The following week, Yukito Aizawa's mind churned with new possibilities. He moved like a shadow in the halls of Seisen High, his usually sharp eyes now a veil of deep thought. The revelation that the Phantom Five controlled not only their matches but the very system of basketball itself had left him reeling—but also more determined than ever.
His goal had shifted. No longer was this just about beating them on the court. He had to burn the entire system to the ground and create something new. He would expose them for what they were: tyrants hidden behind their seemingly flawless reputations.
But where to begin?
Yukito's first stop was the school's athletic office. He'd heard whispers for years about backroom deals, shady alliances, and favoritism—things that coaches and officials denied, but that players sometimes joked about in hushed voices. If the Phantom Five were as entrenched as the stranger claimed, there would be a paper trail, or at least a sign of where the corruption began.
As he entered the office, Yukito's mind was already calculating—how much could he glean from coaches, from tournament rosters, even from the school's administration? He needed evidence, and the athletic office would be the first thread he'd pull.
The secretary, Mrs. Takano, glanced up from her paperwork as he entered. "Oh, Yukito," she said, smiling pleasantly. "How can I help you?"
Yukito returned the smile, though it felt foreign on his face. "I was hoping to see some of the old tournament brackets," he said, trying to sound casual. "You know, just to see how teams have done over the years. Inspiration for the regional tournament."
Mrs. Takano smiled warmly. "Of course! We keep records going back quite a while. You'll find most of it in the archives."
She pointed to the filing cabinet in the back. Yukito's heart quickened as he nodded his thanks and headed toward the cabinet. He pulled open the drawers, flipping through years' worth of tournament brackets, game reports, and player profiles. Everything seemed ordinary at first glance—teams won, teams lost, and tournaments moved forward as they always had.
But as he reached the last few years, something caught his eye.
2017—Tokisaka High.
2018—Tokisaka High.
2019—Kamikura High.
2020—Tokisaka High.
2021—Tokisaka High.
The same schools kept popping up—particularly Tokisaka, the team they had just beaten. But what really drew Yukito's attention were the names of the referees. A pattern emerged. Several referees had officiated nearly every final game involving Tokisaka or the Phantom Five.
Yukito jotted down their names. If the Phantom Five were using their influence to manipulate games, these referees could be the key.
"Found what you were looking for?" Mrs. Takano asked, glancing over at him as he closed the drawer.
Yukito smiled again, though this time it came easier. "Yeah, I think I did."
Later that night, Yukito sat in his room, reviewing his notes. He had a list of names—officials, coaches, referees—all of whom seemed to have been involved in the rise of the Phantom Five. He had also flagged a few tournament sponsors whose names appeared far too often in connection with the same teams. Something was definitely wrong.
But it wasn't enough to prove anything. He needed concrete evidence, something he could use to expose them publicly.
His phone buzzed on the table, and he picked it up, his heart skipping a beat when he saw the message.
"You're getting closer. But you'll need more than tournament records. Meet me tomorrow at midnight. Same place. – S"
Yukito frowned. The stranger again. Every time he showed up, things got more complicated. But Yukito knew that if he wanted to bring down the Phantom Five, he'd have to play along—at least for now.
The next night, Yukito found himself once again standing in front of the abandoned gym. The air was colder this time, a biting wind cutting through his jacket as he pushed open the rusted door. The gym was empty, just like before, the eerie silence filling the space.
He waited in the center of the court, his hands in his pockets as he scanned the shadows for any sign of movement.
"You're early," came the familiar voice from the darkness.
The stranger stepped out of the shadows, his hood pulled low over his face as always. He approached Yukito with a slow, deliberate stride, his presence unsettling but not intimidating.
"You're serious about this," the stranger said, his voice neutral.
"Of course," Yukito replied. "I'm going to destroy them."
The stranger nodded. "Good. Because you're going to need help. More help than I can give you."
Yukito's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"There are others like you," the stranger explained. "Players from other schools, coaches who've been pushed aside, even tournament officials who've seen too much. They all know something's wrong, but they're too scared to speak out."
Yukito's pulse quickened. This was exactly what he needed—others who could corroborate what he suspected, who could help him expose the corruption.
The stranger continued, his tone serious. "But finding them won't be easy. You'll need to be careful. The Phantom Five have eyes everywhere. If they realize you're digging into this, they'll come after you."
Yukito crossed his arms, his mind racing. "I'm not afraid of them."
The stranger chuckled. "You should be. They've ruined careers before. You're not invincible, Aizawa."
Yukito met the stranger's gaze, his eyes filled with determination. "Neither are they."
The stranger smiled, a slow, calculating grin. "Good. Then we're on the same page."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small piece of paper, handing it to Yukito. "These are the names of a few people who've been in your position. Start with them. They'll point you in the right direction."
Yukito unfolded the paper, his eyes scanning the names. He didn't recognize any of them, but that didn't matter. If these people had information, he'd find them.
"And one more thing," the stranger added, his voice lowering. "Don't trust anyone. Not even the people who say they're on your side."
Yukito looked up, his gaze hard. "I don't trust anyone. Not anymore."
The stranger nodded, satisfied. "Good luck, Aizawa. You're going to need it."
With that, the stranger turned and disappeared into the shadows once again, leaving Yukito alone in the empty gym.
Yukito stared at the piece of paper in his hand, his mind already racing with possibilities. He had a plan now, and he wasn't going to stop until he brought the entire system crashing down.
The Phantom Five had ruled the court for too long.
But their reign was about to end.