Chapter Summaries

Kawamoto rallied Shohoku after the team began to lose hope, and Kogure, Kakuta, Akagi, and Sakuragi helped cut Ryonan’s lead to one point. The chapter ended with Sakuragi leaping to reach Kawamoto’s seemingly overthrown fast-break pass.

• Kawamoto encouraged Akagi, Sakuragi, Kakuta, and Kogure, restoring Shohoku’s fighting spirit.
• Kogure organized Shohoku’s attack, and Akagi dunked to narrow the score to 69-76.
• Kawamoto scored on a fast break, then faked a three-point shot to set up Kogure’s basket and make it 73-76.
• Kogure stole the ball and later assisted Kakuta, who scored to bring Shohoku within one point at 75-76.
• Akagi blocked Uozumi’s hook shot, and Kawamoto grabbed the rebound before launching a long pass toward Sakuragi.
• Sakuragi sprinted downcourt and leaped toward Kawamoto’s high, seemingly errant pass.

Hanamichi Sakuragi’s failed dunk brought Shohoku within one point of Ryonan, prompting both coaches to send their aces back onto the court for the final minutes. Coach Anzai promised Kawamoto Kazuki an unlimited shooting license in the prefectural tournament, and the chapter ended as Kaede Rukawa and Akira Sendoh faced off again.

• Hanamichi Sakuragi caught Kawamoto Kazuki’s pass in midair but missed his dunk, and the rebounding ball struck Coach Moichi Taoka in the chest.
• Shohoku cut Ryonan’s lead to 76-75, and Taoka called a timeout with two minutes and forty-seven seconds left.
• Coach Taoka sent Akira Sendoh in to lead Ryonan’s offense and assigned his teammates their closing roles.
• Coach Anzai put Kaede Rukawa back in to match up with Sendoh and told Kawamoto Kazuki to rest.
• Coach Anzai promised Kawamoto an unlimited shooting license once the prefectural tournament began.
• Rukawa and Sendoh returned to the court as the final showdown began.

Akira Sendoh led Ryonan to defeat Shohoku 89–82 with a clutch step-back three and a buzzer-beating shot from beyond half court. On Ryonan’s bus afterward, Coach Taoka misread Kawamoto Kazuki’s modest statistics and concluded Anzai had kept the rookie off the court because he could not handle pressure.

• With thirty-five seconds remaining, Sendoh hit a step-back three to put Ryonan ahead 86–82.
• Shohoku’s Kogure and Kakuta committed consecutive turnovers, leaving Ryonan with the ball and 2.1 seconds on the clock.
• Sendoh made an ultra-long-range three at the buzzer, securing Ryonan’s 89–82 victory.
• On the bus, Taoka questioned why Anzai had removed Kawamoto Kazuki and examined the rookie’s statistics.
• Taoka decided Anzai had favored experienced players because he thought Kawamoto might falter under pressure, then dismissed him as an insignificant threat.

After Shohoku lost a practice game to Ryonan by seven points, Akagi rallied the team by recognizing their strengths and envisioning a formidable starting lineup once Miyagi returned. He ended by demanding harder training and expressing his trust in Kawamoto.

• Akagi reflected that Shohoku's loss to Ryonan had left him calmer than past defeats, while Kogure, Rukawa, and Sakuragi struggled with their own frustrations.
• Akagi gathered the team and praised Rukawa's scoring and Sakuragi's athletic potential, while stressing that both needed to improve.
• Akagi pointed out how Kawamoto's presence strengthened Shohoku's defense, rebounding, and offense, despite his limited involvement in the game.
• Akagi reminded the team that Miyagi was expected to return before the prefectural tournament and imagined a starting lineup featuring Akagi, Miyagi, Rukawa, Sakuragi, and Kawamoto.
• Akagi called for the team to double its training and told Kawamoto he trusted him to step up when Shohoku needed him.

After Shohoku’s crushing defeat, Takenori Akagi drove the team through extra practice, while Kawamoto Kazuki told Hanamichi Sakuragi to focus on basketball instead of working with him. Kawamoto’s words led Sakuragi to consider basketball as his own world, and he ran back to the gym determined to train.

• Takenori Akagi rallied Shohoku to warm up and practice harder after their defeat, and the team returned to training.
• Akagi pushed the players through strenuous drills until the practice ended before sunset.
• Kawamoto Kazuki told Sakuragi their work-for-basketball lessons exchange was complete and urged him to devote his free time to training for the prefectural tournament.
• Kawamoto told Sakuragi he had the potential to become a professional and hoped basketball would become his world.
• Sakuragi reflected on Kawamoto’s words, felt a new determination, and sprinted back toward Shohoku’s basketball gym.

