CHAPTER 52: STIRRING UNDERCURRENTS
"I truly apologize, but 'please'... listen carefully."
Kizaki looked directly at Ren Shiroki, his voice sharpening with emphasis.
"It's not just this underground group. It's regarding your home in Toshima Ward as well. Please, keep things quiet. Stop gathering 'troublesome' people around you. It will be better for everyone if you just... fade into the background."
"..."
Hina Hongo finished packing her school bag, humming a cheerful tune as she stepped out of the ring to regroup with the others.
But even from across the room, she could tell the vibe had soured.
"What is it? What is it? Someone looking for trouble?"
Hina loved a good scene. She started to skip toward the group, but Nozomi Tenma caught her by the shoulder, stopping her in her tracks.
"Don't go over there. Please. Let Hana-chan handle the negotiation..."
Nozomi was breaking into a cold sweat, her mind racing. "How did we do it? How did a bottom-tier startup like 'Valkyrie' manage to piss off a syndicate of that caliber?"
"Syndicate?"
Hina blinked her star-shaped pupils. "Oh. Like those Yakuza guys who went to Ren-san's place? The Zanshi-gumi?"
Nozomi shook her head frantically. "No. The 'Grade' is completely different!"
By now, Ichika Iori had also backed away a few paces, joining Nozomi and Hina. As a cop, her position was sensitive; she couldn't be seen negotiating with the Yakuza directly. She had to leave the "face" work to Hana while she observed from the wings.
"That man, Kizaki... he's a high-ranking member of the Hanayama-gumi, which is a primary subsidiary of the Fujiki-gumi," Ichika whispered, her brow furrowed behind a veil of cigarette smoke.
"Ever since the Anti-Boryokudan Act, the world has changed. Most Yakuza have adapted—they do 'Grey-Area' businesses like Hana's group, or even legitimate real estate. They try to avoid the spotlight."
"But there is still a small circle of syndicates that maintain the 'Old Ways.' Traditional brawlers. Violent chivalry. They are pure, unregulated violence."
"The small groups were wiped out years ago. But groups like the Hanayama-gumi... they have deep connections and overwhelming martial power. Even the Tokyo Metropolitan Police hesitate to move against them..."
Hina listened, but her smile didn't fade. "Hmm. So... they're just 'Very Scary Yakuza,' then?"
She had been the foster daughter of a cult leader; she had seen things that would make a common gangster vomit with fear. A group of men in suits didn't intimidate her.
"Ichika-san, you're a cop," Hina noted with a grin. "If you back down now, won't your boss yell at you?"
Ren Shiroki suddenly spoke up. "Probably not."
Hina blinked. "Eh?"
Ren had finished processing his memories of this world's history. He looked at Ichika. "The problem isn't the Hanayama-gumi itself. The problem is the Boss of the Hanayama-gumi, right?"
Ichika nodded, her eyes dark. "So you've heard the legends too, Ren-kun..."
She took a long drag of her cigarette. "My seniors at the station told me the stories. They say the Boss is the greatest 'Brawl Genius' on the face of the earth."
"The Second-Generation Boss: Kaoru Hanayama."
"Four years ago, Hanayama's father—the first-gen boss—was assassinated by the Tomizawa-kai from Kobe. Kaoru was fifteen at the time."
"That same night, a fifteen-year-old boy walked into the Tomizawa-kai headquarters with nothing but his bare hands. He faced over fifty armed gangsters alone."
"Thirty minutes."
Ichika let out a dry, nervous laugh. "In thirty minutes, that kid dismantled every single one of them. He erased a mid-sized crime syndicate from the map in a single evening."
"And the rumors get even crazier. They say Hanayama is so strong... he can take a 50-yen coin and twist it into a knot using only his thumb and forefinger."
"..."
Nozomi's pupils contracted. A cold sweat drenched her back. She had heard the name "Hanayama" before, but she had dismissed the stories as Yakuza propaganda. Hearing it from a cop made the reality much more terrifying.
"Why? Why would a living legend like that send an emissary to a basement bar in the 5th District?"
Ichika's breathing was heavy. "Now... we just have to pray Hana can talk her way out of this."
Compared to the two women, the three "Monsters" behind them were much more relaxed.
Yuzuha Li didn't care about the Yakuza; she had dropped into a deep horse-stance and was continuing her isometric training.
