Chapter Summaries

Shohoku finished the first half leading Kainan 58–46, while Takenori Akagi remained sidelined with an ankle injury. Kainan changed its defensive assignments and unleashed an exhausting off-ball tactic for Soichiro Jin, leaving Ryota Kudo puzzled as the second half began.

• Shohoku ended the first half with a twelve-point lead, and Kengo Murasame admitted that Ryota Kudo and Shohoku had become far stronger than when they beat Miuradai.
• Takenori Akagi learned that Shohoku was leading Kainan, while Coach Takato reassured Tadashi Muto and prepared new tactics for the second half.
• Takenori Akagi stayed on the bench, and Kainan assigned Tadashi Muto to guard Hisashi Mitsui while Shinichi Maki marked Ryota Kudo.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi won the opening jump ball, but Shinichi Maki’s physical defense slowed Ryota Kudo and Tadashi Muto closely shadowed Hisashi Mitsui.
• Soichiro Jin ran himself free of Hisashi Mitsui and made an open three-pointer, prompting Ryota Kudo to wonder about Kainan’s exhausting tactic.

Kainan substituted Yoshinori Miyamasu to exploit Hanamichi Sakuragi’s inexperience, but Ryota Kudo took charge and repeatedly scored against him. Kainan remained behind as Soichiro Jin left exhausted, while Shinichi Maki kept answering with his own scoring.

• Soichiro Jin collapsed from exhaustion after cutting Kainan’s deficit to two points, and Yoshinori Miyamasu entered the game in his place.
• Ryota Kudo recognized Yoshinori Miyamasu’s defensive assignment on Hanamichi Sakuragi, called for the ball, and dunked over him for a basket and a foul.
• Ryota Miyagi guarded Yoshinori Miyamasu while Ryota Kudo defended Shinichi Maki, who scored a midrange jumper after driving into Kudo.
• Ryota Kudo used a pick-and-roll with Hanamichi Sakuragi to get past Shinichi Maki, then scored through Yoshinori Miyamasu for another basket and a foul.
• Coach Takato grew angry at Yoshinori Miyamasu’s struggles on defense but stayed him in the game because his role was not defensive.

Shohoku regained momentum as Ryota Kudo encouraged his teammates and helped create scoring chances against Kainan. Ryota Miyagi blocked Yoshinori Miyamasu’s three-point attempt, and Kaede Rukawa finished the fast break with a layup.

• Yoshinori Miyamasu hit a three-pointer after Shinichi Maki drew Ryota Miyagi away from him, and Ryota Kudo reassured Miyagi that Shohoku could still win.
• Ryota Kudo rallied Shohoku, then used a pick-and-roll with Hanamichi Sakuragi to draw help and pass to Hisashi Mitsui for an open three-pointer.
• Ryota Miyagi feinted toward Shinichi Maki, recovered to Yoshinori Miyamasu, and blocked his three-point attempt before starting a fast break.
• Kaede Rukawa outran the defense alongside Nobunaga Kiyota and scored a double-clutch layup, prompting cheers from his fans and jealousy from Hanamichi Sakuragi.

Shohoku defeated Kainan 108-85, bringing the reigning champions’ hopes of winning the Kanagawa tournament into doubt while moving Shohoku closer to the National Tournament. The chapter ended with the teams parting after the game and the next round’s matchups approaching.

• Coach Takato substituted Yoshinori Miyamasu and kept Soichiro Jin out as Kainan struggled to support Shinichi Maki.
• Shohoku widened its lead, and the final whistle confirmed a 108-85 victory over Kainan.
• Takenori Akagi cried with relief, and Kiminobu Kogure comforted him as Shohoku celebrated.
• Shinichi Maki congratulated Ryota Kudo and spoke with Takenori Akagi before both teams exchanged handshakes.
• Shinichi Maki led Kainan from the gym, while Shohoku prepared to face Takezato High School and Kainan prepared to meet Ryonan.

After defeating Kainan, Ryota Kudo went to meet Shizuka Kudo at her hotel, where Eri Fujisawa unexpectedly urged him to transfer to Ryokufu High School. The chapter left Ryota facing the short-haired manager’s proposal.

