Ryuji wakes up in a bed with his heart rate monitored by a device. His body aches in pain unfamiliar and unwelcome to him. Memory foggy as he attempts to leave his bed with great effort as he finds himself with new stitches and bandages for lacerations he can't recall getting. Removing the small sensors on his body without thinking, he hobbles to his feet and takes a view of his surroundings, an unsettling location with no windows and a single door. No chairs or a bedside desk. His head throbs as he begins to cough with choked breathing, flashes of visions in his head as he recollects the last moments of consciousness, his rather public fight to the death. Did he kill that guy? Of course not. If he did, then he'd be in jail or juvy, behind bars or in handcuffs. Then again, this room is hardly up to hospital standards. He approaches the door and proceeds to bang his fist against it thinking that he may be in prison yet.
"Hey! Lemme outta here! Hey! Anyone there!?"
To his own surprise the door opens. A man easily twice his size with a lean build stands in front of him holding a defibrillator. Dark hair sprawled down onto his shoulder with tan skin. Tired eyes partly hidden behind stray strands and a beard across his jawline. He sports a stained simple shirt and sweat pants with blood on his hands that cause Ryuji to step away from the stranger. The knuckles scarred from years of abuse. He gives a deadpan to the anxious teenager.
"Oh. You're awake. Better than being dead that's for sure."
"Who the hell are you!? Where's Niijima!?"
"Firstly, she's fine. Secondly, I'm the guy who saved your life, dumbass!"
He struck Ryuji with the medical instrument. The delinquent yelps and stumbles back rubbing his aching head. The bandage over his wound slowly stains red from being reopened.
"Ow! What th-! Are you trying to kill me shithead?!"
"I ought to! I damn near had a heart attack thinking you croaked! Your vitals were pretty fucking low already!"
"My what...? Seriously dude! Who are you?! This ain't any hospital I'm familiar with!"
"You're at my hideout. It's the basement of the club and your safe haven. Any other bright remarks or questions?"
"Yeah, why do have blood all over you?"
"Your blood. The girl has some on her as well. It's what happens when people treat reckless bums like yourself."
Ryuji looks down at the stitches and cuts on his bandages body. Flashes of his nightmarish experience in the streets in his mind reminds him soon enough. He places a hand over his face as the man stares at Ryuji, eyeing him up and down before tossing the defibrillator to the side, he offers him the bandana from before after fishing it from his pockets.
"It was good you put this on when you did. Online videos from the crowd are getting popular. It isn't every day the world gets to see a fight like that."
He gestures to follow him before leaving the room. Exercise instruments from treadmills to fighting gear, various weights and wooden dummies, a set of pull up bars and a fighting ring on the ground to act as a stage for sparring. All of this however were on one side of the room, the other side acted as a living quarter, furniture and a simple kitchen area often found in apartments sit neat and tidy far away from the intense training equipment. On one of the couches lay a sleeping Makoto. His caretaker gestures to her.
"She wanted to stay until you were awake. She won't say it but she feels guilty..."
Ryuji looks to him skeptical as he makes his way over to her.
"What's she got to feel guilty for? And is she wearing a new shirt?"
"If she didn't abruptly stop you and Toru from coming to me, Kuma wouldn't have beaten you half to death in front of everyone like that, though I gotta admit... Firecrackers? Fucking ruthless if not effective. Plus she helped with stitching and even picked out the shards of glass from your skin."
"She... Did...?"
"I was surprised too. I even gave her an out. She didn't trust me at all, still doesn't, but that's the smart way to live. Unlike a certain dumbass."
Ryuji glares at the man who retorts with a vacant stare. Having little choice as he couldn't leave without his classmate, yet unable to trust this incredibly shady man, he takes a seat next to her with the stranger taking a seat in a chair just adjacent to them. Makoto begins to stir and sits up rubbing her eyes.
"Sakamoto...? You're awake already!?"
The stranger scoffs at her small exclamation.
"He's tough. You both want to know what's going on right?"
