Chapter 198: Chapter 198: Not Even Funny
"That move looks familiar!"
Koganei exclaimed after witnessing Kise's successful dunk.
Izuki nodded, affirming, "I think that was Kagami's move during our first encounter with Kise..."
"Whoa? Really?"
"I didn't expect that..."
"To think Kise could still copy that move from a long time ago..."
The freshmen at Seirin erupted into exclamations upon learning about Izuki's revelation.
"Well, that was expected, isn't it? What Kise had copied wouldn't go anywhere as long as he remembered it..." Hyuga remarked with a nod, prompting unanimous agreement from everyone present.
However, Kuroko's gaze shifted to Haizaki, his concern evident as he observed Haizaki burst forward, seamlessly catching Tsuna's pass that appeared to teleport directly into Haizaki's hand.
He glanced at Kise, who was swiftly moving to intercept Haizaki.
"...Haizaki might have stolen the move now," Kuroko muttered, a hint of worry in his voice.
Meanwhile, on the court, Haizaki sprang into action the instant Kise closed in, his instincts taking over.
With a sudden veer to the right, he lured Kise into his trap before executing a lightning-quick crossover to the left, leaving Kise momentarily flustered by the feint.
Kise's eyes widened with recognition, a realization flashing across his face. "...He stole that move!"
Anticipating Haizaki's next move, Kise's focus sharpened as he shadowed Haizaki's every step.
As he was near the basket now, Haizaki initiated a rapid spin as his figure blurring with speed. In the blink of an eye, he slipped behind Kise, setting the stage for a thrilling sequence of maneuvers.
However, Kise was already expecting the maneuver as he reacted with lightning reflexes. He immediately sidestepped, closing the distance between them.
As Haizaki leaped for the basket, Kise positioned himself to block.
The clash was intense, and the crowd erupted into cheers and gasps. An annoyed click of the tongue escaped Haizaki's lips as he soared past Kise's attempted block.
"These measly blocks were not enough! Ryota!" Haizaki shouted, his voice cutting through the excitement of the moment.
Haizaki forcefully broke through Kise's defense as the resounding impact echoed through the court, leaving the crowd electrified by the intensity of the confrontation between these two formidable players.
"Whoa!"
"He pulled off the same move!"
"Holy cow, are they twins or something? They did the exact same thing!"
The crowd couldn't contain their surprise and amazement. Kise and Haizaki had just pulled off an identical move, and the audience couldn't believe their eyes.
Kasamatsu received the ball with a frown and began to dribble it forward slowly.
Taking in the court situation, Kasamatsu sensed the mounting tension as Tsuna closed in to defend.
"Dammit, just with his presence alone made my whole body tensed up...." Kasamatsu thought silently.
But, that didn't throw him off at all.
Dribbling the ball around his legs—front, between, and behind. At the same time, his keen eyes scanned Tsuna's defense, searching for the slightest vulnerability or, if necessary, a chance to create one.
Disappointment crossed Kasamatsu's face as he clicked his tongue audibly; Tsuna's defense seemed impenetrable. Shifting his focus, Kasamatsu decided to pass the ball instead, adjusting his dribbling pace.
Unfortunately for Kasamatsu, Tsuna tracked his every move like a spectre.
In a clever sleight, Kasamatsu feigned a pass to the left, successfully prompting Tsuna to react.
However, it was a trick.
Kasamatsu's eyes sparkled with a sly glint as he smoothly adjusted his body weight and redirected the ball to Kise. A smile crept onto Kasamatsu's face as he thought, "I'm glad he had quick reaction speed; it wouldn't have worked otherwise."
With the ball back in his grip, Kise sensed Haizaki's relentless pressure closing in.
Thinking about something, Kise decided to try a way to shift the momentum.
He initiated another feint, a deceptive move to the right before swiftly crossing over to the left. However, this time, Haizaki's defensive prowess came into play.
A hand grazed the ball, causing it to slip from Kise's grip.
"Hah, that's not even funny!"
Haizaki's laughter echoed as he snatched the bouncing ball, seamlessly transitioning into an agile burst forward.
Kise clicked his tongue in frustration, immediately sprinting after Haizaki's figure.
Trying to break Haizaki's defense and turn the game in Kaijo High's favor, Kise had hoped to confidently use the stolen move, acting like Haizaki's act of changing the rhythm didn't matter.
But things didn't go as planned.
Kise struggled to catch the rhythm of the stolen move, and the balance of momentum remained firmly in Haizaki's control.
Sensing Kise's persistent presence closely shadowing his every move, Haizaki's mind churned with ideas.
A mischievous spark lit up his eyes as he broke into a wide grin.
As Haizaki approached the basket, he sensed Kise's close presence and swiftly spun around to shake him off.
With wide eyes in disbelief, Kise watched as Haizaki smoothly turned around his own body, leaving Kise momentarily stunned. Haizaki moved with agility, skillfully maneuvering around Kise's back before leaping towards the basket.
In a powerful display, he slammed the ball through the net.
Unlike the previous attempt, where Kise had anticipated Haizaki's moves, the unexpected twist caught him off guard this time, making it impossible to react in time to block Haizaki's dunk.
As Haizaki landed, he glanced at Kise, shaking his head in disappointment while mockingly said, "You think that will work against me? You're too naive!"
"...Though, it's not a bad idea, so I stole it."
A chuckle escaped Haizaki's lips as he walked past Kise, who stood there with widened eyes, absorbing the revelation of his own idea being turned against him.
Walking back to his position, Haizaki couldn't resist glancing at Kise, shaking his head in disbelief.
Anger simmered within him as he thought, "This guy? He's the one that Akashi told me would totally best me in the future?"
A scowl etched across Haizaki's face at the thought, and he turned his attention to the audience, specifically the section where Rakuzan High were seated.
His eyes locked onto Akashi's figure, who didn't even spare him a glance.
In a low mutter, Haizaki seethed, "...That's not even a funny joke, you fucking bastard."
Initially taken aback, Kise swiftly regained his composure. He drew a deep breath before directing his gaze at Haizaki.
"...Even the mini boss seemed to be a tough opponent, huh?" he mused to himself.
"Sure, then. Kazamacchi, I'll beat the mini boss first. Just you wait!"
Kise declared with an excited smile spreading across his face. His determination shone through as he fixed his gaze on Tsuna's figure
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