CHAPTER 46: THE BEAUTIFUL ONES
Hana Mitani, the patriarch of the Jinguji-gumi, had been absolutely correct in her assessment.
Ren Shiroki was "unmovable." Even with a pocket full of cash, he wasn't someone you could hustle or manipulate. His independence and sheer stubbornness were top-tier; he was a man who lived by his own script, immune to the expectations of others.
"A 'Combat Hub'..."
Hana pursed her lips, her brow furrowed. "Isn't that a bit too... idealistic?"
"Agreed," Ichika said, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "Gyms and dojos survive because they attract hobbyists. If you limit your clientele to active underground fighters, your market is tiny. Will anyone actually show up?"
"..."
Nozomi Tenma, however, had a different perspective.
"No, wait. It might actually work..."
She leaned forward, tapping the table. "You girls don't hang around the pits enough to know. This circle is full of 'Monsters' that a normal society can't handle."
"I heard a story once about a guy in a high-end commercial gym who did a high-intensity workout for twelve hours straight until he suffered total bladder failure. He didn't even stop to use the bathroom. The gym owner almost went to jail over it."
Nozomi began to analyze the potential.
"Unless you're a billionaire or a grandmaster with your own estate, most fighters don't have a place to train at 100%. Their apartments are too small, commercial gear breaks under their strength, and medical support for 'under-the-table' injuries is non-existent."
Yuzuha Li nodded, still picking at some rice. "True. The infirmary at the 'Stray Dog' arena was a joke. I've seen guys get infections because the 'doc' used a dirty needle to drain a hematoma."
"Exactly," Nozomi said, pointing at Ren. "Mixed Martial Arts gyms are fine for a workout, but the second you draw blood, they kick you out."
"Ren-kun's idea isn't entirely new. Legendary organizations like the Shinshinkai or the Rokushin Kaikan operate on a similar principle. They aren't just businesses; they're 'Platforms' where the strong gather to test each other."
She scratched her head with a sigh. "I couldn't run a place like that. You need a 'Boss' who can keep the peace—someone like the Shinshinkai's Grandmaster. I don't know if Ren-kun is there yet... but if he builds it, we can collaborate!"
Nozomi's manic energy returned. "I'm doing it. I'm starting a dedicated Female Underground circuit. I'll gather all the delinquents with too much energy and give the police department a reason to look the other way!"
"Ren-kun, keep in touch. We're hosting our first test event soon. Come watch. Maybe you'll find some 'Founding Members' for your Hub!"
Nozomi's proactive drive was legendary.
By the next evening, Ren received a call from Hana. The first "Test Match" was set to go down in a hidden Livehouse in the 5th District—usually a venue for underground J-Pop idols.
Ren arrived as promised. Nozomi's trio was already there, and Yuzuha had tagged along to see the spectacle.
"Definitely a 'new' circuit," Yuzuha whispered, scanning the room. As a veteran of the old-school pits, she could see the lack of preparation. No real ring, no proper lighting, and the referee looked like a hostess who had taken too many stimulants.
However, the turnout was surprising. The small venue was packed, and the atmosphere was even louder than the Stray Dog arena.
"The crowd is intense," Yuzuha noted. "Who are the fighters?"
Ichika grinned, showing her shark teeth. "You're going to love this. I picked the most 'vicious' ones I could find!"
Ren looked at the "ring." It was the two girl-gang leaders from the street brawl the previous night.
"I told them I'd give them a place to settle their grudge without the cops breaking it up," Ichika explained. "They jumped at the chance. Their crews and every punk in the neighborhood followed them here. The streets have been quiet all afternoon!"
The audience was clearly split into three camps: the two rival gangs and the bored bystanders looking for a bloodbath. The noise was deafening, occasionally erupting into shouting matches between the fans.
Ichika crossed her arms, beaming with pride. "See? Perfect, right?"
Hana nodded in agreement. But the other three—Ren, Yuzuha, and Nozomi—had identical expressions of mild disappointment.
"What?" Ichika asked, her smile faltering.
Nozomi sighed. "Let's just watch. But I think I know what's coming..."
The event consisted of four matches.
Since it was a grudge match between rival gangs, the fighting was incredibly violent—but completely lacking in skill. They pulled hair, scratched faces, bit ears, and delivered desperate, uncoordinated kicks to the groin.
