Ryuzaki Shin twitched his body again, but the cold little hand gripping his arm tightened suddenly with surprising force.
He frowned and looked back.
Uehara Asuka, lying on her side on the bed, had her brows tightly furrowed, and her normally serene sleeping face was now filled with pain and fear, as if she were experiencing a terrible nightmare.
A crystal tear silently slipped from the corner of her eye, disappearing into her dark hair.
She was still unconsciously muttering:
"Don't... don't go... please..."
Ryuzaki Shin tugged his arm, but found he couldn't pull it free.
Goodness, she was holding on quite tightly.
Seeing her fragile and helpless appearance, Ryuzaki Shin's heart, as hard as iron, softened slightly after all.
He sighed, thinking to himself:
Damn, I'll be merciful tonight, I'll let you use me for one night.
It wasn't that Ryuzaki Shin wanted to be a saint.
After such a dramatic day, it was best to let her rest properly.
He wasn't a beast, and besides, this woman wasn't going to run away.
He stopped struggling, turned over, and lay down on the other side of the bed, trying to maintain some distance from her.
However, as soon as he lay down, Uehara Asuka seemed to sense his reassuring presence, and her tightly furrowed brows actually relaxed.
Immediately after, she seemed to have found a warm harbor, unconsciously moving towards him, her soft body rolling directly into his arms.
She just pressed against his chest without any warning.
Ryuzaki Shin: "..."
(Special note: When this book was written to this point, because it was still Suzuran High School, those who understand know the reason. Writing a direct intimate scene would not pass, so this adjustment was made. This is an irresistible force, not some people in the comment section who don't understand anything and are blindly criticizing. The setting was modified to allow it to be written. Everything you want to see will come later.)
...The next day.
Ryuzaki Shin was awakened by the enticing aroma of food.
He sat up from the bed, still half-asleep, feeling sore all over, especially his waist, which felt as if it had been broken.
There was no other way; he had endured a whole night. With a peerless beauty lying beside him, he could only act like a gentleman. That feeling was more exhausting than fighting a dozen battles.
He didn't know when he had finally drifted off to sleep.
"Ryuzaki-kun, are you awake?"
A gentle voice came from the doorway.
Uehara Asuka, wearing a pink apron, walked out of the kitchen carrying a steaming plate of tamagoyaki.
Seeing Ryuzaki Shin awake, she showed a bright yet slightly shy smile.
"Hurry and wash up, breakfast will be ready soon."
Ryuzaki Shin looked at her virtuous and domestic appearance, feeling an inexplicable warmth in his heart.
In his previous life, although he had many women around him, they were all seductive hussies with ulterior motives. Where had he ever experienced such a warm morning?
Having a gentle and considerate woman waiting for him at home, preparing hot meals... this feeling actually wasn't bad at all.
He yawned, stretched, and walked into the bathroom.
After washing up, the dining table was already filled with a rich Japanese breakfast.
Miso soup, grilled fish, tamagoyaki, and several delicate pickles filled the air with their aroma.
Ryuzaki Shin didn't stand on ceremony, sitting down and devouring the food.
"Hmm, delicious!"
He praised lavishly as he ate.
Uehara Asuka's pretty face flushed at his praise. She sat opposite him, eating in small bites, her beautiful eyes constantly looking at him with tenderness, as if she couldn't get enough.
Just then, Ryuzaki Shin's gaze fell on a suitcase in the corner of the living room. He raised an eyebrow and asked:
"Uehara Asuka, are you going on a long trip?"
Uehara Asuka's movements paused, and the smile on her face faded a little.
She nodded, somewhat afraid to meet his eyes, and said in a low voice:
"Yes... I'm still a bit scared by what happened yesterday... I know Noguchi won't let it go."
"I have a niece who also works in Tokyo. I thought... I thought I'd go stay with her for a while to avoid trouble."
Ryuzaki Shin didn't say anything, just silently drank a mouthful of miso soup.
Seeing his silence, Uehara Asuka thought he was angry. She quickly put down her chopsticks and anxiously explained:
"Shin... Ryuzaki-kun, please don't misunderstand. It's not that I'm not discussing it with you, and I'm not leaving..."
"I... I'll bring you a bento every day!"
As if afraid he wouldn't believe her, she immediately pulled out a thick envelope from her small bag, placed it on the table, and pushed it towards Ryuzaki Shin.
"Here's 100,000 yen. Take it and find a better place to live nearby. Please don't go back to Suzuran anymore, that place is too dangerous!"
"If... if it's not enough, tell me. I... I'll find a way!"
You know, seeing her sincere and worried expression, Ryuzaki Shin was genuinely touched for a moment.
This woman, who couldn't even protect herself, was still thinking of him.
But, touched or not, when did Ryuzaki Shin ever need a woman to support him?
He instantly straightened his face and said in an undeniable tone:
"Put the money away."
"Huh?"
