Chapter Summaries

Coach Takato faced pressure from Kainan’s administrators to recruit Aoki and Kaede Rukawa, while Aoki and Maki tested each other in a tense one-on-one game. The chapter ended with Aoki sharing a dorm room with Sakuragi, Kiyota, and Rukawa, whose snoring sparked another argument.

• Akagi warned Sakuragi that Aoki would become Shohoku’s biggest rival, while Kainan’s administrators told Takato to recruit Aoki and Kaede Rukawa after Maki graduated.
• Aoki used rapid between-the-legs crossovers and a fadeaway to score against Maki, then Maki answered with a drive and a contested layup.
• Takato ended practice and urged everyone to rest, while Aoki and Maki agreed their matchup was not finished.
• Takato called Aoki back but failed to ask him about joining Kainan, privately deciding he preferred Aoki’s team spirit to Rukawa’s individual style.
• Aoki, Sakuragi, Kiyota, and Rukawa were assigned the same room, where Sakuragi and Kiyota argued over smelly feet as Rukawa fell asleep and snored.

Yo Aoki rejected Kainan’s recruitment despite its offers, while Kaede Rukawa also turned down Yuki’s invitation for forgetting why he had refused before. Kainan planned to recruit other teams’ players after the Autumn National Sports Festival, as Kanagawa’s coaches arranged a warm-up game against Chiba and discussed the starting lineup.

• Kiyota described how Hakata Shodai Affiliated’s two centers, tall power forward, high-scoring shooting guard, and composed point guard had helped them defeat Meihou Industrial in the national tournament final.
• Yo Aoki continued extra practice with Shinichi Maki as Coaches Takato and Taoka pushed the team through grueling training, and Takato told him Kainan wanted to recruit him.
• Principal Arimori offered Yo Aoki a place at Kainan, a living allowance, and guaranteed admission to Kainan University, but Aoki refused because he wanted a sense of belonging at Takezato.
• Yuki tried to recruit Kaede Rukawa to Kainan, but Rukawa said he had forgotten why he had turned them down before, and Yuki reminded him it was because Kainan was too far from home.
• Principal Arimori, Kurosawa, and Yuki discussed a backup recruitment list that included Ryota Miyagi, Kiccho Fukuda, Hiroaki Koshino, Tomoyuki Uekusa, Tomoya Imamura, and Shunya Hojo, and decided to wait until after the Autumn National Sports Festival.
• Coach Taoka told Coach Takato that Chiba’s representative team would visit Kanagawa for a warm-up game the morning after tomorrow, and Takato said he would not use his intended starting lineup for the game.

Takato announced an experimental starting lineup for the warm-up game against the Chiba Prefecture representative team, while Sakuragi reconnected with Reika and the Takezato team continued training without Yo Aoki. The chapter ended with the Takezato players mistakenly believing Aoki was going to Kainan after Oriyuki Iwasaki blurted out the rumor.

• Takato named Maki, Akagi, Sakuragi, Rukawa, and Kiyota as starters, then said the team would receive no scouting information or tactics for the warm-up game.
• Yo Aoki realized Takato's lineup matched the White Team's previous lineup with Jin replacing Sakuragi and wondered whether Takato had a plan for Sakuragi.
• Yo Aoki and Kiyota left Sakuragi alone with Reika, who asked why he had missed their meeting and promised to cheer for him at the warm-up game.
• Coach Akai pushed the Takezato players through practice while Shirota reported that Aoki had said Kainan's team was preparing for the National Sports Festival.
• Oriyuki Iwasaki heard that Aoki was at Kainan and shouted that he was going there, prompting the Takezato players to demand an explanation from Coach Akai.

Yo Aoki reassured Takezato that he would stay, then joined Kainan’s preparations for a warm-up game against Chiba by proposing a plan centered on Hanamichi Sakuragi. The Chiba team traveled to Kanagawa wary of its opponents, while Genta Shimizu read a magazine describing Kanagawa as loaded with top players.

