Ch.4 _ Using the same cards

As the bell announced the end of the classes, Kagami headed for the gym, but there was no one training. Rather, it looked like the upperclassmen had been waiting for him.

"It took you ages to come. We don't have much time left to waste."

Even though everyone had agreed to the match, Midorima and Aomine refused to try some joint training assuring they'd be fine on their own. Kasamatsu talked Kise out of it too, and he wasn't much keen on it, anyway.

Of course they had been upset about the rivals, but now that the mystery had been cleared, it wasn't like they had to worry because of a bunch of freaks. If what Kuroko said was true, then even with one or two new tricks those guys shouldn't be able to win.

If everyone played at their best, what problem could they have?

Riko shaked her head, exasperated. She felt like she should have known it wouldn't be that easy to gather those huge egos in the same room for even a couple of days. She scanned the room to make sure at least Kuroko was there.

"Kuroko, how could you put up with those three for so long?"

"They are not so bad."

After that, Riko made the team gather. The fact that she had not seen who had sent the note upset her, since she'd have to train her players in the dark.

There was only one thing for sure, and everyone agreed on it.

That throw directed to Kagami last night; no matter how anyone looked at it, it was the technique that marked Seirin victory over Shuutoku; a dreadful pass both the passer and the receiver must be crazy to make it succeed.

The pass only six people had been able to stop effectively.

"But it was only a tennis ball. The weigh should not compare…" Koganei tried to look on the bright side.

"Even if it was a tennis ball, to manage such accuracy is really something else. Kuroko, how much do you think the speed could drop with a proper ball?"

"If they are actually able to perform the accelerating pass… its speed will be more or less the same as I can handle."

Kagami moved impatient. He had experienced first-hand the power of that throw, but he was able to block it.

And he was not the only confident one; Izumi had something to say as well.

"The question is not how fast can they do it. If they can't use misdirection, then it's useless."

"That Danny did surprise us, though."

"Yes, but only because he caught us off-guard. Plus, everyone in the team will be able to stop that."

Hyuuga didn't seem too convinced, but he kept quiet.

That day, the training went even more smoothly that they could have hoped for and the day after that was even better. By the time the five players gathered at the meeting point, all of them were confident that there was absolutely no way of losing.

The meeting point was in a local sports center, shortly after noon. If there weren't any official matches programmed on the day, the facilities could be reserved for free, so it seemed to be the perfect place, instead of one of the high school courts where there may had been other club activities.

Of course, even though it had not been announced anywhere, word had spread rapidly among the basketball lovers. A match held by members of the generation of miracles wasn't something that could be seen every day, and a few curious were starting to gather on the grades.

Takao sat next to Hyuuga, just behind Seirin freshmen.

"Hey, did you see the horoscope today?"

"No, I didn't. And why are you sitting here anyway?"

"Cancer has quite the lucky day: If you have a problem, the moment to solve it is now. If there is something you are good at, go for it. Mars is looking over you."

"It was very good for cancer the day of Shuutoku vs Seirin too, right?"

Takao shrugged and folded the newspaper, tossing it in an empty seat close to him.

Finally, both teams entered the court; Igarashi's team was introduced as Endo High's basketball team. Since Kagami was the only one from a different middle school, the miracles' team was introduced as Teikou's.

Every player took his place. Aomine and Danny were in front of each other, ready to steal the first points. The whistle announced the start, and both players jumped!

The ball went to Teikou! Danny had not been able to compare with the dark-skinned player, and now it was Aomine who ran towards the rivals' basket.

Barely ten seconds after the match started, the count was Teikou 2 – Endo 0.

Next was Endo High's turn, and Igarashi advanced. He dribbled, he passed and received, and he was close to the three point lane of Teikou's territory when he prepared to score.

Before he could, however, a huge shadow appeared in front of him, and Kagami began the counterattack. Two players tried to block but Kagami tossed the ball backwards and received it back from Kuroko!

Teikou 4 – Endo 0.

So far everything was going as the audience had anticipated.

A few of Kise's teammates were among the audience too. They joked about how there wasn't anything worth copying from the rivals, but Kasamatsu wasn't so sure. He had the feeling that something didn't add up.