Uehara Asuka was stunned.
Ryuzaki Shin took out the 50,000 yen he had "borrowed" from those delinquents yesterday from his pocket, then pulled out 30,000 from it, slapped it directly on the table, and pushed it back towards her.
"Do I look like the kind of gigolo who needs a woman to support him?"
"Take these 30,000, buy a phone, and when you get to your niece's place, call me to let me know you're safe."
Uehara Asuka looked at the 30,000 yen in front of her, then at Ryuzaki Shin's serious and domineering face, and her eyes reddened again.
"No... I can't take your money..."
"I told you to take it, so take it!" Ryuzaki Shin frowned. "Why are you talking so much nonsense? Or are you saying you think I can't protect you?"
Uehara Asuka was silenced by his roar. She looked at Ryuzaki Shin's unyielding gaze and had gradually come to understand this man's temper.
She knew that if she refused again, it would only make him unhappy, and that would be trampling on a man's dignity.
She finally obediently took the money, but in her heart, she was thinking:
Later, I'll use my own money to buy a phone and secretly save these 30,000 yen for Shin for when he goes to university.
Just then, a car horn sounded downstairs, followed by Sasaki Yu's somewhat timid voice.
"Shin-nii! Time for school!"
Ryuzaki Shin and Uehara Asuka quickly tidied up.
He naturally picked up the heavy suitcase, while his other hand held his school bag and bento box.
When they went downstairs, Sasaki Yu had already opened the door of the Toyota Century and was waiting outside.
"Shin-nii, this is...?"
Sasaki Yu saw the beautiful woman beside Ryuzaki Shin, but still asked politely.
"My landlady," Ryuzaki Shin said succinctly, then turned to Sasaki Yu, "Can you take her somewhere? Is that convenient?"
"Convenient! Of course, it's convenient!"
Sasaki Yu nodded repeatedly, not even asking for the specific address.
He thought to himself, no wonder Shin-nii wanted to save her yesterday. Is this what they call a hero falling for a beauty?
The driver thoughtfully helped put the suitcase into the trunk.
The three got into the car. Sasaki Yu sensibly sat in the front passenger seat, while Uehara Asuka and Ryuzaki Shin sat in the back.
After the car started, Ryuzaki Shin took a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket, then borrowed a pen from Sasaki Yu's school bag, wrote a string of numbers on it, and handed it to Uehara Asuka.
"This is my phone number. When you buy a phone, call me at this number."
"Okay."
Uehara Asuka took the slip of paper and carefully put it into her small bag.
Suzuran would be reached soon.
Just as Ryuzaki Shin opened the car door, preparing to get out at the entrance of Suzuran High School.
"Ryuzaki-kun!"
Uehara Asuka suddenly called out to him.
Ryuzaki Shin had just turned his head and hadn't even reacted yet.
Uehara Asuka suddenly leaned over, cupped his face with both hands, and gently kissed his cool cheek.
The warm, soft touch, accompanied by a faint scent, instantly stunned Ryuzaki Shin.
"Ryuzaki-kun, be careful. I'll call you."
After Uehara Asuka said this, her pretty face was already flushed as if it were on fire. She dared not look at Ryuzaki Shin again, quickly pulled back, and turned to look out the window.
Ryuzaki Shin touched his cheek, feeling the lingering warmth and scent, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly upwards.
He didn't say anything more. Instead, he also leaned over, gently lifted Uehara Asuka's delicate chin with his index finger, forcing her to meet his gaze.
Looking at her evasive and shy beautiful eyes, Ryuzaki Shin lightly touched Uehara Asuka's lips, then said casually:
"Wait for me to resolve the trouble, Asuka."
"The night in Tokyo is still long."
The Toyota Century started smoothly, and Sasaki Yu carefully instructed the driver, "Uncle Nakamura, please make sure to safely deliver Mrs. Asuka to her niece's home."
He hesitated for a moment, then finally pulled a thick envelope from his pocket and quietly handed it to the driver.
"Later, take Mrs. Asuka to our department store in Ginza and get her the latest model of mobile phone. The cost will come from my account. You must make sure she accepts it."
The driver, Nakamura, nodded expressionlessly, not asking any further questions, simply responding, "Yes, Young Master."
The car slowly drove away.
Ryuzaki Shin watched this scene, his doubts growing deeper. He turned his head to look at Sasaki Yu, who was still somewhat timid beside him, and finally couldn't help but speak.
"I say, Sasaki-san, what exactly does your family do?"
At his question, Sasaki Yu's pale face instantly flushed again. He scratched his head sheepishly and said in a low voice,
"My family... just does a little business, mainly in real estate."
He paused, then added, "After making some money in real estate, my family also got involved a little bit in industries like catering, hotels, and department stores..."
"..."
Ryuzaki Shin's mouth twitched.
Good heavens, I'm utterly speechless!
"A little bit involved"?
You mean an *immense* amount!
