NBA Skills: Dominating Kuroko no Basket

"Are you back?" Shiro sensed the familiar presence and allowed a faint, almost imperceptible smile to form at the corner of his lips. It seemed his earlier persuasion had worked.

Akashi nodded silently, speaking in a soft tone, "Yes, I'm back" His gaze no longer carried the sharp, cold edge it once had, now imbued with a newfound gentleness.

"Huh? Akashi seems... different from before?" Aomine frowned as he studied Akashi carefully, a wave of doubt surging in his mind. However, he chose to keep his thoughts to himself, continuing his quiet observation.

"Has he reverted? As expected of you, Shiro" Midorima remarked, shifting his gaze from Akashi to Shiro. The successful return of Akashi's true self was a testament to Shiro's extraordinary maturity and steadiness, far beyond his years.

"Shall we continue the match?" Shiro asked calmly, his tone steady and firm. He knew that now Akashi had returned to his normal state, defeating him would be impossible.

Akashi shook his head, responding evenly, "There's no need. I concede." He fully understood that even with the Emperor Eye, he couldn't defeat Shiro. And now, with his abilities diminished, it was even more futile. After all, their positions on the court — point guard and small forward — were different, each excelling in distinct areas.

The crowd's faces showed traces of regret. While Shiro and Akashi's duel had been exceptionally thrilling, its abrupt end left them wanting more. The spectators sighed, still immersed in the electrifying battle, as though they hadn't had enough.

"Wow, Akashichi and Shirochi are so strong!" Kise exclaimed, bounding over excitedly and throwing an arm around both Shiro and Akashi.

"You better work harder, then. If we don't count Kuroko, you're the weakest among us" Shiro teased with a playful smirk.

Kise's face darkened instantly, protesting, "Don't knock me down like that!"

"Hahaha" the others burst into laughter at Kise's reaction.

"Keep training, Kise" Aomine said with a chuckle, patting Kise on the shoulder. Then, turning to Shiro, he said seriously, "Shiro, when will it be our turn to have a proper one-on-one?"

"Maybe when you can get close to unlocking the Zone" Shiro replied with a faint smile, tactfully turning him down.

"Tch" Aomine clicked his tongue but didn't press further.

"Hey, Atsushi, make sure you come to practice tomorrow" Akashi called out to Murasakibara, who was about to leave. Before Murasakibara could reply, Akashi quickly added, "I'll buy you popsicles after."

Hearing this, Murasakibara stopped in his tracks and looked back at Akashi without saying a word.

Thinking he wasn't satisfied, Akashi added, "And a box of snacks."

"I..." Murasakibara began to respond, but Akashi interrupted again, "Make that two boxes of snacks."

"Alright, Akashi, you're the best. I'll definitely show up for practice tomorrow" Murasakibara said with a grin, as if the earlier tension had vanished.

"Shiro" Momoi approached, taking Shiro's hand, still warm from the game. She leaned in with a gentle smile and whispered,"It looks like the atmosphere among everyone is back to how it used to be."

Shiro smiled at her comment, nodding slightly. He glanced at the others, feeling a wave of warmth in his heart. Indeed, this familiar camaraderie was comforting.

"Yeah, but I think we need something to shake things up a bit" Shiro replied, looking at Momoi with a quiet determination.

"Shake things up? What do you mean?" Momoi asked, tilting her head curiously.

Shiro simply shook his head and smiled. "It's a secret"

Seeing Shiro's reluctance to elaborate, Momoi didn't press further. She trusted he had his reasons. Instead, she offered him a kind smile, showing her understanding.

At that moment, the Generation of Miracles gathered. "Shiro, let's head back together today" Akashi said with a faint smile.

"Sure!" Shiro nodded enthusiastically. Then, leaning closer to Akashi, he asked quietly, "How's the other personality doing?"

"Not bad. We're working on merging, but it'll take a while" Akashi replied in a calm tone.

"As long as you have it under control. I'm going to change" Shiro said, heading toward the locker room.

Akashi remained standing, watching Shiro's retreating figure with a sense of awe. Shiro had become increasingly enigmatic, a mystery shrouded in power and poise. During their match, Shiro hadn't even unleashed his full strength. He had relied only on his raw physicality and hadn't even tapped into the Zone.

"The gap in strength is enormous" Akashi murmured to himself.

"Indeed" Midorima agreed, adjusting his glasses. "He's always been overwhelmingly powerful"

The two exchanged a glance, their eyes reflecting a mix of helplessness and determination. While they acknowledged the gap between them and Shiro, they didn't feel discouraged. Each of them had their unique strengths and potential. As long as they continued to work hard, they believed they could one day close the distance.

As night fell, the group strolled leisurely down the streets. Murasakibara contentedly nibbled on his snacks, while Aomine and Kise bickered playfully. Midorima and Akashi walked in quiet contrast to their rowdy companions.

Shiro and Momoi walked hand in hand, their bond as strong as ever, radiating an enduring warmth.

Just then, Shiro's phone rang.

He calmly answered with his free hand, "Young Master, the arrangements are complete. They'll arrive tomorrow."

"Good. You've done well. I'll reward you with a drumstick" Shiro said, his tone composed, though his eyes glimmered with satisfaction.

The voice on the other end brightened, knowing full well that Shiro's "drumstick" meant more than just a literal chicken leg — it was a generous bonus.

"Thank you, Young Master. It's my duty!"

"Alright, that's all for now" Shiro said before hanging up.

"Finally, it's happening..." he murmured, determination radiating from his calm demeanor. Preparations were fully underway for what lay ahead.