CHAPTER 37: A WEIGHT OFF MY SHOULDERS
The morning sun was warm, making Ren's skin itch in that specific way a body does when it's knitting itself back together.
Admittedly, his current "bed" wasn't very comfortable—despite the fact that it had likely cost more than most houses. Fusui Kure's luxury sedan was a total loss. The roof was crushed inward where Ren and Marco had landed, the pillars buckled, and the frame was warped beyond repair.
"Boss~!"
Fusui stood by the door, grinning. She had switched her way of addressing him again. "Regarding the damage to my transportation... is that a reimbursable expense?"
Ren: "..."
He had a sinking feeling he had just jumped out of a frying pan and into a much larger, much more expensive fire.
But looking at Marco lying next to him, Ren felt a sense of profound relief.
The ink-wash phantom of Zangief manifested beside the car, reaching out a massive, tree-trunk of an arm. Ren forced his battered body upright and met the Master's palm in a thunderous high-five.
SLAP!
Through that contact, Ren felt a surge of warm, boisterous approval. Zangief was proud of Ren for his victory, but he was even happier that Ren had "saved" Marco by defeating the Rodem persona.
Top-tier martial artists always communicate through their fists. Zangief was an invincible wrestler who worshipped the "Iron Body," but he was also a scholar who read three hundred books a year. He possessed a surprisingly delicate soul.
He had sensed the grief and confusion hidden beneath Rodem's violence. And because Ren had tapped into that same empathy, he had been able to synchronize perfectly with the Master's style.
"..."
Zangief's phantom raised a fist toward the sky, posing for an invisible crowd. The only one watching was the phantom of Ryu, who remained seated in a meditative trance nearby.
"Not enough hype!" Ren could practically hear Zangief grumbling.
"Keep practicing! Good things happen to those who train! But don't forget to let the muscles recover, little comrade, or the body will crumble!"
The Master's will echoed in Ren's mind, followed by Ryu's stoic, silent nod of agreement.
"Hah... huff..."
Beside him, Marco had already fallen into a deep, exhausted sleep. Ren's own eyelids felt like lead. He was about to drift off when his eyes snapped open.
He remembered something important.
ZIP!
Ren rolled off the car and, under Fusui's bewildered gaze, began limping back toward the building entrance.
Inside the Kujo Building.
With the threat of Rodem neutralized and the mercenaries dead, the atmosphere among the survivors was almost casual.
"And just like that," Yagyo said with a refined smile, "the Lie Eater gains a new piece for his board. Is that the plan, Baku-dono?"
"You've got it all wrong, Yagyo-san," Madarame Baku chirped, popping a pickled plum into his mouth. He waved a hand dismissively. "I don't need a mindless executioner in my life."
Baku paused, a realization crossing his face. He let out a weary, self-deprecating chuckle and looked at Kaji.
"We'd better get moving, Kaji-kun. Down to the first floor. The gamble isn't over yet!"
"Eh? What?" Kaji blinked, then his eyes widened.
The gamble wasn't over.
The victory condition was for a member of Team Baku or Team Akagi to "step out" of the building. Falling out of a sixth-story window didn't count.
But even Kaji could see the writing on the wall. They still had to navigate the traps. Meanwhile, all Ren Shiroki had to do was walk back inside the ground floor lobby and then step back out onto the sidewalk.
Team Akagi/Ren had already won. Baku's "sprint" for the finish was a lost cause.
"Then why are we running?" Kaji gasped.
"Because it's fun, Kaji-kun!"
Baku clapped him on the shoulder, a genuine grin on his face. "A gamble where the win/loss is the only thing that matters—just like Ren-chin's fight with Marco... that's a rare and beautiful thing. I want to enjoy the finish line!"
"Oh... okay!"
Kaji nodded. He didn't fully get it, but he sensed that this was the most "alive" Baku had looked all night.
The group cleared the final traps and reached the main entrance.
Ren Shiroki was already waiting for them on the threshold. He watched Baku "sprint" toward him, then waited until the Lie Eater was five feet away before taking his final step out onto the public sidewalk.
"Hah... hah..."
Baku doubled over, gasping for air. His physical stats were abysmal, but his spirit was soaring.
Yagyo Hikoichi stepped forward, assuming his role as the absolute authority of the club. "The gamble is concluded. The result is finalized."
"Winners: Shigeru Akagi and Ren Shiroki."
"The Stakes: The Kakerou Membership, thirty million yen in cash, and the deed to the Kujo Building property."
As Yagyo finished the proclamation, two more people approached from the street.
It was Fusui Kure, dragging a sleepy-eyed, stumbling Marco behind her. The Kure Clan's signature black-and-white eyes were unmistakable. Yagyo gave her a respectful nod.
"A guest from the Kure Clan. A pleasure."
"Morning~!" Fusui chirped.
She shoved Marco toward Ren. "Ren-chin, the mission is over. I need to go find a shop that can fix a crushed roof. What are we doing with the giant baby here?"
YAAAWN!
