Chapter 4
The training session continued with a mini-game between the first and second-year players. Hiroshi Fukuda, Kōichi Kawahara, and Kōki Furihata felt intimidated by the upperclassmen's impressive record of reaching the finals in their first year. However, Tetsuya Kuroko remained unperturbed by the challenge ahead. Taiga Kagami, on the other hand, embraced the opportunity to face stronger opponents.
Kagami quickly showcased his dominance as the strongest player among the first years, opening the game with an uncontested dunk over Rinnosuke Mitobe. Riko Aida noted that Kagami's plays lacked refinement and were driven purely by instinct. However, she couldn't help but be impressed by his raw talent, as were the other players. In contrast, Kuroko seemed lost on the court, frequently having the ball stolen from him.
Realizing that Kagami was mainly scoring on his own, the second years adjusted their strategy to shut him down. This demoralized the other first-year players, with Kawahara stating they couldn't win and Furihata expressing his frustration. Kagami, angered by their defeatist attitude, grabbed Furihata by the collar, demanding to know what he meant. Before the situation escalated, Kuroko intervened, hitting Kagami behind the knees and advising him to calm down.
Kagami's frustration now turned towards Kuroko, who skillfully evaded Kagami's attempts to retaliate. The confrontation drew the attention of the players, with some realizing for the first time that Kuroko had been on the court. Even Riko, who was refereeing the game, momentarily forgot about him.
Finally, Kaito stood up from the bench and approached the first-year players. He mocked Kagami as a jumping monkey, criticizing his one-dimensional reliance on his jumping ability. Kaito instructed Kagami to calm down and announced that he would be substituting for him, taking his place on the court. This decision surprised the upperclassmen and Riko.
After a short break, Kaito asked Kuroko to pass the ball to him. Kuroko executed a clean pass across the court, and Kaito effortlessly scored a basket. From that point on, Kaito displayed his basketball prowess with exceptional dribbles, mid-range shots, fadeaways, and three-pointers. His skillful passing, combined with Kuroko's own deceptive passes, mesmerized everyone. It was as if they were witnessing a work of art.
The first and second-year players alike were dumbfounded by the unexpected passes and baffled by Kuroko's plays. With Kaito and Kuroko's help, the first-year players began scoring consistently. The score quickly narrowed, surpassing the second years, and reached an impressive 70-35 in their favor.
During one particular play, Kuroko faked a layup and passed the ball from his back. Kaito, leaping from behind him, caught the ball and dunked it in. He praised Kuroko for the pass, referring to him as "Little Shadow." Kuroko simply smiled, reminiscing about their days together at Teiko. As the game ends, the first years beat the upperclassmen.