Kasuga Ryuhei and Yukio Kasamatsu knew each other well and had faced off more than once.
First, Kanagawa is very close to Tokyo. When Seiho chose practice match opponents, besides Tokyo-based teams, Kanagawa was the next logical choice.
Second, there are only a handful of top-tier powerhouse teams nationwide.
Before the "Generation of Miracles" entered high school, Tokyo's three major powers, Kaijo, Yosen, and Rakuzan, were already regulars in Nationals.
Under these circumstances, it was only natural for Kaijo and Seiho to meet often in nationwide competitions, as long as both progressed smoothly.
Because they knew each other so well, Yukio Kasamatsu understood just how difficult Kasuga Ryuhei could be to face. So against Kasuga's defense, he went all out immediately.
Kasamatsu dribbled forward, faking one move. Kasuga didn't fall for it. Then… Kasamatsu instantly turned the fake into reality, accelerating explosively past the defense.
"Damn, I got played!"
Kasuga's expression shifted.
Normally, Kasamatsu's signature move was a feint followed by a sudden stop-and-cut or jump shot. Kasuga had anticipated this, so he didn't fall for the first fake.
But he hadn't expected…
In this round, Kasuga was on the second layer of prediction, and Kasamatsu was already on the third.
Kasamatsu had successfully anticipated Kasuga's anticipation, countering Seiho's strategy perfectly.
Breaking through Kasuga's defense, Kasamatsu drove to the interior. Just as he was about to shoot, a massive shadow suddenly descended.
It felt like a prehistoric beast attacking, the oppressive aura freezing Kasamatsu in place.
Still, he gritted his teeth, twisting his body to pass the ball. "I knew you'd try that. Monsters like you are best handled by other monsters!"
The ball landed in Kise Ryouta's hands. Without even a brief pause, he immediately launched it forward.
·····
"Is that… Sakurai's quick shot?"
Satsuki Momoi, watching from the stands, froze at Kise's shooting form.
She wasn't shocked that Kise could replicate Ryo Sakurai's Quick Shot, as this was Kise's talent.
What stunned her was how decisively and quickly he executed it.
The shock faded, replaced by sheer awe.
Because moments after Kise's quick shot, Akashi Asuka, who had just been in front of Kasamatsu, suddenly appeared in midair above Kise. With a single swing, he swatted the ball down, which had already risen several dozen centimeters.
"So high!"
Even Kise's pupils contracted slightly at the height of that block.
With his newly developed physique and improved jumping ability, even Atsushi Murasakibara couldn't reach Akashi's apex.
"This is the shooting skill of that Ryo shooting guard?"
It was Akashi's first time seeing Kise's imitation up close. Honestly, he was slightly surprised, the talent for imitation was better than he had imagined.
Simply put: Kise didn't just copy the movements; he captured the very essence of the player.
For a brief moment, even knowing it was Kise, Akashi had the illusion of Sakurai standing before him.
Akashi praised, "Interesting talent! But don't forget, when that Ryo shooting guard faced me before, I shut him down completely."
"Yeah!"
Kise shook his head, smiling wryly. "I guess I was naive. Using just this level of technique, there's no way I could break a defense that even the 'Generation of Miracles' couldn't!"
"Still, what about this move?"
Kaijo inbounded from the baseline. Kise relaxed his body as he received the ball…
Next moment.
BOOM!
The sound of thunderous dribbles exploded. Using five fingers to control the ball, Kise sent it crashing to the floor like a bolt of lightning. It bounced back up violently.
The harsh dribbling startled not only Seiho's players and the crowd, but even the teams on adjacent courts, Rakuzan and Seirin, turned their heads.
Hayama Kotaro from Rakuzan's bench widened his eyes in disbelief. "Is that my Lighting Dribble?"
Akashi's interest sparked. "Interesting… now you can even imitate the skills of the 'Uncrowned Kings'?"
BOOM~
Kise didn't reply. He transformed into a blur of motion, streaking past Akashi.
Before Kise reached halfway, Akashi simply stepped back and pivoted, instantly reappearing in front of him.
"Blocked? Even the 'Uncrowned Kings' skills can't get through?" Momoi shouted from the stands.
"Not over yet," Aomine Daiki said, narrowing his eyes.
Kise's next move changed again. Stopping abruptly, he immediately set up a shot in front of Akashi.
Akashi reached to block, but mid-jump, his body stiffened momentarily.
"That's… Mibuchi Reo's Void Shot."
Momoi gasped again.
No wonder, imitating the skills of the 'Uncrowned Kings' is nearly as difficult as mimicking the 'Generation of Miracles.'
During the Interhigh, Kise had successfully copied Aomine Daiki's moves, but that was because they were former teammates familiar with each other since junior high.
Now, Kise had studied the 'Uncrowned Kings' entirely from videos and observing matches.
=============
Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria