Slam Dunk:Starting with perfect copy

Hearing Kenichi Uesugi taunt him so blatantly, Akihiro Takai's anger reached its boiling point.

He had just proclaimed that Luoan would stage a counterattack, only for Kenichi Uesugi to retaliate in the most humiliating way possible. Not only did Kenichi mimic his declaration after scoring, but he also replicated Akihiro's signature move—the very same dribble, the exact style of breakthrough, and an equally imposing dunk. It was as if Kenichi Uesugi had stolen his thunder entirely.

What unsettled Akihiro Takai the most was how effortlessly Kenichi had mirrored his move. Akihiro's side-to-side dribbling technique wasn't something one could simply imitate. It required precision,

countless hours of practice, and an innate sense of timing. Yet Kenichi Uesugi had pulled it off after seeing it just once.

"Is it talent?" Akihiro thought bitterly. "This kind of talent is terrifying."

The court fell into stunned silence, broken only by murmurs among Luoan's players, who were just as shaken by Kenichi's display. They knew how challenging Akihiro's move was—most of them had tried and failed to replicate it during training. But for Kenichi Uesugi, it seemed as natural as breathing.

On the Ryonan side, the players were far less shocked. They were used to Kenichi's uncanny ability to mimic and adapt. While this feat impressed them, it didn't come as a complete surprise.

Coach Kasahara, however, had a sinking feeling. Though Kenichi's talent was remarkable, it was the psychological impact on his own team that worried him the most. His players had been rattled, their morale visibly shaken. Meanwhile, Ryonan's stars—Kenichi Uesugi, Sendoh, and Yuzumi—had seized control of the game. The tide was turning heavily in their favor.

When Luoan resumed their attack, Aida Shusuke once again passed to Akihiro Takai, hoping their ace could restore some semblance of order. Though still reeling from Kenichi's display, Akihiro squared his shoulders and resolved to push forward. If he could score now, perhaps his team's spirits could be rekindled.

But Akihiro's rhythm was off. His confidence had wavered, and the relentless Sendoh was quick to notice. As Akihiro began his signature dribble, Sendoh saw a fleeting gap in his defense and lunged for the ball. A clean steal.

Kasahara's heart sank. The worst-case scenario had unfolded.

Sendoh darted down the court, evading a desperate attempt by Aida to block his path. With unmatched speed and grace, he soared toward the hoop for a thunderous slam dunk. The scoreboard now read 9:2. Luoan's home-court advantage was crumbling, and the Ryonan bench erupted in cheers.

The momentum was firmly in Ryonan's favor. On every possession, they outmaneuvered Luoan, executing flawless plays under the leadership of their trio: Kenichi Uesugi,

Sendoh, and Yuzumi. By the time Yuzumi executed an alley-oop dunk with Kenichi's assist, the score had ballooned to 20:2.

Breathless and demoralized, Luoan's players could only watch as their deficit grew. After Yuzumi's emphatic dunk, he turned to Baishui Lunsheng and quipped, "Weren't you the one who said you'd dunk over me? Keep dreaming!"

Baishui turned beet-red. He hadn't expected Yuzumi to remember his pre-game boast, and being called out in front of everyone was mortifying.

"Beep!" The referee's whistle cut through the air.

"Luoan requests a timeout!"

Coach Kasahara had finally seen enough. His team was unraveling, and if he didn't intervene, this game would spiral out of control.

As Ryonan's players returned to their bench, the atmosphere was jubilant. Aida Hikoichi darted around, handing out towels and water bottles with uncontainable energy. Even the stoic Tanaka Shigekazu managed a faint smile, evidently pleased with their dominant performance.

Meanwhile, Kasahara huddled with his team, trying to rebuild their shattered confidence. He needed to remind them of their strengths and devise a strategy to stop Ryonan's relentless offense.

Up in the stands, a group of Luoan students had just arrived, curious about the game.

"Hey, there's really a match today!" one exclaimed.

"Of course! Fukaohara told me himself!" another replied.

"Who are they playing against?" a third asked.

"Some no-name team called Ryonan. They're supposed to be really weak," the first student said smugly.

But as they turned their attention to the scoreboard, their jaws dropped.

20:2.

The name beside the higher score wasn't Luoan—it was Ryonan.

"This… This can't be real!" one of them stammered.

The students stared in disbelief. Their "weak" opponents had turned the game into a blowout.