Kawamoto Kazuki bought Hanamichi Sakuragi new basketball shoes and sportswear after noticing his worn-out shoes, strengthening Sakuragi’s resolve to improve. As practice continued, a returning, earring-wearing player appeared at the gym and greeted the team.

• Kawamoto noticed a hole in Sakuragi’s indoor shoe and learned that Sakuragi wore size 43.
• Kawamoto bought expensive basketball shoes and sportswear for Sakuragi, along with a cheaper pair of shoes for himself.
• Kawamoto gave Sakuragi the gifts, explaining that Sakuragi’s hard work made them worthwhile.
• Sakuragi tried on the gifts, showed off his new shoes, and silently vowed to get stronger for Kawamoto.
• A returning player with an ear stud entered the gym and remarked on Shohoku’s tall rookies.

Ryota Miyagi returned to Shohoku’s basketball team after recovering from his injury and challenged the newcomers to a game. He proposed facing Hanamichi Sakuragi, Kaede Rukawa, and Kawamoto Kazuki all at once, setting up a showdown.

• Ryota Miyagi returned to practice and introduced himself as Shohoku’s number one point guard, then challenged Hanamichi Sakuragi to one-on-one.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi and Ryota Miyagi traded insults and nearly fought until Takenori Akagi stopped them.
• Ryota Miyagi told Takenori Akagi that his injury had healed and asked to give the first-years special instruction.
• Takenori Akagi agreed to let Ryota Miyagi play, with Coach Anzai’s tacit approval.
• Ryota Miyagi challenged Hanamichi Sakuragi, Kaede Rukawa, and Kawamoto Kazuki to face him together, then chose Sakuragi to start.

Ryota Miyagi easily beat Hanamichi Sakuragi in their one-on-one, exposing his crude technique despite his remarkable athleticism. After deciding Sakuragi had potential, Miyagi challenged Kaede Rukawa and Kawamoto Kazuki to face him next.

• Ryota Miyagi scored repeatedly against Hanamichi Sakuragi with quick dribbles and fakes, building a 6-0 lead.
• Miyagi stole the ball from Sakuragi, but Sakuragi chased him down and pinned his layup against the backboard with a block.
• Sakuragi made a three-point shot he called the Commoner Shot, then lost control of the ball while attempting to imitate Kaede Rukawa's spin move.
• Miyagi beat Sakuragi 8-3 with a midrange shot and judged that the rookie had exceptional athletic talent but little skill or experience.
• Miyagi challenged Kaede Rukawa and Kawamoto Kazuki to face him next.

Kaede Rukawa defeated Ryota Miyagi 7-4 in a one-on-one game, impressing the team with his defense and versatile scoring. With the overall score tied at 1-1, Miyagi challenged the remaining first-year, Kawamoto Kazuki.

• Takenori Akagi and Kiminobu Kogure tried to stop Ryota Miyagi from overexerting himself after his hospital stay, but Kaede Rukawa challenged Miyagi to a game.
• Kaede Rukawa stole the ball from Miyagi, then scored with a pull-up jumper and a midrange shot to lead 4-0.
• Miyagi scored twice to tie the game 4-4, while insulting Hanamichi Sakuragi and prompting Sakuragi to get angry.
• Rukawa made a three-pointer to win 7-4, leaving Miyagi impressed by his all-around skill.
• Miyagi turned to the last first-year, Kawamoto Kazuki, and challenged him to play.

Kawamoto Kazuki agreed to play Ryota Miyagi one-on-one, promising to avoid physical play and beat him with three-pointers. He made his first shot over Miyagi’s attempted block, leaving the gym stunned.

• Kawamoto Kazuki agreed to face Ryota Miyagi one-on-one after Miyagi challenged him.
• Takenori Akagi asked Kawamoto to go easy on Miyagi, who had only recently left the hospital.
• Kawamoto told Akagi he would avoid physical play and finish Miyagi with three-pointers.
• Miyagi dismissed Kawamoto’s shooting claim and challenged him to shoot over his defense.
• Kawamoto shot from beyond the three-point line, released the ball far above Miyagi’s reach, and made it cleanly.

Kawamoto Kazuki defeated Ryota Miyagi in a one-on-one by making three consecutive three-pointers, including one from well beyond the arc. He left Miyagi stunned after explaining that even his worst practice session had only seven misses in a hundred shots and that he still needed to practice hard.

