Chapter 327: Shut Up, And Then—
Just like Ren Shiroki, Raian Kure was a mess of blood and pulverized tissue. If
anything, his external injuries looked even worse—a grizzly, mangled testament
to the war they had just waged.
He stood there, rooted to the spot, his chest heaving with ragged, violent gasps
for air.
Fusui Kure turned to look at her older brother, but Raian simply spat out a glob
of bloody phlegm. The message was clear: "Get lost. Don't touch me."
Knowing her brother all too well, Fusui gave a helpless shrug and a small smile,
waving a silent goodbye.
The ringside paramedics, however, weren't as well-versed in the "Devil's"
temperament. They rushed toward Raian, attempting to stabilize him and get him
onto a stretcher.
Annoyed by the swarm, Raian gave his body a violent, dog-like shudder. A spray
of blood and sweat erupted from him, sending the medical staff scrambling back
with cries of alarm.
"Kukakakaka!"
Raian let out a jagged laugh, mocking their cowardice. Then, hunched over like a
predatory beast, he began to stalk off the field with heavy, deliberate strides.
The doctors exchanged bewildered glances. To suffer that much punishment and
still walk off under his own power? What kind of monster was he?
And if he was a monster... just how strong was the man who had fought him to a
standstill, Ren Shiroki?
Seeing the crowd go a bit quiet, the young ring announcer let her professional
instincts take over.
"This year's traditional arena has officially found its master!" she shouted
into the mic.
"What started as a simple patch of dirt has been transformed through glorious
battle into a sacred ground painted in crimson! This is the true allure of
combat!"
"Whether you are of the Kure Clan or a guest from afar, if you seek the pinnacle
of strength, you cannot help but be moved by what we've witnessed!"
The girl smiled radiantly, delivering her final lines of the day.
"To those who dared to step onto this stage in pursuit of power—you have our
deepest respect! Now, take that fire in your hearts and go enjoy tonight's
festival!"
[Infirmary]
Fusui accompanied Ren for a full medical check-up. The doctor was an eccentric
little old man from the Kure Clan, but his skills were top-tier.
During a break in the examination, Fusui pulled out her phone to check on Raian.
Her brother sent back a single sticker: a "Tsk" emoji.
Fusui: "..."
Well, I guess that means he's fine?
She let out a sigh of relief and waited for Ren's bandaging to be completed.
Finally, the doctor moved on to repairing Ren's chipped teeth—a process that
required a bit of precision.
"You're one sturdy kid!" the doctor chirped. He had Ren keep his mouth open as
he tinkered away with his dental tools. "And against that [MAJIN] no less... you
fought a beautiful match."
The old man's eyes flickered toward Fusui, and he let out a mischievous chuckle.
"Don't worry, girl. I'll have him fixed up perfectly. It might sting a bit, but
he'll be more than ready for tonight's festivities!"
[The Festival Grounds]
The spectators began to filter out of the central plaza, disappearing into the
sea of tourists and residents. The awe they felt from the matches was tucked
away in their hearts, replayable memories that would last a lifetime.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky turned a deep, fiery red. Lanterns
along the street began to flicker to life, and the shouts of food stall vendors
grew louder. The summer festival atmosphere was reaching its peak.
On a nearby park bench, Reiichi Kure and the burly Horio Kure were sitting back,
each holding a massive mug of ice-cold beer and a few plates of snacks.
"Nnn... Hah!" Reiichi took a massive gulp, looking rejuvenated. "Man, nothing
beats the beer back home in Kure Village."
He chewed on a freshly grilled skewer and leaned back. "I heard things have been
pretty restless in Tokyo lately?"
Horio nodded. "IDEAL, the Worm, and those ambitious types over at the Kengan
Association... it's a mess. Sounds like everyone's busy."
Reiichi looked up at the sky. "The old man is tight with the Association, so
we'll definitely end up dragged into it."
Horio shrugged. "Doesn't matter. Work is work."
Reiichi suddenly remembered something. "I heard IDEAL is interested in 'The
Inside'—the Ward in Tokyo."
"The Inside." Also known as the "Under-City" or the "Dark Zone." It was the
lawless territory where Ohma Tokita had been raised. The terrain was a labyrinth
of urban decay and massive underground spaces, home to countless outlaws and
hidden masters.
"That's a place even state-level authorities won't touch," Horio said, rubbing
his chin. "Does a mere crime syndicate really think they can provoke The
Inside?"
"Maybe... maybe not."
Reiichi's gaze shifted as a small, long-haired old man approached, flanked by a
few elite bodyguards.
It was the Chairman of the Kengan Association himself—Metsudo Katahara.
"Ho ho ho! Reiichi, Horio! Long time no see!"
The old man was dressed in a garish Hawaiian shirt, shorts, and flip-flops,
clearly intending to enjoy the festival to the fullest. However, if Metsudo were
here just for fun, he wouldn't have missed the afternoon's fights.