• Ryota Kudo’s mother called to praise his game and asked him to meet her friend’s daughter, Shizuka Kudo.
• Ryota Kudo contacted Shizuka Kudo, arranged to meet her, and traveled toward her hotel.
• Ryota Kudo congratulated Jun Uozumi and spoke with Hikoichi Aida after Ryonan defeated Takezato High School.
• Ryota Kudo reached the hotel and found Shizuka Kudo waiting with Eri Fujisawa.
• Eri Fujisawa introduced herself as Ryokufu High School’s basketball team manager and asked Ryota Kudo to transfer there.

Ryota Kudo rebuffed Eri Fujisawa’s attempts to recruit him to Ryokufu High School and agreed to consider transferring only if its basketball team beat Shohoku in a friendly. Eri left confident Ryokufu would win, while Jun Uozumi served an elaborate dinner.

• Shizuka Kudo introduced Eri Fujisawa as her friend’s sixteen-year-old daughter, who had insisted on meeting Ryota Kudo.
• Eri criticized the Uozumi family’s restaurant, prompting Ryota to rebuke her and Jun Uozumi to challenge her complaints about the food.
• Eri claimed she was Ryota’s girlfriend and announced he would join Ryokufu, but Ryota denied both claims and reaffirmed that he would stay at Shohoku.
• Ryota proposed a friendly match between Ryokufu and Shohoku, promising to consider transferring if Ryokufu won, and Eri agreed to arrange it.
• Jun Uozumi prepared an especially impressive dinner after Eri’s criticism, while Eri remained certain Ryokufu would beat Shohoku.

After defeating Shinichi Maki, Ryota Kudo dreamed of reaching the gate to ZONE and woke ready for the next game. Shohoku resumed training while Takenori Akagi recovered from his ankle injury, and Coach Anzai arrived with Eri Fujisawa for the friendly match against Ryokufu High School.

• Ryota Kudo walked Shizuka Kudo back to her hotel, then dreamed that he had reached the gate to ZONE but could not open it.
• At Shohoku High School, students crowded around Hanamichi Sakuragi before turning their attention to Ryota Kudo and praising his victory over Shinichi Maki.
• Ryota Kudo accepted Weekly Basketball's description of him as Kanagawa's new king and said he aimed to conquer the nationals.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi argued with the Sakuragi Gang, then knocked them down with his headbutt special move.
• Takenori Akagi's ankle had improved, but a doctor had advised him to avoid strenuous exercise for about a month.
• Coach Anzai arrived at Shohoku's practice with Eri Fujisawa, who had come to watch the friendly match against Ryokufu High School.

Coach Anzai arranged a friendly between Shohoku and Ryokufu, whose manager Eri Fujisawa arrived with star player Michael Okita to boast about their strength. After Michael provoked Shohoku by stealing the ball and attempting a dunk, Ryota Kudo blocked him and accepted his challenge to a one-on-one, while Eri’s underlying goal of provoking Kaede Rukawa remained unfulfilled.

• Coach Anzai introduced Eri Fujisawa and announced Shohoku’s Wednesday friendly against Ryokufu ahead of the final-four games.
• Eri claimed Ryokufu was Kanagawa’s strongest team and called in Michael Okita, who flirted with Matsui after mistaking her for Haruko Akagi.
• Michael stole the ball from Yasuharu Yasuda and drove toward the basket, but Ryota Kudo blocked his dunk and knocked him to the floor.
• Michael challenged Ryota to a first-to-five one-on-one, and Ryota agreed and gave Michael the first possession.
• Eri had brought Michael to provoke Kaede Rukawa, whom she resented for ignoring her invitation to join Ryokufu, but Michael’s confrontation instead began with Ryota.

Ryota Kudo defeated Michael Okita 5-0 using a mix of powerful basketball techniques, while Eri Fujisawa became more determined to recruit him for Ryokufu High School. Shohoku’s team arrived at Ryokufu for their scheduled game and saw how luxurious the school and its basketball facilities were.

