CHAPTER 62: HE'S GETTING… "EXCITED"
Even without Ren Shiroki's deep-memory files, the name Mitsuyo Kureishi was already a legend in the making.
A mixed martial artist and MMA professional, 34 years old, Kureishi was considered the undisputed king of Japan's light-to-middleweight circuit. He was an active fighter with movie-star looks, making him a constant topic of conversation in newspapers, TV sports segments, and even among Arisa's high school friends.
Arisa, for one, never imagined that a top-tier superstar like him was also a licensed Bone Setter.
"Can I... touch them?"
Arisa crept forward, looking at Kureishi's arms. She poked one of his biceps with a finger.
Kureishi didn't mind at all. He was used to fans. He flashed a brilliant, white-toothed smile, flexed for her, and even produced a pen to give her an autograph on her notebook.
"It's the reality of the business," Kureishi said, introducing himself as he handed Ren his professional business card. "MMA purses aren't enough to cover high-end training and Tokyo living. So, I opened my own Dojo and Bone-Setting Clinic over in Ochanomizu."
He clapped Nozomi Tenma on the shoulder with a friendly grin.
"Money is tight for everyone these days. Fighters need to look out for each other. Nozomi-chan told me you were building a 'Combat Hub'? She said you needed someone to handle the medical and rehabilitation wing, so she brought me in to discuss a partnership."
Nozomi added, "Senpai might not be a medical doctor, but when it comes to bone alignment and soft-tissue repair, he's a wizard."
Kureishi winked at Ren. "And if the price is right—or if I find your 'Flavor' interesting—I'm available as a high-level sparring partner, too!"
"I appreciate it. I look forward to working with you," Ren said, tucking the card away. He shared a knowing look with Nozomi.
She was moving fast. She was integrating her entire network into Ren's project. By building the Soul Combat Hub, the fighters of the Valkyrie circuit would have a permanent home base. It was a perfect ecosystem: Ren got the elite training partners he needed, and Nozomi got a professional facility to house her talent.
Kureishi was the missing piece—the specialist who could keep everyone in the ring. Ren knew from his memories that Kureishi had some... eccentricities, but the man was a professional.
Kureishi began a quick evaluation of Ren. His smile faded as he looked at the bandages wrapped around Ren's chest, head, and right leg.
"Nozomi-chan gave me a summary, but Ren-kun... what kind of monster were you fighting to end up like this?"
Kureishi's eyes sparkled. "Wait. Opportunity of a lifetime! Let me give you a full skeletal adjustment. We can't have any 'Hidden Errors' in that frame of yours."
Ren agreed, sitting on a stool.
Kureishi's hands moved over Ren's body with terrifying precision. "Incredible mass. You're heavier than the stats Nozomi gave me."
Ren nodded. "I went from 94kg to 97kg in the last two weeks."
"Aha! Pure functional muscle gain. Excellent!"
Kureishi laughed, then leaned in to whisper to Ren. "Did you know? I haven't seen Nozomi-chan in three years. She's gotten a little... softer since she retired from the pros."
Nozomi's face turned red. "That's because I stopped doing twelve-hour cardio sessions! And with a detached retina, I have to stick to technical grappling! I'm not fat!"
"Sorry, sorry! Just a joke!"
Kureishi waved his hands dismissively. "By the way, Nozomi, didn't you have a childhood friend who worked as an 'Underground Doctor'? That girl is a bit wicked, but she might have a way to fix your eyes."
"I'll think about it. Thanks for the lead, Senpai."
Nozomi turned back to Ren. "Anyway, we just came to check on you and introduce Kureishi-senpai. Ichika, Hana, and Yuzuha are tied up with 'Valkyrie' business, but they'll be here soon."
Ren's attention shifted to the pink-haired girl who had been clinging to Nozomi's arm the entire time.
Hina Hongo.
"And her...?" Ren asked.
"Her?" Nozomi rubbed her temples. "I ran into her on the street, and she's been stuck to me like a burr ever since."
Hina nuzzled Nozomi's arm, her star-shaped pupils shimmering. "Since Nozomi-san won't set up any matches for me right now, and she refuses to fight me herself, I have to follow her to find the fun!"
Nozomi sighed. Hina was a walking disaster. Even in peak condition, Nozomi would struggle against her; with a compromised eye, it would be a suicide mission. She had no choice but to let the girl follow her.
On the other side of the yard, Kureishi finished his check of Ren. He whistled in appreciation.
"Masterful. Whoever your surgeon was, they're a genius. Was it Kureha Shinogi? He's quite famous in our circles."
"The skin lacerations were handled with microscopic precision. You'll have scars, but no keloids. The teeth are set, and the cracked bones are aligned perfectly. Mmm... yes... your skeleton is truly beautiful..."
Kureishi began to mutter to himself, his fingers lingering on Ren's collarbone.
Suddenly, the front gate rattled. Two more guests arrived: Fusui Kure and Karura Kure.
