"The Interhigh format is different from the Winter Cup. Even the champion team doesn't get an automatic bid. Every single team has to fight from the very beginning!"
Inside Kaijo's gym, Takeuchi was holding a clipboard, explaining the Interhigh format — though honestly, this was mostly for the first-years.
"The Interhigh is divided into four regions. Each starts with single elimination games. The top four teams from each region advance to a round-robin, and the best teams from there qualify for the main event!"
His voice was flat, like a monk chanting scriptures. But it wasn't really his fault. He had to give the same speech every single year when the new players joined.
For veterans like Kise and Kota, his words went in one ear and out the other. The only ones paying full attention were Yuki and Takumi.
It had been a week since the first "Freshman Cup" ended.
During this time, as captain, Kota had already chosen Kaijo's starting five for the year, discussed the bench rotation with Takeuchi, and even brought Yuki and Takeuchi into practices with the main squad.
"Last year we had a great season" Takeuchi droned on. "But this year, we can't get complacent. We fight for the championship, no matter what!"
Kota scratched his ear, unimpressed. The coach talked about going all-out every game… but come qualifiers, Kota knew he'd be so confident that scouting opponents would be left for someone else — like Kasamatsu used to do.
Sure, a lion fights a rabbit with full strength…
But a lion swatting a fly? Yeah, not happening.
Scouting opponents? Please. In this region, Kaijo was the opponent to beat.
"Alright, enough talk. Let's have a scrimmage" Takeuchi finally said, rubbing his shiny chin before dividing the teams.
"Kise and Yuki on one team. Kota and Takumi on the other. Kota, you pick the rest. Two quarters."
And with that, Takeuchi waddled back to his office, beer belly leading the way, leaving Kota staring after him.
"…Am I the captain, or the actual coach here?" Kota muttered as the entire team turned to him, waiting for instructions.
He sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Yeah, you, you, and… yeah, you too. Stop looking around, I'm pointing at you."
Players got divided quickly, and the whistle blew.
Kise jogged over to Yuki, high-fived him, then shot a cheeky grin at Kota.
"Captain or not, we're not going easy on you!"
Kota's eyebrow twitched.
"You two geniuses better not cry when you lose."
It was just a scrimmage, but the atmosphere felt like a championship game. Of course, Kise's team had way more cheers — being the resident pretty boy had its perks.
Even Yuki, without realizing it, had gathered his own mini fan club.
"Damn it… some guys get all the popularity" Kota grumbled, glaring at the cheer squad like they'd personally offended him.
"If only Miss Masako cheered for me like that…"
Daydreams aside, he slapped his teammates on the back.
"Alright boys, let's teach the superstar a lesson."
The whistle blew again.
Since it was just a scrimmage, Kise didn't even bother with the opening tip. Kota brought the ball up casually, scanning Yuki's nervous defense.
"First play… keep it simple."
He called Takumi up for a pick-and-roll. Perfect execution. Easy bucket.
Takumi was so hyped he pounded his chest like he'd just won the finals.
"Man, youth is wild" Kota muttered, half-amused.
Kise, of course, wasn't having it. He called for the ball from Yuki, smirked at Kota's defense, and with one explosive first step, blew by everyone.
Hayakawa and Takumi closed in, both jumping to contest.
"No way you're getting past us!"
Too bad. It was Kise.
He hung in the air like gravity didn't apply to him, waited for both defenders to start falling, then switched hands midair for a smooth reverse layup.
Crowd: "Woooooo!"
Girls: "Kyaaaaaaa!"
Kota: "…I hate this guy."
What made it worse? Kise wasn't even using Perfect Copy. This was just regular Kise!
Kota clapped his hands, unfazed. "Fine, let him score. We just score more. Problem solved."
Basketball 101: the best defense is a good offense.
And so, the shootout began. Kota ran perfect pick-and-rolls. Kise and Yuki tried zone defense, but Kaijo's subs weren't stopping Koizumi or Hiro inside.
By halftime, the score was 32–31. Kise's team barely led.
Both stars had agreed beforehand: no Zone this time. A scrimmage where no one else touches the ball isn't training — it's just a one-on-one sideshow.
Still, Yuki couldn't shake the feeling that no matter how hard he tried, Kota had him beat.
During halftime, he finally turned to Kise. "Uh… Kise-senpai? What's the difference between me and Kota-senpai?"
Kise paused mid-water bottle sip. "Huh? What's this about?"
Yuki scratched his head. "I just… feel like he's stronger somehow."
"Relax, kid. I get what you mean" Kise said with a grin. "You're a great passer. Always on point, super accurate. Kota? He throws passes like, 'Score this or I'm yelling at you later.'"
Kise laughed, scratching his head. "Sorry, that sounded better in my head."
But Yuki frowned, thinking hard.
"Wait… you actually understood that?" Kise asked, surprised.
Before Yuki could answer, the whistle blew.