• Coach Akai and the Takezato players encouraged one another to trust Yo Aoki, and they decided to travel to Kainan to cheer him on at the warm-up game.
• Oriyuki Iwasaki called Aoki to say Takezato would attend the game and invited him to her October 30 birthday party at her family’s villa, which he accepted.
• Shinichi Maki briefed Kainan’s players on Chiba’s reliance on second-half three-pointers, and Aoki rejected a zone defense in favor of man-to-man coverage.
• Aoki proposed making Sakuragi the centerpiece by having the team pass him the ball, and Maki agreed to try the plan after several players objected or deferred.
• The Chiba Prefecture Representative Team boarded a train to Kanagawa, where Genta Shimizu read that Kanagawa’s lineup was strong at every position on offense and defense.

Kanagawa faced the Chiba Prefecture Representative Team in a warm-up game, with Coach Takato testing Yo Aoki’s judgment and the lineup while putting Hanamichi Sakuragi at the center of the offense. Kanagawa scored first through Takenori Akagi, and Chiba’s Genta Shimizu rose for a long-range shot as the chapter ended.

• Shinichi Maki told Coach Takato that Yo Aoki had proposed building the offense around Hanamichi Sakuragi, while most players had disagreed.
• Coach Takato explained to Coach Taoka that he wanted to hide Kanagawa’s strength, see Sakuragi’s progress, and test Aoki’s ability to handle the lineup.
• The Chiba and Takezato teams arrived, and Sakuragi loudly announced himself to the Chiba players before both teams warmed up.
• Kanagawa’s starting five of Shinichi Maki, Takenori Akagi, Hanamichi Sakuragi, Kaede Rukawa, and Nobunaga Kiyota took the court without Aoki.
• Akagi won the opening tip, and Maki passed to him for a smooth post move that gave Kanagawa a 2-0 lead.
• Uemura passed to Shimizu, who used a give-and-go with Ono to create space and launch a long-range shot over Kiyota’s late contest.

Kanagawa struggled to contain Urayasu's Shinichi Maki, while Akama entered the game and injured Kiyota with a dirty foul. Yo Aoki replaced Kiyota and answered Akama's taunts with a powerful dunk, leaving Akama groaning on the floor.

• Shinichi Maki drove past Uemura, scored through Akashi's foul, and drew an extra free throw as Kanagawa took a nine-point lead.
• Urayasu's coach sent Akama into the game, hoping his strength could stop Maki, but Akama ignored instructions and challenged Sakuragi.
• Akama elbowed Kiyota in the solar plexus and scored, prompting Sakuragi and Maki to restrain themselves while Coach Takato protested to the referee.
• Takato sent Yo Aoki in for Kiyota and told him to attack the basket against Akama.
• Yo Aoki broke past Kenichi Ono, leapt above Akama, and dunked hard enough to knock him onto the floor.
• Yo Aoki approached the groaning Akama and asked whether he had really played on a school team abroad.

Yo Aoki drew fouls on Akama, helped Kanagawa extend its lead, and prompted Coach Tokito to kick Akama off the Chiba Team after he insulted his teammates. Aoki rested when play resumed, while Chiba rallied and Sakuragi received the ball as Shimizu came over to double-team him.

• Akama challenged Yo Aoki, but Aoki drew offensive and defensive fouls, then helped Kaede Rukawa and Shinichi Maki score as Kanagawa widened its lead.
• During a timeout, Akama argued with Akashi and Coach Tokito, insulted the Chiba players, and was dismissed from the team.
• Coach Tokito apologized to his players, who encouraged him to continue, and he decided Chiba would return to its strongest tactics.
• Coach Takato praised Aoki and sent him to rest; Aoki named Sakuragi the team's core so he could show off for the schoolgirl watching from the stands.
• After play resumed, Genta Shimizu made a three-pointer, and Sakuragi received the ball before Shimizu joined Kikkawa Kokorozashi to double-team him.

Kanagawa defeated Chiba by 25 points after Yo Aoki predicted and countered Chiba’s zone press, while Sendoh led the second-half offense with 17 assists. Later, Yo Aoki learned that Takezato would face a difficult bracket at the Autumn National Sports Festival, but he welcomed the challenge and expected to meet Akita in the final.