Fusui's presence was routine by now, but Karura had come to see how Arisa's brother was doing after his discharge.
The moment Karura stepped into the yard, her eyes met Hina Hongo's.
The air in the garden turned to ice.
ZIP!
Hina lunged. She threw a testing straight punch. Karura didn't flinch; she parried the strike with a palm and counter-trapped Hina's arm. The two girls ended up in a high-tension clinch, their forearms locked against each other.
"Haha! I knew it! This place is a magnet for the good ones!"
Hina stared at Karura's school uniform. "Wait... are we at the same school? I think I've seen you in the hallways..."
A vein throbbed in Karura's temple. Her black-and-white eyes narrowed. "I remember you too, Hongo-san."
Hina tilted her head, her muscles coiled like springs. "So... do we play?"
"Fighting outside of school is a violation of the student code," Karura said, her voice dropping into a dangerous, focused register. "Besides... I don't kill unless I'm under contract. And you're the kind of 'Monster' who doesn't stop unless your heart is crushed."
"Eh~? Calling me a monster? How mean!"
Hina's excitement spiked. "Can I put a contract out on my own foster parents? Would you take the job?"
Karura's neck muscles began to bulge—the [Removal] was flickering on the edges of her spirit. "You can try."
Before the girls could tear the yard apart, another car pulled up to the curb.
Kaoru Hanayama and Kizaki stepped out. Seeing the crowd gathered in the yard, even the Boss was momentarily surprised.
Is Ren Shiroki starting a village? Kizaki wondered.
Regardless, Hanayama had come to pay his respects. He considered Ren a "Brother in Arms" after their brawl.
Hanayama's throat was still heavily bandaged. Even after being treated by the legendary Dr. Kureha Shinogi, he wouldn't be able to speak for another week. He simply gave a silent, stoic nod to Ren and gestured to Kizaki.
Kizaki stepped forward, presenting a business card and signaling the driver to open the trunk.
"Ren-kun. The Boss said he hasn't had a drink that 'refreshing' in years. He wanted to come by personally to say thanks."
The Hanayama-gumi subordinates began unloading case after case of Wild Turkey bourbon. They stacked it in the yard until it was five feet high.
Ren: "..."
Ren: "...Hahaha! I'll take it!"
The sheer absurdity of the gift broke the tension between Hina and Karura. They both backed off, curious about the giant in the white suit.
Kureishi Mitsuyo clapped his hands. "Alright, enough with the killing intent! Let's keep things civil! Say... you, Mr. Yakuza. You look like you could use a high-end skeletal adjustment. Interested?"
"..."
Hanayama looked at Kureishi. He saw the "Hunger" in the bone-setter's eyes—the creepy obsession with breaking things—and gave a firm shake of his head.
Kizaki, however, didn't have the Boss's instincts. He was feeling stiff from the previous night's street brawl and stepped forward. "I'll take you up on that. My shoulders are killing me."
Kureishi grinned. He laid a blanket on the grass and told Kizaki to lie down.
"..."
Hina watched from the side, tilting her head. She whispered to Karura and the other girls: "That Kureishi-san... he radiates an 'Unpleasant' aura, doesn't he?"
Kureishi overheard her. "Hina-chan, how rude! I'm a perfectly 'Legitimate' professional athlete! Just your friendly neighborhood bone-setter."
Karura ignored his defense. She looked at Kureishi's hands. "Look at his fingers. He's a 'Bone Crusher.' He derives pleasure from the sensation of snapping joints. It's a fetish."
Kureishi chuckled, neither confirming nor denying.
Suddenly, Hina blurted out: "Kureishi-san, you're about to OO."
Kizaki, currently being twisted into a pretzel by Kureishi, froze. "Wait... what?!"
Kureishi pressed down on Kizaki's spine, whispering, "Don't worry. As long as I get to hear the bones pop, I treat everyone the same."
"Wait—what?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?!"
Marco's head popped over the perimeter wall. He had just finished his ice cream. He pointed a finger and shouted at the top of his lungs:
"THE BIG SISTER SAID THE PINK-HAIRED BROTHER IS GETTING A BONER!"
Kizaki: "..."
Kureishi: "..."
The Yard: "..."
It was officially the most uncomfortable moment in the history of the Shiroki property.
Before Kizaki could flee in terror, the final members of the squad arrived. Ichika Iori, Hana Mitani, and Yuzuha Li walked through the gate.
Ichika spotted Kizaki and marched over to him, her expression serious.
"Kizaki-san. I had a meeting all morning. A real headache. We discussed a lot of... Yakuza-related content."
Kizaki understood the code. He pulled a few high-denomination bills from his pocket—a "tip" for the information.
Ichika smirked, pocketing the cash. She leaned in close to his ear, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"Watch your backs. Tokyo is about to get crowded."
"The Metropolitan Police just authorized the deployment of the 'Secret Funeral Division' (Missou-ka) to handle the 'Monsters' on the street."