Chapter 221: Souvenirs
Arisa Sakurai—Ren Shiroki's younger sister.
Her singular brand of optimism was something that even titans like Metsudo
Katahara, Rama XIII, and the "Man of the Divine Realm" Shigeru Akagi found
themselves marveling at. Being around her was a breath of fresh air; she had a
way of making "good things" feel inevitable.
After offering a polite "Good morning" to the various security details, Arisa
contacted the Soul Combat Hub's resident physician, An Sakurai, and asked her to
perform another round of check-ups.
As the sun climbed higher, the group of legends began to wake up one by one.
Following An Sakurai's secondary examination, it was confirmed that the wounded
were in no immediate danger. Most simply required basic treatment and a few days
of quiet rest.
Meanwhile, Metsudo's guards made use of the Hub's kitchen to prepare a massive
breakfast for everyone.
During the post-meal digestion period, the group found themselves with nothing
but time. Led by the Hub's owner, Ren Shiroki, they began a casual tour of the
three-story facility.
In terms of scale, the Hub couldn't compare to the nine-story majesty of the
Shinshinkai Headquarters, but the attention to detail was impeccable. One could
clearly see the passion Ren had poured into the place.
"Oho!"
Stepping into the main corridor, Doppo Orochi immediately spotted his own signed
photograph—the one he had gifted Ren back at the water park.
"Nice frame! Had I known it would be displayed so prominently, I would have
chosen a much more badass photo—"
Nearby, Rama XIII was in high spirits, accompanied by Gaolang as they inspected
the other decorations.
"This is Mitsunari Tokugawa's folding fan, isn't it? It even has the Tokugawa
family crest. It seems the old man is quite fond of Ren-kun."
"Eh? What's this...?"
Rama paused at the staircase landing. Mounted on the wall was a thick, mangled
slab of industrial steel, featuring a deep, terrifyingly clear fist-imprint.
Arisa stepped forward to explain its origin. Rama nodded in understanding.
"I see. I have heard stories of the 'Wild Tiger', the man with fifty-two times
the muscle fiber density of a normal human. This strike... it is magnificent."
A mischievous thought struck the King of Thailand. He turned to Gaolang with a
grin. "This is a rare opportunity, and I must thank our host for his
hospitality. Why don't you leave a souvenir of your own, Gaolang?"
Gaolang nodded. "Your Majesty makes a fine point. I would be honored."
Rama thought for a moment. "Signed boxing gloves—how does that sound?"
Gaolang arched an eyebrow and gave a faint smile. "Precisely what I was
thinking."
With a quick phone call, Rama's guards brought over a pair of Gaolang's gloves.
They were used, worn from training, but the craftsmanship was
exquisite—custom-made in Thailand. Their value was astronomical to any combat
sports enthusiast.
Gaolang signed both gloves and handed them to Ren. On one, he wrote the words
"God of War" in elegant Thai script.
"This is a gift to the Soul Combat Hub from His Majesty."
Then, he handed over the second glove, signed with his birth name, Gaolang
Wongsawat. "And this is a gift for a friend. I hope it helps boost your Hub's
reputation."
"Nice. That's perfect!"
Ren accepted them with a wide grin, already planning to commission a high-end
display case to place the gloves in the corridor.
Watching the exchange, Doppo Orochi let out a sigh of appreciation. "Collecting
the things you love... it really does feel good, doesn't it?"
He noticed Lihito standing beside him, looking unusually quiet.
"Hey, Claw-kun. Do you have an interest in souvenirs too?"
Doppo patted Lihito on the shoulder and pointed to Wakatsuki's steel plate.
"With your fingertip strength, I'm sure you could carve your name right into
that iron. Why not give Ren-kun something to remember you by?"
"...Not enough," Lihito murmured under his breath.
Doppo blinked. "Eh?"
Lihito gave a helpless shrug. "Give me a break, Pops. You know I'm not at that
level yet. I've got a big mouth, sure, but I'm not a total shameless prick!"
"Whether it was Dorian or any of the others... everyone here is a literal
monster." Lihito recalled the previous night's battle, his body still aching
from the trauma. He let out a long sigh. "That 'Superhuman' talent I was so
proud of... it doesn't seem like much when I look at you guys."
Doppo laughed. He found himself genuinely liking the boy's straightforward
personality. "So, kid, what do you plan to do about it?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
Lihito's tone shifted instantly. He marched over to Ren Shiroki.
"Hey, Ren! I've got something to say to you!" Lihito tightened his fists.
"Listen well. I'm going to keep getting stronger. I'm not qualified to leave a
mark on your wall yet, but one day, I'll give you a souvenir you'll be damn
proud to display!"
"Nice. That's perfect!"
Ren held out his hand. Lihito understood the gesture and slammed his palm
against Ren's in a thunderous high-five. Clap!
