Chapter 263: The Hidden Journey
Chiharu Shiba.
The Second-Generation Leader of the Bozosoku gang "GANDAM." A specialized
brawler whose idol was the "World's Greatest Fighter," Kaoru Hanayama. He was a
fixture of the neighborhood and a long-time regular at the Soul Combat Hub.
Though he didn't technically "train" there, he occasionally used the heavy bags
to blow off steam with unrefined, amateur punches. Asking him to watch the shop
while Ren was away was the perfect tactical choice.
"Leave it to us, boys!"
Chiharu had received several "thank-you" gifts, including a pair of those
limited-edition sunglasses. He was visibly moved by the gesture. Being a man who
lived by a code of loyalty, he slammed a fist against his chest.
"Running a shop is easy! All you need is Guts!"
Ren Shiroki gave him a thumbs-up.
Fusui Kure let out a dry laugh, whispering into Ren's ear, "Ren-chin, you sure
about this? We could just leave Arisa-chan and Marco in charge..."
Ren shook his head. "I like the Hub when it's lively. A quiet gym feels wrong."
Fusui smiled. She couldn't argue with that logic.
As it happened, Kazuo Yamashita had arrived for his workout and was currently
doing a warm-up on the treadmill. To show his gratitude, Chiharu took it upon
himself to "host" the salaryman.
"Hey, pal! You're looking motivated!"
Chiharu put his hands on his hips and leaned in close to Kazuo's face. "I can
tell. Compared to when we were fixing that wall, you've grown some spirit!"
"—That's the way to do it!"
"Work hard at the things you won't regret! Keep that soul burning, and you'll
get stronger every day! It's never too late to start!"
Kazuo Yamashita: "..." Kazuo Yamashita: "...Eh?"
He had just finished a follow-up check-up at the hospital with Ohma and wanted
to work up a sweat. He hadn't expected to be cornered by a high-energy
delinquent.
"H-Haha..." Kazuo offered a shaky laugh. "I don't quite get it, but thanks for
the pep talk!"
"HELL YEAH!"
Chiharu tightened his fists, his eyes glinting. "Now that you understand, come
on! Let's go find someone to scrap with!"
Kazuo Yamashita: "..." Kazuo Yamashita: "Wait, what?!"
He turned a desperate, pleading gaze toward Ren, but Ren and Fusui were already
busy packing their travel gear, looking completely at ease.
Two Days Later, Afternoon.
Ren and Fusui departed for the private airfield owned by Metsudo Katahara. They
were scheduled to take a private transport helicopter. The old Chairman stood by
the helipad, waving them off.
"Ren-kun, Little Fusui! Safe travels! Give my best to Erio Kure. I'll be
arriving on the night of the Grand Fireworks Display!"
The old man was in high spirits. "Remember to bring me back some souvenirs!
High-quality sweets! And meat! Lots of local meat!"
Ren and Fusui nodded as they boarded.
Whir-whir-whir—
The massive helicopter lifted off, banking over the city and vanishing into the
summer haze.
Metsudo stood silently on the tarmac for a long moment.
A hulking man, nearly two meters tall and built like a fortress, stepped out of
the shadows. His expression was a mask of cold stone, but his eyes betrayed a
hidden, burning mania.
Metsudo didn't turn around; he had known the man was there for minutes. "I
didn't summon you, yet you came anyway. Were you drawn to him?"
"Lord Katahara..."
The man bowed his head slightly, his mind replaying Ren's departure. "[Soul
Combat]... compared to the opening night of the Street Brawl, he has evolved. He
is significantly stronger."
Metsudo glanced at the man, his eyes narrowing. "Kanoh, he isn't the only one.
Every warrior in this city is evolving. The 'Annihilation Street Brawl' has
created a new tide. Even you will be caught in the current soon. I suggest you
enjoy the chaos while it lasts!"
Hearing his master's words, the man known as the "Fang of Metsudo"—Kanoh
Agito—gave a short, sharp nod. "For your sake, My Lord... I shall conquer them
all."
"Is that so?"
Metsudo looked thoughtful for a second before waving him off. "Ho-ho-ho! I hear
you. Now go train."
Once Agito had departed, Metsudo offered a small, mischievous smile. "Saying he
does it 'for my sake'... still so green. You still have so much growing to do,
boy. And I..."
"I'm still a long way from retirement—"
"Let's see where this new path leads us!"
Dusk.
After a two-hour flight, the helicopter touched down. Ren Shiroki and Fusui Kure
had arrived at a city roughly 500 kilometers from Tokyo, known colloquially as
Kure Village.
As they descended, Fusui briefed Ren on her hometown.
"It's the Kure Clan's heartland, sure, but it's not some mystical ninja village
hidden in the clouds. It's just a normal town with good weather!"
