Chapter 315: The Feverish Eve
The arrival of the "Tokyo Tourist Group" made the courtyard of Fusui's estate
significantly more crowded and ten times more chaotic. The air was filled with
the sounds of laughter and fast-paced catching up. It was a picture of pure,
sunny harmony.
A short distance away, the [Saint of War] Gouki Shibukawa remained seated on the
edge of the wooden porch. He sipped hot tea from a fresh cup, the morning light
reflecting off his amber lenses. To a passerby, he looked like a kind, harmless
old man enjoying the sight of the youth gathering.
But those who knew the Grandmaster of Aiki-Jujutsu knew better. Shibukawa wasn't
feeling particularly "grandfatherly."
In fact, ever since witnessing Ren Shiroki get launched into the stratosphere by
Ryu's [Shoryuken], the Master had been in a technical daze. He couldn't stop
replaying the "Protection Hallucination" he had seen.
What kind of level does a 'Phantom Sensei' have to be at to manifest as a
literal Rising Dragon to my instincts?
The more Shibukawa thought about it, the more fascinated he became.
Eventually, the group decided to head out to explore the festival stalls.
Shibukawa waved them off with a dismissive hand, claiming he didn't want to get
in the way of the "youngsters."
As the little old man strolled away in a different direction, he muttered to
himself, "Hah... haha! A soaring dragon made of ink and cherry blossoms? Talk
about dramatic!"
With such a large group, trying to stay together while shopping was a logistical
nightmare. They decided to split up and explore their own interests, agreeing to
rendezvous at the Central Plaza octagon for the afternoon matches.
"Whoa! A real summer festival? This is my first time at one of these!"
Hina Hongo blinked her starry eyes, clinging to Nozomi Tenma's arm. "The Kure
Clan must be packed with monsters, right? I can't wait to see them all!"
Nozomi massaged her temples. "Hina-chan... fighting has nothing to do with a
traditional festival—"
Hina giggled, an expression of eerie, doll-like joy on her face. "Cheer up,
Nozomi-san! Maybe because of all the crime syndicate drama, the other 'Star
Children' are playing it safe for once. But don't worry... the 'Star Snatching'
will come sooner or later—"
Nozomi let out a visible shiver.
The "Star Snatching"—a lethal battle royale between Hina Hongo and the other
"Star Children." From the moment Nozomi had recruited Hina into Valkyrie, she
and her entire organization had been dragged into that dark orbit.
Hina's five-pointed pupils sparkled. "Mm-hm! We might all die eventually, but
probably not today! So let's just enjoy the 'Festival of the Strong' while we
can!"
Nozomi felt a headache coming on. "It's a Summer Festival, Hina! And please,
let's aim for a day where no one dies, today or ever!"
Arisa, Karura, and Marco formed the second group.
Karura stretched her arms. "Let's go see Grandpa first. He's been working
himself to the bone for this festival. I brought him a special gift."
"And after that," she added with a wink, "I'll show you around my hometown!"
Arisa hoisted her hands high. "Whoo-hoo!"
Marco leaned over to Ren, reporting his recent progress with a proud beam. "Big
Brother! Marco has gotten much stronger! I've been helping Baku-aniki catch bad
people. Marco ties them up in a nice box for Ichika-nee!"
Ren laughed and bumped fists with the "Giant Child," offering a word of
encouragement. He knew that Baku Madarame [The Lie Eater] had likely been using
Marco's raw power to clear out IDEAL cells in Tokyo. It was a dark business, but
if it kept Marco on the path of discipline, Ren wasn't worried.
"Seems like the 'Underworld' in Tokyo is just as restless as Kure Village," Ren
mused.
After some more small talk, the groups departed. Ren turned around, noticing
that Fusui had vanished. He stood in the courtyard for a moment, confused.
Where'd she go?
A sound from the guest suite caught his ear.
"What are you doing?" Ren called out.
"Changing into the Yukata for the festival! The ones we ordered together!"
Fusui's voice drifted through the shoji.
Ren remembered then. A heartbeat later, a sliver of the door opened, and a set
of clothes was tossed out into his arms. It was the male set commissioned by the
old shopkeeper.
"The fabric is high-grade," Ren noted, looking at the texture. He quickly
confirmed there were no bloodstains left from his morning spar before changing.
Designed for mobility, the set lacked excessive accessories. It was a pair of
tailored trousers and a high-collar shirt, topped off with a simple, elegant
jacket. While not entirely traditional, the subtle patterns of cherry blossoms
and a crescent moon were clearly designed to match the motifs on Fusui's outfit.
Ren finished dressing and waited on the porch.
Slide!
Fusui's door opened. The girl stepped out, wearing her festival Yukata. It was a
clean, minimalist design that echoed Ren's own patterns, emphasizing her
athletic, healthy silhouette.