The two leaders tore into each other until their hair was coming out in clumps and their makeup was smeared into a grotesque, multicolored mess.
The crowd loved it.
"YEAH! RIP HER SHIRT OFF!"
"KILL HER, JULIA-SAMA!"
"GOUGE HER EYES OUT!"
The night ended in a roar of primal, chaotic celebration.
After the venue cleared out, Ichika and Hana were in high spirits. The betting pool had been substantial, and they were ready to celebrate. But Nozomi looked somber.
"It's no good," Nozomi said flatly.
"Huh?" Ichika and Hana blinked.
Beside them, Yuzuha and Ren were already analyzing the disaster.
"This won't last," Yuzuha said, shaking her head as she sipped her juice. "The audience will get bored of this within three weeks."
Ren agreed. "Delinquents fighting has no 'Rhythm.' There's no technique, no growth. The fighters are mediocre. You can't build a loyal fanbase on a catfight."
"The 'Customer Base' is also a problem," Yuzuha added. "These fans are just the fighters' friends. They don't have real money. To attract the high-rollers, you need Charisma. You need 'Personalities' that people will pay millions to see."
Yuzuha noticed Ichika and Hana staring at her. She raised her hands defensively. "Look, I'll fight here once or twice as a favor, but I'm still recovering. My body is red-lining from the last few years of overwork."
"And besides..." Yuzuha's tone turned professional. "I won't step into a ring without a worthy opponent and a massive purse. It would ruin my brand. At the very least, my opponent has to be on the level of Ran Tojo."
The group fell into a thoughtful silence. Nozomi turned to Ren. "I guess you didn't find any 'Members' for your Hub tonight, did you?"
"No," Ren answered honestly. "The main problem is that they're all... Ugly."
"Ugly?" Nozomi sighed. "Well, I guess they aren't models—wait, WHAT?!"
The four women stared at Ren in shock. They couldn't believe he had just said that.
"Oi..." Nozomi muttered, her voice half-amused, half-offended. "Sure, those gang girls aren't winning any beauty pageants, but that was a bit blunt, Ren-kun."
Ichika looked suspicious. "Hana said you weren't the perverted type. Are you actually a shallow jerk?"
Ren looked at them, his expression completely calm. "Is it that strange a thing to say?"
The four women nodded in unison.
Ren tilted his head. "Is there something wrong with liking 'Beautiful' things?"
"Well, no, but..." Nozomi started, feeling like she was being led into a trap.
Ren cut her off. "Think about it. How does a person become 'Beautiful'?"
"Makeup? Exercise? Good clothes?" Nozomi listed off randomly. "Not being a jerk? Reading books?"
"Exactly," Ren said, his voice dropping to a serious register. "But it's not just the surface. Think of a 'Beautiful' athlete. They have a lean, powerful physique. That body wasn't a gift; it was earned through the daily discipline of the grind. It's the result of Will."
"The same goes for charm, intellect, or bravery. These aren't accidents. They are the result of a 'Personal Consciousness'—a refusal to drift along with the tide."
"A person who takes control of their own existence and molds themselves into something better... that is what I find 'Beautiful.'"
Ren looked at the four of them.
"Nozomi, Ichika, Hana, Yuzuha... you, my sister, Fusui, Marco, Akagi-san, Baku... you are all people who have decided who you want to be. You've carved your own paths."
"I think you are all very beautiful."
"..."
The table went dead silent. The women were speechless.
If you looked at it from that perspective, Ren's words made perfect sense. He was looking for "Hub Members" who had the discipline to be elite. The gang girls from the ring had no control over their own lives; they were just reacting to the world. They would never be "Beautiful" fighters.
"I see," Ichika said, her cigarette dangling from her lip as she processed the compliment. "Normal delinquents are a dime a dozen. But 'Beautiful' monsters? Those are hard to find. Elite talent usually stays on the 'right' side of the law..."
"Wait!"
Ichika's eyes snapped open. She remembered a file she had seen at the station.
"I have one. A candidate who fits your description perfectly. She's incredibly 'Beautiful' by your standards... and she's a total nightmare."
Ichika smirked, her shark teeth gleaming. "Forget the delinquents. Tomorrow, I'll take you to meet her."
"Where?" Nozomi asked.
"A high school. Koyo Female Academy."
Ichika narrowed her eyes. "There's a student there who is a Former Terrorist."