Though they initially got off to a rocky start, Hanamichi and Ryota Miyagi quickly form a bond based on their mutual experiences with heartbreak. Their unlikely camaraderie also helps in firing up the rest of the Shohoku team and gives everyone a substantial moral boost. This all comes to an abrupt halt, though, when a group of thugs with a score to settle with Ryota crash a practice session.

This book reads from right to left.