A storm instantly raged in his heart, but he remained calm on the surface.
Although he hadn't read much, he still had basic historical knowledge.
It was 1985, the peak of Sakura Country's bubble economy!
During this era, land prices in Tokyo were ridiculously expensive; the price of a single plot of land in Ginza could even buy the entire state of California in America!
And Sasaki Yu's family was in real estate?
No wonder this kid could casually pull out twenty thousand yen as pocket money, no wonder he could ride to school in a Toyota Century!
This wasn't some rich second-generation; this was clearly the scion of a top zaibatsu!
Ryuzaki Shin's mind began to race.
The bubble economy... real estate... He knew this seemingly prosperous feast would end in a few years in an extremely tragic way.
Countless people would lose everything and commit suicide by jumping off buildings.
If... if he could use this information asymmetry to get the Sasaki Family to withdraw early... No!
Ryuzaki Shin shook his head; he wasn't a saint.
What he thought was how to use the Sasaki Family, this large ship, to fiercely net a huge sum for himself in the upcoming financial tsunami!
With enough capital, there was so much he could do!
Dominating Tokyo, taking over the Yamaguchi-gumi—all of it would become effortless in the face of absolute money!
This was far more promising than being a school bully!
His ambition, at this moment, surged like a wildfire across the plains, growing madly.
However, now was not the time.
He suppressed his thoughts, then put on a curious expression and asked,
"Then, since your family is so rich, why would you think of coming to a rundown place like Suzuran for university?"
At this, Sasaki Yu's face turned even redder, and his voice became as faint as a mosquito's hum:
"That... that was my father's idea... He said I... I was too weak, completely lacking in manliness, so he sent me here... to get some training."
"Training?" Ryuzaki Shin almost burst out laughing. "Aren't they afraid you'd get beaten to death on the first day?"
"My father said that getting beaten... is also part of growth," Sasaki Yu's voice grew even softer. "And... and if I give them money, they... they won't hit me."
"..."
Ryuzaki Shin was completely speechless.
Is this the power of money?
Indeed, the world of the rich, he didn't understand before, and now... he still doesn't understand!
He had originally wanted to ask about studies, but the words caught in his throat.
Ask what the hell for!
Would a family like theirs need to worry about school?
From the moment he was born, his family had already paved all his future paths.
Whether it was attending Todai or studying at Harvard, it was merely a matter of his family's word.
This screwed-up society!
Ryuzaki Shin spat fiercely in his heart.
He finally asked the question he most wanted to know.
"Then why have you been following me??"
This was what he found most puzzling.
Upon hearing this question, Sasaki Yu's body instantly stood ramrod straight. He looked at Ryuzaki Shin, his eyes practically gleaming with a fanatic light!
He bowed deeply to Ryuzaki Shin and, in a tone full of the chuunibyou flair of Japanese anime, loudly declared,
"Shin-nii! Please, I beg you, let me follow you! Please... please turn me into a true man!"
Ryuzaki Shin was utterly bewildered by his sudden action.
"Why do you think I can help you?"
Sasaki Yu looked up, his eyes incredibly sincere as he said,
"Because... because I saw it!"
"That day, I saw you were also alone, being bullied by Sakata and those three, but the next day, you were like a changed person, knocking all of them to the ground!"
"You must... you must have mastered the secret to becoming a man overnight!"
"And..." He paused, his tone becoming even more reverent, "I feel Shin-nii is a very, very powerful person! Following Shin-nii, I feel very safe!"
"My father always told me since I was little, what you do isn't as important as who you do it with. If you can be with a powerful person, even failure is an incredibly fortunate thing!"
Ryuzaki Shin listened, then nodded.
Well, well, so this is how this kid's family educated him.
No wonder he's so sensible and knows how to read people.
It seems the educational methods of these top zaibatsu are indeed extraordinary.
Ryuzaki Shin thought, this kid, though a bit cowardly-looking, isn't stupid, and his family is rich and powerful. Most importantly, he's sensible!
This is simply the perfect candidate for a subordinate!
What boss doesn't have a follower to carry bags and pay bills?
Moreover, connecting with the Sasaki Family would be crucial for his future plans.
Thinking this, he decided to help the kid out.
He patted Sasaki Yu's shoulder and, in the tone of a senior, said with feigned profundity,
"Sasaki-san, remember, true strength doesn't come from your fists, but from your heart!"
His voice paused, and his eyes sharpened, as if they could pierce one's soul.
"Hold your head high! Puff out your chest! From today on, you are my, Ryuzaki Shin's, man! From now on, whoever dares to touch you, touches me!"
Sasaki Yu was so stirred by Ryuzaki Shin's words that he felt a warm current surge from his heart, instantly spreading throughout his entire body!
He was flushed with excitement, bowed deeply again, and with all his might, roared,
"Yes! Shin-nii! I, Sasaki Yu, from today on, will follow your lead!"
