After Shoichi Hidari sank a three-pointer, the score stood at 18–13.
"Great job, Kuroko!" Shoichi Hidari excitedly ruffled Tetsuya Kuroko's hair. "That was a perfect pass!"
"Your shot was great, too!" Tetsuya Kuroko said with an encouraging smile.
"Tetsuya seems to be doing pretty well," Seijuro Akashi's voice rang out from the sidelines. "No wonder Coach Platinum asked Shintaro and me to watch this game."
"Yo, Akashi, Mido-kun." Atsushi Murasakibara lazily greeted the two.
"Yeah, yeah!" Daiki Aomine excitedly filled them in. "Since Tetsu took the court, the team has come back to score five straight points! The Second String hasn't scored once!"
"Is that so?" Seijuro Akashi still wore a warm smile. "Then I'll have to watch closely."
Shintaro Midorima said nothing as he watched Seijuro Akashi's back. He pushed up his glasses and turned his gaze to the court.
"I don't know how you did it, kid," Wataru Yamazaki said, gripping the basketball tightly, "but your luck ends here!"
Wataru Yamazaki faked a shot, shaking off Tetsuya Kuroko as he rushed in to contest it. Then he dribbled one step to the side and sank a jump shot.
"Man, even with Ken-chan giving him advice, the lack of individual ability really is a problem." Atsushi Murasakibara smacked his lips and muttered regretfully, watching Tetsuya Kuroko after he'd just let a basket through.
"Don't rush to judgment, Murasakibara. Watch patiently." Ken Kaneki looked completely unruffled. "The same tactic can produce different results depending on who's using it."
"Oh." Atsushi Murasakibara pouted obediently and said no more.
As the game went on, Wataru Yamazaki repeatedly scored against Tetsuya Kuroko in one-on-one plays. But with Tetsuya Kuroko setting up the Third String, they also went on a scoring run. The score gap didn't widen as the Second String had expected; instead,