Bab 5.Limit The of copy

The second half began with the crowd in a absolute frenzy. The score was tied at 68-68, a reality that Kaijo’s head coach, Takeuchi, could barely comprehend.

"Stop letting that phantom pass through!" Takeuchi screamed from the sidelines, veins bulging on his neck. "Kasamatsu, double-team the red-haired guy! Don't let him jump!"

On the court, Kasamatsu wiped the sweat from his eyes and glared at Ariaki. "He’s not phantom-passing through us because he's fast... he's doing it because we keep losing track of him! Keep your eyes on number 11!"

Kise stood at the top of the key, his breathing noticeably heavier. His Perfect Copy was a terrifying asset, but imitating high-level moves continuously placed a massive burden on his stamina. He looked at Ariaki, whose composure remained disturbingly calm.

His presence is faint, but his court vision with that Hawk Eye is absolute, Kise thought, his golden eyes narrowing. He's orchestrating every single movement on the floor without taking a single shot.

Kaijo took possession. Kasamatsu drove hard to the left, drawing Hyuga’s defense before whipping a bounce pass to Kise on the wing.

Hoga immediately stepped up, his knees bent low, eyes burning with wild hostility. "Come at me, 'Miracle'!"

Kise didn't answer with words. He planted his foot hard, executing an explosive step-back three-pointer—a flawless copy of Hyuga’s clutch shooting technique.

SWISH!

The net snapped cleanly. Kaijo 71, Seirin 68.

"He even copied Hyuga-senpai's form?!" Riko gasped from the bench, clutching her clipboard tight. "His copying speed is accelerating!"

"It doesn't matter!" Hoga roared, sprinting up the court before Kaijo could set up their full defense. "Aki! Hit me!"

Ariaki received the inbound pass from Izuki. Before Kasamatsu could close the gap, Ariaki tapped the ball with the side of his palm. Using Presence Erase, he slipped past Kasamatsu’s peripheral vision like a ghost.

With his Hawk Eye engaged, Ariaki perceived the entire court in three dimensions. He saw Kobori shifting to cover Hoga, leaving the baseline completely open.

Flik!

The ball zipped behind Ariaki's back, curving sharply in mid-air and hitting Hyuga right in his rhythm at the corner line.

"Catch and shoot!" Hyuga released the ball instantaneously.

SWISH!

Three points for Seirin! Tied again at 71-71!

"Damn it!" Kasamatsu growled, calling a quick timeout.

With only two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, both teams were pushed to their absolute physical limits. Sweat poured onto the hardwood.

Kise caught the ball at mid-court, his body visibly trembling from exhaustion. I have to end this now. I'll use everything I've got!

Kise exploded forward, combining Hoga's raw drive speed with Kasamatsu's sharp crossover. He blew past Izuki and Hyuga in a single breath, soaring toward the rim for a game-ending slam dunk.

"I WON'T LET YOU!" Hoga leaped with everything he had, his massive body blocking Kise's path in mid-air.

Their eyes met in the sky. Kise adjusted his body mid-flight, switching the ball from his right hand to his left—a double-pump layup designed to avoid Hoga's block!

"Got you!" Kise smirked.

"No, you don't!"

A sudden shadow enveloped Kise from behind. Ariaki, utilizing his newly developed muscular core and explosive footwork, had tracked Kise's air trajectory using Hawk Eye and jumped from Kise's blind spot!

WHACK!

Ariaki’s hand cleanly swatted the ball out of Kise’s grip mid-air!

"WHAT?!" Kise’s eyes widened in sheer horror. He predicted my mid-air adjustment?! From behind?!

The ball bounced free toward the half-court line.

"HOGA!" Ariaki yelled, his voice echoing through the entire gym.

Hoga landed, immediately spun around, and chased down the loose ball like a starving predator. He scooped up the ball, drove toward the empty Kaijo basket, and launched himself into the air from near the free-throw line.

BOOM!

A thunderous one-handed tomahawk dunk shattered the silence of the gymnasium, shaking the basket frame violently.

BZZZZZZZZT!

The final buzzer sounded.

Seirin 75 - Kaijo 73.

Silence hung over the Kaijo gym for three long seconds before the Seirin bench exploded into chaotic cheers.

Kise sat on the floor, staring up at the scoreboard in utter shock. He looked over at Ariaki, who was standing a few feet away, panting quietly while extending a hand down to him.

"It was a good game, Kise-kun," Ariaki said softly, his blue eyes clear and steady.

Kise looked at Ariaki's hand, then let out a defeated, dry laugh before grabbing it and pulling himself up. "You really have changed, Aki-cchi. That last block... you weren't just a shadow hiding in the dark. You were right there, controlling the whole court."

Kise leaned in closer, his tone dropping into a serious whisper. "But be careful... Aomine isn't like me. He won't just try to outplay you. He'll try to break you again."

Ariaki flexed his right fist, feeling the steady beat of his pulse and the quiet spark waiting deep inside his consciousness.

"Let him try," Ariaki replied quietly.