At the locker room entrance, Kise called out to Shidou.
"Little Shidou!"
"Ah? What is it…?" It was Shidou Ryusei's first time seeing Kise look so serious.
"Have you mastered Perfect Copy?!"
Shidou thought it was something important, but it turned out to be this. He nodded and reached for the locker room door. Suddenly, Kise pinned him against the wall and pleaded, "Little Shidou, I beg you, teach me how to master Perfect Copy!"
The sudden change left Shidou completely bewildered. He pushed Kise away. "Are you sick?!"
"Please, please, Little Shidou, you're the best. Just help me!"
Kise pressed him against the wall again.
"Kise, Shidou, why aren't you coming in to rest? What are you… doing… out here?"
Hayakawa opened the door and saw a scene he would never forget. He quickly shut it. "Um… carry on. I won't disturb you!"
Bang!
The locker room door slammed shut.
"Hayakawa, why did you close the door so hard? By the way, where are Shidou and Kise?" Kasamatsu asked.
"Oh… those two said they hadn't played enough, so they went outside to… you know… practice physical contact…"
Hayakawa lied to cover for them.
Outside, Shidou pushed Kise away. "If you end the game by the third quarter, I'll teach you."
Kise's eyes lit up. "Deal! No backing out!"
Shidou just wanted him gone, so he nodded. Kise immediately removed his weights and opened the door.
"Kasamatsu-senpai, can I get all the balls for the rest of the game?" Kise asked excitedly.
Kasamatsu looked at Coach Takeuchi. Takeuchi looked at Shidou. Shidou nodded.
…
In the Shohoku locker room, Sakuragi punched the door. "Damn it, why is that pink-haired guy so strong?!"
The room fell silent.
Rukawa, towel over his head, spoke. "Give me the ball in the third quarter."
Everyone looked at him.
"Are you sure?" Akagi asked.
"I can do it."
Coach Anzai watched Rukawa thoughtfully.
Beep—!
The third quarter began. Shidou stayed on the bench; Hayakawa took the court.
Seeing Shidou on the bench, Shohoku felt they might have a chance.
Kaijo's possession.
Kasamatsu passed to Kise—
Snap!
Rukawa intercepted the pass.
"What?!" Kasamatsu froze.
Rukawa's eyes were like a predator's. He exploded forward, sprinting like black lightning toward the basket.
"Get back!" Kasamatsu shouted.
Rukawa leaped for a tomahawk dunk—
"Don't be naive!"
Kise caught up and jumped higher, hand over the ball.
At the last moment, Rukawa double-clutched, circling the ball under Kise's arm.
Swish!
They landed together.
"The game has only just begun," Rukawa said coldly.
Kise smiled. "Next time, I won't even let you shoot."
The crowd roared.
Momoi whispered, "Dai-chan, is that Wild Nature?"
"Yeah. But he just learned it. He won't last five minutes," Aomine said.
Kaijo's possession again.
The moment Kise caught the ball, his aura changed.
A quick crossover, spin, acceleration—he broke past Rukawa, entered the paint, and floated the ball over Akagi.
Swish!
Rukawa clenched his fists. It was his move again.
"Sorry," Kise said lightly. "I promised Little Shidou I'd finish this quickly. Time to get serious."
Miyagi drove left. Kasamatsu blocked him.
Miyagi faked, crossed over, and passed to Mitsui. Mitsui shot, but Moriyama tipped it.
"Rebound!" Mitsui shouted.