"The only real difference is that about one out of every ten residents is either
a Kure or associated with the family."
Zip!
Fusui slid the cabin door open and jumped down with cat-like grace. She gestured
for Ren to follow with the luggage.
"To the 'Normies' in town, we're just the most powerful local family. We handle
the community patrols, we run the festival stalls... our reputation is actually
quite high."
"—But in the shadows, as you know... we are an organization of assassins."
The sun dipped below the horizon, the last of the daylight fading. Fusui pulled
off her sunglasses and hung them from her shirt. She took a deep, theatrical
breath of the local air, her posture relaxing.
She grabbed her suitcase and gave Ren's chest a playful slap. She raised her
other hand, pointing toward the town.
"Let's go, Ren-chin! Welcome to my house. One half of the Tokyo Duo has
returned!"
Ren tucked his sunglasses away and followed her. The vibe here was entirely
different from Tokyo. Kure Village had a hazy, nostalgic atmosphere, the air
scented with traditional cedarwood and summer greenery. It was incredibly
relaxing.
Outside the modern city center, the town was mostly low-rise traditional
buildings. The residential areas were silent, but the commercial district was
alive with the sound of evening activity. People were finishing their shifts,
heading out for drinks or late-night snacks.
They hailed a taxi to head toward the main shopping district. The driver noticed
Fusui's eyes and immediately became incredibly enthusiastic. He even refused to
take their fare, citing the "Kure family's protection" as payment enough.
They hopped out and began to wander the streets. Since it was still early, Fusui
suggested a quick tour of the "local highlights."
"Nice. That's perfect!" Ren loved seeing new places and was eager for the tour.
The girl blinked her black-and-white eyes, a look of immense pride on her face.
They reached a mountain path: "This is the Lush Grove." They turned a corner:
"This is our Ancient Inn." They hit a side street: "This is the Hot Spring Spa."
They walked further: "This is the Night-Shift Gymnasium." A few hundred meters
east: "And this is the Private Clinic."
Ren Shiroki: "..." Ren Shiroki: "Can we just eat dinner first?"
Fusui offered a blunt, cheeky grin. "These spots are very popular, Ren-chin!
You're going to get even stronger while you're here, so you might as well get
familiar with them now!"
Ren: "..." (He realized these 'spots' were essentially the Kure Clan's
assembly line for... 'genetic interaction'.)
As they turned into a secluded alleyway to reach the next block, a dark
silhouette suddenly lunged from the shadows behind Ren.
Zip!
Ren dropped into a crouch, twisting his hips and core. Using the ball of his
foot as a pivot, he performed a full 360-degree rotation, slipping to the
shadow's flank before springing upward.
[JAMIE'S FREEFLOW STRIKE]!
The move was a blur of kinetic energy. Ren caught the shadow by the shoulders
and continued the rotation, spinning the intruder in circles. After several
dizzying revolutions, Ren released him, watching the figure wobble and stumble.
Ren burst into a boisterous laugh.
He looked up to see three or four young men and women standing nearby. They were
dressed in traditional Haori jackets and all possessed the black-sclera eyes of
the Kure Clan. They were grinning, clearly enjoying the show.
The one Ren had spun dizzy was a short-haired youth. He clutched his head for a
few seconds before snapping back to reality, staring at Ren with shock before
greeting Fusui.
"Fusui! Your boyfriend is a monster!"
Fusui clapped her hands, looking delighted. These were her childhood friends.
Having heard she was returning from Tokyo with a "Powerhouse," they had come to
test the waters.
"Sharp reflexes, pal!"
The youth shook Ren's hand with a grin. "Since you're visiting from the big
city, make sure you have a good time. There are some spots you and Fusui should
definitely visit."
He pulled out a tourist map and began circling locations with a marker.
"This is the Lush Grove;" "This is the Ancient Inn;" "This is the Hot Spring
Spa;" "This is the Night-Shift Gymnasium;"
Ren: "..."
So these aren't just 'spots,' they're a standardized protocol?!
Fusui continued to clap, her grin widening. "Ren-chin is going to keep getting
stronger! The stronger the better, so there's no rush! Slurp... no rush at all!"
The youth shrugged, giving Ren a look of "Good luck, buddy." He turned to the
group and shouted, "Meeting at the Izakaya tonight! My treat!"
Ren and Fusui dragged their suitcases along, following the group toward the
heart of the district. But as they passed the first Izakaya, the lead youth
didn't stop. He kept walking, his pace quickening.
Ren tilted his head. "Aren't we stopping?"
"Oh, soon," the youth answered cheerfully. "Some trash managed to sneak into the
Village. We have to take the garbage out first—"
(End of Chapter)
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