• Kawamoto Kazuki scored a three-pointer over Ryota Miyagi, leaving Shohoku's players astonished by his shooting height and accuracy.
• Kawamoto made a second three-pointer despite Miyagi guarding him closely, putting the score at 6-0.
• Miyagi gave Kawamoto room to shoot, but Kawamoto immediately sank another three from two steps beyond the arc to win 9-0.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi celebrated Kawamoto's victory while Takenori Akagi, Kiminobu Kogure, and Kaede Rukawa marveled at his abilities.
• Kawamoto told the defeated Miyagi that he missed only seven shots in his worst practice session of a hundred and still needed to keep practicing.

Takenori Akagi tried to restore Ryota Miyagi’s confidence after Kawamoto Kazuki’s three-pointers had shaken him, claiming that Kawamoto’s limited skills could not replace Miyagi’s role as point guard. Miyagi regained his swagger and decided to coach Kawamoto, so Akagi ordered him to keep his distance and focus on building chemistry with Kaede Rukawa and Sakuragi.

• Akagi noticed Miyagi was still dispirited after Kawamoto had beaten him with three-pointers in their one-on-one.
• Akagi comforted Miyagi by criticizing Kawamoto’s weaknesses and emphasizing Miyagi’s importance as Shohoku’s point guard.
• Miyagi regained his confidence and dismissed Kawamoto as a limited player who could not match his all-around abilities.
• Miyagi decided to teach Kawamoto how to dribble, run the offense, and defend during practice.
• Akagi panicked and ordered Miyagi not to teach or challenge Kawamoto, telling him to focus on coordinating with Rukawa and Sakuragi.

Hisashi Mitsui agreed to target the Shohoku Basketball Team with Tetsuo and his gang. They spotted Kawamoto Kazuki walking alone and decided to confront him first.

• Ryota Miyagi noticed Kawamoto Kazuki was absent from Shohoku's gym practice but focused on his own training.
• Hisashi Mitsui hesitated as Noriyuki Hotta and the others warned him that Shohoku's basketball players were formidable.
• Tetsuo arrived and offered to join Mitsui in confronting the basketball team, prompting Mitsui to accept.
• Tetsuo and the others spotted Kawamoto Kazuki walking alone and chose him as their first target.

Kawamoto Kazuki confronted Tetsuo’s group after Hisashi Mitsui warned them not to go too far, then swiftly defeated three attackers. Tetsuo challenged him to fight, but Kawamoto checked the time and worried that Boss Kobayashi was waiting for him at the fish market.

• Hisashi Mitsui urged Tetsuo not to go too far, but Tetsuo led the group in blocking Kawamoto Kazuki’s path.
• Noriyuki Hotta attacked Kawamoto, who seized his wrist and forced him to stumble to the ground in pain.
• Takashima and a tall, skinny boy attacked together, but Kawamoto knocked Takashima unconscious and broke the other boy’s shin with a kick.
• Tetsuo laughed at Kawamoto’s skill and stepped forward to challenge him to a fight.
• Kawamoto checked his watch and frowned because he still had to get to work at the fish market, where Boss Kobayashi was waiting.

Kawamoto Kazuki effortlessly subdued Tetsuo and challenged him and his friends to reconsider their delinquency and take responsibility for their lives. Noriyuki Hotta, Hisashi Mitsui, and Tetsuo were left shaken and ashamed as Kawamoto walked on to his part-time job.

• Kawamoto Kazuki grabbed Tetsuo by the throat, lifted him off the ground, and withstood his kicks without moving.
• Kawamoto rebuked Tetsuo, Noriyuki Hotta, and Hisashi Mitsui for mistaking violence and blind loyalty for brotherhood.
• Kawamoto released Tetsuo and urged the three to study, work hard, support their parents, and become responsible adults.
• Noriyuki lowered his head in shame, Hisashi Mitsui recalled his parents' care and felt anguish, and Tetsuo looked at Kawamoto with fear and dejection.
• Kawamoto turned away from the three and continued toward his part-time job.

Kawamoto Kazuki accepted Boss Kobayashi’s offer to join a two-day fishing trip, where he would earn a hundred thousand yen and meet an NBA coach. Later, the long-haired guy who had confronted him blocked his path and said he wanted to play basketball, leaving Kawamoto to tell him to find a pickup game.