• Ryota Kudo used Shinichi Maki’s driving technique and other players’ moves to score five baskets against Michael Okita, who left the gym after being shut out.
• Eri Fujisawa told Michael Okita that Ryota Kudo would join Ryokufu High School and become his teammate, while Michael accepted the idea with relief.
• Ryota Kudo realized Michael Okita had not been strong enough to push him toward opening the door to the ZONE.
• Coach Anzai led Shohoku’s basketball team to Ryokufu High School for their Wednesday game.
• Ryota Miyagi and the other Shohoku players saw Ryokufu’s luxurious campus and gym, where staff handled the court cleaning for the team.

Shohoku faced Ryokufu High School in a friendly, with Akagi sitting out and Sakuragi starting at center. Ryokufu showed off its athleticism, but Kudo exploited Totsuka’s poor stamina and Rukawa answered Okita’s dunk with a powerful one-handed dunk of his own.

• Akagi agreed to sit out the friendly, and Shohoku started Miyagi, Mitsui, Rukawa, Kudo, and Sakuragi.
• Sakuragi won the opening tip, but Totsuka and Okita stopped Shohoku’s fast break.
• Kudo noticed Totsuka tiring quickly, repeatedly ran him around the court, and scored Shohoku’s first three points.
• Okita dunked over Rukawa on Ryokufu’s fast break, then Rukawa demanded the ball from Miyagi.
• Rukawa drove past Okita and dunked over Nadaka as Sakuragi called for a pass.
• Akagi watched from the bench and called Ryokufu’s center a pushover.

Shohoku’s Hisashi Mitsui outplayed his former junior Ichiro Katsumi as Ryokufu High School struggled, prompting manager Eri Fujisawa to berate the team and Coach Oofune to change the lineup. After the Tsurumi Brothers entered and trapped Ryota Miyagi, Ryota Kudo won a loose-ball collision with Tetsuya Totsuka.

• Eri Fujisawa scolded Hikaru Nadaka as Ryokufu ran an isolation play for Michael Okita, who passed to Ichiro Katsumi for a three-pointer.
• Hisashi Mitsui answered Ichiro Katsumi’s taunts by scoring a pull-up jumper, then blocked Katsumi’s forced shot on Ryokufu’s next possession.
• Ichiro Katsumi missed four straight shots, and Ryokufu called a timeout while Eri Fujisawa criticized the players and Coach Oofune prepared new tactics.
• Ryokufu replaced Yoshi Ebina and Ichiro Katsumi with the Tsurumi Brothers, Seiji Tsurumi and Keiji Tsurumi.
• The Tsurumi Brothers double-teamed Ryota Miyagi, who threw the ball away, and Ryota Kudo reached it with Tetsuya Totsuka before knocking him aside in a physical contest.

Ryota Kudo copied the Tsurumi Brothers’ coordinated moves and helped Shohoku build a huge first-half lead before Shohoku won its friendly against Ryokufu High School 114-92. After the game, Ryota rejected Eri Fujisawa’s plea for him to join Ryokufu, while Kaede Rukawa’s late-game injury left his availability for the next game uncertain.

• Ryota Kudo recognized the Tsurumi Brothers’ coordinated play, copied their movements, and teamed up with Kaede Rukawa to overwhelm Ryokufu High School.
• Ryota Miyagi disrupted the Tsurumi Brothers’ connection, and Shohoku led 73-35 at halftime.
• Coach Anzai rested Ryota Miyagi, Hisashi Mitsui, and Ryota Kudo in the second half as Ryokufu narrowed the gap, but Shohoku still won 114-92.
• Kaede Rukawa was knocked down late in the game and appeared to suffer minor injuries ahead of Shohoku’s game three days later.
• Eri Fujisawa asked Ryota Kudo to join Ryokufu and confessed that she liked him, but Ryota rejected her and left.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi overheard Eri Fujisawa’s confession but ran off before hearing Ryota Kudo’s answer.

