Yukito Aizawa's heart pounded as he stared at the list of names in his hand. This was his next move, his path forward. The people on this list knew the truth about the Phantom Five—maybe not all of it, but enough to help him dismantle their control.
But there was a catch. If he contacted them, it could draw attention. Every step he took was another risk, another move that could alert the Phantom Five that someone was onto them. He needed to be careful, and he needed allies.
Yukito's first meeting took place in the back of a quiet café, well away from the prying eyes of anyone at Seisen High. He scanned the room before sitting down at a booth in the corner. Across from him sat Shunji Makoto, a former assistant coach at Tokisaka High, the Phantom Five's old stomping grounds.
Shunji had the weary look of someone who had been burned by the system one too many times. His sharp eyes, however, still gleamed with a mix of bitterness and defiance. He wasn't broken, just pushed aside.
"You're Yukito Aizawa?" Shunji asked, his voice low and cautious.
Yukito nodded. "And you're the one who used to coach at Tokisaka?"
Shunji smirked. "Used to, being the key phrase. I was removed once I asked too many questions."
"About the Phantom Five?" Yukito guessed, leaning in slightly.
Shunji nodded. "About them, about the games, about the officials who always seemed to favor certain teams, certain players. But no one wanted to listen. And when I wouldn't let it go, they pushed me out."
Yukito's heart raced. This was exactly what he needed. "Do you have any proof? Anything that could expose what they're doing?"
Shunji frowned, shaking his head. "Not hard evidence. That's why I lost my job—I couldn't prove it. But I saw enough to know what was going on. I'm not the only one, either. There are others like me—people who were forced out, players whose careers were destroyed because they went up against the wrong team."
Yukito sat back, his mind racing. Shunji's story was familiar—it mirrored the whispers he had heard for years but had never been able to confirm. The Phantom Five weren't just players—they were untouchable because they had the system under their control.
"But no one's willing to come forward?" Yukito asked, frustrated.
Shunji sighed. "People are afraid. The Phantom Five have connections. If you challenge them and lose, your career is over. But," he added, leaning forward, his voice low, "if someone could expose them publicly, make it impossible for them to hide, then maybe people would finally speak up."
Yukito clenched his fists. "That's what I'm going to do."
Over the next few days, Yukito continued to meet with people from the list. Each story was the same—players who had been benched for questioning calls, coaches who had mysteriously lost their jobs after challenging the wrong team, officials who had been quietly removed for refusing to fall in line. Every piece of the puzzle pointed to the same thing: the Phantom Five's control was far deeper and more widespread than anyone realized.
But no one had evidence. Nothing concrete.
The frustration gnawed at Yukito. He had enough testimonies to know the truth, but without hard proof, it wouldn't be enough to bring them down. The Phantom Five could dismiss it as rumors, as the ramblings of bitter ex-players and coaches.
He needed something irrefutable.
It was late one night when Yukito's phone buzzed with a new message. It was from the stranger.
"Meet me at the old gym. I've got something for you. – S"
Yukito's pulse quickened. The stranger had been quiet since their last meeting, but now he was offering help again. Yukito wasn't sure whether to trust him, but he knew he couldn't afford to ignore this opportunity.
The gym was as cold and eerie as always when Yukito arrived. The shadows seemed to press in around him as he made his way to the center of the court, where the stranger was waiting.
"You've been busy," the stranger remarked, his voice low and calm.
Yukito nodded, his eyes narrowing. "I've spoken to a lot of people. They all say the same thing—the Phantom Five control the system. But no one has proof."
The stranger smirked. "That's because the real proof isn't out in the open. It's buried. Hidden."
Yukito frowned. "What do you mean?"
The stranger reached into his pocket and pulled out a small USB drive. He held it up between his fingers, the light catching the sleek surface.
"This," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, "is the beginning of what you need."
Yukito's heart skipped a beat. "What's on it?"
The stranger handed it to him, his expression serious. "It's a collection of emails, financial records, and game footage—things that were never meant to be seen by anyone outside their circle. It's not everything, but it's enough to prove that the Phantom Five aren't just good players. They're manipulators."
Yukito stared at the USB drive in his hand, his mind racing. This was it—the proof he needed. If the contents of this drive were real, it would be enough to start a full investigation, to blow the entire system wide open.
"How did you get this?" Yukito asked, looking up at the stranger.
The stranger's lips curled into a smile. "I told you before, Aizawa—I've been watching them for a long time. And I'm not the only one who wants to see them fall."
Yukito gripped the USB drive tightly. "This is enough to expose them?"
"It's enough to get the ball rolling," the stranger replied. "But you'll need to be careful. Once you start pushing, they'll push back harder. They've ruined people's lives before. Don't think they won't try to do the same to you."
Yukito's jaw tightened, but he nodded. "I'm ready."
The stranger stepped back into the shadows, his voice echoing softly in the empty gym. "Good. Then it's time for you to make your move."
And with that, the stranger disappeared once again, leaving Yukito standing alone with the evidence that could bring down the Phantom Five.
Yukito walked out of the gym, his mind racing. He had the proof, the names, and the testimonies. Now, he just needed to figure out the best way to use them. One thing was clear—once he went public, there would be no turning back.
The Phantom Five had been untouchable for too long.
But now, Yukito held the key to their downfall.