Scenario 4: The Battle Begins!

With Yuuto and "Buster Bros!" in their waiting room…

Ichiro looked around for a bit. The room was quite spacious, it had a small closet for outfits, a desk, a small fridge, anything that you could need if someone was staying here for a while. "This room's pretty nice. Though, we won't have much time to be here."

"We're in the first match." Jiro pointed out.

"It would be good to watch the second match too, so we'll come back here after the battles are over, right?" Saburo continued. Ichiro nodded at that.

"Yuuto where are you watching the battles from?" He asked the 15-year old. It took a moment for him to remember what he overheard from his Master before arriving at Chuuoku.

"By the stage, I think." He answered.

"Really? Then it's like you get to watch them from some special seats…" Jiro mumbled out loud.

"Well, I'm sure Doudantsutsuji-san will tell you before the battles begin." Ichiro said. "You're sorta like staff, so you should see it from good seats." He was explaining, not realizing that he would be seated there of course.

"We'll get to see the other battle from the front row seats, right?" Jiro asked.

"Yeah, we will." Ichiro responded. "We're allowed to go back to the waiting rooms, but… like Saburo said; we should watch the other battle."

"I think that's for the best." The one in statement said. "The winners from that second battle will be our opponents in the finals."

""Fling Posse" or "Matenrou"…" Ichiro mumbled out the names. "Whoever wins will be a tough opponent."

"But anyways, we'll win in the end!" Jiro stated. "Right, Nii-chan?!"

"Definitely!" The big brother agreed.

"With me and Ichi-nii, there's no way we could lose!" Saburo said. But, it wasn't as cheerful Jiro thought. And it definitely wasn't good for Yuuto to see and hear.

"Hey Saburo…" Jiro lowered his tone a bit more than usual. "Aren't ya forgetting someone?"

"Of course not. The Alternative Rap Battle is a team effort." Saburo explained. "What I'm saying is, even if a useless guy like you is with us, Ichi-nii and I will compensate for it."

"Who the hell is useless? You're a middle schooler, so don't you realize you're the one that nobody expects anything from?" Jiro tried to argue back.

"What's that?!" The youngest brother shouted.

"P-Please… Just calm do-" Yuuto tried to break the fight off, but the 2 members of "Buster Bros!" were so occupied with their stare down.

"You're always running your mouth, but you ain't got the skill to back it up!" Jiro yelled.

"Hmph. Isn't my mouth supposed to be what I use for rap? You…" Saburo growled.

Then "casually", Ichiro spoke up in the most angry way possible, well, at least angry enough to make his brothers stop fighting.

"You two… I'm really starting to get angry." Said "two" then stopped and stuttered.

"You understand, don't you?" Ichiro asked. "The Alternative Rap Battle needs a team. If there's fighting in the team, there's no way that that team can win, even if they were given every chance to do so." He continued. "I don't want to think that you two would be like blockheads like that."

They then apologized straight after Ichiro's statement.

"As long as you understand." Ichiro said and then looked at Yuuto. "Ah… Yuuto, I'm so sorry you had to see them fight again." He apologized.

"Now I know…" Yuuto said as he grinned slightly.

"Huh?" The former asked.

"Now I know how strong "Buster Bros!" are." Yuuto continued.

"Ha…? That made you see our strength? What are you talking about?" Jiro asked.

"Since you all are family, it's easier to see that fighting over things like this can be turned into strength." Yuuto answered. "Think of it as… uhm… A-Ah… You get what I'm saying… right…?" He continued as he turned a little pale for a second getting flustered.

"So, you're saying: Cause we're family, even if we fight, it'll become our strength when we overcome it…?" Saburo clarified the main point.

"Yeah… That's what I mean." Yuuto spoke up.
"That's not…" Saburo then looked away from Yuuto before Ichiro joined in on the conversation.

"Yuuto is praising you. That's aight, isn't it?" Ichiro asked Yuuto and all the latter could do is nod and stand a bit awkwardly in front of them.

"Just accept it Jiro, Saburo." Ichiro said.

"But you said it like you know what our rapping is like." Ichiro pointed out.

"O-Oh, it's…" Yuuto mumbled out loud, he had more to say, but it wasn't clearly heard by the trio.

"Yuuto, what do you think about us?" Ichiro asked.

""About you"?" Yuuto clarified.

"Just your thoughts on us, that stuff." Ichiro explained.

'What they're like…?' Yuuto thought before a faint tone was heard. 'They…'

"Well… There's a lot of energy and cool factors in your style!" Yuuto said. Jiro chuckled.