Ryuzaki Shin nodded with satisfaction, looking at the chuunibyou teenager before him who was almost ablaze, a wicked smile playing on his lips.
"Very good, Sasaki-san."
"In that case, next, I will give you your first lesson in becoming a man!"
..."Shin... Shin-nii... do we really have to do this?"
Sasaki Yu stood at the door of a classroom, looking at the menacing delinquents inside. A fine layer of cold sweat had already seeped onto his forehead, and his legs were trembling.
Ryuzaki Shin leaned against the opposite wall, an unlit cigarette dangling from his mouth, and leisurely said,
"Otherwise? How else will you become a real man? Sasaki, be brave, show me the manliness you just had!"
Sasaki Yu looked at Ryuzaki Shin's nonchalant demeanor, then at the ferocious delinquents in the classroom, and felt like he was about to cry.
Big brother, it's easy for you to say, you're not the one getting beaten!
Seeing his cowardly state, Ryuzaki Shin pouted and began to coax him with the tone of someone who'd been through it all:
"Sasaki, listen to me, what's most important for a man? It's dignity! It's face!"
"If you're timid and shrinking like this now, how will you establish yourself in society later? How will you protect the woman you love?"
"Imagine, later when you're married, your wife gets harassed, and you don't even dare to fart, you can only watch helplessly as she's embraced by someone else, kissed on the lips, and even... taken home."
He paused, observing Sasaki Yu's expression, and continued to press on:
"And then? You still have to greet them with a smile, go home and make soup for your wife, ask her if she's tired, ask her if she's happy."
"A few months later, your wife's belly gets big, and you still have to fuss around taking care of her, buying her all sorts of tonics."
"Finally, the child is born, and you still have to change his diapers, feed him formula, get up in the middle of the night to coax him to sleep."
Ryuzaki Shin stopped here deliberately, looking at Sasaki Yu with a compassionate gaze, as if he could already see his tragic future life.
"You work hard, raising him, and then one day, you accidentally discover that this child... how come he doesn't look like you at all? Instead, the more you look, the more he resembles Uncle Wang, your neighbor who bullies you every day?"
"Poof!"
Sasaki Yu felt as if his heart had been fiercely stabbed. The image instantly flashed in his mind.
His wife, embraced by someone else.
His child, calling someone else Daddy.
And he, alone on the side, wearing a bright green hat, forcing a smile.
A silent wife, an arrogant boss, an incompetent husband... No!
Absolutely not!
"Ah—!!!"
Sasaki Yu's eyes instantly turned red. He let out a roar that had been suppressed for eighteen years, a shriek as piercing as a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
He no longer cared about fear; only one thought remained in his mind—
Damn it!
He suddenly turned, raised his still slightly trembling leg, and with all his might, kicked fiercely at the tightly closed classroom door in front of him!
"Boom!"
A loud crash!
The already dilapidated wooden door collapsed with a bang!
The loud noise instantly drew the attention of everyone inside the classroom.
A group of delinquents who were playing cards, smoking, and bragging, all turned their heads in unison, looking towards the doorway with gazes as if they were looking at a dead man.
Through the dust at the doorway, a fair-faced young man, dressed in brand-name clothes, looking delicate and weak, was still in the posture of kicking the door, his chest heaving violently, his face flushed red.
Inside the classroom, a moment of dead silence fell.
In the center of the classroom, a boy wearing a floral shirt and a cigarette dangling from his mouth was lounging on a desk with his legs crossed, observing Sasaki Yu at the doorway with an expression like he was watching a monkey show.
He was Tamura Chuta, the boss of third-year E-class.
Tamura Chuta
He took the cigarette from his mouth, blew a perfect smoke ring towards the ceiling, then slowly jumped off the desk and walked towards Sasaki Yu at the doorway.
As he walked, he pointed to himself, then to the group of equally ill-intentioned classmates behind him, and asked in a ruffian-like, drawn-out tone:
"I say, classmate, just now... were you challenging all of us?"
Sasaki Yu, who had been fired up by Ryuzaki Shin's "Uncle Wang next door" theory, felt his hard-won courage instantly deflate by more than half under Tamura Chuta's substantial oppressive aura.
He subconsciously took a step back, and his legs began to tremble uncontrollably again.
He secretly glanced at Ryuzaki Shin, who was leaning against the wall, out of the corner of his eye.
He saw Ryuzaki Shin looking at him with an encouraging gaze, as if saying: Go on! Don't chicken out!
Sasaki Yu took a deep breath, as if making a huge decision. He raised his head and bravely looked at Tamura Chuta, but as soon as his gaze met the other's playful eyes, he recoiled as if shocked, burying his head deeply.
"Um... excuse me... who... who is the strongest fighter in your class?"
His voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum, so quiet that probably only he himself could hear it.
Tamura Chuta cupped his ear, leaned in a bit, and asked impatiently, "Huh? What did you say? Speak louder!"
