Sunlight poured through Haruka's window. She rolled away from it, trying in vain to hold onto the last remnants of sleep that were sifting away from her mind. Eventually, however, she conceded, sitting up in her futon with a stretch and a yawn. Her excessive hair curtained around her. She pulled it back, grabbed a hair tie from off the table, and started feeding her lengthy locks down into it.

Her phone rang. She picked that up off the table too. Yuta wanted to facetime.

She tugged the hair tie that last bit up and settled against the wood plank walls to serve as her background. She put on a smile as she pressed the answer button. Yuta Usami appeared on her screen, calling from the Hirose Family office apparently. Seeing him again turned her smile into something a little more genuine.

"Morning, Haruka." Yuta waved.

"Good morning."

Yuta's smile faltered.

"Haruka, are you okay? What happened?"

"What do you me-" Haruka suddenly remembered the bruise she'd gotten last night. "Nothing. Nothing happened. I, um, I tripped down the stairs."

Yuta's expression made it clear he wasn't buying it.

"Hey, hey. Haruka, look at me. I'm the tough as nails yakuza here, let me handle getting into fistfights on the street."

"Alright, Mr. tough as nails yakuza. How's the business been going?"

It was Yuta's turn to avert his gaze. He scratched at the back of his head with his free hand.

"Well… We're doing what we can over here. Before we mainly got by on collection runs and protection services, but between you and me I don't think people trust us that much anymore. Everyone around here puts in a good word when they can, but at this point it's just regulars."

"Yeah, I know how that feels. But whatever keeps us afloat, right?"

"Right. Matsunaga suggested maybe trying to start charging for protection, I told him that was a quick way to lose what little good will we had with people to begin with."

"Maybe some kind of charity drive?"

"Maybe. But that would still only help for right now. If we keep asking for money, that amounts to about the same thing, doesn't it?"

Haruka fell quiet in thought.

"Oh." Yuta said, looking somewhere away from his phone. "Haruto! Haruto come here!"

A soft patter of running feet and, in a moment, Haruka's son was standing next to his father. Already 7 years old, where does the time go? His black hair was kept short, and he was wearing a loose fitting Ultraman t-shirt. A number of his baby teeth had already started falling out, so his toothy smile had a few gaps in it.

"Say hi to mommy, Haruto."

"Hi mommy."

Haruka giggled. "Hi Haruto. How are you today?"

"Good. I found a cool bug at the shrine."

"Oh? Did you bring it here to show me?"

"Woah." Yuta said, backing off as much as he could while still staying in the camera's frame. "Nuh-uh, you can show bugs to your mom without me."

"Don't be such a weenie, Yuta. How's my tough as nails yakuza supposed to protect me if he gets scared off by a little beetle."

"Between you and me, I'd rather take on the entire Tojo than have to deal with a little beetle."

"No," Haruto continued. "I wasn't able to catch it anyways."

"So, you would've brought it next to me if you could?"

The three of them got caught up in an uncontrollable giggle fit.

"So, Haruto," Haruka said, once she'd finally brought herself back down. "I hear you started your first year of school today. How did that go?"

Haruto's expression dropped immediately. "When are you coming home, mommy?"

Haruka was taken by complete surprise.

"Are you trying to change the subject?"

"That's what you're doing now too though isn't it?"

Haruka frowned. He was a smart kid at least.

"I just need to get enough money to help everyone back at the orphanage. It won't be much longer now, I promise."

Haruto looked away from the both of them. He pulled free from his dad's soft grip and ran off.

"Wha- Hey. Haruto!" Yuta called after him. "I'll go talk to him."

"I'm sure it can't be easy." Haruka said. "It was around that age when my mom also left for Kamurocho."

"That place seems to draw in parental abandonment, doesn't it?"

Haruka was silent just long enough for Yuta to realize what he'd said.

"Wait, no, I didn't mean- Sorry Haruka, I was just thinking about my dad."

"I know what you meant. It's fine. You didn't mean anything by it."

And maybe he was right anyways.

"I better go now, see where Haruto ran off to."

"Alright. I miss you."

Yuta looked into the camera, gave a soft nod and swallowed something. "I miss you too."

"I love you."

He smiled. "I love you too."