Hanamichi Sakuragi spread a confused rumor that Ryota Kudo might transfer, unsettling Shohoku before their game against Takezato High School. Coach Anzai rested the key players and sent out the reserves, prompting Takezato captain Imamura to challenge Shohoku, while Kiminobu Kogure stood up for the lineup.

• Hanamichi Sakuragi told Shohoku's players that Ryota Kudo and Eri Fujisawa were dating and that Kudo might transfer, but Takenori Akagi calmed the team and they agreed not to question Kudo.
• Ryota Kudo returned to the bus, noticed the team's strange behavior, and guessed Sakuragi had eavesdropped on his conversation with Eri Fujisawa.
• Shohoku arrived to face Takezato High School, whose players were angry about rumors that they did not deserve a place in the final four after losing heavily to Ryonan.
• Coach Anzai named Ryota Miyagi, Yasuharu Yasuda, Kiminobu Kogure, Hanamichi Sakuragi, and Satoru Kakuta as starters, leaving the recovered Takenori Akagi and Kaede Rukawa and Ryota Kudo on the bench.
• Takezato captain Imamura accused Shohoku of disrespecting his team by fielding reserves, and Kiminobu Kogure stopped Sakuragi and told Imamura to beat them first.

Shohoku overwhelmed Takezato High School as Ryota Kudo led the reserves, while Kiminobu Kogure continued his strong three-point shooting. After Shohoku won, Ryota Kudo planned to watch Ryonan face Kainan, knowing Ryonan might need to beat Shohoku to qualify for the National Tournament.

• Kiminobu Kogure made his fourth three-pointer against Imamura, while Hanamichi Sakuragi reached 18 rebounds but collected four fouls.
• Coach Anzai replaced Hanamichi Sakuragi with Ryota Kudo and invited Kudo to talk after the game about a possible misunderstanding between them.
• Ryota Kudo led Shohoku's reserves with passes, a block, and scoring chances, helping Satoru Kakuta, Kiminobu Kogure, and Tetsushi Shiozaki score.
• Ryota Miyagi watched Kudo's composed play from the bench and reflected that he still had a long way to go to reach Kudo's level.
• Takezato removed Imamura and Suguru Fujima, Shohoku matched them with reserves, and Shohoku won after the game became one-sided.
• Ryota Kudo planned to watch Ryonan play Kainan and hoped Ryonan would win, though he resolved not to go easy on them if they had to face Shohoku to qualify.

Ryota Kudo visited Coach Anzai, discussed his ambitions, and received a basketball training manual before joining his Shohoku teammates to watch Kainan face Ryonan. The game began with Ryonan taking the opening tip and Kiccho Fukuda scoring off an Akira Sendoh pass.

• Ryota Kudo visited Coach Anzai and said he hoped to lead Shohoku High School to a national championship before pursuing the NBA.
• Coach Anzai shared advice about pursuing the NBA and gave Ryota Kudo a training manual.
• Ryota Kudo met Takenori Akagi, Kiminobu Kogure, and Ayako Inoue at Kanagawa Gymnasium to watch Kainan play Ryonan.
• Shinichi Maki told Nobunaga Kiyota that Shohoku had come to scout Ryonan and urged him to play well.
• Jun Uozumi won the opening tip for Ryonan, and Akira Sendoh passed to Kiccho Fukuda, who dunked to score the game's first points.

Ryonan led Kainan by ten at halftime, but Coach Takato’s adjustments put Akira Sendoh under heavy pressure and shifted momentum toward Kainan. The chapter ended with Shinichi Maki intercepting Sendoh’s pass to Kiccho Fukuda as Kainan’s defensive plan began to neutralize Ryonan’s offense.

• Kiccho Fukuda’s efficient scoring helped Ryonan take a 39-29 halftime lead over Kainan.
• Ryota Kudo met Akira Sendoh during the break, encouraged him, and noticed that Sendoh’s hand was trembling with nerves.
• Coach Takato assigned Shinichi Maki to guard Sendoh, with Nobunaga Kiyota and Soichiro Jin ready to double-team him.
• Kainan forced Hiroaki Koshino into a missed three, then Shinichi Maki led a fast break and passed to Soichiro Jin for a three-pointer.
• Sendoh tried to find Kiccho Fukuda inside, but Shinichi Maki intercepted the pass and disrupted Ryonan’s main scoring connection.