Hina Hongo was vibrating with excitement, her star pupils shimmering. "I knew it! Hanging out with you guys makes it so much easier to find the interesting ones~!"
Ren Shiroki was equally keyed up. He could feel his blood starting to boil—the same feeling he got when sparring with Ryu or Zangief. "Kaoru Hanayama... I've always wanted to see him in person!"
Hina tilted her head. "Should we ask for an introduction later?"
Ren nodded, then looked at Hina. "Do you have a coin on you?"
"..."
Nozomi and Ichika stared at them in horror. How are these two already making plans to play with the most dangerous man in Tokyo?!
The spectators were filtering out of the Livehouse, sensing the shift in the air.
Hana's negotiation was not going well.
Kizaki spread his hands, cutting Hana off mid-sentence. "Listen, Miss Patriarch... are you having trouble understanding the Japanese language?"
He strolled over and patted Ren on the shoulder.
"Is this the kid who took down the Zanshi-gumi? The 'Strongest' one in the room?"
Kizaki straightened his tie, his tone patient but implacable. "You know there's a foreign element moving into the city. IDEAL. They've already 'liquidated' a few of our associates."
"To counter them, the Fujiki-gumi, the Jinwa-gumi, the Shuei-gumi, and several other major families are forming a unified front to stabilize the peace. We need the streets quiet."
"This street in Shinjuku is Hanayama-gumi territory. We don't have time to supervise a bunch of start-up kids playing 'Underground Combat.'"
"So... shut it down. For your own safety."
As a high-ranking member of a martial-syndicate, Kizaki was being remarkably polite.
Hana tried one last gambit. "In that case, we can move venues. We'll change the name. We won't cause any trouble for the Hanayama family—"
"I told you, the answer is no!"
Kizaki sighed. "The families are on high alert. My Boss doesn't usually care about petty details, but he gave his word to the Chairman. If we say the streets are closed, they're closed."
"Besides... the Jinwa-gumi specifically reached out to us regarding you, Miss Mitani."
Hana blinked. "The Jinwa-gumi? Our parent family?"
"They said: 'For the safety of the Jinguji-gumi and Hana Mitani herself, ensure she stays out of the spotlight.' They don't want you caught in the crossfire when the war with IDEAL begins."
"..."
Nozomi and Ichika whispered to each other. "Why is the parent family so worried about Hana? 'For her safety'? That sounds... suspiciously friendly for the Yakuza."
"I've heard the Jinwa-gumi has always looked out for Hana's group," Ichika noted. "I thought it was just debt-loyalty, but this feels personal. Maybe it's an old friendship between the patriarchs?"
Regardless of the motive, the result was the same: Valkyrie was finished.
Kizaki turned his focus back to Ren.
"And you, kid. We've heard about your little 'Stairwell War' with the mercenaries. Word is you're being watched by 'Others' now."
"You're strong. I can see it," Kizaki said, stepping closer to Ren. He draped his suit jacket over his arm, hiding his hand.
Beneath the fabric, the tip of a razor-sharp blade pressed against Ren's stomach. It was a classic Yakuza "Intimidation Stance." There was no killing intent—just a cold, hard promise of what would happen if Ren didn't comply.
"For the sake of our peace, and the safety of your family... keep your head down. No more 'Hubs.' No more gathering fighters."
"..."
Ren was silent, processing the threat.
But Hina Hongo had no patience for threats. She was furious that her new "Toys" were being taken away before she could even play with them.
SHING!
Hina's hand blurred. She slapped Kizaki's eyes, a "Blind Strike" meant to reset his focus. Simultaneously, she pivoted, her leg whipping around in a heavy roundhouse aimed at Kizaki's lower back.
The movement was a thunderbolt. Kizaki didn't have time to react.
But just before the kick could connect, a massive arm reached out from the shadows.
It intercepted Hina's leg, the impact sounding like a baseball bat hitting a tree trunk.
The group turned toward the newcomer. A colossus of a man stood in the doorway, his silhouette filling the entire frame.
"!?!"
Kizaki wiped his stinging eyes and looked up. "B-Boss?! Why are you here in person?"
"...A feeling."
A voice that was surprisingly young and clear—almost boyish—came from the giant's throat.
The man's gaze swept over the room. He lingered on Hina for a moment before his eyes locked onto Ren Shiroki.
"I just... had a feeling," he whispered.
Kaoru Hanayama had arrived.