KNB: I'm Actually Not the Boss?!

120-118 – Kaijo in the lead

This guy… he's the real deal!

Flawless, perfect imitation.

Right here, on the biggest stage of them all — The Interhigh final.

Kise… had finally broken through his limits.

Just by seeing a move a few times during the game, he managed to copy both the Emperor Eye and the Heaven and Earth Shot.

Watching from across the court, Akashi couldn't help but smile slightly.

"Looks like I didn't misjudge you after all… but—"

"If you really think a knock-off can beat the original… aren't you getting a little too cocky?"

Akashi's voice was calm, almost casual, as he looked at Kaijo celebrating like they'd already won.

"Let me show you… what the difference really is between us. When it's the same eyes… but not the same vision."

Akashi caught the inbound pass one-handed and slowly advanced toward Kise, loudly directing his teammates into motion.

"Too bad… you don't have a point guard's instinct, Kise."

Akashi's tone held just a trace of regret—then, with a flick of his wrist, he launched the ball high toward the hoop.

Kise blinked.

"A direct shot? No… wait—"

The ball clearly didn't have enough power for a shot. It began dropping… right into the space Nebuya had cleared out under the rim with his size and positioning.

Nebuya grinned.

"Man, you're something else, Akashi!"

Without hesitation, he jumped up, catching the ball mid-air, ready for an alley-oop slam.

But then—FLASH!

A golden blur streaked across.

It was Kise!

Having read Akashi's intentions, Kise kicked into Aomine's speed, sprinting from the arc to the paint in seconds. Then—he switched to Kagami's vertical leap, boosting his hang time. And finally—he transitioned to Murasakibara's pure size and dominance.

For that brief second… the entire airspace above the hoop… belonged to Kise.

But Nebuya wasn't some random scrub. Sure, Kise popping out of nowhere rattled him—but there's a reason Rakuzan's starters are Rakuzan's starters.

"Dang it!"

Kise saw Nebuya's readjustment but realized it was too late. Floating mid-air with no leverage point, there was nothing else Kise could do.

"Nebuya!"

Without wasting a beat, Nebuya improvised—changing mid-jump and tapping the ball back toward Akashi.

"I told you, Kise… even with the Emperor Eye… you're missing a point guard's sense of the court. Wa—wait, what?!"

Akashi's eyes widened.

Because right at that instant — cutting through the passing lane — was Kota.

Before Akashi could even react, Kota had jumped in and intercepted the pass.

"Seems like you forgot one thing, Akashi."

Kota dribbled casually, flashing a cheeky grin.

"If we're not counting those cursed eyes… I don't think I'm worse than you at all."

While Akashi and Kise were locked in some kind of telepathic eye-battle for court supremacy, Kota, with no fancy eye powers of his own, relied on something far more dangerous — elite court vision and basketball IQ.

If he couldn't read Akashi's mind, then he'd just read the flow of the game. Kota had positioned himself in every single Rakuzan scoring spot all night. No way he was letting Akashi run the table unchecked.

Akashi's forehead veins bulged. Even with his calmer first personality active, getting stonewalled again and again by Kota was starting to make him… testy.

"Oh, what's wrong? Getting tilted?"

Kota wasn't in a rush. Instead of swinging the ball right back to Kise, he walked the dribble slowly past half-court.

He was buying time… letting Kise catch his breath.

Because as insane as this Perfect Copy mode was — where Kise could now go toe-to-toe with even Zone Aomine — it had a flaw.

The stamina drain was brutal.

Using three or four different elite players' techniques in a single possession?If they kept up this pace, Kise wouldn't even last another five minutes.

As the shot clock ticked down, Kota considered launching a ridiculous logo three just to avoid a turnover… but suddenly, Kise appeared at his side.

"Wait… at THIS distance? No way he's—"

But then Kota's eyes lit up. He handed the ball off… both of them standing two steps beyond the three-point line. Zero threat range… or so it seemed.

Akashi's pupils spun wildly as he processed it — and he suddenly shouted,

"Hayama! Get up on him! NOW!"

"Huh?! From that far out?"

Hayama hesitated for half a beat, but obeyed anyway, closing in fast… unfortunately, it was already too late.

Kise pushed up his nose bridge like he was adjusting glasses — total dramatic flair — and then planted hard, launching straight up from waaaay beyond the arc.

Perfect Copy: Midorima Style

The rainbow arc of the shot sliced through the arena lights. Its shadow fell perfectly across Hayama's face… who just stood there… jaw completely dropped.

For a second… the whole stadium went silent.

Kise… still holding his nose-bridge pose… didn't even look at the hoop.He just turned around and started jogging back on defense.

BEEP

"Kaijo #7! Three-pointer is good!"

123-118. Kaijo leads again.

Three minutes remaining.

Kota rushed over and grabbed Kise's head like a crazy coach, shaking it like mad.

"Atta boy! You nailed it!"

This shot didn't just stretch the lead. It sent a message straight to Rakuzan: From now on… they'd have no choice but to man-mark Kise at all times.

If not… he'd just keep spamming Midorima range threes until they got buried.

In the stands…

Takao nudged Midorima with a huge grin,

"Yo, looks like even you aren't safe from getting copied now, Shin-chan!"

Midorima pushed up his glasses with exaggerated indifference, not saying a word…But the way his fists clenched on his lap… yeah, the dude was not as chill as he was pretending to be.

Back on court, Akashi stared at Kise with reluctant admiration.

"Kise… I have to say… you're really something."

But then, without missing a beat, his voice turned sharp,

"However… if you think that's enough to beat Rakuzan…You're a hundred years too early!"

With just three minutes left, and a five-point gap, Akashi had no time left for slow, methodical setups.

Rakuzan went full iso-ball.

Mibuchi took one possession and scored. Nebuya bullied his way in and got another. Just like that — Tie game.

But… Kise answered right back with a brutal And-One, stretching the lead again.

126-123 – Kaijo ahead.47 seconds left. Rakuzan ball.

"DEFENSE! DEFENSE! Put your whole soul into this one stop!"

Kasamatsu clapped his hands loud enough to shake the rafters.At this point… there was nothing more the rest of them could do on offense. All they could do now… was defend like maniacs and lighten Kise's burden.

Akashi held the ball one-handed, his eyes spinning like crazy.In front of him… Kise's right eye mirrored the same.

Both players locked in a mental stare-down at the top of the key.Neither moved.Both trying to catch that one tiny opening in the other's defense.

Meanwhile… the other eight players sprinted and cut like madmen. One team trying desperately to crack open Kaijo's defense…The other fighting like their lives depended on shutting it down.

Mayuzumi cursed under his breath.

"Damn it… have I overused the whole low presence thing? Fourth quarter now… my stealth stat's shot to hell."

And with Kota watching him like a hawk… there was no sneaking around.

Blocking Mayuzumi while constantly eyeing the top of the key, Kota's mind raced,

"Don't you dare let me down now… genius."