A promise was made.
After another lap around the facility, Lihito found himself genuinely moved. He
wanted a place like this to train. Without further hesitation, he asked Ren for
a membership form and became the Hub's newest official member.
After the tour, the guests began to depart.
Lihito hummed a tune as he boarded the train home. He planned to take a nap
before heading to his part-time job at a local moving company. But right at his
front door, he ran into two unexpected visitors.
As a Kengan fighter, Lihito recognized them immediately: Hideki Nogi, Chairman
of the Nogi Group, and his stunning secretary, Kaede Akiyama.
"Lihito-kun!" Nogi skipped the pleasantries, getting right to the point. "You
weren't meant to be a manual laborer forever. You should become an independent
entrepreneur immediately!"
Lihito: "..." Lihito: "Oh! Okay!"
He didn't really understand what was happening, but it sounded "hot-blooded," so
he was in.
Nogi continued: "My group recently acquired a food distribution company. I've
decided to entrust it to you. You will serve as both the CEO and the company's
exclusive Kengan Fighter!"
Lihito's eyes sparkled. "Oh! So I'll be just like Ren-kun?!"
Nogi froze. "...Ren-kun?"
Kaede adjusted her glasses. "...?"
Who is Ren-kun? And how does Lihito know him?
Putting his confusion aside, Nogi pressed on. "In any case, I have used a
standard Kengan Match to reach an alliance with your former employer, Yoshitake
Real Estate. It took considerable effort—"
"But it's done. I will provide you with the capital and support you need to
participate in the Kengan Annihilation Street Brawl."
Lihito scratched his head. "Wait a second. This sounds a bit weird. This isn't
some kind of scam, is it?"
Nogi tightened his fist with theatrical intensity. "I'm giving you money! All
you have to do is get stronger!"
"Oh! Hell yeah!" Lihito nodded vigorously. "That sounds way better. If I'm on
the same level as Ren-kun, I'll be a beast in no time!"
Nogi tried to maintain the momentum. "If you agree, you'll have the chance to
duel masters like the 'God of War' Gaolang, the 'King of Combat' Naoya Okubo,
and even Metsudo's 'Fang'!"
To Nogi's surprise, Lihito just crossed his arms and looked dejected. "I can
just ask for those matches myself, but I'm not strong enough to win yet..."
Nogi tried to sell the dream. "Don't worry, you just need to—wait, what? You can
'ask' for those matches yourself?"
Lihito blinked. "Yeah. I was drinking and pulling an all-nighter with
Gaolang-san, Old Man Metsudo, Doppo-sensei, and Ren-kun yesterday. They're all
actually pretty cool guys."
Nogi: "..." Nogi: "...?"
What?! My intelligence network is this far behind?!
After a chaotic and confusing exchange, Nogi finally managed to get Lihito to
sign the alliance contract, securing another pawn for his long-term plan. Lihito
said goodbye to Kaede and Nogi, leaving the two titans of industry staring at
each other in the street.
"Phew... well, counting Ohma Tokita and Sen Hatsumi, that makes three under our
banner," Nogi said, lighting a cigarette. "But I feel like the plan is failing
to keep up with reality."
Kaede pushed up her glasses. "The format of this 'Street Brawl' is far more
unpredictable than a traditional tournament. There's no historical precedent for
this level of crossover."
"True. But honestly—" Hideki Nogi suddenly chuckled. "I can't help but wonder
how this will end. Things are getting very interesting!"
To survive the shifting tides of the business world, one needed a sense of
adventure. Clearly, Hideki Nogi possessed it in spades.
That afternoon, at the Soul Combat Hub.
The trash had been cleared, leaving only the pulverized wall, the pockmarked
street, and the massive scorched patches on the lawn. Ren looked at the
wreckage, but he wasn't too stressed. Repairing it wouldn't be difficult; it was
just a matter of time.
Suddenly, a familiar roar of an engine echoed nearby. Chiharu Shiba, the leader
of the local Bozosoku gang, rode up on his customized motorcycle, wearing his
iconic long "Tokko-fuku" jacket. He stared at the mangled courtyard.
"Whoa, Ren-kun. You doing a renovation?"
Chiharu recalled Hanayama Kaoru's descriptions of the place. He tilted his chin
at the debris. "Boss said your place was 'ruins-aesthetic' and easy to spot. Did
you decide to go full 'Retro-Disaster' style?"
Ren Shiroki: "..."
Never mind. I need to call Kaede Akiyama and get a construction crew here ASAP
before the Hub's reputation becomes 'Derelict Haunt'.
"Wait, you mean you actually want to fix it?"
Chiharu, ever the loyal friend, hopped off his bike. "Repairs like this go
faster if you use guts! I'll bring my tools and some of the boys tomorrow to
help out!"
(End of Chapter)
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