Both nod at him. He places a hand onto his chest as he continues.
"My name is Yamatachi. Right now, Ryuji is involved in a complex systematic game between the higher powers in this society, and with each time he lives someone else is going to try and kill him for higher bounty. Whoever does wins the collective pot."
Ryuji stands to his feet with a shout.
"Wh-! For real!? This is all a! Ow! Ow, ow, owww..."
Slowly he sits back down with Makoto shaking her head at him.
"Sakamoto, you just got out of bed, don't get too excited."
"Yeah, yeah..."
Yamatachi rolls his eyes as Makoto asks the big question.
"Is there any reason to why his life is in danger?"
"Yeah. He didn't know it but he messed with the wrong people. There's this misconception that ours truly is trying to sweep a certain rich girl off her feet. This is a problem."
Makoto eyes her troubled friend with silent accusation. Even though she remains speechless as he waves his arms in defense.
"H-Hey! Hey! Wait a minute! I don't know anyone like that! You really think someone high class would spend time with me?"
"Okumura-chan."
"E-Eh?"
Yamatachi snickers and nods.
"Haru Okumura is the sole child to Kunikazu Okumura, the current owner and founder of Okumura Foods, which hosts a branch of restaurants and stores such as Big Bang Burger."
Makoto tilts her head as she starts to wonder.
"But what would Sakamoto's relationship with her have anything to do with this?"
"In a world where people live by common sense, nothing. We wouldn't even be talking right now. Unfortunately, this isn't the case. Okumura is in an arranged marriage with a young man by the name of Sugimura."
Ryuji's mood visibly dampens at the news with a sigh. Makoto gives him an elbow to the side with a passive glance.
"This Sugimura fellow has a place in all this?"
"Ow, dammit...!"
The mystery man gains a fierce glare and looks off to the side sucking his teeth.
"Yeah... This one requires a bit of context. His father is the important one with his position as a influential politician. It just so happens that he has an interest with Kunikazu's ideas. The two have an interesting dynamic, and he has helped Okumura Foods from starting as a lowly food stand to a bustling business, absorbing competition through shady dealings and unspoken deals. Through Sugimura's father, Kunikazu has achieved peak success in the business world, and the two have decided into deepening their relationship. This marriage will not only allow Kunikazu to make a step towards the political world, but also allow him a chance at gunning for a spot as the Prime Minister, which I'm sure you both know is important."
Ryuji scratches his head from the explanation.
"So... By selling his daughter off he gets to rise higher in society? What a piece of shit..."
Makoto shakes her head with unease.
"That's disgusting... How could he treat her like something to be traded? What do they have to think about this?"
Yamatachi shrugs off their gloomy reactions. A casual tone as his intimidating stare vanishes.
"As you can imagine, everything hinges on those two getting married, and Sugimura is all for it. He's obsessed with the girl. Apparently she hits all the right spots for him. Unfortunately for him and their fathers it's clear as day she doesn't like the guy, especially if you ever saw them together. So, when an unwilling bride finds herself more willing to spend time with someone outside the inner circle, let alone a lower class hair dyed punk? Sugimura's jealousy and the fathers eagerness to go through with the marriage combine to get rid of a small problem."
It is here that Ryuji's face shifts from confusion to fury in an instant.
"Wait! Wait! Wait! So I got these strong as shit freakazoids on my ass because some rich boy is scared I'm gonna cuck him and steal his girlfriend!?"
Makoto gives another passive glare towards Ryuji in a deadpan voice.
"As ineloquent as that is to say it's sadly not inaccurate... Still. Yamatachi-san, how are we supposed to just take this and trust you?"
He looks to the teens before pulling down the collar of his shirt to reveal another terrible scar.
"I used to be one of them. The guys that beat you up in that alley and earlier. I even know some still in there, like Kun-woo Li and Kuma Kobayakawa. Our services are international, or rather, the game is. Rich people using pawns to enact their desires, and those who would stop or aid them can reap the rewards, in this instance I could kill him now and be set for life."
