Seijuro Akashi slapped the basketball out of Makoto Hanamiya's hands, scooped it up, and immediately sprinted toward the frontcourt.
"Akashi! The Secret to the Akashi Dynasty!"
Makoto Hanamiya cursed furiously as he chased after Seijuro Akashi.
But there was no way he could catch him. In the end, all he could do was watch as Seijuro Akashi laid the ball into the basket.
After scoring, Seijuro Akashi said nothing and simply turned to head back on defense.
As he turned away, Makoto Hanamiya caught sight of the glowing rings in Seijuro Akashi's eyes.
Realizing he had been played, Makoto Hanamiya immediately exploded.
"Akashi! Didn't you say you'd tell me when you activated the [Emperor Eye]?! You lied to me!"
Seijuro Akashi turned his head and looked coldly at Makoto Hanamiya.
"What does something Akashi promised have to do with me, Seijuro? I never promised to tell you when I activated the [Emperor Eye]."
Suddenly, the glowing rings in Seijuro Akashi's eyes disappeared, and an apologetic smile appeared on his face.
"Sorry, Hanamiya. Seijuro insisted on playing that possession just now, so I let him take over. My apologies. Next time I activate the [Emperor Eye], I'll definitely tell you."
Makoto Hanamiya froze.
Seriously, man? Do you think I'm a fucking idiot?
You've got two personalities, and you're trying to make promises one personality at a time?
You make a promise, then suddenly change your tune. No, switch personalities, right?!
Damn it, how is that not cheating?!
Switching faces. No, switching personalities doesn't cost you anything, doesn't drain your mana, and doesn't even have a cooldown!
You're using it like a basic attack?!
If I ever fucking believe you again, I'm a damn dog!
Poor Makoto Hanamiya had been thoroughly screwed over by the cunning Seijuro Akashi.
...
Possession changed.
Kirisaki Daiichi's ball.
Makoto Hanamiya dribbled into the frontcourt, watching Seijuro Akashi warily in case he tried pulling another personality switch.
"Actually, you don't need to..." Seijuro Akashi began helplessly.
Makoto Hanamiya immediately cut him off.
"Shut up! There's no way I'm believing a single word you say now."
With that, Makoto Hanamiya passed the ball away.
Shuzo Nijimura caught the incoming pass and found himself matched up against Ryota Kise.
Ryota Kise's expression turned serious as he cautiously watched his former senior.
Calling him a senpai didn't quite feel right. He was more like a legend.
After all, by the time Ryota Kise joined the team, Shuzo Nijimura had already left.
The first time Ryota Kise had actually seen Shuzo Nijimura in person was during high school.
"Ready?" Shuzo Nijimura asked with a smile.
"Yeah, I'm ready, Nijimura-senpai," Ryota Kise replied.
Shuzo Nijimura immediately began his attack.
His left shoulder suddenly dipped as his left hand pushed the basketball forward, his entire body shifting as though he were about to drive left.
Worried that Shuzo Nijimura might suddenly accelerate past him, Ryota Kise shifted his center of gravity slightly backward and to his right.
Shuzo Nijimura seized the opening.
He switched the ball from his left hand to his right, sent it between his legs, then suddenly accelerated.
The abrupt change of rhythm carried him straight past Ryota Kise.
Ryota Kise reacted immediately, turning and giving chase.
Just as he was about to catch up, Shuzo Nijimura suddenly slammed on the brakes and pulled the ball back, then followed with a step-back that carried him behind the three-point line.
The sudden shift in tempo caught Ryota Kise off guard, forcing him to stop abruptly.
But his momentum was too strong. To stop himself quickly enough, Ryota Kise had to plant one hand against the floor.
The instant he regained his balance, he lunged toward Shuzo Nijimura and tried to block the shot.
But he was already too late.
Shuzo Nijimura had released the ball.
Swish!
The basketball dropped cleanly through the net with a satisfying sound.
After scoring, Shuzo Nijimura flashed Ryota Kise a brilliant smile.
Ryota Kise smiled back.
He had learned it.
"So, junior," Shuzo Nijimura suddenly asked, "did you learn it?"
Ryota Kise paused, then answered honestly.
"Yeah."
Shuzo Nijimura nodded without another word, then turned and headed back on defense.
Ryota Kise was left completely confused.
Didn't most people hate having their moves [Copied]?
Why did Nijimura-senpai actually seem to want him to [Copy] his?
...
Possession changed.
Teikō Middle School's ball.
Ryota Kise stood in the frontcourt, once again matched up against Shuzo Nijimura.
He still had no idea what Shuzo Nijimura was thinking, but he intended to [Copy] him anyway.
If nothing else, it was a matter of pride.
His entire playing style was built around taking the strengths of others and making them his own. There was no way a single comment from Shuzo Nijimura would scare him off.
"Akashi!" Ryota Kise called, holding out both hands.
Seijuro Akashi immediately sent the ball his way.
Smack!
Ryota Kise caught the pass and stared seriously at Shuzo Nijimura.
Shuzo Nijimura smiled, placing his left hand lightly against Ryota Kise's waist while extending his right arm, settling into a defensive stance.
"I'm coming," Ryota Kise warned.
"Whenever you're ready," Shuzo Nijimura replied with a smile.
Ryota Kise hesitated no longer.
He probed forward with his right foot, lowered his shoulder, and made an aggressive triple-threat motion.
Shuzo Nijimura didn't bite.
He stood firmly in place, rooted to the floor like an old tree.
Ryota Kise narrowed his eyes and suddenly put the ball down, driving hard to the right.
Shuzo Nijimura immediately matched him step for step.
Seeing that, Ryota Kise abruptly changed his rhythm, going from fast to slow as he turned his back to Shuzo Nijimura and shielded the basketball from view.
Then his shoulder twitched.
Ryota Kise suddenly spun around, shifting from slow back to fast as he accelerated into another drive.
But he quickly realized something.
Shuzo Nijimura hadn't lost position at all.
It was as though every change in rhythm Ryota Kise made had already been completely read.
Ryota Kise frowned and pulled the ball back out beyond the three-point line.
"Notice it?" Shuzo Nijimura asked with a smile. "Changing your rhythm doesn't work against me."
Ryota Kise continued dribbling.
Of course he had noticed.
His changes of rhythm really couldn't fool Shuzo Nijimura.
Which meant the rhythm changes he had [Copied] were completely useless against him.
The main reason was simple.
Shuzo Nijimura understood rhythm changes far too well.
He didn't just rely on them himself. Zack, Nick, Allen, and several others also used rhythm changes as a major part of their game.
Back when he was with the Black Dragon Team, Shuzo Nijimura frequently played one-on-one against Zack.
Naturally, he had developed an extremely deep understanding of rhythm changes.
That was why the rhythm changes Ryota Kise had [Copied] had no effect on him whatsoever.
No matter how Ryota Kise tried to shake him, Shuzo Nijimura could always keep up.
That was exactly why Shuzo Nijimura wasn't worried about Ryota Kise [Copying] him.
...
...
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