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Chapter 7 - I'm The One Who Came Up With The Counterattack

Kuroko shoved Kagami's hand off his head, then rubbed his head, miffed.

"So?" Kise finally let out. "It's true that I can't copy Kurokocchi's style, but what does that change?"

"END OF FIRST QUARTER! TAKE A TWO MINUTE BREAK!" The referee yelled.

Kagami's smirk was still plastered on his face as the team turned back to their bench. "That changes everything. We'll bring you to tears in the 2nd Quarter."

An 8 point difference, Hazuki thought. Not as bad as it could be, but a permanent opening is essential to overcome this.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?" Kaijou's coach roared. "THEY'RE CLOSING THE GAP!"

That cannot be good for someone of that body size. High blood pressure.

Riko was fuming, "Maybe Kise can't copy Kuroko-kun, but what does that change!?"

"Well, if you let Kagami-kun and Kuroko-kun pass together, then it's more likely they'll be able to pass through Kise-kun right?"

"..."

"Eh, am I wrong?"

Then everyone's heads turned to her in unison. Riko launched herself.

"WHY DIDN'T WE THINK OF IT EARLIER!" Riko shook Hazuki. "YOU'RE A GENIUS!"

"That makes total sense!"

"Ah, well...eh-eh-eh-eh-eh~ Coach, you're shaking me too m-u-ch..."

"Yeah, that should work!"

"And Kagami's finally cooled down."

"No, I was always―"

"You were really pissed!" Hyuuga and Izuki interrupted in unison.

"So Kagami-kun and Kuroko-kun. Do you think you can do it?"

"Er― yeah, probably... OW!"
Kuroko had jabbed Kagami in the ribs.

"You bastard, where did that come from!?"

"You want to beat Kise-kun right?"

Kagami hmphed and glared away from Kuroko. Then without a warning, he stabbed Kuroko in the ribs.

"Of course I do!"

"Kagami-kun, calm down," Hazuki lifted his arm and stabbed him in the armpit.

"AGH! What was that for!"

"Well..." It probably wouldn't be a good idea if she said she did it because she felt left out.

"Enough messing around!" Riko chopped Hazuki on the head and Kagami on the waist.

"LET THE SECOND QUARTER BEGIN!"

"Well... take care of the counterattack!"

"Do it, do it, do it, do it, Kaijou!"

"Go! Get them!" The freshmen trio shouted.

Kaijou's defense is still man-to-man, Hazuki thought. As expected of a team that's recognized nationally... and that's not including Kise-kun.

Hyuuga passed to Izuki, who passed immediately to Kagami.

"Something's changed right?" Kise asked. Kagami wordlessly dribbled passed Kise towards the hoop. Just another drive? Maybe another fadeaway?

Kagami swung the ball behind him, beyond Kise... to...

He's coordinating with Kurokocchi! Kise thought in a panic.

Kuroko changed the ball's direction with a flick of a wrist back to Kagami. He bounded towards the hoop and did a layup.

"Yes!" Riko fistpumped.

Kagami passed again to Kuroko, which didn't catch Kise by surprise this time. Again?! It won't work this time!

Kuroko then passed it to Hyuuga, who made a beautiful three-pointer.

"All right! A three pointer!"
"A five point gap!

"Hmph!" Hyuuga smirked as he adjusted his glasses up his nose. "So have you changed your opinion of me, first ye―"

"Nice!" Izuki said to Kuroko and Kagami.

"Alright, defense!"

"Oi!" Hyuuga protested.

No wonder Teppei is best friends with Captain. "Nice shoot captain!" Hazuki shouted. Poor guy, stuck with my persistent brother all the time.

"Thank youuuuuuu!" Hyuuga cried as he went back to defense, ego undeflated once more.

"No. 4 is rather good," Kobori said.
"We should be more worried about Number 10 and Number 11! The both of them have started relaying their passes to each other."

"Kagami has started passing the ball instead of just receiving it. Does... that really change much?"

"It changes a WHOLE LOT, IDIOT!"

"Kuroko's passing and Kagami's one-on-one were two separate offensive patterns. They only had two options! Now that they pass to each other, they're making their offense stronger!"

And Kise can't copy Kuroko, Riko grinned. Kuroko is truly his worst opponent! Kagami-kun and Kuroko-kun. With these two, we can...!

Kagami passed backwards with no one to receive it.

"AGH!"

Well, we'll probably just barely make it, Riko sweatdropped.

Kise glared at Kuroko. "Kurokocchi..."

"Kise-kun is strong. Neither I, or Kagami-kun are a match for you. But when we work together... the two of us have a fighting chance.

Ah, it's the time-gap monologue again, Hazuki thought.

"You really have changed, Kurokocchi. We never played basketball like this in Teikou... but you still can't stop me! The one who'll win is me! It's true that I can't copy your style, but since you'll lose your effectiveness after 40 minutes, you'll lose this game in the second half!"

Kise lunged for the ball and began to dribble down the court.

"Not so fast." Kagami grinned.

"What!?" Kise gaped.

"Kuroko is marking... Kise!?"

Yes. I know. So short. So... short. (_) I'm getting the next one started right awayyyyyyyyy! I am! Really!