Ryuji gulps as both of the teens tense in response to Yamatachi standing. He stretches with a lazy yawn.
"But!~ I'm too busy with my own business. So instead, I'm going to help you, Ryuji. I was gonna leave your girlfriend out of it, but since she wants to be so involved, you're going to have a part to play as well Ms. Student Council President."
Makoto blushes with a cracked voice as she brushes a lock of hair behind her ear in an attempt to play cool.
"We are not dating! A-And how did you know that I was...?"
"Makoto Niijima, third year, seventeen years of age, related to Prosecutor Sae Niijima who is investigating the corruptions in government and law enforcement."
"...!"
"I deal in information, sweetheart. Don't worry. No blackmail from me. You're as clean as a whistle anyways. Besides, this is about me helping him."
The tall man's gaze moves to Ryuji.
"The fact you survived the attack on instinct and luck has me interested. Then I saw your fight with Kuma. You got the potential so I'm going to turn you into a fucking bad ass."
"... What?"
"Just trust me on this. You don't want to die right?"
"Well no but... What do you get out of this, dude? Why help me at all?"
"Personal reasons. I really don't like that Sugimura asshole. More importantly, I think it'd be funny if some no-name snot nosed brat manages to show these suckers up, they'll have no choice but to come to you directly for a deal. That's what happens most of the time."
Makoto's eyes Yamatachi with skepticism.
"And the some of the time?"
"They'll try and get the police to shoot you. That won't happen for Ryuji. Unlike others, he's not a criminal, so they don't have anything that'll warrant police attention. Even so, that's why I treated you both here instead of a hospital. Police and emergency services are hot spots, these assholes see that you're there, you'll be in a worse spot than you can imagine. Even though the officers and doctors won't hurt you they won't save you either."
Her face wrinkles in frustration at the news. She had thought of doing just that. Reporting Yamatachi and all of the men he named to the police. However, after tonight's events, she has to play it safe. For now. Ryuji looks to the gym equipment on the other side of the room.
"So we're going to train together?"
"Later. You two have school. Go home and get some rest. I don't know about Ms. Student Council President, but you kid are about to turn some heads, so I hope you like the attention."
Makoto sighs lowering her head into her hands.
"Oh my God... What have dragged myself into?"
Makoto has never in her life thought she would be sneaking around anywhere. Let alone trying to sneak into her own home. The door to her apartment is locked, a good sign, or at the least hopeful. Her sister is a grade A workaholic. It was common for her to not come home at night. It made Makoto lonely at times, but in this instance she feels grateful for her sister's dutiful nature, especially since she could go without the tongue lashing. She unlocks the door and opens it carefully.
"Arriving home late?"
She would wince as her sister should be sitting in the living room waiting for her. Makoti wishes this was the case, like in the movies she would watch at a younger age, but this is not the case. In truth, she wouldn't mind a tongue lashing right now, it would at least mean her sister was here. Instead the same note from this morning sits at the dinner table. A letter of absence telling Makoto that the numerous cases are keeping her sister at the office. On one hand this becomes a wake up call, that she could stay out for as long as she'd like, and yet this only reminds her of how lonely she really is...
Ryuji manages to sneak his way back into his house. He'd have to talk to his mom eventually. He waits for morning trying to get whatever sleep he could after learning all he has. He awakes to his mother knocking on his door.
"Ryuji! Aren't you going to school today? You'll be late if you don't leave soon!"
"Y-Yeah! I'll be right out!"
Maybe he can sneak out his window again like last time? No. No he'd have to face the music sometime. Better now if ever. He leaves the room and realizes a frustrating detail. He had to take off his bandages and gauze to shower. Sure, he could just not shower for one day, but he wouldn't be caught dead without keeping up his hygiene. Of course, after his morning ritual, he makes his way down the stairs to face the music. His mother turns to him with a smile on that turns to a ghostly stare.
"Good morning... Ryuji...?!"
