Souta Fujimura wiped the sweat from his brow as he bent over, panting. The first-string practices were brutal, more intense than anything he had ever experienced before. Every session was a battle for survival, and today was no exception.
The court was alive with movement. Aomine was casually draining impossible fadeaway shots. Midorima practiced his near-full-court threes with frightening accuracy. Murasakibara dunked with such force that the rim shook every time.
But Souta wasn't just watching anymore.
He was competing.
A Clash with Kise
The team was split into groups for one-on-one matchups. When Akashi called out the pairings, Souta's opponent made him tense.
"Fujimura versus Kise."
Kise's golden eyes gleamed with excitement. "Finally! Let's see what you've got, Fujimura-kun!"
Souta smirked. "Let's see if you can keep up."
The two stepped onto the court, and the match began.
Kise started with the ball.
Souta crouched low in a defensive stance, watching closely. He knew Kise's biggest strength—Perfect Copy. Once he saw a move, he could replicate it with near-perfect precision.
I can't let him read me.
Kise dribbled forward, then executed a lightning-fast crossover—a move he had copied from Aomine. Souta barely reacted in time, shifting his weight and blocking the path.
Kise grinned. "Not bad!"
He feinted left, then exploded right—this time using a move from Midorima to create space for a jumper.
Souta knew he couldn't outrun Kise. So instead, he focused on timing.
Now!
Just as Kise rose for the shot, Souta stepped into his blind spot and raised his hand.
Smack!
He blocked the shot.
The ball bounced away, and Souta wasted no time—he grabbed it and sprinted toward the hoop.
Kise recovered quickly and chased after him.
Souta reached the free-throw line and jumped, aiming for a floater—
But Kise had already copied his Phantom Step from before.
He vanished from Souta's view—
And reappeared right in front of him.
Smack!
This time, Kise was the one who blocked the shot.
Souta landed, his eyes widening. He copied it already?
Kise laughed. "I told you, Fujimura-kun! If I see a move once, I can use it too!"
The match was only beginning.
A Test of Skills
Souta knew that Kise would adapt to his playing style within minutes. The only way to beat him was to stay unpredictable.
On the next play, Souta took possession and changed his approach.
Instead of relying on speed, he started using fakeouts—deliberately slowing down before suddenly accelerating.
Kise followed closely, but each time Souta changed his rhythm, Kise's reactions were just a fraction of a second too late.
Souta drove into the paint and finished with an easy layup.
He might be able to copy moves, but he can't copy instinct.
Kise narrowed his eyes. "Oh? You're not bad at all, Fujimura-kun!"
Souta smirked. "I'm just getting started."
The match continued with high intensity.
Kise's imitation skills kept him one step ahead, but Souta's adaptability allowed him to keep the game close.
Every possession was a battle of instincts versus imitation.
The other first-string players watched with growing interest.
Aomine grinned. "Not bad, huh?"
Midorima adjusted his glasses. "Hmph. It's impressive that he's keeping up."
Murasakibara yawned. "Mmm, but Kise-chin is still stronger…"
And they were right.
As the match continued, Kise's copying speed improved. He started using moves before Souta even executed them.
Souta found himself on the defensive.
Pushing Beyond Limits
With the score tied and one possession left, Souta needed something new.
Kise has copied all my moves. If I keep playing normally, I'll lose.
Then, an idea formed.
Instead of trying to outrun Kise, Souta needed to trick his instincts.
He dribbled forward—then did something completely unexpected.
He stumbled forward, as if losing his balance.
Kise reacted instantly, expecting Souta to try a quick recovery into a drive.
But at the last moment, Souta intentionally fell further forward—then kicked off the ground, spinning midair for a reverse layup.
Kise was already moving in the wrong direction.
By the time he recovered—
Swish!
The ball sank into the net.
Souta had won.
Kise's Acknowledgment
Kise stared at Souta, then let out a laugh. "That was awesome, Fujimura-kun!"
Souta panted. "Had to do something unpredictable."
Kise shook his head. "That move… it wasn't something I could copy instantly. You're something else."
Aomine chuckled from the sidelines. "Looks like you've found your first real challenge, Kise."
Akashi, who had been silently observing, finally spoke.
"Well done, Fujimura. You are proving yourself worthy of this team."
Souta clenched his fists. This is just the beginning.
He had earned his place.
But the real battles were still ahead.
The road to the Winter Cup had only just begun.