Chapter 12

He slowly dribbled the ball between his legs, a smirk forming on his face. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, he skillfully passed the ball to my right, all the way to the ring.

As I observed him being wide open, Kise confidently pulled up from midrange. Just like I had done before, he mimicked my move and took the shot, effortlessly sinking it and increasing the score to 9-77.

With a smug expression on his face, Kise looked at me and asked, "Was that your shot?" He leisurely returned to his defensive position.

Observing his nonchalance, I simply shook my head and slowly jogged to their side of the court.

Seeing Kise's skill of copying in the show might come across as unimpressive if you're not well-versed in basketball. All he seems to do is replicate the skills of others. However, for avid basketball enthusiasts like myself, we truly understand the immense power of his ability. It's a skill that every basketball player dreams of possessing. Just imagine witnessing a lethal move, such as Dirk Nowitzki's iconic one-legged shot, and being able to instantly replicate it. It's absolutely mind-boggling.

It's important to note that mastering these skills takes years of dedicated training. Players invest countless hours, pouring their sweat, tears, and even blood, into perfecting their craft. So, for the original creators of these moves, it must be demoralizing to realize that someone can effortlessly copy their signature style.

As the game progresses, our point guard catches the inbound and crosses half court. Immediately, I demand the ball. With a quick gesture, I signal my teammates for an isolation play, and they graciously create space for me on the court.

In that moment, I saw a smile forming on Kise's face, a clear sign that he was ready to defend me without saying a word. He was determined to shut down my play, evident in his stance and focused gaze.

Surveying the floor, I noticed Murasakibara standing tall in the paint. Unsure if I could successfully drive past his help defense, I had to decide quickly.

Without hesitation, I positioned myself in a triple threat stance, while Kise stepped back to block me from driving to the basket. Recognizing the space, I confidently took my shot. Unfortunately, Kise reacted too late, his eyes locked on the ball. With precision, I made a successful three-pointer.

Still in a shooting position, Kise looked at me, and in response, I looked back at him and simply shrugged. Taking a cue from him, I casually returned to defense.

Observing this, Kise clenched his teeth in frustration. Without wasting a moment, he didn't even wait for Akashi to cross half court. As soon as the ball was inbounded, he assertively demanded the ball from Akashi.

"Give me the ball, Akashi," he exclaimed.

Seeing that Akashi frowned, yet still decided to pass the ball to Kise, it was evident that Akashi was not pleased with his demand.

In response, Kise quickly caught the pass and immediately sprinted to the other side of the court, seemingly disregarding the presence of his teammates.

He was eager to get back at me for the humiliation I had given him.