Sasaki Yu's head was buried even lower, his voice even softer, and it carried a slight tremor.
"I... I said... you... your class..."
But he didn't finish.
Tamura Chuta completely lost his patience.
He raised his hand, and a powerful, heavy slap swung fiercely towards Sasaki Yu's pale face!
"Did your vocal cords stay at home?!"
Sasaki Yu stiffened at the sudden movement, standing at attention.
His face was pale, his eyes tightly shut, not daring to move a muscle, completely giving up resistance.
Ryuzaki Shin watched from the side, almost bursting out laughing.
He thought to himself.
This kid is really a clown.
He told him to provoke, but he ended up acting like a shy bride visiting her in-laws.
However, for the first lesson, he couldn't let his subordinate get beaten up right after entering, could he?
Just as he was about to make his move, that familiar voice in his mind rang out at just the right moment.
Ding! Host detected facing a choice, God-tier Choice System activated!
Option One: Hero saves the coward! Rush forward, take this slap for Sasaki Yu, and tell him: A true man dares to go through fire and water for his brother! Completion Reward: Obtain title [Good Guy], equipped effect: More likely to be given good guy cards.
Option Two: Observe and let him experience the harsh realities of society. After all, only through suffering can one truly grow. Completion Reward: [Chicken Soup for the Soul Master] (Intermediate).
Option Three: Suzuran's sky can only be pierced by me! Save Sasaki Yu, dominate Class E, and let your name be heard throughout Suzuran! Completion Reward: Physical fitness upgraded to [Suzuran High-Level Delinquent] standard!
Ryuzaki Shin looked at the three options, a wicked smile playing on his lips.
Good Guy?
Chicken Soup for the Soul?
What a joke, I'm here to be a boss, not a living Buddha!
Just as Tamura Chuta's large, fan-like hand was about to firmly connect with Sasaki Yu's face.
A hand, like an iron clamp, firmly gripped his wrist.
Tamura Chuta was startled. He looked back and saw that the transfer student, who had been leaning against the wall watching the show, had somehow appeared beside him.
Ryuzaki Shin wore a playful smile, but his eyes were as cold as a Siberian current.
He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, yet it clearly resonated throughout the entire classroom:
"I say, classmate, who gave you the courage to touch my man?"
Tamura Chuta looked at Ryuzaki Shin, then at Sasaki Yu behind him, who was almost wetting himself. He was startled at first, then burst into laughter.
"Your man? This weakling?"
He tried hard to pull his hand back but found that the other's hand was like it was welded on, not budging an inch!
Tamura Chuta's face finally darkened. He said coldly:
"Kid, I don't care who you are, let go of me now, or else..."
Ryuzaki Shin ignored his threat, merely smiling at Sasaki Yu, who was still trembling.
In a gentle tone, as if instructing his own younger brother.
"Sasaki, watch closely, this is your second lesson."
"If reason doesn't work, then use your fists to make them... kneel and listen to reason!"
No sooner had he finished speaking!
"Baka! You're asking for it!"
Tamura Chuta was completely enraged. He roared, and his other free fist, whistling through the air, smashed towards Ryuzaki Shin's face!
Ryuzaki Shin didn't even look at him, merely muttering to himself.
"I choose three!"
Ding! Choice successful! Reward obtained: Physical fitness upgraded to [Suzuran High-Level Delinquent] standard!
Boom!
A force even more violent and powerful than before, like a volcanic eruption, instantly surged from Ryuzaki Shin's limbs and bones!
His muscles screamed!
His bones sang with joy!
He could clearly feel his strength, speed, and reaction time taking another qualitative leap at this moment!
If his body before was at the level of an average Suzuran delinquent, now, he felt he could take on ten of his former self!
Facing Tamura Chuta's powerful punch, Ryuzaki Shin didn't even blink.
He simply raised his right hand casually, moving later but arriving first, firmly gripping Tamura Chuta's incoming fist.
"What?!"
Tamura Chuta was greatly alarmed. His punch was strong enough to break a table leg, but now, it had been easily caught by the other party!
Moreover, he felt his fist was clamped tightly by a hydraulic press, hurting to the core, yet he couldn't move!
Then, Ryuzaki Shin smiled.
He released his left hand from the other's wrist, and then, under everyone's horrified gaze, he raised his right foot.
There were no flashy moves, just a simple, straightforward kick!
Fast! Accurate! Ruthless!
This kick, powerful and heavy like a battering ram, landed squarely on Tamura Chuta's lower abdomen!
"Pfft—!"
Tamura Chuta's body instantly hunched over like a shrimp, his eyeballs almost popping out of their sockets, and his regurgitated food mixed with stomach acid sprayed directly from his mouth!
Then, he was sent flying backward as if hit head-on by a speeding truck!
"Boom!"
His body crashed through three or four desks in succession, finally slamming heavily against the back wall of the classroom, then sliding to the ground like a pile of mud, his body twitching uncontrollably.