"Break's over, bro" Kise said, standing. "And hey — instead of overthinking, why not just ask Kota yourself?"
Yuki hesitated, clenching his fists. He didn't want to ask. They were both point guards. He wanted to beat Kota one day, not take lessons from him.
Kise, smirking, leaned in. "Bet you anything he already knows what you're thinking. And if you ask him, he'll answer."
Yuki froze, staring, while Kise walked off humming like he hadn't just dropped a bomb.
Yuki wiped his face, glanced at Kota, and silently made up his mind.
...
The second half began with Kise's team taking the first possession. As usual, Yuki initiated the plays, while Kise handled the final scoring when things fell apart.
After the intense first half, this strategy had proven one thing: Kota's team couldn't stop it!
At the same time, Kota kept using the double pick-and-roll offense against Kise's defense, and it continued to work like a charm.
So, the second half felt like a mirror of the first. Under this pace, Yuki's playmaking instincts and timing were honed to perfection, while Takumi's screening and finishing off the roll got plenty of practice too.
Both Kaijo rookies were gaining a lot from today's scrimmage. But training or not, a winner still had to be decided.
Neither Kota nor Kise was the type to shrug off victory! Some people say results don't matter, only the fun and experience?
Total nonsense.
It's like gaming—would you rather lose a close match or get carried to victory by a teammate?The answer's obvious. Winning is everything!
"Looks like they're all having fun out there" someone commented from the bench.
At the top of the arc, Kota faced Kise on defense and chuckled.
There were only 20 seconds left in the game.
Score tied, 61–61. Kise's team had the chance for the game-winner.
If Yuki and Kise ran their usual connection, the odds of stopping them were slim.
So Kota decided to gamble.
"Guess it's our turn to have some fun, right?"
He licked his lips and gestured for his teammates to clear out. From a defender, that gesture was loud and clear:
One-on-one challenge!
"I like it when you call me a genius, Kota" Kise grinned.
Kise wasn't dumb—he knew exactly what Kota was thinking.
Why bet on a 10% chance of stopping the play when you can take a 30% chance of stopping Kise alone?
"Interesting. Let's play."
Excitement flickered in Kise's eyes as he made the same clear-out signal to his team. Holding the ball with one hand, he waited for the clock to tick down.
From the bench, Kaijo's players began to cheer loudly.
The strongest players on the team going head-to-head? Too good to miss.
Kise even waved at some fans courtside, grinning like this was a photoshoot instead of a clutch moment.
Kota stayed calm. No lunging in, no rushing. He kept perfect defensive distance.
He could bet on this: if he went for a steal just because Kise looked relaxed, he'd get blown by instantly.
The two stood off.
Then, with eight seconds left, Kise moved!
A sharp step-back and sudden drive—he got half a step on Kota.
Even without entering the Zone, Kise's first step was explosive!
Kota frowned, turning to chase, but Kise's burst was faster than expected. He didn't have time to recover defensive position, giving Kise just enough space.
Kise seized the opening, stopping on a dime for a jump shot.
Kota saw it coming and gave a wry smile.
One tiny mistake—and the game was basically over.
Swish!
As expected, the ball dropped clean through the net.
Two points for Kise.
The ref stopped the clock. Five seconds left.
But it felt like a death sentence for Kota's team.
Kise spread his arms to the cheers of teammates and fans, flashing a grin at Kota.
In the team's one-on-one hierarchy, Kise had proven his place once again.
Even Kota, Kaijo's best defender, couldn't stop him!
In the final seconds, Kise stayed locked on Kota.
Kota got one last desperation shot off, but with Kise's defense all over him, a buzzer-beater miracle was just too much to ask for.
Final score: 63–61. Kise's team wins!
Kota stood at midcourt, hands on his hips, staring at the scoreboard. He looked frustrated, but deep down, there was relief too.
Having such a strong teammate on your side in real games?It felt good.
After celebrating with teammates, Kise ran up with a laugh and jumped onto Kota's back.
"What's wrong, Kota? It's okay to lose to me, you know. Totally respectable!"
Kota: "…"
"You… want to die?"
Kota roared and tried to grab him, clearly planning to slam him to the floor.
But Kise was quick, darting away like lightning. The two chased each other around the court like a cop-and-robber skit.
No one stopped them. The whole team just laughed from the sidelines.
With Kasamatsu-senpai gone, Kaijo's vibe had gotten… a lot more relaxed. Maybe too relaxed.
Off in the corner, unnoticed, Yuki watched the two still messing around.
His eyes flickered with hesitation.The resolve he had moments ago… gone.
A soft sigh escaped him.
"Hey, hey, timeout! Kota!"
Finally cornered, Kise suddenly looked like he'd just remembered something important.
Kota snorted coldly.
"I'm serious!" Kise said quickly. "Yuki's looking for you! Ask him—wait… where is Yuki?"