His image disappeared, replaced with the white words 'Call Ended'. Haruka leaned her head back against the wall behind her and let out an almighty sigh.

Sitting in the emotions she was feeling got to be overwhelming within the second, so Haruka got to her feet and started changing out of her pajamas and into her day clothes. A black sports bra under a wide-necked white t shirt. Having bought it in Okinawa it had a small, tropical design on the chest. Ending the ensemble, if it could be called that, were black sweatpants with yellow stripes down the side. She'd only just pulled some socks on when she heard something crash downstairs.

Haruka's eyes went wide. She sprang into action and bolted down the stairs, scarily fast even to herself. Bursting out into the bar, she saw 3 men who couldn't be more clearly yakuza. In Haruka's experience they must've been lower level though. Cheap suits, hair with too much product in it, and sparse, crappy facial hair. The leader of the bunch stood at the front with a baseball bat in his hand. On the floor was one of the lovely indigo porcelain vases that Natsuko had decorated the bar with in pieces. The splash of color, she said, really helped to bring the cozy, domestic feel. Natsuko herself was standing in front of the men, trying very hard to stand her ground.

Haruka stepped forward. "We're not open yet."

The lead yakuza turned to his cronies and the three of them gave a short, sharp laugh.

"Unfortunately," he said. "We're here for business, not pleasure. Sorry to say, but it looks like property taxes have gone up again this year. And you know what happens to people who don't pay their taxes."

He reached over and grabbed a wine bottle, tossed it into the air and shattered it with a swing of his bat. Haruka's hands went up to protect her face from the glass shards and dark red wine flying towards her.

Haruka took another step forward. Natsuko put a hand on her arm.

"Haruka, don't."

The lead yakuza stepped up to Haruka with a cocky smile plastered across his face.

"Yeah, Haruka. Don't. We wouldn't want anyone to do something they'd regret."

He had only a moment to feel superior before being launched back out the open door behind them. His two lackeys stumbled out behind him, one with a broken nose, the other clutching his crotch. Their brave leader got unsteadily to his feet, looking like he was about to piss his pants.

"Th- This ain't the last you'll hear of us girl! Nobody fucks with the Tojo and gets away with it! Y- You've made the worst mistake of your life!"

He looked like he wanted to say something else, but settled on stumbling away and around the corner.

Natsuko sighed. "He's right you know."

Haruka turned back to her. Her canary yellow sweater and skirt had been stained by the wine, which was to say nothing of the white shirt underneath it.

"Yeah. I know."

"You should've just let me pay them."

"No!" Haruka snapped. "I'm not letting those scumbags take anything from me or the people I love ever again. I don't care what happens to me, I won't let them."

Natsuko gave Haruka a look.

"Is this… personal experience talking?"

"More than anyone should have. Look, if they try and come back, then… then I'll just fight them off again."

"You can't expect that to actually work, they'll just come back with more guys."

"And I'll tear through however many of them I have to. It's the only thing I can do."

Once checking that the yakuza had properly run off, Haruka left through the door herself.

"Where are you going?"

"To work out. Call me if they come back, okay?"

Haruka didn't have enough money to afford a membership at the big, fancy RIZAP place in Theater Square. Instead, she attended a small Anytime Fitness on Shichifuku Street. Kamurocho didn't have a city gym and taking a taxi somewhere else in Tokyo would've only been more expensive in the long run.

It had been 6 years since Uncle Kaz was killed on that pier in Hiroshima. The last in a long line of lives given so that she could keep hers. If there was anything Haruka could do now, it was learn to protect herself so that nobody else would have to die for her. That was the only reason she bothered to pay for a gym membership.

The glass wall hadn't been cleaned in a while, the carpet definitely could use some cleaning, and the whole place smelled like sweat stains. But, it had machines for cardio and strength building, a decent number of free weights, and the staff didn't bother people as much as at the other gyms, plus the low cost of attendance and it was basically perfect for Haruka's needs.

Today was weight lifting day, so Haruka got to it. It was partway through her routine, when she was setting up a bench press, that a man approached her. He was only a couple years older than her, tall, tan, well built, his black hair was frizzy and curly and just long enough to bunch up around his shoulders. His face was broad and rested in a natural smile, he kind of looked like a big puppy dog. His very visible muscles strained against a needlessly tight white t-shirt, a shirt which looked a little thicker than what you normally saw worn in a gym, and contrasted the loose and baggy basketball shorts.