The entire classroom once again fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone was stunned by the power of that single kick.
Is this... is this even human strength?!
After a few seconds, Tamura Chuta, lying on the ground, used all his strength to let out a hoarse roar.
"What... what the hell are you still standing around for! All of you, get him! Kill... kill him!"
Ryuzaki Shin raised an eyebrow, looking at the "crows" who were once again stirring due to their boss's command, and sighed helplessly.
Genji didn't have to fight an entire class when he took on subordinates.
Is this the so-called protagonist's halo?
But before he could think too much.
Inside the classroom, a dozen delinquents roared, rushing towards him like a tide!
Facing this momentum, like an army of thousands.
Ryuzaki Shin unhurriedly pulled out a lighter from his pocket and slowly lit the cigarette he had been holding in his mouth, which hadn't been lit yet.
"Click."
He took a deep drag, then gently placed the cigarette, which he had only smoked once, on the windowsill.
Smoke curled upwards.
And he, like a wolf among sheep, charged headfirst into the roaring delinquents!
The first to reach him was a guy with a Mohawk Head, who roared and threw an uppercut at Ryuzaki Shin's chin!
Ryuzaki Shin didn't even look at him, simply swatted his fist away with a casual downward motion of his left hand, then formed his right hand into a palm, like a cleaver, and chopped it hard across the other's neck!
"Thud!"
Mohawk Head's eyes rolled back, and he instantly went limp.
Next, two more people attacked simultaneously from both sides!
Ryuzaki Shin, instead of retreating, advanced fiercely, taking a step forward and slamming his shoulder into the chest of the person on the left, sending him flying backward and knocking down two people behind him in the process.
At the same time, his right hand transformed into a knife-hand, and with an incredible upward angle, he accurately jabbed the person on the right's armpit!
"Ah!!!"
The man let out an inhuman scream, his stick instantly falling to the ground, and he lost all ability to move due to the intense pain.
Ryuzaki Shin didn't pause for a moment. He snatched the fallen stick and, with a backhand, swung it fiercely across the face of a guy who was trying to ambush him from behind!
"Smack!"
The guy's face was instantly a bloody mess!
At this moment, Ryuzaki Shin seemed to have transformed into a god of slaughter!
The stick in his hand sometimes pierced like a spear, sometimes swept like a broadsword, and sometimes lashed out like a whip!
He didn't even use any complex moves, just the simplest, most direct attacks!
But with every strike, someone was sure to fall!
The entire classroom became his stage!
Sasaki Yu stood at the doorway, watching the figure moving through the crowd as if nobody was there, already too stunned to speak.
He felt his heart pounding madly, and an unprecedented surge of passion rushed straight to his head!
Is this... is this... a true man?!
In less than three minutes.
The entire classroom returned to a deathly silence.
People lay scattered on the ground, their groans rising and falling.
Ryuzaki Shin stood in the center of the mess, without a single scratch on him.
His eyes gleamed astonishingly.
He slowly walked to the window, picked up the cigarette that had only two drags left and was still burning, put it in his mouth, and took a deep drag.
The pungent smoke filled his lungs, making him feel incredibly refreshed.
Then, he walked to Tamura Chuta, who had recovered a bit, slowly squatted down, took the cigarette from his mouth, and offered it to him.
He asked softly:
"Do you only want to be a crow for the rest of your life?"
Tamura Chuta was stunned.
He leaned against the cold wall, the sharp pain in his lower abdomen and the soreness in all his bones made it almost impossible for him to think.
But that sentence, like a bolt of lightning, precisely cleaved through his muddled mind.
Crows?
Yes, at Suzuran, all of them were crows.
Hated, scorned, gathered in this ruin called a "nest," engaging in meaningless fights day after day.
He had once fantasized about standing at the pinnacle of Suzuran, like the legendary seniors, to see a different kind of scenery.
However, he knew his own limits very well.
He couldn't defeat Serizawa, and he might not even be able to beat Izaki Shun.
All he could do, it seemed, was guard his small territory in Class E, be a not-too-big, not-too-small crow leader, until graduation, and then blend into society, becoming a true, good-for-nothing societal waste.
His whole life... would it be like this?
Just as his mind was in turmoil, Ryuzaki Shin lost his patience and directly shoved the cigarette, with only one last puff remaining, into his mouth.
"Smoke it quickly, don't waste the last puff."
"Cough... cough cough!"
Tamura Chuta subconsciously took a drag, and his chest, already churning from the intense pain, was instantly choked by the acrid smoke, triggering a violent fit of coughing.
"Hahahaha!"
Ryuzaki Shin saw his disheveled state and, instead of getting angry, laughed.
He grabbed Chuta's arm, pulled him up from the ground, and then, like an older brother, heavily patted his back to help him catch his breath.