She gasps at the end of her sentence as Ryuji rubs his neck trying to hide his face. His spare school jacket keeps his stitches and cuts hidden, but it's too late, all he can give her is a smile.
"H-Hey... Mom! I-I-I can clean the kitchen up for-"
"What happened?!"
"It was just an some dumb fight...!"
"Dumb fight nothing, look at you, oh my little boy...!"
"I'm telling you Mom, I'm okay! J-Just take a seat and breathe. You're gonna lose it at this rate."
"I didn't see you all day yesterday and now...! You're not involved in anything are you?"
"I'm actually..."
Think. Think. What would get him out of this? What could he even say? Something sports related... Something where injuries and bodily harm are common!
"I found out there was a boxing club at the gym I go to during late night hours! It's pretty intense and everyone's so serious, but those guys know me, and they're gonna help me better myself. I ain't bringing you anymore trouble."
"Boxing...? Really?"
He nods hoping his forced smile would convince her. Sweat begins to trickle down his brow before his mother turns away.
"Well... If you say so... Hurry off to school. See if you can find something to eat there. I have to get ready for work."
He hates lying to her as his guilt begins to weight on his chest. He knew she would just die at the truth, if she believed it. Her worries would cause them problems and this only drives him to further to deal with this bizarre event abruptly shoved into his life. For now he needs to get to school. Getting there is no issue despite a train accident earlier this morning. Thankfully that is the topic on everyone's mind. In fact his public fight for survival doesn't garner him any attention. Only that of his new wounds.
"Look at Sakamoto this time!"
"Yeah you think he got caught in the train accident?"
"Maybe? That happened today. You'd think he'd use it as an excuse to not come today."
"No way! He doesn't live in that area, I got a friend who takes the train with him. I bet that loser picked another fight. Looks like he lost this time."
"You're saying that like he won the last fight!"
"H-Hey... Is it me or does he look scarier with all those cuts...?"
"Look how fresh those are too. I swear he's gonna cause a scene one day."
Ryuji has enough to deal with. Zoning out is all he could do to keep himself from doing something rash. He just has to get through the day. He keeps up the usual schedule until the intercom calls him to the principal's office. Most likely to be lectured about conduct and his appearance. Begrudgingly he gets up and leaves class for the hallway. On His way he finds himself in company of Makoto.
"Why are you walking next to me like that?"
"Apparently they think you'll try and make a break for it. I know you're not our brightest student but even I don't think this is necessary..."
"Couldn't they have gotten some teacher to do it?"
"I asked the same thing but they were rather set on having me do instead... Where are your bandages? You didn't get new ones from the nurse?!"
"She ain't got anymore, I used them up, see?"
He pulls his shirt up showing off new bandages over his body. Makoto roughly pulls it back down.
"D-Don't just carelessly expose yourself like that! You think this has anything to with last night?"
"Hey... Yamatachi said the guy that attacked me was Kuma Kobayakawa, right?"
"Yes?"
"You don't think he's got any relations to Principal Kobayakawa?"
"I highly doubt that... We didn't even see Kuma's face."
"I have. He was one of the guy's who jumped me earlier."
"What...?! Why didn't you tell me earlier!"
"Why would I tell you something like that?! Yamatachi may have said you're involved but you still have an out! Quit sticking your nose into my business!"
She stops him and points to a stitch over an eyelid. A frustrated grunt from her as she speaks.
"Oough! You idiot! Your eye was swelling and I had to cut it just so you could see again! This isn't just about you either. As a student of Shujin, anyone trying to befriend Okumura-chan may be in danger, I have to find some way to fix this so that she can at least have some friends!"
"... Huh. So you really can be a nice person when you wanna be. I thought you just did whatever adults told you to do."
Makoto leans back with a hurt expression. Ryuji then waves a hand at her dismissively.
"Hey, I didn't mean it like that. You're reliable. I'm sorry I caused you this much trouble."
"... Idiot."
