Chapter 5: The First Defection

The following week, Yukito's reputation had spread like wildfire. The brutal takedown of Hikawa High had shocked the local basketball scene, but it also drew interest from places Yukito hadn't expected.

As Seisen High's team entered the gym for practice, there was a new energy in the air. The players were still sore from the grueling conditioning, but something had shifted in them. They were no longer just a ragtag group of misfits. Yukito had molded them into something dangerous, and even the weakest among them felt a new sense of purpose.

But not all of them were built for this.

Tetsuo Kamiya, the former captain, had been silent since Yukito took over. His movements during practice were half-hearted, his spirit clearly broken. Yukito had been watching him carefully, knowing that not everyone would survive the transformation he was forcing on the team.

After practice, Tetsuo lingered behind as the others left the gym. His head was down, shoulders slumped in a way that Yukito despised. Weakness radiated from him like a bad smell.

"You've got something to say?" Yukito asked, his voice flat as he dribbled a ball idly.

Tetsuo hesitated before speaking, his words barely audible. "This isn't basketball. What you're doing to us—it's not right."

Yukito's eyes narrowed. "And what exactly isn't right? Winning?"

"It's not winning," Tetsuo said, finally looking up, his face pale. "It's the way we're playing. You're turning us into something… ugly."

Yukito bounced the ball once, hard. The sound echoed through the empty gym. "Ugly? You think the Phantom Five care about pretty basketball? You think anyone respects a loser?"

Tetsuo flinched but stood his ground. "There's more to the game than just… breaking people. This isn't what I signed up for."

Yukito stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Then leave."

Tetsuo blinked, surprised by the simplicity of the offer.

"If you can't handle it, walk away," Yukito continued. "But don't for a second think that the world out there is going to care about your ideals. The moment you step onto that court, it's about survival. And if you're not willing to do what it takes to survive, then you don't belong here."

Tetsuo looked down at the floor, his fists clenching and unclenching. He was torn, clearly wrestling with his own beliefs and the pressure Yukito had created. After a long, tense silence, he made his decision.

"I'm done," Tetsuo said quietly, his voice breaking. "I'm not going to be a part of this anymore."

Without another word, he walked out of the gym, his footsteps echoing in the emptiness.

Yukito didn't stop him. He watched as the gym doors swung shut behind Tetsuo, his face expressionless. One less weak link. The team would be better for it.

The next day, the team gathered again for practice, but there was a noticeable absence. Some of the players glanced at the empty spot where Tetsuo usually stood, murmuring among themselves. Yukito ignored it, his focus on those who had stayed.

"Let's go," he commanded, starting practice as if nothing had happened.

Sora Miyazaki, however, wasn't so quiet. During a break, he approached Yukito, wiping sweat from his brow. "Tetsuo's gone, huh?"

Yukito didn't look up. "He wasn't cut out for this."

Sora smirked. "Can't say I'm surprised. He was never really on board with your 'break them' philosophy."

Yukito finally met Sora's eyes. "We don't need people who aren't willing to push beyond their limits."

Sora shrugged. "Fair enough. Just don't forget—pushing too hard can break your own team too."

Yukito stared at Sora for a long moment, considering his words. Sora wasn't like Tetsuo. He thrived in the chaos, but even he recognized the danger of Yukito's methods.

Still, Yukito wasn't worried. The weak would fall away, and those who remained would become something more. Something unstoppable.

That evening, Yukito sat alone in his apartment, his mind racing. Tetsuo's defection wasn't a loss—he'd seen it coming. But Sora's words lingered in his thoughts, casting a shadow over his confidence. He wouldn't allow doubt to creep in. Not now. Not when he was so close.

As he leaned back in his chair, his phone buzzed again.

Another message.

"You lost one. How many more before you crack, Aizawa?"

Yukito clenched his jaw. It was one of them again—another taunt from the Phantom Five. They were watching him, testing him, waiting for him to fail.

But he wouldn't fail. Not this time.

Yukito stood up, pacing the small room. He was building something greater than what the Phantom Five had ever been. He would take them down, one by one, and when they were finally broken, they would know exactly who had defeated them.

With a sharp exhale, Yukito grabbed his phone and deleted the message without replying. He couldn't afford distractions. The real challenge was yet to come.