"Chuta," Ryuzaki Shin grinned, revealing two rows of stark white teeth, and in his deep-set eyes, a flame called "ambition" burned, "Do you want to... experience the view from the top of Suzuran?"
After speaking, he released his hand and slowly extended his right hand towards Tamura Chuta.
It was a hand with distinct knuckles, stained with dust and blood.
But in Tamura Chuta's eyes at that moment, this hand seemed to contain infinite power, exuding an irresistible magic.
He looked at Ryuzaki Shin's face, which held an arrogant smile, and at his eyes, which seemed to see through everything.
He knew that this man before him was different from all the crows at Suzuran.
He wasn't fighting for territory, wasn't fighting for meaningless false fame.
He was... hunting!
He was proclaiming his reign with an absolute, crushing dominance!
Following him, perhaps he really could see a scenery he had never witnessed before!
His blood ignited in an instant.
Tamura Chuta no longer hesitated; he took a deep breath, extended his own hand, and clasped it tightly with Ryuzaki Shin's.
"Ryuzaki Shin," Ryuzaki Shin announced his name.
Tamura Chuta felt the strength from the handshake, and a surge of heroic spirit filled his chest; he straightened his back and, with all his might, responded loudly:
"Tamura Chuta!"
Just in this classic scene full of manly spirit, a timid voice unseasonably came from the side.
"Th-that... that... I... my name is Sasaki Yu..."
Ryuzaki Shin and Tamura Chuta both froze at the same time and turned to look.
They saw Sasaki Yu looking at them with an expression of adoration, little stars sparkling in his eyes.
Ryuzaki Shin was momentarily stunned, then burst into unrestrained laughter.
"Hahahaha!"
He pulled his hand back, and at the same time, opened his arms, wrapping them around the necks of both Tamura Chuta and Sasaki Yu, holding them tightly in his embrace.
"Sasaki Yu, you've grown."
"M-me?"
Sasaki Yu pointed to his nose in surprise, his face full of disbelief.
He had no idea what he had grown in; he had only been standing in punishment at the door the entire time.
But, being praised by his Big Brother like this, an unprecedented surge of motivation instantly welled up from the bottom of his heart, rushing straight to his head, making his entire face flush with excitement.
I... I've grown!
I, Sasaki Yu, am also a man today!
Ryuzaki Shin looked at his two newly acquired subordinates, one scholarly and one martial, with satisfaction, his grand plan for domination already taking shape.
He felt the power in his body, several times stronger than before, and a slight smirk played on his lips.
With his current physical condition, he should be on the same level as Serizawa Tamao.
However... that guy's fighting technique is too immature, he only relies on brute force with wide, sweeping movements.
But I have the [Street Domination Technique] and [Melee Combat Mastery] rewarded by the system; my fighting skills are far superior to his.
With the same physical condition, isn't this an easy win?
Ryuzaki Shin sneered inwardly; dominating Suzuran was only a matter of time.
Now, it was time to meet his next target.
Rapidly consolidating Suzuran's active forces and building his own power was the true path.
And don't forget, there was still a one-hundred-million-yen IOU waiting for him to 'collect' from that biker gang's 'company.'
He released his arm and looked at Tamura Chuta, asking directly, "Chuta, do you know where Izaki Shun is?"
"Izaki Shun?!"
The heroic expression on Tamura Chuta's face instantly froze. He didn't know why Ryuzaki Shin's next target, right after subduing him, was that monster.
One must know that Izaki Shun was Suzuran's recognized powerful force, second only to Serizawa, the King of Beasts.
Not only did he have a large group of loyal subordinates, but his own strength was also unfathomable.
Chuta looked at Ryuzaki Shin's calm demeanor; he was clearly not going to pay respects but to crash the party!
He quickly advised, "Shin-nii! Izaki Shun's faction ranks among the top three in Suzuran, and his subordinates are numerous and troublesome. If we rush in now, I'm afraid..."
Ryuzaki Shin smiled, offering no explanation.
He, of course, knew Izaki Shun was not to be trifled with, but he also knew Izaki Shun as a person even better.
In terms of combat strength, Izaki Shun's subordinates numbered only forty or fifty people.
Although a mass charge would be somewhat troublesome, it would only be *somewhat* troublesome.
His own fighting techniques were designed to instantly incapacitate the opponent, so he wouldn't get entangled with those small fry.
Moreover, he still had Chuta and his more than twenty recently subdued delinquents. Although all of them were injured, they could still make a scene, help him draw some fire, and reduce some pressure.
Going back to Izaki Shun as a person.
He was a smart man who had long understood that he couldn't dominate Suzuran on his own, so his original intention was to find a powerful leader to band together with.
In the original story, he sought out Takiya Genji with the intention of cooperating, only to be eventually won over by Genji's unyielding will and willingly acknowledge him as the boss.
Why didn't he join Serizawa?
It was because Serizawa's inner circle was already established, and as an outsider, he wouldn't be given important roles.