The two enter Principal Kobayakawa's office. Makoto keeps her hands together with a formal bow while Ryuji lazily looks around as he keeps his hands in his pockets. The portly man stuffed in a suit too tight for his body nods at Makoto.
"Ah Niijima, you're here! Excellent. As well as you..."
His eyes fade to a dull condescending glaze.
"Sakamoto."
Makoto flashes a glare at Ryuji which has him quickly correct himself.
"Hey, No-Neck."
"Sakamoto-! Excuse him. He's having a bad day."
Kobayakawa nods grunting.
"As am I. Sakamoto. What have you been doing with yourself lately? Your attendance has improved but not your work ethic."
His retort is a mere shrug.
"I just felt like coming to school lately. That a problem?"
"As a matter of fact it IS! Ryuji Sakamoto, I hereby suspend you from Shujin Academy! Be grateful I don't expel you entirely."
"Wh-? What!? Why!"
He actually doesn't care. He was planning on dropping out for some time. The only reason he stayed was to spite the staff and more importantly, give his mother hope, hope that she hasn't raised a deadbeat failure... If he's expelled it will only prove to the world just how pathetic both he and his mother are. Kobayakawa points at him raising his voice.
"Look at yourself! Covered in bruised and patched up like a worn stuffed animal! Shujin Academy only houses the most deserving and hard working students! Delinquents are not tolerated!"
Makoto looks between the two. She agrees wholeheartedly with the principal, but Ryuji is far from irredeemable, and last night proves he is certainly capable of success of a kind. It's a stretch but one just long enough for her to speak up in his favor.
"Please, Principal Kobayakawa, reconsider! He can change his ways if given the chance! He was our track star just a year ago, right?"
"That was then and this star has fallen from grace! I could tolerate the complacent laziness in your lack of study but I will not allow violence here!"
Ryuji bites his tongue. He has to come up with anything. Anything at all! If he's really got nothing to lose than he may as well try anything to make it!
"So it has nothing to do with Kuma Kobayakawa?"
The stocky man pales as he sinks into his chair. The name alone strikes him with a bizarre reaction of intense fear.
"Wh-What...?! Who told you about-! I don't know what you're talking about!"
"You mean who, right?"
Ryuji sneers as both Kobayakawa and Makoto gawk in surprise.
"So you're kicking me out of school cause you're in on the game too..."
Makoto shakes her head. Her face pales considerably staring in shock at her elder.
"Principal Kobayakawa...! Y-You can't be serious! You're affiliated with that beast?!"
"You know about him too, Niijima!? Ooh..."
The overweight principal takes out a small towel from his desk and wipes away the swear from his head.
"... How... How do you know about him? Don't tell me! The one he told me of last night... Was that really you, Sakamoto?!"
Ryuji's smug sneer skews into a foul scowl.
"... I'll be frank, No-Neck. I only said that as a bluff. Thanks for confirming my suspicions. Was this whole thing you sacrificing me to the damn wolves?"
"! I-I... I won't tolerate this rebellious attitude any longer! Both of you out of here at once! Sakamoto, I take back what I said earlier, you are most certainly expelled!"
Ryuji clicks his tongue in defiant silence. Makoto however protests quite loudly.
"Principal Kobayakawa...! He's a student here and it's your job to watch over us! You can't cast him out like a leper!"
"If you know as much as he does than you would do well to hold your tongue, young lady! Sakamoto signed his death warrant, even if I wanted to keep him safe, I can't... If Kuma knows you're here..."
The principal's boisterous vindictive demeanor crumbles apart as he breaks down into heavy breathing. Hands holding his head as he rests against his desk.
"Kuma isn't like the others... All of the elite have control over their representatives... But Kuma's raw power is what allowed me to join their inner circle They fear him, as do I, he only listens to people stronger than him... He only works for me because he's my nephew. Out of family obligation. If I try to overstep that boundary... If he hears his target is here... He'll tear this entire school down to rubble just to get to you...!"
The two students look to each other conflicted. Makoto lowers her head.
"So... It's not that you want Sakamoto dead.. You don't have a say in the matter at all."
