Local park in Tokyo.
Tenzo clutches his bleeding head, his body's equilibrium is off as he holds onto the bench for balance.
"I can barely move." He hisses at the persistent pain, Senju really could've permanently damaged him.
"System suggest Host increase endurance or buy medical supplies."
[ Medical supplies available]
> Bandages: +20% health, cost, 100 SP
> healing potion: +100 health restoration, cost, 250 SP per gulp.
———————————————————
"Ain't no way?" Tenzo looks at the pop up screen, a healing potion available for 250 SP per gulp.
"System, you have to be rigging me..." Tenzo groans.
"Sorry, Host. I do not control the prices."
"Yes, you do!" Tenzo curses at his scum of a System.
"Who the hell are you talking to?" Senju gives him a side eye, sitting crossed leg on the patch of grass, rubbing her sore chin.
"You really punched a girl." She scowls at him.
"You attacked me! I had no choice. " Tenzo justifies his actions.
"You're a horrible guy." She huffs out, still soothing her chin.
"How are you still conscious?" Tenzo points at her.
"Oh? Your punch wasn't really that strong honestly. " Senju confesses, "I just didn't want to end up in jail for killing you."
"..."
'System, purchase the healing potion."
[Purchase completed]
[+ one healing potion]
Tenzo felt a new weight in his pants pocket, reaching for it, he holds a grey bottle with a label reading "Healing potion".
"This better work." He takes a sip of the translucent liquid, the tasteless substance flows down his throat.
A sudden jolt hits his body, the pain fades away as he feels blood rushing back to his head, his cracked nose reforming and his eyes are clear again.
"What the!?" Senju jumps back at the battered boy, suddenly unblemished appearance.
"How did you–Ow!" She clutches at her left leg, the lower limb took the brute of his weight, swelling on her ankle made her hiss in pain. " My leg." She whispers softly, even though she's a fighter, she's still a lady."
Tenzo halts at her pitiful state, torn between helping her or leaving her like that.
"Damn my moral compass!" He sucks his teeth, moving over to the girl, he kneels in front of her.
"Stay back!" She growls out.
"I'm not going to hurt you– damn it!" Tenzo slowly extended his hand at her right leg.
"I swear to God if you rap–"
"Relax. I'm only helping you." He speaks in a steady voice, lacking any vile intent.
Senju's instincts tell her to attack but a prickling feeling in the back of her head tells her to trust him.
"Tsk..." She bites her inner lips, glaring straight at him.
Tenzo brings his healing potion to her lips, he saw her pressing her mouth close.
"You saw me drink it, trust me."
She whimpers softly, opening her mouth, pressing her lips to the lid.
"Take a sip." He instructed.
She reluctantly followed his instructions, taking a sip of the liquid, she tasted nothing, fearing it could be poisoned, she was about to spit it out, but he glares at her."
"Drink it."
Gulp
The tasteless liquid goes down her throat, her scowl vanishes as a jolt of electricity hits het body.
"Aahh!" Senju gasps, as the searing pain of her swollen ankle, fades away, the swelling gone, he sore chin, non existent. She felt completely healthy.
"No way!" She gawks at him, stars sprinkling in her eyes.
Tenzo pulls back his potion, sealing the lid.
'Place it in storage.' He commands the system.
[System update]
[Item storage: + healing potion]
"What!" Senju points at the vanished potion.
"F#ck, I forgot she's watching me." Tenzo curses his reckless nature.
"You're a magician!" Senju screams out in excitement.
"Hey–don't be so loud!"
She ignores his scolding, invading his personal space, she grabs his collar, her hazel eyes staring into his Grey ones.
"Join my gang, Magic man."
---
"Where are you taking me?" Tenzo groans as the white-haired girl pulls him along.
"Hush. " She tightens her grip on his wrist, her initial fear of him replaced by Interest in his magical abilities.
"Are you going to join my gang?" She hums at him.
"No." Tenzo rejects her offer.
Senju pouts, unaffected by his rejection,she continues moving forward.
"This is kidnapping you know?"
"Pftt–if you really wanted to escape, you would've done so already." Senju giggles at his excuse.
"I never got your name." Senju looks up at him.
"...Tenzo." He replies.
"Mine is Akashi Senju. " She introduces herself.
He nods politely, looking at the direction she's pulling him towards, his eyes focused on a gym. A sturdy 2 story building with minimal paint and windows that peeked the inside.
"You're taking me to a gym?"
"Yes."
---
Walking inside the gym, the AC's cold breeze greeted his skin, around him was spacious area with punching hang, mats and a boxing ring in the middle.
"Take off your shoes." Senju commands, already slipping her school shoes off and placing them under a nearby wooden bench.
Tenzo followed suit, respecting the gyms rules, he eyes the facility, not modern but not too vintage. The punching bags had scars from past sessions, the ring has visible footprints and the subtle stench of sweat.
"This is my home." Senju proclaims, moving to a door facing the ring, on the wall is a portrait of a black-haired older man with a scar traveling down his right eye, a mischievous smirk and holding two children in the photo, one an adolescent version of Senju, the other a pink-haired boy with an uncanny resemblance to her but eye catching mouth scars, the boy is just staring at the camera.
"I miss you big brother, I made a new friend today. " Senju prays to the portrait.
Tenzo stood behind her in shock, the system gave him an information jolt of the world.
From what her remembers, this isn't the original time line.
'System, what is happening. "
[Calculating: ...]
———————————————————
[New missions alert!]
[ Crybaby Hero tasks]
> Main: Save Hinata Tachibana.
> Defeat Kisaki Tetta.
——–—————————————————
Kisaki-
"Thank you, Takemichi."
I really thought you defeated me, Hangaki, the time line always ended in my demise but maybe the God above acknowledged my efforts and gave me a second chance at everything.
It feels odd to leap in time and not see you that day you took Hinata from me, my sole reason to ruin your life was finally in my grasp, I saved her from her bullies, earning her love. Later that day I met Shinichiro Sano, Mikey's older brother, he looked healthy, smiling down at me as he coincidentally was with Mikey himself.
"Hey kid, do you like Karate?" The words still echo in my ear drums, reminding me of my favourite tune.
From that day onwards, my life became perfect, Hinata, my devoted girlfriend, Mikey my best friend, made me a founding member of Tokyo Manji gang and Hanma, my partner in crime is leading his own gang of delinquents.
All it took to achieve this reality was to place the curse on a new host, unfortunately it had to be Takeomi Akashi, Shinichiro's best friend and former Vice President of The Black dragons.
'Truly an unfortunate solution. I hope you are happy wherever you are my hero."