The ball bounced rhythmically against the polished wooden floor as Souta Fujimura stood at the center of the Teikou gym, his golden eyes gleaming with a newfound determination. The realization from last night had shifted something inside him.
He had spent too much time trying to adapt to others' styles—Aomine's unpredictability, Kuroko's misdirection, Midorima's precision. But none of those were truly his.
Now, he had an idea. A concept that could make him unique.
And today, he was going to test it.
The New Souta
"Alright, today's practice will begin with one-on-one drills," Coach Shirogane announced. "Pair up and rotate every five minutes."
The team quickly dispersed, forming groups. Souta had barely started looking for a partner when a familiar voice called out.
"Fujimura."
He turned to see Seijūrō Akashi approaching him, a small, knowing smirk on his face.
"Let's play again," Akashi said simply.
Souta blinked. Akashi? Again?
A week ago, he would have hesitated. But now, he welcomed the challenge.
"Sure," Souta said, gripping the ball.
The moment Coach blew the whistle, Souta exploded forward.
Unlike last time, however, he didn't just use Phantom Step to vanish—he combined it with court manipulation.
Rather than disappear and reappear aimlessly, he baited Akashi into subtle shifts, using quick bursts to force an angle, then slipping past him at the last moment.
For the first time ever—Souta broke through Akashi's defense.
He drove to the basket and scored.
The gym fell silent for a brief second.
Even the Generation of Miracles, who had been engaged in their own matches, took notice.
Souta turned back, his heart pounding.
Akashi, however, didn't seem fazed. In fact, he looked… intrigued.
"Interesting," Akashi muttered. "You're not just disappearing anymore. You're controlling the space around you."
Souta grinned. "Took me a while to figure it out."
Akashi's smirk deepened. "Then let's see how far you've come."
The Evolution of Phantom Play
Souta's new approach wasn't perfect yet, but it was effective.
As the match continued, he kept testing his technique. Instead of relying purely on speed or misdirection, he started predicting how his opponent would react to his movement—then using that to his advantage.
It was a blend of Kuroko's misdirection and Akashi's control—but uniquely his.
However, Akashi wasn't someone who could be beaten so easily.
After their first exchange, Akashi adjusted, his Emperor's Eye activating.
He started reading Souta's movements, countering them before they fully formed.
But unlike their last match, Souta wasn't discouraged.
Instead of panicking, he adapted.
He staggered his movements, delaying reactions to create a false rhythm, making it harder for Akashi to preempt his next step.
The match escalated into a battle of wits and instincts.
Each time Souta gained an edge, Akashi would counter.
Each time Akashi shut him down, Souta would find another opening.
For the first time, Souta wasn't just surviving—he was keeping up.
And the Generation of Miracles noticed.
Recognition from the Generation of Miracles
The match ended with Akashi winning 10-7—but this time, it wasn't a complete domination.
As they stepped off the court, Aomine walked over, arms crossed.
"Heh. Didn't think anyone could actually get past Akashi's defense like that," Aomine admitted.
Kise grinned. "Yeah! That was insane, Souta-cchi! It's like you're guiding people into a trap before they even realize it!"
Midorima pushed up his glasses. "It's still rough, but the concept is solid. Given enough refinement, it could be lethal."
Souta took a deep breath, their words sinking in. For the first time, he felt like he truly belonged among them.
Akashi then spoke.
"You've taken the first step toward defining your playstyle," he said, his tone neutral, but there was an edge of acknowledgment. "But be warned—true mastery requires more than just understanding. It demands refinement, experience, and discipline."
Souta nodded. He knew his journey was far from over.
But now, for the first time, he felt like he was walking his own path.
And he would keep pushing forward.
The Next Step
That night, Souta stayed behind in the gym.
He dribbled the ball, visualizing his movements over and over.
The Phantom Control technique—his own unique skill.
It was still in its early stages, but he was determined to refine it.
Because if he wanted to stand alongside the Generation of Miracles…
He had to become something they couldn't predict.
And so, his real training began.