"Heh… So ya get it!" The latter said.

"There's more too, lyrical wise, it feels right too!" Yuuto continued. Saburo smiled.

"Hm… Not a bad observation." Saburo praised.

"But you're missing one important thing!" Jiro pointed out. Yuuto put his hand on his chin, closing his eyes too before guessing.

"Ichiro-san's rap, correct?" Yuuto guessed.

"Hell yeah! "Buster Bros!" is this good 'cause we have Nii-chan's rap!" Jiro continued. "If you wanna talk about our rap, you gotta mention Nii-chan first."

"I don't like backing up Jiro's opinions, but I won't stay silent if we're talking about Ichi-nii." Saburo added his statement. "You're a million years too early to talk about Ichi-nii, but come back after checking Ichi-nii's rap properly." He added, as if he somehow figured out another quirk about Yuuto's sensitive hearing.

"You guys always say that! Don't talk about me like I'm above everything." Ichiro said. "I'm part of the team- my role's the same as yours."

Yuuto said to Ichiro that it's fine. He could see it that Jiro and Saburo just really care about the one person who takes care of them and idolize. Then, the sounds of a siren echoes through out the Colusseum.

"Just as I said that… the matches are starting."

In the audience…

"Hey! It's about to start!"

"I can't wait!"

The crowd mumbles their excitement out loud, meanwhile with Matsumo, he's composed compared to them. He stands there, hoping that Samatoki's face will get beaten down by whoever's gonna face him. He thought of Ichiro Yamada is the highest (and most entertaining to him) likely person to go head to head with him, especially considering the past.

Somewhere in Shibuya…

"Wah~! The matches are about to start!" The boy in the hoodie said out loud. "Still though, that DJ ROKURO… He's really amazing~! He'll perform something I've never seen in other DJs!"

"Hm…? Really now?" Akito asked.

"That man is practically known for his skills, not just his appearances in festivals!" The other boy said.

"Quite so then… He truly has built a strong foundation for his future." Akiro mumbled out.

"Akito… You sound a lot like-" The other boy was cut off before Akito said more.

"Surely you must be imagining things. I don't sound like anyone at all." He said.

"... Oh well, nevermind then." The other boy sat in defeat.

In the "Buster Bros!" waiting room…

"It's about to start, Nii-chan." Jiro pointed out.

"Ichi-nii, let's get to the venue hall. If I recall, we have to participate in the opening ceremony before the matches." Saburo said.

"There's something like that?" Ichiro asked the youngest one in the room.

"Yeah. The guide says that the semi-finalists get on the stage together." Saburo explained.

"I forgot…" Ichiro mumbled out. "Thanks for reminding me. You're always so prepared, Saburo." The said boy then chuckled a bit.

"Nii-chan, since we're all up on stage, we'll be seing "Fling Posse" and "Matenrou" too, right?" Jiro aksed.

"That's right." Ichiro said. "I have a feeling that Ramudaor someone else might even get ahead before the Rap Battles start…"

"What about "MAD TRIGGER CREW"…? Aren't they your opponents in the first round?" Yuuto asked.

"Those guys are nothing compared to us." Saburo said. It never stumbled upon him that one of "MAD TRIGGER CREW"'s members seemed really familiar…

"What he said. We're aiming for victory." Ichiro said. "But still, Yuuto is right. Don't let your guard down against "MAD TRIGGER CREW". Jiro. Saburo. The lamest people are the ones who lose focus and get swept off their feet. Let's focus now."

"Of course, Nii-chan. I think they'll end up the lame ones. That's what they'll get for underestimating us." Jiro said. "There's no way we'll lose to guys like that."

"Ichi-nii, I don't think experience matters when it comes to winning Rap Battles. You've got to have a strong will to best your opponent, and load that into your lyrics straight away. That's what's important, right?" Saburo said and asked.

"Yeah, that might be right." Ichiro agreed.

"Then, there's no way I'll lose. Because the other teams don't have someone more strong willed or quick-witted than me!" Saburo continued.

"Let's win this one for sure, Nii-chan!" Jiro proclaimed.

"Not "Let's win". It's "We'll win", Jiro!" Saburo argued.

Yuuto gave a smile. He could tell, "Buster Bros!" do have a chance on wining this entire event. He couldn't help but cheer them on.

"You'll all win for sure!" Yuuto said.

"Yeah, of course!" Ichiro responded.

"You better cheer for us!" Jiro followed.

"Don't miss it when we take our victory!" Saburo followed.

"Alright, let's go!"