Before Ren could answer, Marco let out a massive yawn and slumped against Ren's shoulder, instantly falling back asleep.
The group shared a silent look.
"Akagi-san," Yagyo said softly. "Per the agreement, the 'Ownership' of Marco also falls to you as the primary winner."
"Hmm. That's a bit of a nuisance..."
Akagi Shigeru didn't look like he wanted to be a babysitter. "I'll take the Kakerou Membership. It sounds like a fun way to kill time for a few months."
He looked at Ren. "As for the thirty million in cash... I don't need it. Ren-kun can have it. And the boy, too."
Ren thought about it.
The Kakerou Membership was useless to him right now; he didn't have the status to leverage it. But thirty million yen? That was exactly what he needed to pay off the Teiai Group and have ten million left over for Arisa's future and the dojo's repairs.
But Marco... he couldn't exactly bring a seven-foot-tall biological weapon home to live in a shack with his sister.
"Wait," Kaji suggested. "Ren-san owns the building now, right? Why doesn't Marco just live here?"
Ren shook his head. "This building is tied up in a dispute with the Nogi Group. Q-Taro put it up as collateral. Nogi will likely seize it soon. It's not a permanent home."
"..."
Marco stirred, overhearing the conversation. He began to rub his eyes, looking small despite his size. "Does Marco... have no place to go?"
Fusui raised a hand. "I could take him back to the Kure village?"
"No," the group said in unison.
"I mean, I don't mind," Fusui shrugged. "But there are some people in the clan who would find a guy with his 'specs' to be... very attractive. He'd probably end up being a 'Seed' within a week."
An awkward silence followed. Everyone reached the same conclusion: Marco must never go to the Kure Clan.
Ren reached out and ruffled Marco's hair. "Look, we're overthinking this. Marco is a human being who has lost everything. We shouldn't decide for him."
"We'll give him our numbers. If he gets into trouble or needs a meal, he calls us. Until then... he gets to choose how he lives."
Ren met Marco's fist with his own.
"And I promise you one thing, kid. None of the people standing here will ever ask you to kill again."
The meeting dispersed. Marco stayed in the building temporarily while Yagyo coordinated with local real estate contacts.
Before leaving, Ren asked Yagyo for a card.
The Referee handed it over but added a warning. "Ren-dono, unless you are a member, you cannot summon a Referee. My services are restricted."
"That's fine," Ren said, adding Yagyo's card to his growing collection. "I just think they're neat."
Yagyo: "...?"
Yagyo: "Very well. If you ever find yourself craving a truly excellent cup of coffee, visit my shop. I am a barista by trade."
Four days later.
Ren had visited the hospital, gotten his nose set professionally, and slept for twenty-four hours straight.
It was a beautiful afternoon. Ren was lounging in his yard, soaking up the sun and feeling his body recover. As Zangief had taught him, rest was as vital as the grind.
A sleek black sedan pulled up to the gate. Yukio Tonegawa, the No. 2 of the Teiai Group, stepped out right on schedule.
Ren handed over the twenty million yen in cold, hard cash. Tonegawa's expression didn't change; he looked like he had expected nothing less.
"You delivered," Tonegawa said, tucking the payment away. "And faster than I anticipated."
"You have my card, Ren-kun. If you ever find yourself looking for a high-yield investment opportunity, my door is always open."
Tonegawa looked at his watch. It was tea time. "To celebrate your newfound freedom, allow me to treat you to dinner. There's a wonderful Teppanyaki place nearby. How about it?"
Ren: "..."
In his memories of the Kaiji series, "Tonegawa" and "Teppanyaki" were a horrifying combination involving a red-hot iron plate and a prostrated debtor.
"I'll pass, thanks," Ren said firmly.
Tonegawa shrugged, not pushing the issue, and took his leave.
Ren settled back into his chair, closing his eyes. "Finally... a debt-free man."
Vroom—!
The roar of a motorcycle engine cut through his peace. He opened one eye to see Fusui Kure pulling up to the gate.
"Yo, Ren-chin!"
Fusui hopped off her bike and strolled over. "You look relaxed. Got some good news?"
Ren stretched his arms. "The best. I'm officially out of the red!"
"Eh?" Fusui tilted her head, looking genuinely confused. "But I haven't received a transfer yet."
Ren froze. He slowly sat up. "Wait... how much did our 'Support Contract' come to?"
"Let's see..." Fusui pulled a calculator from her pocket. "There's the ammo count, the hazard pay, and of course, the 'Replacement Fee' for my luxury sedan—which is currently a cube of scrap metal."
She tapped a few buttons and showed him the screen. "I'll give you a discount since we're friends. Let's round it down."
"Total: Thirty Million Yen."
Ren: "...Hahaha."
Seeing Ren's hollow, dry laugh, Fusui patted his shoulder with a mischievous grin. "Don't be in such a rush to pay! I actually really enjoy coming over here to play debt collector!"
Ren: "...Hahahaha! OF COURSE!"
The yard was filled with the sounds of Ren's frantic, hysterical laughter as he realized he was right back where he started.