Main characters ; : Kiyoharu Togawa, a junior high student forced into piano practice, nearly defeats his school's fastest runner in a race, sparking his dream of becoming Japan's top sprinter. After losing his right leg to
osteosarcoma, he withdraws until meeting Tora, a mentor with the same disability, who introduces him to wheelchair basketball through the Tigers. His relentless competitiveness strains team dynamics, leading to a brief departure and later a mutiny. When recruited by Japan’s national team and the rival Dream, tensions escalate. Tomomi Nomiya, impressed by his skill, dubs him "Vince" after NBA star
Vince Carter. ; : Tomomi Nomiya, a high school dropout with delinquent tendencies, carries guilt over causing a traffic accident that paralyzed Yamashita Yasumi. Once passionate about basketball but excluded from his school team, he finds new purpose after encountering Kiyoharu playing wheelchair basketball. Becoming the Tigers' enthusiastic supporter, he bonds with Kiyoharu though rarely playing himself. After failing to join a professional team despite a strong tryout, he grows disillusioned and gains weight. Seeking redemption, he shaves his head and adopts a monk-like determination that gradually inspires those around him. ; : Hisanobu Takahashi, a high school basketball captain and top student, becomes paralyzed after a bicycle accident. His rigid worldview, which classifies people from A (best) to E (worst), collapses as he now considers himself inferior. Though briefly motivated by Tomomi's visit, he gives up upon realizing his paralysis is permanent, lashing out at his mother. A tense reunion with his estranged father forces him to confront long-held resentment. Later inspired by Shiratori, he attempts to join the Dreams wheelchair basketball team.
Supporting characters ; : Fumika Honjo visits Hisanobu in the hospital following his accident. Though Hisanobu rates her as merely a "C" in his personal ranking system, she remains committed to their relationship despite his paralysis. She shares how her dog Angelina will also require wheelchair assistance, using this example to argue that disability doesn't render life meaningless. ; : Kumi Azumi, a childhood friend of Kiyoharu, serves as manager for the Tigers. While attending driving school with Tomomi, she explains she's obtaining her license to transport Kiyoharu to team activities. Yama's comments about their compatibility as a couple create tension between Kumi and Kiyoharu, who remains silent about his feelings. Tomomi develops romantic interest in Kumi during their time together. ; : Hitoshi Yamauchi, known as , is a former Tigers player with a progressive muscular condition (possibly Duchenne dystrophy) and a life expectancy not exceeding age 20. When Kiyoharu meets him two years after his amputation, Yama's philosophy proves inspirational. As Yama's condition worsens and his attitude darkens, Kiyoharu reaffirms his value by calling him a "hero". ; : Mitsuru Nagano, a tall Japanese wheelchair basketball player studying at New South Wales University, defeats Kiyoharu and Tomomi in a street basketball game—Kiyoharu's first loss to another wheelchair player. His Australian-influenced speech patterns (frequently using "mate") and competitive ability motivate Kiyoharu to rejoin the Tigers. Impressed by Kiyoharu's skills, Mitsuru eventually joins the post-mutiny team. ; : Hisanobu's father, a former
salaryman who worked long hours, first introduced his son to basketball by building a backboard and teaching him fundamentals. Their shared games became central to young Hisanobu's life before his father abruptly left the family eight years prior, abandoning corporate life to become a rural
potter. Following Hisanobu's paralysis, his father returns to assume caretaker responsibilities, persistently countering his son's bitterness with steadfast support. ;Kiyoharu's father : Following his wife's death, Kiyoharu's father—an unathletic former pianist—devotes himself to training his son as a piano prodigy. Though initially disappointed when Kiyoharu abandons piano for track, he eventually supports this decision. After Kiyoharu's amputation, his father's actions unintentionally contribute to his son's isolation during recovery. ==Publication==