"Yeah!"/"Yes!"

The Yamada brothers then left, leaving Yuuto all by himself. He then to go to DJ ROKURO's waiting room, after all, during all that time with "Buster Bros!" he was hauling his Master's luggage and he didn't want to get yelled at.

When Yuuto opened the door, he saw DJ ROKURO sitting down.

"You finally came. You look like you're in good shape, brat." He said. "Where did you go?"

"I-I'm sorry for being late…! And that's because I was talking with "Buster Bros!"…" Yuuto explained.

""Buster Bros!"… Ah, those kids." DJ ROKURO said out loud before realizing. "Well, that's fine."

"The opening ceremony is gonna end pretty soon. Once they're done, it's my turn." He continued. "You better prepare yourself, kid."

Yuuto placed the luggage next to the desk in the center of the room and soon followed DJ ROKURO near the back of the stage. Then one Official guided DJ ROKURO to the stage while one guided where Yuuto could watch the whole match nearby.

"Ah, look! DJ ROKURO is coming out!"

"Is the match gonna start?"

The audience waits in anticipation. It died down once DJ ROKURO started speaking.

"Hey you all, are you ready?!" He shouted. The audience cheered as a response. "Okay, just what I wanted to hear."

"The long-awaited battle is about to begin! From here on out, it's not just a battle of entertainment, it's a battle for the pride of men!" DJ ROKURO continued. "Send them your support and cheers! But don't drown them in them."

"You understand?!" He shouted once more. The crowd cheered once more as well.

Matsumo was there watching the crowd and show unfold. 'Finally, as if I'm gonna cheer on for anyone at this stage.' Yuuto near by the stage watched as the audience cheer and how different this "Alternative Rap Battle" feels compared to any music festival. 'It's so full…! Before it started, it could be filled before…' He remembers that when he and DJ ROKURO came in, the audience couldn't fill up the entire Colusseum before. Now, it's completely full. And the cheering from them is amazing too… 'Those cheers too… They're amazing…'

"Alright, now the referee for these semi-finals is me: DJ ROKURO." DJ ROKURO introduces himself. "And in the semi-finals, the first round is: "Buster Bros!" V.S. "MAD TRIGGER CREW"!"

The audience then cheered. Yuuto noticed the 2 teams and the first person he noticed was Rio. For some reason, he seemed to know Rio from somewhere, but he couldn't place where. So, he expected him to be a part of his vague past. Not that it matters now, since he kept his promise to "Buster Bros!".

"Let's meet the fighters." DJ ROKURO said.

"First up, "MAD TRIGGER CREW"'s Mr. Hardcore: Samatoki Aohitsugi!"

"45 Rabbit: Iruma Jyuto!"

"Crazy M:Rio Mason Busujima!"

The audience cheered. Matsumo grinned, on the other hand. "Now, show me how badass you can be in this battle."

Yuuto had a sudden flashback as soon as Rio's name was called.

In a small part in the woods, a bunch of tents were placed. A younger Yuuto was sitting outside one.

"Ah. You seemed to wonder here." A voice boomed. It was an army man. "How are you? Do you feel any pain in your injuries?" The man asks. All Yuuto said was absolutely nothing. The man felt an awkward tension in the air, so he decided to formally introduce himself.

"I'm Rio."

That was where the flashback ended for Yuuto. 'I-I knew Busujima-san…?' He decided to not think about it too much.

"Tch… Slow role call." Samatoki growled.

"Yes. I was quite tired." Jyuto agreed.

"However, here you can finally fight with all your strength." Rio said. This also got confirmation from DJ ROKURO.

"Next up: "Buster Bros!"!" DJ ROKURO yelled.

"M.C. BB: Ichiro Yamada!"

"M.C. MB: Jiro Yamada!"

"M.C. LB: Saburo Yamada!"

The said team was huddled.

"...Jiro, Saburo."Ichiro called out.

"Yeah!" "Yes!" They both said.

"Let's go!"

DJ ROKURO continued by explaining the rules to everyone.

(Summary)

Time Limit: 15 Minutes

Winning Conditions: -The team with the most standing within the time limit

You are considered "Down" if:

-You are incapacitated for 10 counts.

-Knocked out of the stage for 30 seconds.

*If there is no deciding winner between the 2 teams within the time limit, then the winner will be decided by a Sudden Death.*

Sudden Death: 1 representative from each team battles each other until one of them is "Down".

"The prize is 50 million yen. I can't so anything about that, but it's quite the amount. Well, do your bests." DJ ROKURO finished off.