• Shimizu stole the ball from Sakuragi, then scored a pull-up three that helped Chiba cut Kanagawa’s lead to nine before halftime.
• Yo Aoki predicted Chiba would use a backcourt zone press and explained how Kanagawa could counter it by passing out of double-teams.
• Kanagawa brought Sendoh off the bench, and he used his court vision to find open teammates as Kanagawa pulled ahead by more than 20 points and won by 25.
• Maki scored 32 points, Sendoh recorded 17 assists, and Sakuragi finished with four points and ten rebounds.
• Coaches Takato and Taoka discussed whether Aoki should start or analyze opponents from the bench, and Taoka said Takezato’s rise could not be stopped.
• Kiyota showed Aoki the Autumn National Sports Festival bracket, which placed Osaka, Aichi, and Fukuoka among Takezato’s potential opponents, but Aoki called it a good draw.

Kanagawa’s basketball team announced its starting lineup and traveled to Osaka for the National Sports Festival, where Yo Aoki discussed Rukawa’s weaknesses and the strengths of Sendoh and Sawakita. The festival opened, and Kanagawa watched Shizuoka face Saitama as Yo considered how Jousei matched up against Meihou.

• Coach Takato named Maki, Sendoh, Akagi, Jin, and Fujima as Kanagawa’s starters, placing Fujima at shooting guard.
• Ryo Aoki persuaded Mamoru Aoki to let the family travel to Osaka to support Yo at the festival.
• The Kanagawa team arrived in Osaka on October 6, and Yo shared a hotel room with Rukawa.
• Yo told Rukawa that Sendoh’s strength was bringing teammates into the game and urged Rukawa to overcome his fixation on beating him.
• The National Sports Festival opened on October 7, and Kanagawa watched Shizuoka play Saitama as Miyagi described Jousei’s strengths.

Shizuoka beat Saitama, while Yo Aoki assessed Shizuoka’s lineup and provoked Toyotama to learn more about its resentment toward Daiei. As Kanagawa prepared to face Shizuoka, Jousei’s Coach Aso worried that Mikoshiba had not recovered from his crushing loss to Meihou Industrial.

• Shizuoka took control early and defeated Saitama by 31 points, while Yo Aoki discussed how Kanagawa could contain Mikoshiba and Shizuoka’s point guard.
• Minori Kishimoto confronted Sendoh, but Sendoh and the Shohoku players mocked him until Tsuyoshi Minami stopped Kishimoto from attacking.
• Yo Aoki taunted Toyotama about Daiei and Jun Tsuchiya, then explained to Coach Takato that he had wanted to expose Toyotama’s grudge against Daiei.
• Soki Fukami recalled Coach Aso’s concern that Mikoshiba remained shaken by Jousei’s 102–56 loss to Meihou Industrial and might suffer another setback against Kanagawa.
• Kanagawa and Shizuoka took the court as reporters noted Kanagawa’s strong roster and possible teamwork problems, and Akagi and Shizuoka’s number five jumped for the opening ball.

Sendoh orchestrated Kanagawa’s offense as the team built a huge lead, while Mikoshiba lost confidence under Sendoh’s defense. After Akagi reminded him to fight for his teammates, Mikoshiba recovered and sparked Shizuoka’s centerless offense, which began exploiting Akagi’s weakness against perimeter shots.

• Sendoh shook off Shizuoka’s defender, assisted his teammates repeatedly, and helped Kanagawa surge ahead 29-6.
• Sendoh blocked Mikoshiba’s shot, and Shizuoka called a timeout as Mikoshiba feared his basketball career was over.
• Akagi encouraged Mikoshiba to keep playing for his teammates, and Mikoshiba returned to the court with renewed resolve.
• Mikoshiba passed to Shizuoka’s number five for a three-pointer, then rallied his teammates and helped tighten their defense.
• Mikoshiba secured a rebound and hit a three-pointer, bringing Shizuoka’s centerless tactic to life and revealing Akagi’s difficulty defending perimeter shots.

Kanagawa’s new second-half lineup overwhelmed Shizuoka as Yo Aoki disrupted the offense and created scoring chances for his teammates. Shizuoka switched ball handlers after Aoki repeatedly stole or disrupted the ball, while Kanagawa continued to build its lead.

