly, "Basketball was never a one-man sport. Rather than crushing the opposition alone, winning by myself, and enjoying a one-sided victory, what I