"It's just as what Saburo said…" Jiro mumbled out loud.

"Did you really think that the information I gave was wrong? I can't believe you Jiro." Saburo complained. Jiro looked annoyed, but not as annoyed as Yuuto thought. Probably cause the match is about to start and the conversation with them in the halls is just a reminder.

"Saburo… Don't poke fun at me." He said. "You know where to do that, right?"

Near by, Jyuto chuckled at the scene.

"Hey, bastard. What are ya laughing at?!" Jiro yelled at the cop.

"Oh my, how rude of me. I was just smiling at this brother's quarrel." Jyuto said. "But this is a Rap Battle. If you and your brother want to fight each other, please do it at home."

"Ah, you should be able to go home soon. So you shouldn't worry about that." He continued.

'Oh wow… They're really adding salt to those wounds before it even formed…' Yuuto thought.

"And what's that supposed to mean…?!" Jiro angrily asked.

"He means they're going to defeat us immediately. That's what he means." Saburo explained the idiomatic expression.

"I know that!" Jiro shouted.

"Hey, police guy!" He called out to Jyuto. "The one who's going home… is you bastard!"

"Oh my, oh my. That's very childish." Jyuto said. "Well, I can't help it because it's an actual child."

While DJ ROKURO was explaining parts of the rules, he noticed the small feud between "Buster Bros!" and "MAD TRIGGER CREW".

"Hey, you, enough of that." DJ ROKURO said. "If you keep doing this, then both teams will be disqualified. You all don't want that, don't you?"

"There's nothing of the sort, DJ ROKURO. I'm not trying to get in your way." Jyuto said. "Please, continue." Jiro then clicked his tongue.

After the explanation and no one asked any further questions, it was time to really start fighting.

"Then, activate all your Microphones!" DJ ROKURO ordered. "In an Alternative Rap Battle, the DJ is the one providing the beats. Don't go off, alright?"

"Now, we've kept you waiting. The Alternative Rap Battle is here!"

The air then turned very tense between the 2 teams.

"Nii-chan… Can I be his opponent?" Jiro asked as he obviously points towards Jyuto.

"Jyuto Iruma. I don't think that there's a point since what happened a while ago, right?" Ichiro responded.

"It's alright. I've cooled down." Jiro said. "I'm just thinking that you won't be here…" Ichiro then looks at him with a reassuring look.

"...I understand. If you say so, then I won't stop you." Ichiro said towards him. "But remember, we're a team. Don't forget that we're with you, alright?"

"Yeah, I understand." Jiro responded.

Jiro then walked towards the empty space in the stage.

"Hey, Iruma!" He then shouted towards the cop. "Time for payback for what happened a while ago! You'll regret it now!" After Jiro's bold statement, the said man walked towards him in the same empty part of the stage.

"It seems that your confidence is quite high. If you challenge me, then I accept." Jyuto said as he looked at Jiro. "Even if you are a child, I won't hold back. And I will be the first one to win."

Yuuto noticed the 2 about to battle and the beats coming from DJ ROKURO. 'Iruma-san is the first one to attack… It feels like it knock Jiro-san out…!' He thought, as the beats are getting more and more clearer. Matsumo notices the style of beats as well. 'That's pretty interesting… Heh. Wonder is MB could stand after this one…'

Jyuto then proceeds to rap and the lyrics became obviously powerful as after the verse, Jiro fell on his knee.

"Gah…! Damn it…!" Jiro swore under his breath. "My body…!"

"Well, it is obvious." Jyuto spoke up out loud. "It's because you took my attack head on."

The audience was cheering and awing at Jyuto's attack, meanwhile.

"Amazing…!" One said.

"That kid, he can't stand up anymore, can he?" Another said.

"He looks like he's in his wits' end, doesn't he, Matsumo?" The girl nearby him asks. He gives no response and the girl was a little irritated. "Matsumo! Hey, answer!"

Matsumo sighed before responding to her questions. "He isn't going down that easily caus eif he would, then why is his team this far?" He said as fast as he could, but it could be still understood.

The girl apologized for irritating Matsumo and mumbled something under her breath. "… Why is he always like that…"

Back with Jyuto and Jiro…

"Now then, what will you do?" Jyuto said out loud. "Will you retire?"

"Who said…!" Jiro growled.

"You don't have to retaliate. It's natural for you to lose." Jyuto argued. "Rather, it could be used as good experience. That and I will praise you for that and still not lose yourself." He continued. Yuuto couldn't tell if he was genuine or sarcastic…

"...mess with me…" Jiro mumbled.

