(Akiri POV)

I am currently inside my room watching TV when my phone suddenly rings. I pulled out my phone and saw that it was my dad and I answered it.

Akiri: Akiri speaking

Dad: Hey, have you gotten your opponent yet?

Akiri: Yes, a guy named Zayoshi Ayatsugu

Dad: Good. Listen, I need you to do some recon tomorrow 

Akiri: Okay then, what's the situation?

Dad: Our latest info suggests that they would be meeting up tomorrow evening at an abandoned warehouse near your location. We need you to go there and see what you can find. If you are spotted, don't engage.

Akiri: Sounds easy enough, send me the location.

Dad: Be careful, and good luck

He then hung up and the coordinates have been sent to my phone.

(Timeskip)

I have arrived in front of the waiting room. In front of me is a panel telling me that the fight is in fighting form and that my life could be in danger. I pressed accept without any doubts and suddenly I heard a familiar laughing voice behind me.

??? : Wow, you didn't even hesitate. So many students these days would be having second thoughts at this point. But then again you are "The Phantom" it shouldn't be surprising.

I then turned around

Akiri: Nene. A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one

Nene: Hey Akibo

Akiri: So, you became a part-time instructor here?

Nene: That's right

Nene then suddenly appeared in front of me and puts her head to my chest.

Nene: So what do you say? I'm free tomorrow, *seductively* wanna have another private lesson tomorrow night?

Akiri: First, please don't say it that way, and second, no. I have something to do, so I'll be busy tomorrow

Nene: Aww, maybe I'll try my luck on that Kurogane guy

Akiri: Well good luck on that then, see you around Nene

Nene: You too, Akibo

I then give her a headpat which she happily accepted and walked into the waiting room

(Timeskip)

(Third person POV)

Commentator: Welcome to another round of the selection matches! On one side, he is a B rank knight known for his dual daggers that can paralyze his opponents in a single strike, Zayoshi Ayatsugu!

Zayoshi then came out as the crowd cheers for him

Commentator: And on the other side, he is an A rank knight who defeated Stella Vermillion in a mock battle, Akiri Shiranobu!

Akiri walks to his side of the arena as the crowd cheers for him

Commentator: This will be an interesting match as Akiri is rumored to be "The Phantom" based on his fight against Stella Vermillion

Akiri: Listen, we both know how this is gonna end, so why don't you forfeit and you can avoid getting hurt

Zayoshi: Don't get cocky! Just because you beat Vermillion doesn't mean you'll beat me!

Akiri: You're right, I won't beat you. *smirks* I'll demolish you!

They both then summoned their devices

Announcer: Lets go ahead!

Zayoshi then rushed Akiri with his daggers.

Akiri uses his noble art "Jigen Ryoko" and disappears leaving Zayoshi confused.

Zayoshi: *shocked* What!

He then reappears behind Zayoshi and slashed his back horizontally. Zayoshi then turns around to attack, but Akiri disappears again and reappears besides him. Akiri kicks him, sending him flying back. But before he can hit the ground, Akiri suddenly appears behind him and kicks him to the ground, leaving him unconscious.

Commentator: The match is over! The winner is Akiri Shiranobu!

Everyone in the crowd then cheered for him. Akiri then left the arena.

(Timeskip)

Akiri is now walking to his dorm room when he is approached by a blonde girl wearing a pair of glasses

???: Shiranobu senpai! It's nice to finally meet you!

Akiri: Ah, you're that newspaper girl right?

???: Yes. I'm Kagami Kusakabe, We're in the same class. I saw your last match and also saw the mock battle the other day, You're very strong. I've recently started a newspaper club and I wanted to include you in the next issue. Please, let me interview you!

Akiri: Sorry, but I'm not interested 

Kagami: At least tell me if you're really are "The Phantom"!

Akiri: (thoughts) I know her type, she's the kind of person that will keep nagging me until she gets what she wanted. Might as well tell her the truth

Akiri: *sighs* Yes, I am who you call The Phantom

Kagami: That's so cool! I'll get started on the draft right away!

