Scenario 5: True Power

"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."

Jyuto looks at his teammates and proposed something interesting. "How about all 3 of us attack together. That will make things much quicker."

Samatoki then interjected that idea. "Ichiro's fucking mine. It's fine if we damage him, but leave some remnants of him so I can beat some shit into him later."

Jyuto sighed before answering: "I'll let you do so then."

"They're just talking about selfish things…" Jiro meanwhile mumbled.

"If you went that far, you wouldn't like to keep silent, right?" Ichiro said. Afterwards, he looked towards Saburo. "Saburo, you're up."

"Yes, Ichi-nii!" The little brother said.

"Nii-chan! He's alone…!" Jiro tried to stop whatever Ichiro was planning.

"Didn't I say we're in this together? Can't you rely on us?" Ichiro asked.

Jiro just stuttered before forming an actual answer. "That's… wrong! You're the world! But…"

"I know." Ichiro said. "You would fight your own matches, even if they were given to you on a silver platter. But…"

"I can't stand watching you fight while you're in a rough situation right now." He continued. "What's more, he's sayin' that they're gonna attack together. If you want to deal with this, then you can't deal with it alone."

"That's right." Saburo interjected the small talk. "This isnt just your fight, Jiro!"

In the audience, Matsumo looked at the match with some interest on his face, sure it was kinda predictable to him at first, but now things are getting more and more interesting. 'So, it looks like they wanna attack all at once… That's a little wild, considering they wanna take down one MC.' He smirked. 'Unless, "Buster Bros!" have something to stop that…'

And near the stage, Yuuto continues looking at the match with some anticipation on whatever "MAD TRIGGER CREW" plans to do. But he has only a vague idea. 'Iruma-san's raps have low bends, meaning the energy is behind on paralysis-like effects… Jiro-san's raps though… They don't feel as powerful as I thought…' Then the thought hit him. '…! Jiro-san's style is aggressive…! That means that he doesn't reach his apex until the enemy hits him! But it looks like it only lasts for a few moments…' He needed more information… But he worries about Saburo next, since it looks like even he couldn't handle much of Jyuto's raps… Unless…

"My oh my." Jyuto looked towards the opposing team again. "Are those brothers fighting again? But, I'm not kind enough to wait in a battle." He then prepares to attack…

"This is the end."

The beats sound different… Too different, it felt like it could really knock someone down and they would pass out from hearing it… Yuuto noticed that as the lyrics kept coming out.

Jiro shuddered as soon as the attack came towards him. Ichiro noticed.

"Jiro! Get behind me!" He said. All Yuuto could do is close his eyes and not see the impact.

"Ichi-nii! Please leave it to me!"

Saburo went in front of both his older brothers and started rapping… And somehow, the attack stopped.

Yuuto opened his eyes and saw the sight. Then that's when he knew. 'Saburo-san's ability…! Negation!' He thought. 'Since he's so analytical, he could counter any attack… But…' He looked with even more worry. 'It looks like he could only use it once… He looks so shaken up…'

What he was seeing was no lie. Saburo negated the attack, but he was almost out of breath.

"! He negated my attack…" Jyuto mumbled under his breath.

"Guh…!" Saburo grunted.

"Sa-Saburo…!" Jiro yelled out towards the said boy.

"Jiro…! Make a counterattack!" Saburo yelled out. "For what…"

"For what reason did I became a shield for you…!" He continued as he panted in between his words. "You have to fight back… Eat a blow of your opponents' conscience and fight back…! That's your role…!" Jiro stood for a moment as if he (finally) realizes what he needs to do.

"I get it, Saburo… I'll do it." Jiro looks at his brother before looking at Jyuto.

"Irumaaaa! One more time! TAKE THIS!" He yelled.

He rapped and got all of his lyrics out. It had so much power behind it, surely enough power to knock a member out. 'This might be the attack…!' Yuuto thought. Matsumo thought otherwise.

And the latter was right.