Rather than living under someone else's roof, it was better to form his own organization.
Therefore, Izaki Shun was a standard believer in the "Suzuran rules."
As long as you're strong enough, have potential, and possess charisma, he will choose to follow you.
The prerequisite is that you can beat him into submission.
And coincidentally, that's exactly what Ryuzaki Shin was going to do next.
Just as Ryuzaki Shin couldn't be bothered to explain to Chuta, Sasaki Yu suddenly puffed out his small chest and said in a grown-up tone,
"Chuta, just listen to what Shin-nii says. Shin-nii definitely has his reasons."
He paused, then looked at Chuta with a naive yet slightly provocative gaze, imitating Ryuzaki Shin's earlier manner, and softly asked,
"Or are you... scared?"
"Huh?!"
Chuta was about to offer more advice, but hearing this, his eyebrows shot up.
Hey!
You little bean sprout, just because you joined earlier than me, you dare to lecture me now?
However, when he saw Ryuzaki Shin looking at Sasaki Yu with an appreciative gaze, a 'buzz' went off in his head, and he instantly realized what was happening.
Holy crap!
He's already playing mind games for favor so quickly?!
This pretty boy, looking so delicate and weak, turns out to be a schemer!
No way!
An alarm blared in Chuta's mind, and he stopped thinking so much. He slapped his thigh fiercely, then turned and roared at the 'corpses' still groaning on the floor in the classroom:
"You brats! Listen up! Whoever can still stand, whoever still dares to fight, get your asses up! Follow me! Let's do something big!"
In the classroom, those delinquents who were on the verge of collapse, upon hearing their boss's call and sensing the strange aura emanating from the three people at the door, actually struggled to get up from the floor one by one.
"For Shin-nii!"
"Let's f***ing do it! Let all of Suzuran tremble beneath our feet!"
"Chuta-nii! We're with you!"
Chunibyo and passionate shouts rose and fell.
Soon, a 'motley crew' consisting of over a dozen bruised and swollen delinquent teenagers, who wobbled as they walked but had unusually bright eyes, followed Ryuzaki Shin and the two others out of the classroom in a grand procession.
Their destination—Suzuran's athletic field, Izaki Shun!
...Meanwhile, on Suzuran's athletic field.
Izaki Shun
Izaki Shun was leaning lazily against a basketball hoop, a cigarette dangling from his lips, watching his subordinates sweat it out on the court.
The sunlight was a bit harsh, and he squinted slightly, his mind calculating the future landscape of Suzuran.
Serizawa Tamao was like an insurmountable mountain, pressing down on everyone's heads.
A head-on confrontation was absolutely unwinnable.
He had to find another way... Should he continue to accumulate strength, or find an ally for cooperation?
Just as his thoughts were racing, a sudden commotion broke out at the entrance to the athletic field.
Everyone's gaze was drawn to the unwelcome visitors.
Suzuran had an unwritten rule: every delinquent with a name and reputation had their own default territory.
And this athletic field was his, Izaki Shun's, territory.
Any faction entering here without prior notice would be considered the most direct provocation!
Izaki Shun stood up, intrigued, and watched the group.
Leading them was a teenager over 180 centimeters tall, dressed in a black school uniform, with a steady gait and sharp eyes. Though merely walking, he exuded an overbearing aura that was out of place with his surroundings.
Who was this guy?
Never seen him before.
On either side of him stood two people.
One was a bean sprout about 170 centimeters tall, fair-skinned and clean-looking, dressed in refined clothes, completely out of place in Suzuran.
The other... he had some impression of, seemed to be that small leader from Class E, what was his name... Chuta?
And the dozen or so subordinates following behind them were all bruised and swollen, more or less injured, as if they had just lost a fierce battle.
A thought flashed through Izaki Shun's mind: Did someone beat them up, and now they've come to seek refuge with me?
Though there were few of them, it was better than nothing.
Just as he was thinking, he saw the guy named Chuta patting the little bean sprout's shoulder, pointing towards his side.
Then, the leading young man, beaming, also patted the bean sprout's shoulder, as if cheering him on.
What a strange combination?
Izaki Shun was amused, finding it increasingly interesting. He wanted to see what these people were up to.
Hopefully, they could bring him some entertainment; otherwise, he would just have to let his bored subordinates have some fun.
Under the gaze of Izaki Shun and dozens of people on the field, the bean sprout hesitated, took a deep breath, and ran towards Izaki Shun.
As he ran, he seemed to be psyching himself up, muttering to himself.
Izaki Shun watched the little bean sprout run all the way to him, saw him steady his nerves, and then... Sasaki Yu used all his strength, his face flushed red, his voice still trembling slightly, but it echoed across the entire athletic field!
He spoke the most aggressive words in the most timid tone:
"Hey! You yellow-haired guy over there! Our Big Brother has taken a liking to you, he wants you... he wants you to get over here and join him!"