• Coach Takato started Uozumi, Kaede Rukawa, Kiyota, Sakuragi, and Yo Aoki, assigning Aoki to pass and defend without scoring.
• Rukawa and Kiyota opened the second half with dunks, then Aoki stole Shizuoka’s pass and set up Kiyota for another basket.
• Aoki stole the ball from Shizuoka’s number 6 and passed high to Sakuragi, who caught it one-handed and completed an alley-oop dunk.
• Aoki disrupted number 6’s dribbling and intercepted his pass, then fed Uozumi for a basket under the hoop.
• Aoki stole the ball again and launched a long pass to Kaede Rukawa, who caught it in front of the paint and dunked.
• Shizuoka changed its offense, keeping number 6 off the ball and letting number 8 run the play.

Kanagawa defeated Shizuoka 101-54, and Yo Aoki drew attention with 14 steals before the team’s next opponents studied the game footage. Coach Miura forced the Toyotama players to join Daiei’s preparations, where Atsushi Tsuchiya analyzed Kanagawa’s threats and Kishimoto dismissed Aoki’s performance.

• Aoki and Kiyota disrupted Shizuoka’s guards, while Sakuragi grabbed five consecutive rebounds and helped Kanagawa secure a 101-54 victory.
• Mikoshiba accepted the loss without regret, and Aoki told Osaka reporters that Osaka would beat Kanagawa in their next game.
• Coach Miura confronted Kishimoto and the Toyotama players when they tried to skip Daiei’s film session, threatening their basketball careers until they agreed to watch.
• Daiei and Toyotama watched Kanagawa’s game footage, and Atsushi Tsuchiya identified Sendoh and Aoki as the team’s point forwards with contrasting playmaking styles.
• Masaharu Nitta volunteered to guard Sendoh, while Takashi Akimoto praised Aoki’s 14 steals and Kishimoto blamed Shizuoka’s guards for allowing them.

Coach Miura discovered from game footage that Yo Aoki was far more dangerous than his statistics suggested, while Aoki and the Kanagawa team studied Daiei’s tactics against Toyotama. The chapter ended with Kanagawa realizing Daiei had thoroughly countered Toyotama’s run-and-gun offense.

• Coach Miura named Itakura to Toyotama’s starting lineup and assigned him to guard Shinichi Maki, while secretly encouraging conflict within Toyotama.
• Miura revealed to Yamakura that he had proposed combining Daiei and Toyotama so Daiei could assess Toyotama’s players and sow discord before the Winter Selection Tournament.
• Kashiwaba brought Miura recordings of Kainan’s qualifiers, and footage showed Yo Aoki stealing, dunking, blocking, shooting threes, and finally winning the game against Takezato with a left-handed three-pointer.
• Miura realized his team had underestimated Aoki and decided to wait until morning to tell the players about him.
• Yo Aoki and the Kanagawa team watched Daiei shut down Toyotama by denying Kishimoto access to the paint and preventing Tsuyoshi Minami from scoring on the perimeter.

The Shohoku players studied Osaka’s strengths and discussed how to handle Atsushi Tsuchiya, Nitta, and Tsuyoshi Minami. Taoka helped Coach Takato recognize that fear from an earlier loss had made him overly cautious, and Takato decided to start his strongest lineup against Osaka.

• Miyagi, Yo Aoki, and the others praised Atsushi Tsuchiya’s all-around play, while Sakuragi declared he would beat him and was mostly ignored.
• Yo Aoki reassured Sakuragi that his defense could match Tsuchiya, and Sakuragi asked to guard him.
• Coach Takato identified Nitta as Daiei’s defensive ace, while Yo Aoki volunteered to take on Tsuyoshi Minami.
• Yo Aoki declined to suggest a special strategy for the Osaka game, and Coach Takato sent the players to rest.
• Taoka told Coach Takato that his fear of opponents exploiting his weaknesses had kept Aoki on the bench, prompting Takato to recognize the influence of his loss to Takezato.
• Coach Takato agreed to send out his strongest lineup against Osaka and show what Kanagawa could do.