Kainan defeated Ryonan 95-84 after Akira Sendoh tied the game in the final seconds but ran out of strength in overtime. With Ryonan facing Shohoku the next day, Ryota Kudo told reporter Yayoi Aida that Shohoku would win and advance to the National Tournament.

• Kainan exploited Kiccho Fukuda's weak defense and Jun Uozumi's foul trouble while Akira Sendoh carried Ryonan through regulation.
• With five seconds left and Ryonan down 77-79, Akira Sendoh tried to draw a foul from Shinichi Maki, but Maki pulled away and Sendoh tied the score with a dunk.
• Kainan dominated overtime and defeated Ryonan 95-84, while Akira Sendoh urged his teammates to focus on beating Shohoku the next day.
• Yayoi Aida stopped Ryota Kudo outside the arena and asked to interview him at a nearby café.
• Ryota Kudo predicted that Shohoku and Kainan would reach the National Tournament and declared that Ryonan could not beat Shohoku because he was there.

Ryota Kudo learned that Ryonan was pushing itself to prepare for Shohoku, then Coach Anzai was hospitalized on the day of their final-four game. Shohoku and Ryonan headed into their matchup with Coach Anzai absent and Ryonan determined to fight despite its slim chances of qualifying.

• Yayoi Aida interviewed Ryota Kudo, and he learned that Ryonan's exhausted players had returned to practice instead of resting before facing Shohoku.
• Kainan High School defeated Takezato High School by 73 points, making Ryonan's path to qualification even harder.
• Ryota Kudo received a call that Coach Anzai was undergoing emergency treatment, hurried to the hospital, and found Hanamichi Sakuragi, Takenori Akagi, and Kiminobu Kogure waiting anxiously.
• Coach Anzai was taken to intensive care without regaining consciousness, so Ayako Inoue stayed at the hospital while Shohoku's players left for the game.
• Jun Uozumi urged Ryonan to fight for his final official game, and Akira Sendoh declared that the team would not be eliminated.

Shohoku faced Ryonan in the final game of Kanagawa's final four, with both teams' centers battling fiercely and Ryonan taking an early lead. With Shohoku growing impatient in Coach Anzai's absence, Ryota Kudo steadied the team and began organizing its play.

• Jun Uozumi won the opening tip, and Akira Sendoh drove past Kaede Rukawa before passing to Uozumi for a powerful dunk over Takenori Akagi.
• Ryota Kudo used Emperor Maki Breakthrough Mode to get past Tomoyuki Uekusa and score with a finger roll, prompting Sendoh to take over guarding him.
• Uozumi outmuscled Akagi for another basket, then blocked Akagi's attempt at the other end.
• Sendoh beat Rukawa, drew Hanamichi Sakuragi's help, and passed to Kiccho Fukuda for a one-handed dunk as Ryonan gained the early advantage.
• Ryota Kudo called for the ball and organized Shohoku's offense, helping his teammates settle down despite Coach Anzai's absence.

Ryota Kudo overwhelmed Ryonan with a three-pointer, a steal, and a fast-break score, helping Shohoku build an eight-point lead. Ryonan sent defensive specialist Ryoji Ikegami in to guard him, but Kudo immediately scored another three-pointer off Hanamichi Sakuragi’s screen.

• Ryota Kudo fooled Akira Sendoh with a pass fake and made a pull-up three-pointer.
• Kudo double-teamed Sendoh, then stole Tomoyuki Uekusa’s pass and scored on a fast break.
• Shohoku stretched its lead to eight points by the ten-minute mark, prompting Coach Taoka to call a timeout.
• Ryonan substituted Ryoji Ikegami for Hiroaki Koshino to have its defensive specialist guard Kudo.
• Kudo used Hanamichi Sakuragi’s screen to get space from Ikegami and made another three-pointer.