Someone intercepted the attack and negated it completely. Everyone was shocked and dumbfounded. But Yuuto and Saburo instantly figured it out. Yuuto's thoughts were from the voice and rap. Saburo was from his thoughts and hypothesis.

'That style… And that voice… Bushijima-san?!' Yuuto thought. He then got another headache and flashback.

In Rio's tent, Yuuto was just sitting. Why? Why was he here? Where's his parents? Who were they again? Why did he have those scars in his hand? What accident was he involved in? All of those, he can't even answer. But there was one thing that was easy to answer: What could he eat?

"Oh, wait a little bit more. It's almost done." Rio's voice boomed all of a sudden. Was he the one taking care of Yuuto? Probably.

No, it's likely. 100%.

After a little bit, the food was ready. It was a bowl of stew. He didn't mind the fact that a while ago, Rio caught actual bugs in the forest and used them in the stew. It smelled good, so he assumed. He then got a spoonful of soup…

'It's good.' He thought. He didn't need to tell Rio that, since it's written on his face.

"It looks like you enjoyed it. I'm glad. If you want more, just tell me."

Yuuto grabbed his own head and shook it. Why now is he getting recollections of his own memory? And it's just from Bushijima-san. He remembered something about amnesia and that things that were from the past could trigger a reveal of some sorts… But right now, that's not important, he needs to cheer on "Buster Bros!" as a promise.

"Jiro's attack…" Saburo mumbled out loud. "Bushijima's rap wiped it out in a single blow?!"

"Why the hell…!?" Jiro yelled out loud, but pants has he does so.

"Why, so." Rio began speaking out. "A lieutenant is not stupid enough to tell the enemy about it."

"...!" Saburo looks at Rio with some realization and some anger in the mix.

"Back down, Jyuto." Rio ordered. "I will take it from here."

"I don't need to thank you. But, I didn't ask for any assistance." Jyuto said.

"Of course, you don't need to thank me. It's a lieutenant's duty." Rio said.

"After all that, neither side has anyone disqualified…"

"So it's even then?"

The audience asks in curiosity and anticipation. Anticipation in which team will fall first.

"But that soldier-like person is amazing… Isn't it dangerous for "Buster Bros!"?"

Yuuto looks at "MAD TRIGGER CREW" then at "Buster Bros!". 'Ichiro-san, Jiro-san, and Saburo-san can't lose here…!'

"I don't feel like losing to him." Saburo mumbled as he looked at Rio. "I don't like it…"

"Is it a style that cancels the opponents' attack?" He thought out loud, but no one could hear his words. "It's similar to how I'm fighting…"

"It was quite easy to prevent the attack towards Jyuto." Rio said.

"Why didn't you tell me from the beginning?!" Saburo shouted. "It was natural to block such an attack!"

"Do it as many times as you like…!" He continued.

"That attitude of yours is good. You could be a good soldier." Rio praised the young boy. Somehow, they were close enough in Yuuto's sensitive hearing range that he could hear parts of the conversation. And the young DJ stood in shock. A fighter praising his opponent in the middle of a battle.

"You remind me of someone I have met in the past as well, he too, was a good fighter." He continued. "I'm happy to be able to fight someone like you so openly in an Alternative Rap Battle." Yuuto could see Rio smirk slightly after that.

"Young boy, I will defeat you with respect."

The beats starts lining up with Rio's style and he attacks with a ferocious style of rap. But even in his state, Saburo tried to negate the attack. He did so, to some extent. That's because even with Saburo's move, the attack still goes strong. To the point that Jiro noticed and moved in Saburo's place.

"Saburo!" Jiro yelled as he pushed Saburo behind him, taking Rio's attack. "Gah-!"

What the 2 didn't know was there was more and despite Jiro blocking Saburo from talking damage, the latter took some as well.

"Ahhh!" Saburo screamed in pain.

Both members of "Buster Bros!" fell onto the ground.

"Saburo! Jiro!" Ichiro yelled out towards them.

"Ichiro, ya don't have time to look to the side right now!" Samatoki yelled. Ichiro clicked his tongue in response.