"Need a spotter?" he asked.

Haruka hesitated for a moment. "Sure."

Haruka laid down along the bench and the man took his position behind her head. Haruka carefully lifted the barbell off of its catcher and began to pump.

"Don't think I've seen you here before, how long you been attending?" he asked.

Most of the air in Haruka's lungs was busy helping her work.

"Sorry, guess I shouldn't be asking questions."

He looked bashful, if he could rub the back of his neck he probably would, but true to his role, he diligently kept his hands under the bar.

"I… I hope you don't think I'm creepy for saying this, but I only ask because I noticed you as soon as I walked in."

Haruka did think that was kind of creepy.

"Most of the people here, they're looking to lose weight and nothing more. If they want muscles, it's for show. A physical display. But, looking at you, I can tell there's meaning behind that power. You want to grow strong so that you can fight. You're a proper warrior, I could tell. I don't see many of those anymore."

Even if Haruka could, she wasn't sure how she was meant to respond to that.

"Maybe I'm dumping too much on you, I'm sorry. I guess what I'm trying to ask is… would you spar with me?"

Haruka paused, the bar held just above her chest. She stared back up into his expectant smile.

Haruka stretched herself out. The two of them had moved on into a small room with padded matts on the floor. A general purpose room. She hadn't expected this to be her workout today, but she'd rather not have to fight someone with already aching muscles.

"What makes a girl as pretty as you want to beef up, anyways?" the man asked.

Haruka studied the man. It seemed to be an innocent enough question.

"When it comes to Kamurocho, you're either a fighter or a victim. I got tired of being a victim."

"So you taught yourself how to kick ass so you'd stand a chance at all the thugs looking to snatch your purse, is that it?"

"I don't carry a purse. And it's not that uncommon to be interested in self-defense."

"It's not. I just wonder if that's all there is to it."

"What would I get out of fighting someone for no reason?"

The man shrugged. "A thrill. A feeling of power over them. The exhilaration of the rawest form of competition humanity has. You are fighting me for no reason right now, aren't you?"

"Only because you asked."

"Fair enough."

The man struck his fighting stance, a kickboxer's stance, with both fists up and his forward foot raised ever so slightly. Haruka's stance was wider, more solidly grounded. One fist was kept low by her gut, the other curled up next to her head. It was the position she'd seen Uncle Kaz take innumerous times.

The man raised an eyebrow, he came this close to laughing out loud.

"That's an interesting fighting stance. It leaves you wide open though."

He aimed a punch for her chest. Haruka sidestepped the hit, gripping his wrist and pulling him closer for a palm strike to the gut. He stumbled back, clutching the wounded spot but giving a wide grin.

"Oh good. I was afraid you'd disappoint me."

He rushed back in and aimed a kick at the side of her head. Both of Haruka's arms went to one side and she blocked the strike. The man retracted his foot ever so slightly before kicking back again. Haruka ducked the roundhouse and used that as he opportunity to get in. With her front hand, she threw out a straight, one which barely grazed the man's cheek, then she followed it up with an uppercut with her back hand that barely grazed the man's chin. Each blow he avoided, he did so with the biggest smile on his face.

He and Haruka broke apart.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself." Haruka said.

"You kidding me? This is great!"

The man's stance shifted, he moved fully onto the balls of his feet, like a raptor. When he moved forward again, he was practically gliding along the ground. He threw out a lightning fast punch, one which Haruka barely had time to block. With her face covered, Haruka figured he'd go for a gut punch next, and it was only by guessing this did she move fast enough to swat his fist away from her stomach. She retaliated with a lunge, and the moment her fist whizzed past his ear, he was gone.

Well, only one place he really could be.

Haruka jumped, twisting into a spinning reverse roundhouse. The man ducked underneath her heel and rose up into an uppercut that rocked Haruka's jaw and sent her straight up into the air. Haruka could swear she did a spin and a twirl before crashing down headlong towards the mat. At the last second, she caught herself and rolled into a crouching position, just in time to see the top of the man's foot rushing towards her face. Haruka fell back, letting the kick pass her by. Her arms shot out and grabbed the man's leg just before it got out of reach. With a tug she sent the man crashing to the ground.

