Opening Flashback – Two Years Ago
Shinwa High Gym – night
The gym was silent except for the squeak of sneakers against polished wood.
Akira Sano, then a first-year, stood alone under the flickering lights, staring at the "Captain" patch freshly sewn onto his jersey. The fabric felt heavy, like it didn't belong.
"You got captaincy?"
The voice cut through the air like a knife. Akira didn't need to turn to know who it was.
Renjiro "TheChainsaw" Hoshino stood in the doorway, his broad shoulders blocking the light from the hall. His usual smirk was gone, replaced by something darker.
"You," Renjiro repeated, stepping forward, "got captaincy over me?"
Akira clenched his jaw but said nothing.
Renjiro laughed—a sharp, bitter sound. "A defensive liability who can't even dunk. Coach must've lost his damn mind."
"He said—" Akira started, but Renjiro cut him off.
"He said what? That you're a leader?" Renjiro's voice dripped venom. "Bullshit. I carried this team. I scored. I won. And you? You just followed orders."
Akira's grip tightened around the ball in his hands.
Renjiro took another step closer, his shadow swallowing Akira's. "Prove me wrong, Captain."
With that, he grabbed the front of his own Shinwa jersey—and ripped it in half.
The sound of tearing fabric echoed in the empty gym.
Renjiro dropped the shredded cloth at Akira's feet. "Have fun leading these losers to last place."
The door slammed behind him.
Akira stood there, staring at the ruined jersey on the floor.
"Iwill," he whispered to no one.
---
Present Day – Morning Routines
Shirakawa Residence – 7:15 AM
Yuki Shirakawa hurriedly stuffed the stolen documents into her schoolbag, her fingers trembling. The damning evidence—proof that Kenji's father had been murdered—weighed heavier than anything she'd ever carried.
A knock at her door made her jump.
"Yuki?" Her father's voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. "You're up early."
She forced a smile as she turned. "Just… getting ready for school."
Her father, a retired investigative journalist, leaned against the doorframe. His sharp eyes flicked to her bag, then back to her face.
"You were in my study last night."
It wasn't a question.
Yuki's breath caught.
Her father stepped inside and closed the door softly behind him. "The Kuroganes had your uncle transferred to a rural branch after he looked into their dealings. He hasn't been the same since." He gripped her shoulders gently but firmly. "Whatever you think you know—forget it. And if you've told anyone—"
"I haven't," Yuki lied.
Her father searched her face for a long moment before sighing. "Good."
He left without another word.
Yuki exhaled shakily and zipped her bag shut.
"I can't forget," she whispered.
---
Shinwa Gym – Broken Spirit
The gym was unusually quiet for a practice morning.
Daichi Tanaka bounced a ball nervously as he eyed Akira, who sat slumped on the bench, staring at the floor.
"C'mon, Captain!" Daichi forced a grin. "We're in the Sweet 16! The school's finally giving us real funding! Shouldn't you be, I dunno, happy?"
Akira didn't look up. "Renjiro's back."
Daichi blinked. "Who?"
"Hoshino," Akira clarified, his voice hollow. "The guy who quit the team a year ago. He's playing for Ryusei now."
Daichi paled. "Oh. That guy."
Rin Matsuoka limped over, leaning on his knee brace. "So what? He's just one player."
Akira finally looked up. "You don't get it. He's not just any player. He's—"
"A sore loser?" Rin interrupted.
Akira blinked.
Rin jerked his chin toward the court, where Kenji was running dribble drills under Tatsuya's relentless taunting.
"Look at them," Rin said. "Tachibana's been here, what, a few weeks? And he's already grinding like his life depends on it. Jiro—steals every ball like it's personal. Even Haru's running stats at 6 AM." He smirked. "They'd run through a damn wall if you asked. That's your team now."
Akira opened his mouth to respond—
WHACK.
A basketball smacked him square in the back of the head.
"OI!" Jiro's voice rang out across the gym. "CAPTAIN'S SUPPOSED TO LEAD, NOT MOPE!"
For the first time in days, Akira laughed—a real, full-bellied laugh—before snatching the ball and dunking on Jiro's head with a vengeance.
Daichi (whispering to Rin): "Thereheis."
Rin grinned. "Took him long enough."
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