• Kawamoto Kazuki arrived late at Kobayashi Fisheries, where Boss Kobayashi asked about Hanamichi Sakuragi and heard that basketball training had kept him away.
• Kawamoto Kazuki told Boss Kobayashi that Shohoku was aiming to conquer the nationals, while Boss Kobayashi warned him that basketball offered poor career prospects in Japan.
• Boss Kobayashi invited Kawamoto Kazuki to join Mr. Matsusaka’s two-day fishing trip and promised a hundred thousand yen; Kawamoto accepted.
• Boss Kobayashi told Kawamoto Kazuki that a famous NBA coach would be aboard, and Kawamoto was excited by the chance to meet him.
• After work, the long-haired guy stopped Kawamoto Kazuki and said he wanted to play basketball, but Kawamoto told him to find a pickup court.

Hisashi Mitsui recalled how Mitsuyoshi Anzai’s words inspired him to choose Shohoku, and how Anzai’s later indifference after Mitsui’s injury drove him away from basketball. Years later, Mitsui spoke to Shohoku first-year Kawamoto about the pain of still loving the place he no longer felt able to approach.

• At the junior high prefectural tournament final, Mitsuyoshi Anzai urged Mitsui not to give up, and Mitsui scored a last-second winning shot for Takeishi Junior High.
• Inspired by Anzai, Mitsui rejected offers from Kainan and Shoyo and joined Shohoku, where he trained obsessively in hopes of earning the coach’s approval.
• Mitsui shattered his knee through excessive training and waited in the hospital for Anzai to contact him, but only Kiminobu Kogure visited.
• After recovering, Mitsui waited outside Shohoku’s gym for Anzai to welcome him back, but Anzai walked past him without recognition, so Mitsui abandoned basketball.
• Mitsui recalled his anger and loneliness as he spoke to Kawamoto, admitting that his love for Shohoku had never truly died.

Hisashi Mitsui begged Kawamoto Kazuki to help him return to Shohoku, but Kawamoto refused to intervene and challenged Mitsui to consider what basketball truly meant to him. Mitsui was left facing the question as Kawamoto went to work.

• Mitsui erupted at Kawamoto's suggestion that he play at an outdoor court and declared that he wanted to join Shohoku and return to competitive basketball.
• Mitsui told Kawamoto about his past as Takeishi Junior High's MVP, his regret over leaving basketball, and his hope for another chance with Akagi and Coach Anzai.
• Mitsui asked Kawamoto to sound out Akagi or Coach Anzai, but Kawamoto pointed out that Mitsui had brought people to fight him and had repeatedly given up on basketball.
• Kawamoto recalled the Shohoku players' persistence and asked Mitsui what basketball meant to him.

Hisashi Mitsui returned to Kawamoto Kazuki at the convenience store and insisted that he wanted to play basketball for himself and his dream. Kawamoto ignored his confession by serving him as a customer, leaving Mitsui frustrated as he tried to provoke a reaction.

• Kawamoto started his night shift at a 7-Eleven, where Mitsui came in and declared that he wanted to play basketball for himself, not for glory or revenge.
• Kawamoto responded with sales pitches for food and magazines, treating Mitsui like an ordinary customer.
• Mitsui ordered large teriyaki chicken cup noodles, and Kawamoto prepared them with unfailing courtesy.
• While eating, Mitsui reflected on Kawamoto's contrasting behavior and repeated that he wanted to play for himself.
• Mitsui returned to the counter and ordered freshly fried chicken bites, a large iced cola, and a heated mentaiko rice ball to test Kawamoto's patience.
• Kawamoto fulfilled the order efficiently and cheerfully, leaving Mitsui more convinced that he could not provoke him.

Kawamoto Kazuki helped bring news of Hisashi Mitsui’s possible return to Shohoku and joined Boss Kobayashi on a fishing trip, where he met Houston Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich. The chapter ended as Kawamoto and the others struggled to haul in a net that felt unusually heavy.

• Kawamoto stopped Mitsui from ordering more food, and Mitsui asked him to tell Akagi or Coach Anzai that he wanted to return to Shohoku.
• Akagi welcomed the news and planned to find Mitsui, while Kawamoto privately hoped Sakuragi would still get playing time.
• Kawamoto told his mother, Kazuko, that he would go fishing with Boss Kobayashi, and she packed clothes and rice balls while urging him to stay safe.
• Kawamoto and Kobayashi traveled to the Izu Peninsula and boarded the Matsusaka Maru, where they met basketball coach Rudy Tomjanovich.
• Kobayashi invited Rudy to watch Kawamoto play in the prefectural tournament, and Rudy said he would consider it.
• When Kawamoto helped haul in a net, he felt an unusually strong pull, and Boss Matsusaka warned that something was wrong.