"Haha!"
Fusui spun in a circle, the fabric fluttering around her legs. She tilted her
head, a mischievous grin on her face. "First time seeing me like this, Ren-chin.
What's the verdict?"
"You look beautiful!"
Ren looked her up and down, giving a firm thumbs-up. "Seriously. Incredible."
"Of course I do!"
Fusui hopped over and pulled Ren to his feet. She hooked her arm through his,
waving a folding fan with her other hand. Together, they began their walk toward
the main festival market.
Ren was surprised by the number of familiar faces that had traveled from Tokyo.
The first person they ran into was the [Man of the Divine Realm], Shigeru Akagi.
The silver-haired legend's appearance was sudden, yet perfectly in character for
a man who drifted through life on a whim. One week he was playing golf in
Hawaii, the next he was having tea at the Hub, and now he was wandering Kure
Village.
"Heh. I think I'll go find Erio for a game," Akagi murmured, a cigarette
dangling from his lip. He offered Ren and Fusui a lazy wave and drifted off into
the crowd.
Continuing their stroll, they encountered the elite units of the Valkyrie female
circuit. This was a company retreat funded by Nozomi Tenma, so the entire roster
was present.
Along with Nozomi, Ichika, Hana Mitani, Hina, and Yuzuha Li, there were two new
faces: the infamous Sena Sisters, Rico and Riku.
Both were legendary Bozosoku brawlers. The younger, Riku, possessed a level of
musculature that far surpassed average delinquents. The elder, Rico, was a
physical titan—a literal walking engine of destruction.
"Yo. You're the Hub owner? Nice facility. We'll be stopping by once we're back
in Tokyo!" the sisters noted as they shook hands with Ren, each receiving a Soul
Combat Hub business card.
While Hina was distracted by a candy stall, Nozomi Tenma leaned in toward Ren.
"By the way, my Senior is here too. But he ran into some 'Old Friends,' so he
told us to go on ahead."
Nozomi's Senior... [The Freak] Mitsuyo Kureishi.
Ren arched an eyebrow. "Kureishi-senpai is here? This really is a reunion..."
Driven by curiosity, Ren asked a few local Kure members for a location ping. He
eventually found Kureishi in a secluded side-alley.
The "Freak" was indeed with old friends. And it was a gathering of titans.
Standing with him was his only disciple, [The King of Stranglers] Cosmo Imai.
The master and student hadn't planned to meet; they'd simply crossed paths in
the village.
Cosmo was accompanying his Kengan employer: Akira Nishihinji, CEO of Nishihinji
Security.
Nearby stood several other corporate heads: Heihachi Furumi (Furumi
Pharmaceuticals), employer of the "Wild Tiger" Takeshi Wakatsuki; and Gen
Shikano (Gandai), employer of the "Hell's Angel" Sekibayashi. Even Akio Kono of
NENTEN was there, though he looked small and terrified as he huddled in a
corner.
But if those four were a "standard" Kengan gathering, the last two were the
outliers.
[The Lie Eater] Baku Madarame and his associate, Kaji.
Ren and Fusui watched from the mouth of the alley, fascinated. The group didn't
seem to mind their presence; the matters they were discussing were already
inextricably linked to Ren.
"IDEAL is becoming increasingly erratic. There's a high probability they'll
target Kengan members directly," Akira Nishihinji analyzed in a deep voice. "As
the 'Annihilation Street Brawl' drags on, more 'Unstable Elements' are surfacing
in the underground."
Gen Shikano shook his head. "Don't mistake the cause for the effect, Akira. The
unstable elements were always there. The 'Street Brawl' just gave them a reason
to show their hand."
"Hahaha! It's a riot!" Heihachi Furumi, the portly but sharp-minded chairman,
nodded. "We simply need to be ready to catch whatever they throw."
While the CEOs talked shop, Baku Madarame sidled over to Ren. "IDEAL has me on
their radar lately," he explained with a weary shrug. "I figured Kure Village
was the safest place to be. I can rub shoulders with the Kengan brass and wait
for a winning hand to manifest."
Ren understood the logic.
Finally, Heihachi Furumi stepped away from the meeting to speak with Ren. He had
news regarding Baki Hanma's condition, which Furumi Pharmaceuticals had been
tracking via Dr. Kureha Shinogi.
"The Champion of the Underground... it's a tragedy," Furumi sighed. "We're
providing whatever resources we can, but the toxin is unconventional. Modern
medicine is struggling to find a foothold."
"The situation is grim," the Chairman noted. "Many in 'Our World' are trying to
help. Word is the Kenpo Master, Retsu Kaioh, has personally intervened."
"That's all I know for now."
"..."
Ren nodded, his expression remaining calm. He knew Baki wasn't a man who died in
a hospital bed.
(End of Chapter)
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