Those people weren't using their strengths; they hadn't even attempted to use that accelerating pass he had heard of.

Danny had not left the middle of the court, and made no attempt to get the ball back. His movements were too slow compared to the other nine.

Five minutes since the beginning of the match: Teikou 12 – Endo 2.

Takao stretched.

"You've been awfully quiet for a while, Hyuuga. Is there something to worry about?"

Hyuuga thought that there was not. Teikou had been controlling the flow since the start. They were definitely superior. But it was too soon to celebrate, and Teikou's tactics, which relayed solely on talent, could easily backfire.

"Conceit is never a good thing, especially when it comes to a match. Kagami and the rest are just acting individually. Look carefully; their rival's movements are getting more and more in sync. And it looks as if Teikou is taking more and more time to score."

Right then, the huge player failed once again to block Kise. Instead of chasing after him, he just stood where he was, as if he had given up a fight already lost.

"And I don't believe that's all there is to that Danny. He must be up to something. Are you really sure Teikou will win just like this?"

"Can't tell. But if you ask me, I would be more worried about the other handicap on Teikou's team. After all, a match has 40 minutes; he won't be able to hold on forever. It's already becoming a lot easier for me to follow him."

Hyuuga frowned; he wondered how many people had realized the fact that Kuroko's time on court was limited and that, when it was up, there would only be four people in their team.

Could the rival team be waiting for that moment? But if they were underestimating the miracles, there would be no way for them to overthrow Teikou.

Seven minutes since the beginning of the match: Teikou 18 – Endo 9

Momoi called Riko out from the bench, and opened her computer.

"I tried to do some research on them. Igarashi Otoro, Tadao Ban, Fukuhara Kisho, Kajou Akito. They are all Endo High students and former Teikou students."

Her tone sounded between amused and annoyed. Obviously, she had not found what she had expected to.

"But look at this; there is not a basketball team at their school. In fact, there are almost zero records of any strong sports club in Endo High. There is absolutely nothing about them participating in tournaments on their own either."

"Their physical abilities are way below the generation of miracles, too. What is that supposed to mean? Are they just amateurs?"

"Amateurs would not score even two points against this team."

A sudden roar from the growing crowd made the two of them look up. Igarashi had dribbled all Teikou's defense and scored.

But Endo's counterattack continued; as Kise recovered the ball, and started moving, Kajou blocked him and Tadao tossed the ball to where Danny was. He didn't keep it for even a second; as soon as it was within his reach, he sent it back to Igarashi again at a crazy speed, and the short player scored again.

Teikou tried to counterattack; but Midorima lost hold of the ball, and Fukuhara sent it back to the middle of the court.

Everyone from Endo was sending passes again and again to Danny, who hadn't left his post since the beginning. As he was about to repeat his move, Kuroko appeared and changed the ball's course; Kagami took it, and advanced, but three players blocked him.

The flow had completely changed.

Nine minutes since the beginning of the match: Teikou 20–Endo 17.

Aomine backed down from Endo's part of the court.

"What are you playing at? Don't go so easy on them!"

"Why don't you try something? You've done nothing but get in my way since the start!"

While Aomine and Kagami argued, the enemy began their attack once more. Igarashi and his team knew that if the let that occasion go, they would lose all chances they had to win. They had to keep attacking without letting the enemy recover.

Riko shuddered; Teikou had fallen right into the trap. It was not a physical battle; it was a psychological battle.

The Endo players had purposely let Kagami and the rest take the lead, and now they were planning to shatter their confidence, so that they'd panic.

Their strategy, too, was something astoundingly simple.

"He really tricked us. So the one called Danny is not an active player; if you were to describe him, he is pretty much like Kuroko."

Takao examined with disbelief the trump card of Endo's team.

"While Kuroko uses his misdirection and makes the rival believe that someone else and not him will receive the pass, Danny acts as if he is unable to react properly, so that the rival unconsciously underestimates him and is taken by surprise."

Hyuuga nodded.

"And that means both teams are going to play using the same cards. It's all in how to make the best use of them."

The whistle marked the end of the first quarter.

End of the first quarter: Teikou 20– Endo 21.

Chapter 5: The tables have turned and Kuroko's misdirection is losing efficiency. Can things get any worse?