"What was that?" Jyuto asked to repeat that in a more louder volume.

"Don't mess with me!" Jiro shouted as he looked up towards Jyuto. "Words of someone like you… Is not fucking worth it!"

"That kid, he's saying that back, but he can't he stand up…" A crowd near by the stage said. "Then, he's "down"?"

Yuuto looked at them with mostly worry for Jiro. "Jiro-san, do your best…!" He mumbled out loud.

Jiro couldn't stand but his will to couldn't fade away. Not now, this battle is important.

"I'm… I'm not down yet…!" Jiro said under his breath.

"Jiro! Don't lose yourself, even if you're out of it!" Saburo yelled by the sidelines. "How long will you stay down?!"

"Shut up! Even if you don't tell me to…!" Jiro yelled back.

DJ ROKURO then started counting down. "M.C. MB is down! 1, 2, 3-"

"Jiro…!" Ichiro said under his own breath.

"4, 5, 6-"

"That boy will retire. Then there will only be 2 left." Rio said.

"Hurry it up and finish it, Jyuto." Samatoki said.

"You're right… Then afterwards, I'll give my position to you." Jyuto said towards Samatoki.

Yuuto noticed Jiro getting back on his feet while the entirety of "MAD TRIGGER CREW" were planning something.

"You ain't… getting away…!" He said as he was regaining his balance. Then the audience was cheering. They thought it was over for him after all.

"Well then… Not bad… I thought he would get up in the last few counts." Matsumo said to himself.

In Shibuya…

"Damn! I thought that guy was a gonna be a goner!" The hoodie boy said. Akito, meanwhile, stayed silent and his friend noticed.

"Hey Akito~! Don't tell me that you knew something like this…?"

"As if…" Akito said as he looked at the card he drew before the conflict occurred. "…Well, that was half a lie."

"Huh?"

Akito had to clarify his statement. "I have drawn this." He showed the card to his friend; and it was a Seven of Wands. "This means perseverance or maintaining control. Which I would agree fully, however…" He then looks back at the screen.

"He's still shaken after Jyuto Iruma's attack…"

Back at the Colosseum…

"He stood up!"

"But he's shaking!"

Jyuto looked impressed for a second there. "Oh my. I didn't think you could stand up."

"However, it's better for you to retire right now." He continued. "Wouldn't you prefer that?"

Jiro clicked his tongue in response. "Don't shit around. From now on, you better prepare yourself!" Jyuto just chuckled at that response. "Whenever you please…"

"But I wonder how much your lyrics will affect me," He continued. "considering the state you are in."

"I don't care about what you think." Jiro argued back. "But… Compared to Nii-chan, your lyrics are like a bug bite!"

"This should give you an idea of what I can still do…" Jiro threatened the police man.

"Take this!"

Jiro then raps and puts all his energy behind his verses and it once it hit Jyuto, it was so powerful that the latter was on his knee.

"Tch…!" Jyuto growled as he fell.

"! Yes…! Iruma's on his knee!" Saburo said in happiness.

"That's it Jiro! Saburo and I will deal with the other 2, so keep going!" Ichiro encourages.

Samatoki swears under his breath as he sees his teammate on his knee. "Tch… It's just as I thought… The brat's more powerful than what meets the eye…"

Yuuto smiled and had a small sigh of relief.

"Jyuto! Get up! Even if you're dead!" Samatoki yelled out.

"Hmph… I can't get up if I'm dead…" Jyuto said. After he said that, he stood up quite quickly.

"It seems you have conquered the shock and stood up." Rio joined in on the conversation. "But, wasn't he a bit too powerful? You were on your knee. I never thought that you would kneel to that."

"I wasn't careful." Jyuto threw that statement out of the way. "However, he seems to be the type that burns as much as he can."

Jiro noticed Jyuto speaking with his teammates and decided to make fun of them.

"What ch'a chatting about there? Thinking about retiring?!" Jiro yelled out towards them.

"The next one, you will fall completely." Jyuto retaliated. "It will make you lose that cheeky mouth of yours."

"How interesting!" Jiro said sarcastically. "Bring it on!"

"It will be a sight on how long you can last." Jyuto continued. "I won't only do it to you, but I will do it to the other 2 until they're down as well."

Yuuto watched in awe. Neither side is backing down and they keep throwing whatever they got left and right. Matsumo noticed Yuuto's head poking out and noticed his facial expression. "That guy… He must be rooting for the Yamadas." He then shrugged it off. "Well, maybe I should just hope that Aohitsugi get's beaten down by the one and only Ichiro Yamada."