The audience cheered, mostly. Some were looking quite worried for "Buster Bros!".

"Hey, those little brothers got blown away!"

"Ichiro Yamada seems he has his hands full with Samatoki Aohitsugi."

Matsumo overhears these comments. He made a dissatisfied look for Jiro and Saburo. 'Well… This was a turn around that I expected.' He thought. 'Damn, LB's ability is more limited than I thought.'

'Not only it makes him exhausted, but if the attack is big enough, he can't negate all of it.' He sighed. "Well, that's expected from someone who's literally in Middle School. He ain't build for it yet. Although, he does have enough brain power to think better than anyone else in that arena for sure."

Meanwhile, said 2 are on the ground, unable to stand.

"...Gh…! Jiro…!" Saburo tried to get Jiro's attention. "Why did you come here…?!"

"Your role is to counterattack…!" He continued. "I told you…!"

"My body moved by itself, I couldn't help it… Gh…!" Jiro said as he was in pain.

"Damn…! Stand up…! The 2 of us are gonna get disqualified…!" Saburo said.

"No shit…!" Jiro growled.

In Shibuya…

"Woah! That should be enough to knock them out, right!?" The hoodie boy said. Akito stayed silent.

"Hey, Akito~? You hearing me?" He tried to call out to the brunet, but he looked like he was in a trance with the phone screen.

"...He's so focused…"

Then, as if on cue, after he said that, Akito finally noticed.

"Oh, what was it you said?" Akito asks.

"*sigh* You really are focused to this more than I thought…" He said out loud. "You aren't like this at all during classes."

"There's nothing wrong with my attitude now." Akito said.

"Well, during classes, you always behave and answer the teachers' questions. Plus, you were nominated to be "Student Council President"." The hoodie boy explained. "Why reject that and whenever it's something like Rap Battles, you get so attached to that idea…?"

Akito stayed silent. The boy decided to not take the topic further, since he remembered what he said during the first day of school…

"My name is Akito Korita. I like fortune telling and playing the bass. Pleased to meet you all."

The teacher looked at Akito and asked more information about himself or about his family. When the teacher the word "family" he looked at him with a look saying "please no more about that". "Teacher. What's wrong about my family?"

"But, when we look at your records about your parents, they don't have your surname…"

Akito then gave out a response. "Ah, those are my guardians. My parents are working abroad so much, that they didn't come back in time."

The boy knew that his friend probably had some issues with his parents' trust and relationship when they're together, and bringing it up isn't going to solve anything. But what he couldn't understand is his love for Rap Battles. He did say to the pubic eye that he has an interest and has rapped before, but whenever he watches a match like this, it's almost like he's thinking about the fighters and not the battle itself…

Back in the Colosseum…

"Did you decide it this time?" Jyuto asks his teammate. "And this time, you won't do anything about the opponent right?"

"In a battle for each other's pride, I can't reach out my hand." Rio said. Jyuto then looks at the 2 knocked down opponents.

"Now then, those 2 will be disqualified." Jyuto said. "The game will be over. I feel quite sorry for those 2 crossing paths with us."

The 2 leaders stayed silent.

Yuuto watched as the 2 younger brothers down on the ground, seeming unable to stand.

"Hey, those 2 can't get up. Are they alright…?"

"Certainly, if you don't stand within 10 counts, you'll be disqualified, right?"

DJ ROKURO noticed that 2 people are down and started counting.

"2 people are down! 1, 2-" DJ ROKURO yelled.

"Jiro-san! Saburo-san!" Yuuto called out. 'Please… Don't get knocked out…!'

"Hey Ichiro." Samatoki got the attention of the leader of "Buster Bros!". "Your younger brothers are crawling on the ground."

"Can't leave them alone, "Onii-chan"?" He continued to insult. "Can't go and play with your younger brothers crying on the ground?"

The big brother couldn't say anything. Yuuto noticed Ichiro's face and it just hoped that his younger brothers would stand up.

"7, 8-" DJ ROKURO continued to count to 10.