She then runs of into the distance and Akiri just continues to walk to his room. He then sees Stella walking in front of him. He decides to approach her

Akiri: Hey Stella

Stella: Oh, hi cuz

Akiri: I've heard you've won your first match, good job cuz!

Stella: Thanks, I've also heard you've won your match, congrats

Akiri: Thank you. You're heading to the dorms

Stella: Yep

Akiri: Me too. So why don't we walk together?

Stella: Of course

Akiri and Stella then walked together to the dorms. For a few moments Stella broke the silence.

Stella: So uh, I've been meaning to ask you. Back at the mall, when you were fighting that blazer, you cut off his arm without reappearing. I thought that you can't interact with the real world while activating Jigen Ryoko?

Akiri: Well that was years ago when I told you that. Now, I can interact with the real world, but only for a split second.

Stella: Oh, so you really have improved over the last four years. Anyway, tomorrow is Ikki's first match. Me, Shizuku and Nagi are coming to watch, you wanna come with us?

Akiri: Sorry, I have something to do tomorrow

Stella: You know, you're acting strange. What is it do you have to do? You haven't been this busy before.

Akiri: It's nothing really, just got to do some errands for my dad

Stella: Okay then, if you say so

Akiri and Stella then heads to their dorm room

(Next day)

Akiri is currently on the rooftop of a building overlooking the abandoned warehouse with a pair of binoculars. He then sees a group of people wearing dark cloaks entering the building and he begins to make his move. He made his way to the abandoned warehouse and climbed up to the roof using the fire escape on the side of the warehouse. He then climbed through a broken window and got into the warehouse.

He carefully made his way through the warehouse which was a maze full of boxes and crates. He then sees the group of people seated around a circular table. He carefully made his way to the group of people and when he gets close enough, he hid behind a box and listened in on their conversation

??? 1: Is this all? Where's Bisho?

??? 2: We got word that he got arrested during his attack

??? 1: That is unfortunate, but it was necessary to obtain information. Are we making progress?

??? 3: Yes, we now have the necessary information needed to move on with our operation

??? 1: Excellent.

Akiri: (thoughts) Dad's right, they're making their move sooner than we thought

??? 1: What of our progress on the boy?

??? 4: We have sent the message to them. But whether or not they would act or investigate any further is out of our control

??? 1: Oh they will, they would do anything to get the boy out of the tournament

Akiri: (thoughts) Boy? Ikki?

??? 2: I am curious about something. If we intend to capture her, why don't we just send one of our assassins?

??? 1: If we do so, our involvement with them will be exposed.

Akiri: (thoughts) Them?

??? 2: And why is that?

??? 1: She is currently under the protection of Hagun Academy. Therefore it is hard for even our best assassins to break in. It is best that we be patient and wait for the right moment which is-

??? 2: -When she enters the Seven Star Battle Festival

??? 1: Precisely. That way, we'll seem to have a motive to capturing her. To have one of ours win

Akiri: (thoughts) That's enough information for now. If I stay here for too long my presence will be sensed

Akiri then uses his noble art "Jigen Ryoko" to escape without any troubles

(Timeskip)

It is now in the middle of the night and Akiri is walking towards his dorm room when he noticed Stella walking towards the dorms looking very happy. He then approaches her and taps her shoulder. She then jumped looking surprised at the sudden appearance of her cousin and was blushing madly.

Stella: *shocked* A-Akiri!? W-what are you doing here?

Akiri: What? Can't I just want to talk to my cousin?

Stella: *nervous* Oh, W-what do you want to talk about?

Akiri: You look happy, something happened?

Stella: O-oh uh, Ikki won his first match.

Akiri: Well then, tell him I said congrats. But that doesn't answer my question, why do you look so happy?

Stella: I-it's nothing really umm

Akiri just raised an eyebrow at her

Stella: U-um, I-I need to go. Bye cuz!

Stella then starts to run off to the dorm building leaving Akiri confused at her recent behaviour.

Akiri: (thoughts) Huh, that was weird. Wonder what happened?