Ryuji scratches his head groaning in annoyance. He walks around the desk putting a hand on Kobayakawa's shoulder speaking with reassurance.
"Shit... When you put it like that I can't even find it in myself to get angry at you..."
"Excuse me?"
Ryuji punches his elder in the mouth and knocks him out of his chair. Makoto gasps while Kobayakawa yelps in fear and pain.
"S-Sakamoto?! What do you think you're doing!"
"St-Stop! I thought you'd understand what I was doing here!"
Ryuji calmly shakes his thrown hand and thumbs to himself almost proudly.
"I just assaulted a staff member on school property. That's grounds for expulsion, right? It's definitely a better narrative than because I look bad."
Kobayakawa scrambles to his feet rubbing his chin. Too stunned to register the pain.
"You... You're going to sacrifice your future, just to save the school, no one would even know!"
"That's fine, No-Neck. Wasn't that part of the plan? I'll figure something out anyways."
Ryuji leaves the office leaving Makoto with the principal. A still stiff awkward silence hangs in the air until Makoto looks away for the door.
"Sir... I must say... I'll never be able to look up to you again after this."
She leaves him to his pitiful solitude. His own inner self-loathing thoughts. How could he be shown up by some delinquent bastard? No... How could he have fallen so far that he really did throw a child into the maw of the beast. Even if the impossible occurred, that he survive or beat Kuma again, he signed away any decent future now... How could he fix this?
Makoto runs after Ryuji in the hallways. However, the lunch bell sounded not too long ago, and her path is clogged with students moving about in their free time. She finds him with his school bag at the entrance stopped by two teachers. Kawakami, a second year homeroom teacher, and Kamoshida.
"Sakamoto-kun... You aren't planning on skipping, are you?"
"I heard quite the ruckus from the principal's office. You didn't do anything too foolish now, did you?"
Ryuji looks between them frustrated at the obstacles to his escape. Just as he is about to answer, Principal Kobayakawa beats him to the punch, surprising everyone.
"Sakamoto-kun is leaving for a family emergency. I just spoke with his mother. It was very emotional and personal, so I can't allow anyone to ask him questions, he'll be taking a leave of absence in the mean time."
Kawakami perks up in surprise. A pleasant tone as she steps out of Ryuji's way.
"Oh? That sounds pretty serious. I guess in that case we can let him leave early."
Ksmoshida begrudgingly watches Ryuji walk past him with a scoff. Kobayakawa rubs his temple watching the young man leave as Makoto walks to his side.
"Family emergency...?"
"W-Well! He's...! He is still very much a student of Shujin Academy! It's our duty to the students to do what we think is best for their future within our power."
"I see. That was very thoughtful of you sir..."
She smiles and bows to excuse herself. Certainly she wishes there is more the principal and herself could do for Ryuji. However, she could only think of the shady Yamatachi character, if his ridiculous story is to be believed. She looks to the side and notices a limousine with an irritated young man on the school road. He glares furiously at Ryuji before bringing a phone to his ear.
"... Be careful, Sakamoto."
Ryuji leaves for the road walking on the road. An expensive foreign car begins to follow him for a small time. Rolling his eyes he moves onto the sidewalk, but shouts as the car drives in his way, closing off the sidewalk.
"Wh-What the shit?!"
The driver's door opens revealing a towering figure in a brilliant business suit and rubber gloves, sharp shades hide his eyes, fair tan skin and dark hair swept back. The more Ryuji stares the stronger his sense of deja vu. Then the man speaks.
"Hey, dumbass. Get in the car. We're starting your training today."
"Y-?! Yamatachi...?"
"You coming or what? I got other shit to do, kid."
"... Damn... You look nothing like you did before!"
"I know, but I ain't gay so don't bother talking about my looks. You in or not?"
"I ain't gay either, asshole! Effing dickhead..."
Ryuji gets into the passengers seat begrudgingly. Yamatachi smirks as he pulls out of the driveway and off intI the distance of the road.