"Damn it, it hurts…!" Jiro mumbled out loud in an angry manner.

"...Tch, of course it would hurt since you were the one that got hit…!" Saburo retaliated.

"...Oh, that's cute!" Jiro said sarcastically. "I'd be fine if I could get hit without losing it…!"

They then stood up. The moment before DJ ROKURO reached 10 and he noticed.

"Heh! That's pretty gutsy for those kids." He pointed out. Yuuto sighed a bit. 'They're safe…'

"Oh… It's always kid this, kid that and I'm getting pissed…!" Jiro growled out loud.

"But if you continue fighting like this, it'll be bad…" Saburo said. "I have to think of something…"

"Don't talk weak, Saburo!" Jiro said.

"Gh…! I'm not weak! There's a physical difference between that team and us. That's because you and I are still brats… I have to admit that…" Saburo said and mumbled around the last part.

"Are you pulling on Nii-chan's legs…?" Jiro asked.

"Yeah. That's right." Saburo admitted. "That's why we need to come up with a plan."

Then the most unthinkable happened. Ichiro stepped in and told them to stop.

"That's enough." He said. "I'm glad you 2."

"Nii-chan…!" Jiro mumbled out loud.

"I'll take it from here." Ichiro reassured. "It's okay Jiro, you did well. Saburo helped you as well. I'm proud of you. From the beginning, there was always a way for 3 people to fight together. But you can't fight with my help. I have some skill and courage that you 2 don't have."

"I wanted to to them to the guys here. Whoever says you guys are brats, you aren't." He continued. "You both are full-fledged men."

"Ichi-nii…" Saburo mumbled.

"So, look closely. I will prove that! That your fight isn't in vain!" Ichiro declared. Meanwhile, the white-haired yakuza glared at whatever he was saying.

"Ichiro… The hell are you going to prove…" He said in a low tone. "Hey. You guys back down." He directed towards his teammates and they did so.

"Do as you please. I will just save my physical strength." Jyuto said.

"I have no objection." Rio said.

The 2 leaders then stepped forwards and glared at each other for a moment.

"Fuckin' finally. We finally get to face each other." Samatoki said.

"Ha, you okay being alone? I don't mind if all you 2 came at once." Ichiro said. Samatoki took that an offence. To him it meant: "you're not such a big deal, so just bring the other 2 so it could be more of a challenge".

"...Don't you dare say shit like that in front of me, bastard!" He yelled. "I can't lose this time. Not to you, or him…"

"I'll make sure you'll eat those words!" Ichiro said.

"I'll crush you!" Both yelled out.

"Finally! The leaders are gonna fight each other!"

"Amazing power…!"

Matsumo stood with a new spark of amusement. 'Here it is… Who's gonna win this one?' Meanwhile, by the stage, Yuuto was watching the most intense battle between 2 men he has seen and noticed that DJ ROKURO changed the beats' tempo and tone. "The beats changed…?"

"So it's a leader showdown? If so, don't hesitate!" DJ ROKURO yelled.

"Ha! I'll do it even if the old man didn't say so!" Samatoki said. "I'll show him my Rhyme!"

"Take this!"

Samatoki started rapping to the different beat and it seemed huge. Then when it hit Ichiro, the latter almost trembled, although no one saw it. But for some reason, Yuuto's expectation on Samatoki's rap was… Not really like this, but it was, to some extent. Matsumo meanwhile, expected this kind of action from Samatoki.

"Nii-chan!"/"Ichi-nii!" The 2 younger brothers yelled out loud by the side of the stage.

"Oh… There's something odd about him." Rio pondered.

"...I see. You can clearly see it as well." Jyuto added.

"Damn it! Samatoki, that bastard…" Ichiro mumbled. "Trying to hit straight head-on… But!" He stood up back easily.

"This level of damage is nothing!" He prepared his microphone as he said so.

Then, Ichiro started rapping and Samatoki prepared to take the attack head-on. But when it hit him, he fell onto his knees.

