The world of Teikou basketball didn't stop moving. If anything, it sped up.
After his intense one-on-one with Aomine, Souta realized something crucial—his training wasn't enough.
Even though he managed to block Aomine once, he had been completely outclassed the rest of the game. Aomine's raw speed, insane reflexes, and sheer unpredictability were on a whole different level.
If Souta wanted to survive on this court, he couldn't just catch up—he had to surpass.
And that meant pushing his training even further.
Midnight Practice
While most of his teammates were resting, Souta was back in the gym alone.
The basketball bounced rhythmically against the wooden floor as he sprinted across the court, making sharp cuts, sudden stops, and explosive drives.
This time, however, he wasn't just moving aimlessly.
He was focusing entirely on his new skill—Instinctive Response.
[Instinctive Response: A skill that allows the user to react purely on instinct, bypassing conscious thought for faster decision-making.]
At first, it felt awkward.
His body wanted to hesitate. His brain wanted to calculate his movements.
But the key to mastering this ability wasn't thinking—it was feeling.
So, Souta forced himself into constant motion.
He pushed his instincts to take over, letting his body make the decisions instead of his mind.
Every step. Every pivot. Every reaction.
If Aomine could move like a wild animal, responding to situations effortlessly, then Souta had to do the same—no, better.
One hour passed. Then two.
By the time his legs felt like lead, Souta knew he had made progress.
His body was starting to trust itself.
But he still had a long way to go.
Confronting Akashi
The next day, practice was brutal.
With the qualifiers for the Nationals coming up, Akashi had intensified training.
There was no room for weakness in Teikou's first string.
Souta watched as Akashi analyzed every player on the court, his Emperor's Eye dissecting their movements with frightening precision.
Souta knew that his greatest challenge still remained—he had to face Akashi again.
And this time, he couldn't afford to lose so easily.
As the team scrimmaged, Souta played cautiously, testing his newly trained instincts against real opponents.
He weaved through defenders, shifted his rhythm unexpectedly, and dodged several potential steals from Midorima and Murasakibara.
But the real test came when Akashi locked eyes with him.
"You're different," Akashi said as he approached.
Souta felt a chill down his spine.
"I expected you to be discouraged after our last match," Akashi continued. "Yet here you are, sharper than before."
Souta smirked. "What can I say? I don't like losing."
Akashi's gaze sharpened. "Then let's see if you've improved."
And just like that—it was on.
The Emperor vs. The Challenger
The court seemed to shrink the moment Akashi moved.
He was everywhere at once, his eyes predicting Souta's every step before he even took them.
Souta dodged left—Akashi was already there.
He hesitated for a split second—Akashi stole the ball.
It was infuriating.
But Souta refused to panic.
He calmed his breathing and focused on his instincts.
Don't overthink.
Don't hesitate.
Just move.
The next time he had possession, he let his body take over.
Akashi moved to cut him off—but Souta was already shifting.
He feinted left—but twisted into a sudden fadeaway jumper instead.
For the first time, Akashi miscalculated.
The ball swished through the net.
The entire gym fell silent.
Even Akashi looked mildly surprised.
Souta smirked.
He had just scored against Seijuro Akashi.
But he wasn't done yet.
Breaking the Chains
Akashi quickly regained control of the game, his overwhelming court vision dictating every movement of his teammates.
But now, Souta wasn't just playing defense.
He was adapting.
He was learning to respond faster.
He was beginning to see the cracks.
Akashi was still leagues ahead, but Souta could feel it—he was closing the gap.
For the next fifteen minutes, the game became a battle of wits, speed, and instinct.
Souta dodged Akashi's traps, found passing lanes that weren't there before, and even managed to steal the ball once.
By the time the scrimmage ended, Souta was breathing hard but smiling.
He wasn't there yet.
But soon—
He would be.
And not even Akashi would be able to stop him.
The Next Phase
After practice, Kuroko approached him.
"You're improving," Kuroko said in his usual monotone voice. "Even Akashi is starting to take notice."
Souta chuckled. "Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing."
Kuroko hesitated before speaking again.
"But you still have a long way to go."
Souta sighed. "Yeah, I know. That's why I'm not stopping."
Kuroko looked at him, his expression unreadable. "Then let's continue training together."
Souta's grin widened.
With Kuroko's help, he would refine his misdirection.
With his instincts growing sharper, he would defy Akashi's foresight.
And with the Nationals approaching, he would prove himself on the biggest stage.
Because this was just the beginning.
The Phantom Challenger was coming.
And he wasn't backing down.