YUKIO SHARES WHAT HAPPENED

As soon as the bell sounded, Tetsuo got up out of his seat and quickly left the classroom.

"There he goes again. I am sick and tired of that bastard," said Noboru.

"It's obvious that something is wrong. That's why someone like Tetsuo looks so uneasy, but this blockheaded idiot can't see that," thought Makoto to himself.

"He didn't have to make it so obvious. Well, I guess that's how it is," said Naomi.

Sachiko stared at the classroom door, and a sense of uneasiness overcame her.

After arriving in class 2O, Tetsuo scanned the room for Tomoe. However, she wasn't there, which made him suspect that something was wrong.

"Hey, Tetsuo, what brings you here today? Are you looking for Yukimura by any chance?" asked Hayato.

"Yes, I am looking for her."

"She left the class in a panic about half an hour ago."

"Yeah, the expression on her face was not a pleasant one. Looks like something must be happening," said Liam.

"Do you know where she might have gone?" asked Tetsuo.

"No, but more than likely, she went to the library because that's where she has been going recently. Both Liam and I saw her there reading every break she got," said Hayato.

"I see. Thanks," said Tetsuo as he ran off.

"Wait, do you know what's going on?! Jeez, that Tetsuo really is acting strange too," said Hayato.

As soon as Tetsuo reached the library, he went to where he recalled Tomoe placing her books. He saw that all of them had been torn to bits.

"I see, so that's what happened... I was too late," he said to himself as he noticed a security camera pointing in his direction.

Meanwhile, Takahiro and Yukio were talking in the hallway.

"The season starts in five weeks, so we need to get Noboru and Shino to reach a higher level because we're going to need them if we plan on winning," said Yukio.

"I know, but Liam could also use some work as the center of our team. Being the backbone of our defense is not an easy task, considering the teams we are going up against."

"You're right about that…"

Suddenly, a girl who was running bumped into Yukio. After she lifted her head with tears in her eyes, she quickly ran off.

"No way, isn't that…?" said Takahiro, surprised.

"Yes, Hiroki's younger sister, Tomoe Yukimura. I have never seen her shed a tear—not since the day her brother was arrested. That must mean Jirou is out of the hospital by now. That's the only reason she'd be crying," said Yukio.

"Yes, you're right. Didn't Tetsuo bring her to the court the other day?" asked Takahiro.

"Yes, I believe he did."

Just then, Tetsuo, who was running, spotted Yukio and Takahiro ahead of him.

"Hey, Captain," he said.

"Oh, Tetsuo! We were just talking about you."

"By any chance, did you see a girl run past here just now?" asked Tetsuo.

"Yes, it was Tomoe Yukimura, wasn't it?" asked Yukio.

"I had a feeling that Jirou was back in school. That's why she's been acting strangely."

"Wait, how do you know Jirou, Captain?"

"Of course, I'd know Jirou more than anyone else. He was also a member of the basketball team. Both he and Hiroki were on the team at one time. And not to mention, he and Tomoe were once in a relationship. But a lot happened back then," said Yukio.

"The first time I met Jirou was at the start of our first year at Toshigawa Academy. Both Takahiro and I were trying out for the basketball team at the time. My older brother, Seiji Hamaguchi, was the captain of the basketball team back then, and Hiroki was the vice captain. On the first day, they assessed the first-years by making us play against our seniors," said Yukio.

After receiving a pass from Hiroki, Seiji jumped into the air and slam-dunked the basketball over Yukio.

"Whoa, Seiji completely overpowered Yukio," said Takahiro, shocked.

"There are stronger and faster players in the league than me. If that's all you've got, Yukio, then what use are you to the team?" said Seiji as he ran back on defense.

"Here," said Jirou, holding out his hand.

"Thank you," said Yukio.

"Don't beat yourself up over what he said. I know he's your older brother and all, and he might be better than you, but let's even the playing field, Yukio."

On the next possession, Jirou dribbled the ball up the court and passed it to Takahiro. Takahiro drove to the rim and attempted a layup. However, Hiroki jumped into the air and swatted the ball to the ground. Hiroki then dribbled to the other half of the court, where he was met by Yukio. He set up to shoot a three-pointer, which Yukio attempted to block, but the shot swished through the net.

On the next possession, Jirou dribbled the ball once more and called for a screen at the top of the key. He then drove and passed the ball out to Yukio, who scored a two-pointer.

"Nice shot, Yukio! That's the way to go!" said Jirou as they high-fived.

"After that day, Jirou, Takahiro, and I became friends. Jirou was a very charismatic guy who could win the hearts of many girls our age. I didn't see it as harmful until I heard what happened.

"That year, we made it to the fourth round and played against Seisen International High School. We lost seventy-nine to eighty-five due to not having one of our most key players at the time. But all that changed in our second year when new first-year players joined the team. The one who stood out the most was Hayato Nakajima, a point guard.

"He was exactly what our team was lacking, and he could even shoot three-pointers, which was a huge asset. However, that same year, Hiroki's younger sister, Tomoe, enrolled in Toshigawa as well. I don't know the full details of how she ended up with Jirou, but after they started dating, everything went downhill for the team as a whole.

"In a practice match against Yokonan, in the third quarter, Hayato got a fast-break layup. However, Keichiro blocked him, and he ended up breaking his femur in the process. Even though we were close to beating Yokonan that day, we still lost our valuable point guard. And to add insult to injury, something terrible happened between Jirou and Hiroki a few days later.

"Hiroki hurt Jirou so badly that he broke a few bones, and as a result, Hiroki was sent to jail while Jirou was hospitalized. At that point, we lost half of our starting members. Before Hiroki was taken away, he and my brother got into a heated argument, which still sends shivers down my spine."

"How could you do this to me, Hiroki?! This year was supposed to be our year, goddamn it!" said Seiji, as angry tears came to his eyes.

"Do you think I would have just thrown our dream away for nothing? That bastard—he tried to have his way with my little sister! What if he had done something to her that would traumatize and scar her for life?!" shouted Hiroki.

"That's enough out of you. Get in the car," said an officer as they drove off.

"To be honest, I'm not sure about the details of what really happened. But one thing is for sure—Jirou tried to defile her. Based on Hiroki's actions, that much is clear," said Yukio.

"I see… So that's the reason why she's like this," thought Tetsuo to himself.

Meanwhile, Nanaho was in her classroom, writing notes.

"It's almost time for training. I can't wait to work them half to death! I wonder what type of training I should make them do. This will be fun," she chuckled.

As she tapped her pen on her book and stomped her foot impatiently, she gazed outside the window. There, she spotted Tomoe stooping down and crying.

"Wait… Is that Tomoe…?" she said, shocked.