"Gh…?!"

"Samatoki's… on his knee!?" Jyuto said out loud as he saw his leader fall.

"No, I would say that he didn't fall because of the shock."

"Ichiro Yamada…" Jyuto mumbled out. It then caught Yuuto's attention for a little bit, since both the cop and the ex-navy member are within his sensitive hearing range. "Originally "The Dirty Dawg"'s crown… He is definitely not a joke."

'That was interesting. So Ichiro-san used to be in another team…?' Yuuto wondered. DJ ROKURO looked at Yuuto for a slight moment and told him something.

"Hmph. Isn't it interesting?" He said. Yuuto looked at his Master with curiosity. "It's a powerful lyric that won't repeat itself again. That's why being a DJ can be rewarding."

Back with the battle, the 2 younger brothers had faces of glee.

"That's expected of Ichi-nii!" Saburo said.

"Ya see, this is Nii-chan's ability!" Jiro said.

'Both of their lyrics are like sharp knives…! I could hear the aggressive energy in their raps! Master's techniques are amazing as well…!' Yuuto thought as he watched in awe.

"They're both so strong! I have no idea which one will win~!"

"What should I do? I can't choose which one to support!"

"Hey Matsumo, can't you feel the tension~? Who do you think is gonna win this?" The girl asks the blue-haired boy. He then looks at here for a few moments before answering.

"To be honest… I can't tell…" He answered, but mumbled the last part. 'But at this rate…' He bit his lip in thought. He really believed that Samatoki Aohitsugi could stand and somehow win.

"What?! It doesn't work at all…!" Ichiro mumbled out loud.

"While you're sayin' that, you shouldn't catch your breath…!" Samatoki said as he stood back up.

"You look like you're out of breath too, you know?" Ichiro pointed out the bluntly obvious fact.

"Ichi-nii! I can fight now!" Saburo yelled out loud as he feels and looks fine enough to continue fighting.

"We'll keep Iruma and Bushijima down! So, give Samatoki hell!" Jiro yelled out loud as he then faced the cop and ex-navy member.

"Oh my. I didn't expect you to be barking so early, but it appears that you're back." Jyuto said, adding an insult in his statement.

"Ah. Apparently the damage wasn't enough." Rio said. Jyuto meanwhile looked back at his leader.

"Samatoki. Finish this quickly." He said.

"Don't fucking tell me!" Samatoki yelled back. He then looked back at his own opponent.

"Being beaten by this kind of team, it's not funny that you can't even make a joke about it."

"Hah! Running out of room, Samatoki?" Ichiro yelled back. "It's sad, but me and my bros aren't as weak as you think."

"What 'cha say? Don't contradict me you piece of shit." Samatoki angrily said. "Next attack, I'll take you and your brothers down."

"Since you're so confident, come at me then!" Ichiro threatened.

"Fine." Samatoki calmly said so. He probably thought it was a taunt so that he could lose his cool. "Then I'll make it so intense that you won't even think of standing in front of me again!"

"Yeah, go ahead! Go ahead and try…!" Ichiro said.

Matsumo continued to look at the match with "Buster Bros!" and "MAD TRIGGER CREW" before his thoughts were interrupted with Yuuto looking at DJ ROKURO for a period of time before looking at the battle and the thought never hit him. 'Is he…? His kid? No, he doesn't even look related.' He shook it off cause it didn't matter.

In Shibuya…

Akito was (still) staring at the screen intensely. The hoodie-boy wondered if there was something in Akito's personal life that made him this interested in Rap Battles…

"Hey Akito-" He was cut off by the brunet.

"I already know the outcome of this match. And to be honest, I would rather see "Fling Posse" and "Matenrou"'s match." He stood up and grabbed his case. "I'll continue watching the match later. Don't worry about it. I just remembered that have an errand to run." He waved to the hoodie-boy. "Well, farewell for the time being."

As he was walking away, he continued to wonder about the reading from a while ago. 'What in the world could happen that could possibly stop the Alternative Rap Battle…?'