CHAPTER 63: THE SHIROKI FAMILY MEAL
To a normal citizen, the "Secret Service Division" (Missou-ka) was nothing more than an urban legend. But for a high-ranking Yakuza like Kizaki, it was a very real, very lethal threat.
The Division was a shadow branch of the Metropolitan Police Department, tasked with handling "Abnormalities"—crimes involving high-level martial artists, specialized military tech, and high-stakes underground groups. Their ranks were filled with cold-blooded strategists and warriors who existed outside the standard bureaucracy. They were the government's hidden "Ultimate Weapon."
If even the Division was being mobilized, it meant the peace in Tokyo was over. The underground war was about to escalate.
"I appreciate the tip, Iori-san," Kizaki said, rolling his shoulders. "I'll make sure our family's business remains... discreet."
He looked around the yard and let out a dry laugh. "Though, honestly? If you're looking for 'Abnormalities,' you don't need to look much further than Shiroki-kun's backyard."
Ichika nodded in agreement.
Yakuza bosses, rogue detectives, Kure assassins, Kung Fu masters, high school girls, former terrorists, and biological experiments... the gathering at the Shiroki property today was absurd.
Since everyone had brought so much food and drink to celebrate Ren and Hanayama's recovery, it would have been a waste to let them leave. Ren laid out several padded mats in the center of the yard, and the group settled in for what looked like a massive neighborhood picnic.
Arisa, Karura, and Hina Hongo sat in a circle, chatting about school gossip. Marco sat nearby, happily munching on snacks while listening to Kizaki tell stories of the "Old Days." Nozomi, Ichika, and Hana had cornered the Yakuza assistant to discuss the logistics of relaunching Valkyrie.
Fusui Kure remained glued to Ren's side.
Ren himself was deep in conversation with Mitsuyo Kureishi, trading notes on technical striking and muscle recovery. Yuzuha Li chimed in occasionally, while Kaoru Hanayama sat in silence, eyes closed as he soaked up the sun.
"Soul Combat Hub... SC Center..."
Nozomi looked at the sign Ren had planted. "Ren-kun is moving fast."
Kizaki took a sip of his soda. "A man who survives a brawl like that with the Boss? Trying to stop him would be like trying to stop a tidal wave. The Hanayama-gumi won't interfere with his business."
Nozomi breathed a sigh of relief.
Valkyrie was officially open for business. Hina and Yuzuha were her star attractions, but she needed more. She needed depth. She needed a home base.
"Ren-kun," Nozomi said, her business brain firing. "When you get the medical wing and the recovery tanks set up, let me know. Valkyrie needs a world-class training partner, and I think we can make a deal."
By noon, the yard was a haze of smoke and laughter.
The "Warrior's Appetite" of the group meant the initial snacks were gone in minutes. Kizaki called a few of his subordinates to bring over portable grills and a mountain of premium Wagyu beef. The picnic had officially evolved into a full-blown BBQ party.
Salarymen walking by on their lunch break couldn't help but stop and stare. They saw men and women with the physiques of gods, laughing and eating under the sun. There was a sense of raw, vibrant vitality in the yard that made the office-dwellers feel a sharp pang of envy.
After the meal, a few of the guests began to get restless. Fighters don't stay still for long.
Ren stepped into a clear patch of grass, testing his limbs. Thanks to Kureishi's bone-setting massage earlier, his body felt lighter than it had since the hospital. Aside from some stinging in his right leg, he was ready for a light workout.
He looked around for a sparring partner. Marco was too dangerous for a "light" session, and Fusui was busy trying to steal Arisa's chips.
Kureishi Mitsuyo stood up, a playful glint in his eyes. "Fusui-chan, sit this one out. Let me play with Ren-kun for a bit."
Kureishi had been waiting for this. He was an elite MMA pro, and he was curious about the "Flavor" of the man who had drawn against Hanayama.
"Ren-kun is still on the mend, so no full-power exchanges," Kureishi warned, winking at the group. "Just slow-motion Kumite. Let's see your rhythm."
The yard went quiet as the two men faced each other.
Because of Ren's leg injury, they stayed close, working in the "Pocket"—a range of barely one pace.
ZIP.
Kureishi threw a slow, technical lead straight. Ren parried with a forearm and counter-swung a right hook.
CLACK.
Kureishi caught the fist with his palm. He stepped in, leading with an elbow, but Ren used his shoulder to jam the strike, redirecting the momentum.
They traded upper-body techniques, a dialogue of bone and muscle. Kureishi was only 175cm (5'9"), with a shorter reach than Ren, but his efficiency was terrifying. He didn't waste an inch of movement.
Kureishi suddenly stepped forward, cutting the distance even further.
The "Rhythm" shifted instantly. Unlike Hanayama's "Heavy Shell," Kureishi's style was about the "Clinch." He began using leverage and joint traps to peel back Ren's guard.
Ren sensed the danger. He reset his stance and launched a mid-level straight punch.
[DRIVE IMPACT: SHOCK STRIKE]!
The punch was only at 30% speed, but Kureishi didn't parry it. He used his left palm to guide the fist away from his center and simultaneously clamped his right hand onto Ren's wrist.
"!?"
A spike of pure, crystalline terror shot through Ren's nervous system. He felt Kureishi's fingers find the exact pressure points on his wrist. It felt as if his arm was about to be unscrewed from his shoulder.
Just as Ren prepared to explode into a counter-maneuver to save his limb—
A massive, scarred hand reached between them.
Hanayama, still silent, stood up and used his palms to gently but firmly push the two men apart.
The Boss didn't say a word. He didn't have to. He just gave a slow wave of his hand and went back to his seat.
Nozomi, with her high-speed vision, was the only one who saw how close it had come.
"Oi! Kureishi-senpai! Ren-kun! You two were about to go for the kill, weren't you?!"
Nozomi sighed, rubbing her temples. "Senpai, I know you have a 'fetish' for breaking bones, but please... Ren-kun is a client! Don't break the merchandise!"
Kureishi sat back down on the grass, his body swaying with a restless, manic energy. "Sorry, sorry! I got a little excited. It's just... there's something in the air today. It feels like the whole city is about to explode. It's making my blood boil."
"Right?!"
Hina Hongo, who had been watching the exchange with stars in her eyes, nodded vigorously. "I feel it too! Something big is coming!"
Nozomi looked at the two of them, then at Ren and Hanayama. Is this the 'Scent of the Strong'? She felt a cold shiver of dread. If all these monsters were getting "Excited" at once, Tokyo was going to be a very dangerous place to be a civilian.
Just then, Ren's phone buzzed in his pocket.
He checked the ID. It was the Nogi Group.
He answered, and the voice of Hideki Nogi filled the line.
"Ren-kun. The arrangements are finalized. Your Kengan Challenger Match is scheduled for the day after tomorrow."
"Your opponent has been selected."
"Get ready. You're fighting a man they call 'The Beast.'"