Yukito's mind was racing as he sat in the dim light of his room, the video footage of Kaoru's smear campaign playing on a loop in front of him. Kaoru had overstepped, thinking he could destroy Yukito's reputation without consequence. But that arrogance was about to become his downfall.
The message from the stranger was still fresh in his mind: "They've overplayed their hand. Now it's your turn."
Yukito closed his laptop, his resolve hardening. It was time to turn the tables.
The next morning, Yukito walked into Seisen High with a new plan. Instead of avoiding the stares and whispers that had grown louder after the Phantom Five's video smear, Yukito walked through the hallways with his head high. Let them talk. The truth was on his side, and he was about to make sure everyone saw it.
His first stop was the school's media club. He had always been friendly with the members, and they had a reputation for being passionate about uncovering the truth, even when it was controversial. If anyone could help Yukito flip the narrative, it was them.
Aya, the club's leader, looked up as Yukito entered their office. Her brows furrowed in confusion at first, but then understanding dawned. "You're here about the video, aren't you?"
Yukito nodded. "They're lying, and I need your help to prove it."
Aya motioned for him to sit down. "Tell me everything."
Yukito laid it all out—Kaoru's manipulation, the Phantom Five's dirty tactics, and how they had twisted the truth to make Yukito look like the villain. Aya listened carefully, her eyes narrowing in anger as the pieces fell into place.
"We'll help you," Aya said firmly. "But if we're going to do this, we need hard evidence. Something that can't be twisted or denied."
Yukito smiled grimly. "I've got just what you need."
That afternoon, Yukito met with Ryo in their usual spot, a secluded part of the school grounds where they could speak freely. Ryo had been tracking the Phantom Five's movements since Yukito's first confrontation with them, and now his information was more important than ever.
"They've gotten too comfortable," Ryo said, scrolling through his phone. "Kaoru's been meeting with some shady people off-campus. I'm pretty sure they're involved in more than just basketball."
Yukito's eyes sharpened. "Drugs?"
Ryo nodded. "Maybe. I don't have solid proof yet, but if we can link Kaoru to something illegal, it's game over."
It was risky, but Yukito knew it was his best shot. If he could expose Kaoru's connections to criminal activity, the Phantom Five would lose everything—power, influence, and their stranglehold on Seisen High.
"We're going to need more than just suspicion," Yukito said, his mind already working through the logistics. "We need footage. Something that can't be denied."
Ryo grinned. "Already ahead of you. I've been trailing Kaoru's car for a few days now. He's been meeting someone in a warehouse near the docks. I can get us in."
Yukito's pulse quickened. This was it. The final piece of the puzzle.
Later that night, Yukito and Ryo made their way to the warehouse, shrouded in shadows as they approached the building. The docks were mostly deserted at this hour, the distant sound of water lapping against the shore the only thing breaking the silence.
Ryo pointed toward the side entrance, where a small group of men were huddled around Kaoru's car. Kaoru was there, too, speaking with one of them in low tones.
Yukito crouched beside a stack of crates, pulling out a small camera he had borrowed from Aya. He set it up quickly, making sure to capture everything without being seen.
"Let's hope they say something incriminating," Ryo whispered.
They didn't have to wait long. As the conversation continued, Yukito's heart raced when he overheard the man Kaoru was talking to mention a "shipment" coming in soon. Kaoru responded with a nod, his expression cold and calculating.
"We'll handle it. Just make sure it gets delivered on time," Kaoru said. "I don't want any delays. The last thing we need is unwanted attention."
Yukito's grip on the camera tightened. This was the proof they needed. Kaoru was involved in something much bigger than basketball.
The next day, Yukito met with Aya again, handing over the footage. Her eyes widened as she watched it, a look of disbelief crossing her face.
"This is huge," she whispered. "If we release this, Kaoru's finished."
Yukito nodded. "We need to be careful. They'll try to discredit it, but if we do it right, they won't have a chance."
Within hours, the media club released the footage, along with a detailed article exposing Kaoru's connections to the underworld. It spread through the school like wildfire, students passing their phones around as they watched in shock.
Kaoru's reputation crumbled overnight. No amount of power or influence could save him from the fallout. The Phantom Five, once untouchable, now found themselves on the defensive, their carefully constructed empire falling apart at the seams.
And Yukito? He stood at the center of it all, watching as the truth finally came to light.