This is it! My magnum opus! "Hahahaha! They will definitely accept this concept!"

I jump when my wall starts banging. "Oi! KEEP IT DOWN! Tryna to fucking sleep!" I look at the clock and it's one in the afternoon.

"Sorry! I'll try to be quiet!" I yell back. I keep forgetting this place is not made out of cement. Welp. Time to get ready for work. I put on my Smile Burger uniform, grab my keys and leave the apartment. The stench of smoke strikes my nostrils. I already know who that is. I turn and yup. It's Isamu. Wearing her usual jean jacket and yellow skirt that reaches past her knees. She has a weird sense of fashion. Her long black hair is tied into a ponytail. She's smoking while looking out at the city. "Good afternoon, Isamu-san."

Dragon Next Door

Chika Isamu

She slowly turns and glares at me with her cold blue eyes. "You fucking broke my sleep, Ai-chan." She blows the smoke at my face. The familiar scent tantalizing me.

I wave it away. "I already apologized. I'm going out for a while."

She shakes her head. A man in his underwear bursts out of the apartment from the end of the hall and rushes in a hurry to the stairs, shoving me away to head downstairs!

"Tch. What fucking pussy." The blonde woman steps out in a white bathrobe.

Sadistic Blondie Beauty

Rikiyo Tsukuyomi

Isamu quickly heads back to her apartment with a sour face. Rikiyo takes the opportunity to approach me. "Afternoon, Ricky!" I grin. She scowls. "I-I mean, Tsukuyomi-san!" I bow repeatedly. I keep forgetting that first names are only for friends. Which makes me a little sad.

She smiles, but there's nothing happy behind the expression. "One of these days, you're going to get beat up for your bad manners, Misaki-chan." Ugh. I hate how they switch my Japanese name around like that. It's confusing!

"I'm still learning. I don't mean to be disrespectful." She grabs my collar and pushes me against the rails! We're on the third floor! "WOAHWOAHWAAH!'

She giggles. "You make adorable faces~!"

"P-Please! I have a phobia of heIIIIIIIGHTS!" She pushes me further!

Suddenly, Isamu comes out and pulls us to safety. Ah. Sweet ground. How I missed you. She then tosses Tsukuyomi across the hall. "Is it too much to have some peace around here!?"

Tsukuyomi stands. "Sheesh. Always ruining my fun, Isamu-kun. You better take responsibility."

"I'm going to put you in your place." Tsukuyomi grins as they both take a battle stance.

"Um. Gals? We're all adults. Let's tal-"

"Shut up!" They both yell at me. Welp. Can't say I didn't try to de-escalate. However, seeing them getting ready to fight triggers my artistic mind!

Yakuza Kiwami - Receive You The Madtype

Tsukuyomi charges at Isamu to kick her face, but she blocks it with her left arm. Isamu punches her gut, making her gasp for air. She takes the opportunity and grabs Tsukuyomi's head to slam her against the rail, dropping her on the floor. Any normal person would've had a concussion after that, but she's anything but. Tsukuyomi quickly recovers and breakdance on Isamu's leg, causing her to fall. She stands and then knees Isamu on the chest with a sadistic smile on her face. Fractured ribs for sure. Isamu gets on all four and she quickly rushes at the blonde with incredible speed. She lunges at Tsukuyomi and using the momentum, headbutt her face as they drop. That's a broken nose right there, but it's like their bodies are made of steel! Also, is it me or did they use moves from Like a Dragon?

They both stand and face each other, regaining their breath. "Getting tired already?" Tsukuyomi says, wiping the blood off her nose.

Isamu cracks her neck. "I'm just warming up." They both run with their fists ready.

"Girls!" Someone shouts. They stop and we all turn to see a plump older woman in a white sleeveless shirt and short jeans.

Carefree Drinking Warrior

Satori Sakamoto

She crosses her arms. "What did I say about fighting?" Isamu and Tsukuyomi glare at one another before heading back to their apartments. She sighs. "Those two are like water and oil."

"I'll say. They remind me so much of two characters I like." The image of Kiryu and Majima pops into my head. It was like witnessing both men fight right at my face! Is it wrong that I low-key ship them?

"Buenos días, Quirindongo!" She beams a smile.

"Buenos dias, Satori!" She's a very friendly person. She was the one who got me a room in the first place. She was excited knowing I'm a foreigner and wanted to learn more about my culture. Her Spanish is actually pretty good. "Oh yeah." I hand her a cassette. "Finally arrived a couple days ago. An authentic copy of Él Gran Combo from my homeland."

She gets giddy. "I can't wait to listen to your salsa!" She does a little dance. Very adorable.

"I wish I could chat longer, but I have to get going. Do let me know what you think when I get back." We say our goodbyes and I go to the nearest train station.

The famous district.

Aaaah. Kamurocho. The setting where everything is centered around. I've played the games so much, I know this place like the back of my hand. Of course some establishments are fictitious for story purposes, like the patriarch's offices. But they really went out of their way to accurately portray the district.

I enter the restaurant and it's packed! "Ai-san!" My manager shouts from the register. "We've got two callouts and I need your help! NOW!"

"YES, SIR!" I quickly clock in and help with the customers.

One grueling shift later

I can't believe it. But we managed to close on time. Ugh. My body screams in pain. My manager closes the restaurant and says he has to go home to take care of his wife. Thank God. I wasn't in the mood to be shit faced. We head our separate ways. I gotta start making plans for the story of Like a Dragon. Will Ichiban come across his mother? That would be interesting. And she could kick ass too. Maybe a secret boss? It would be funny if instead of Amon, she beats him and he has to face her instead.

Hmm? There's a kid alone on the sidewalk. She's wearing a black polo shirt and a khaki skirt with brown Converse. Her black hair is tied into pigtails and has pink highlights. She's focused on her phone. It's dangerous to be alone like that. A lot of the crimes go unreported, especially the heinous ones. Giving the veneer of 'safety'. She crosses the street, when it's not green!

A truck is driving towards her. "WATCH OUT!" I shout as I run as fast as I can! She looks up and is frozen in place by the blinding headlights. The truck slams their brakes, but they won't make it! I use every ounce of energy to catch up and tackle her out of the way, barely making it in time. I check the girl, who is looking at me in disbelief. I help her up.

The truck driver steps out. "Are you all right!?" They ask.

"I think so." I catch my breath. I turn around, but the girl is gone. I hope she learns to not use her phone while crossing the street.

Home Sweet Home

Ooooh. I can feel the toll of my body. I can barely walk, but my sanctuary is over yonder. Huh? Tsukuyomi, Isamu and Sakamoto are outside. They're consoling with a crying child. "O was walking on the street, when a man…" They notice me and I can fully see that the kid is from earlier! "It's him!" She says. Tsukuyomi and Isamu approach me. I got a bad feeling, cause they have a serious look on their faces.

Isamu grabs my collar! "How dare you lay a hand on young master."

"Y-Young master?"

Tsukuyomi wraps her arm around my neck. "I was starting to like you, Ai-chan. But you've fucked up big time."

"W-Wait! There's a misun-ACK!" She's choking me!

"Stop! He was the one who saved me!" The girl shouts. They both release me. I fall on my knees. Exhaustion is succumbing to me as my vision darkens. My brain needs oxygen! Inhale from the nose, exhale from the mouth. Inh…ale…I can't…go on. I collapse. "Quirindongo!" I hear Sakamoto before darkness envelops me.