Most likely, he had been tied up with urgent business and had only just arrived
to catch the tail end of the event and consult with Erioh Kure.
"Oh?" Metsudo saw their expressions and chuckled. "Smart boys. You've figured it
out, haven't you? I'm here to see Erioh. There are matters that must be
discussed in person, matters that require... delicate consideration."
Then, the old man's tone flipped instantly. He winked. "But! I love a good
party! I'm going to play my heart out before I go talk to that old grump Erioh!"
"Yeahhh! Party time!"
The old man was acting like a teenager, leaving the two Kure warriors with no
choice but to awkwardly play along.
Just then, another man with a mane of silver hair walked over to greet Metsudo.
"Hmph. What a coincidence."
It was the legend of the underground Mahjong world—The Man of the Divine Realm,
Shigeru Akagi.
Compared to the burdened Metsudo, Akagi looked far more relaxed, his expression
serene as he replayed the afternoon's battles in his mind.
"Looks like you're here on business?" Akagi looked at his old friend. "Are you
going to keep working? Or are you bored?"
"Oh! Akagi-kun! You're here too?" Metsudo beamed. "I'm not bored at all lately!
I've been 'playing' with all sorts of interesting people. I even joined a few
Kakerou matches."
Metsudo stroked his long beard. "Whether it's a physical brawl or a battle of
wits, a fight between 'men' is never boring."
Akagi kept his hands in his pockets. "Is that so? I suppose you're right."
Metsudo laughed. "Since we're all here, why don't we play a few rounds of
Mahjong? I heard there's a firework display soon. Playing while watching the
show sounds like a blast!"
Then, Metsudo's face fell. "Wait! I forgot Erioh is terrible at Mahjong. And
even if we brought him, we're still one player short..."
"No problem," Akagi said with a faint smile. "I have two candidates here. Their
skill levels are... acceptable."
With that, Akagi reached behind him and "pulled" two people forward.
The Lie Eater, Baku Madarame, and Ren's younger sister, Arisa Sakurai.
Arisa, hearing there was fun to be had, immediately threw her hands up.
"Woo-hoo!"
Baku, however, clearly had an agenda. He smiled thinly. "Chairman Metsudo, I'd
like to have a chat with you and Mr. Kure about the state of the Underground."
[Central Plaza]
The pro-wrestlers and the Kure Clan members were working together, hauling heavy
firework canisters and setting up the launch racks.
"Phew!" Kurachi wiped the sweat from his brow. "Now we just need Ren-chin to
light the fuse, and we'll have a 'Fantastic' show!"
"...Wait, where is Shiroki-kun?"
Kurachi looked around, but only saw Jun Sekibayashi holding a commemorative
Zippo lighter.
"Ren-chin left this with me. Said he had something busy to attend to." Seki
scratched his head and looked toward the distant hills. "If I had to guess...
he's probably on a date."
[The Secret Hillside]
Past a thicket of bushes lay a small, abandoned clearing. It wasn't large, but
it offered a perfect, unobstructed view of the central plaza below.
Ren Shiroki and Fusui Kure were there.
Ren was wrapped in bandages, his left arm in a cast, his muscular frame draped
in a simple haori jacket. Fusui was wearing a stunning yukata patterned with
cherry blossoms and moons.
They had spread out a picnic mat, surrounded by snacks and drinks.
"I found this place when I was a kid," Fusui explained. "No one else knows about
it. It's the perfect secret spot for the fireworks."
Ren looked around, impressed. He reached for a bag of chips, but as he bit down,
a sharp sting shot through his newly repaired tooth.
"Tsk..."
Fusui reached out, cupping Ren's chin and turning his head toward her. "Open up.
Let me see that new tooth. Don't tell me it's broken already."
"Ahhh—" Ren complied, opening his mouth.
Fusui flicked on her phone's flashlight, her fingers poking and prodding around
Ren's mouth.
As she inspected him, she mused, "You know, I saw a movie once. This scene is
exactly like it."
With his mouth still open, Ren's voice was muffled. "Wha' kine of moobie?" (What
kind of movie?)
"If I had to describe it... a romance movie, I guess?" Fusui thought for a
moment. "Two people meet in a phone booth, they go on dates at coffee shops and
schools, they go swimming together."
"And then, they go to a summer festival just like this."
"The hero and heroine go to a hillside to watch the fireworks. They start to
kiss, and then the heroine bites the hero's tongue off. Then everything starts
exploding. Bombs everywhere. Papi-papi-boom!"
Ren: "..."
Ren: "Wait... what kind of 'romance' movies are you watching?"
His internal alarms went off, and he tried to pull his head back.
But Fusui's grip on his chin tightened, pulling him back until they were inches
apart.
The veins around the girl's eyes suddenly bulged. Her [REMOVAL] had flickered
on.
She whispered: "Shut up."
"And open up."
A kiss—and then, the fireworks exploded.
☆☆☆
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