Haruka worked fast, twisting herself around the man's exposed leg. He kicked back at her with his free foot, she dodged the strike and used the positioning to lock that leg behind his other. With a full-body tug, she had both his legs bound.

The man slapped the mat and Haruka released her leglock.

"Whoo." He said, getting to his feet. "That was fun."

He offered Haruka a hand and helpfully pulled her up onto her feet as well.

"Thank you very much for the match." Haruka respectfully bowed. "You're very fast."

"Thanks. I try." He looked at Haruka with a broad smile. "Want to go again?"

Haruka paused for just a moment, taking in the sheer excitement behind the man's eyes. She had been hoping to rest up and get back to her routine, but before she knew it, she was nodding to the man's request.

Haruka and the man didn't stop at one extra match, continuously sparring over the next hour or so. Haruka's strong start crumbled under the man's overwhelming speed, at least it did once he got a feel for her patterns. At the end of it all, when it felt like Haruka could barely move anymore, the two of them collapsed onto a nearby bench to sweat and breath heavily. He'd brought a water bottle with him, it took him a minute to find it, but once he did the two of them passed it back and forth.

"You know," the man eventually said. "I completely forgot to ask your name. Slugged you in the jaw and didn't even have the manners."

"Oh." Haruka huffed out. "Right." She bowed her head as well as she could from her relaxed, seated position. "It's Haruka."

"Haruka?" The man raised an eyebrow. "Are we on a first name basis now?"

"Oh." Haruka sank into her seat and huffed harder. "Right. Sorry, bad habit."

"It's fine." He bowed back, as well as he could. "Taro."

"It was very pleasant to meet you, Taro."

"Likewise."

Haruka shifted in her seat.

"What did you mean when you said, you could tell I was a fighter just by looking at me?"

"Why do you ask? Afraid of standing out or something?"

"A little."

"Oh, well," Taro shrugged. "You carry yourself well. You're strong, but you're not trying to front. If a person is trying to look like they can fight, that's one thing. It's another if you can tell they know how without them even trying, you know?"

"Yeah." Haruka's mind began to wander back. "Yeah, I think I do."

"Also, and I don't mean to alarm you, but you have a really big, purple bruise on your forehead."

Haruka sank further into her seat and refused to speak after that.

Haruka considered that a good enough workout for the day, so she set off back towards Bohemia. Once there, and with a little pressuring from Natsuko, she showered herself off and changed into her jeans and jacket.

The two of them sat at the bar. Haruka had finally agreed to let Natsuko cover up that bruise.

"What's your husband going to think seeing you like this, huh? He'll think you're cheating on him with an abuser or something."

Natsuko was an expert at talking casually while her hands worked perfectly, like a machine's, not a shake or stroke out of place.

"My husband knows exactly what this means, and he's just jealous that I win more fights than he does."

Natsuko's brows furrowed. Her hands didn't falter for a second.

"Is he into that?"

Haruka laughed.

"I don't think so. He fell in love with someone who was a little more docile than who I am now."

"It's bad luck to talk like that, you know."

"And my home life isn't as fragile as you think it is."

"Well, if he can't appreciate who you are now, I happen to know a large community of people who are very, very into that."

"I think we'll be fine, but thanks for the offer."

A sharp knocking came from the door. Natsuko actually paused in her work for a second.

"You weren't expecting anyone, were you?" Haruka asked.

Natsuko placed her kit down on the bar and got to her feet, moving quietly to look through the door's peephole.

"It's those yakuza from earlier." she whispered.

Haruka scowled. Her hands were already bunching up into fists.

"Get in the back." she whispered back. "I'll handle this."

Natsuko moved away from the door, though Haruka noted she refused to leave the room. Haruka took in a deep breath, pulled the door open and raised her fist.

The second the three men on the other side saw her, each of them bowed. They bent perfectly at the middle and lowered their heads as far as they would go. She quickly noticed that the leader's hand was bandaged up, his pinky finger cut off at the joint.

"We would like to offer our humblest apologies for our behavior earlier," he said. "Daughter of the Fourth Chairman, Haruka Sawamura."