Sato residence | Shinjuku
"Why am I here, old man?" Tenzo groans, rubbing the fading purple bruise from the pistol whip.
"Don't call the Boss that!" A suit with shades scolds Eze.
"You're either really stubborn or just plain stupid." The older suit speaks in a flat tone.
"I get that a lot." Tenzo yawns.
The Brahman delinquent's eyes travel across the lavish room, nothing like the previous hub where he nearly died.
The top floor of the building has a business room with a polished coffee table, ivory seats, and a fireplace behind the old suit and a shelf of books Tenzo would never think of grazing their spines.
"First of all, don't call me old man. You will address me as Mr Sato."
Tenzo nods to the demand. "Is this another extortion attempt?"
"Pfft–kid, that little fight ring of yours barely generates a quarter of my most neglected business. " Mr Sato chuckles, slapping his knee in pure amusement.
The suits in the room followed his laughter, throwing their heads back, Adam's apples showing as if they heard pure comedic gold.
Tenzo clenches his jaw at the mockery, his fierce grey eyes maintaining his glare.
"So tell me why I'm here?"
Mr Sato slows down his deep chuckles, looking at the stubborn youth opposite him.
"Let me educate about how this world works."
Tenzo hunched forward to hear the explanation.
Mr Sato smirks at the movement, " The Yakuza doesn't operate like most gangs, we are a collective of organisations following the same principles that built this country. As much evil as we do in the shadows, we have an obligation to give back to the community.
Extortion, protection, and gambling, prostitution and... for those greedy, drug trafficking. "
Tenzo tilts his head, "Huh?"
"Just listen, I'm not going to act like a saint, I've sinned enough for two lifetimes, but whatever is left of my soul I give back to those who need it. You kids just want the power without the responsibility, you can't move around Tokyo causing havoc, ruining lives and think you can move around without facing your sins. " Mr Sato strikes his words down on Tenzo like thunder over a valley.
"So you want me to use my fighting money to give back to the community?"
"Yes, and also protect the people you make fight like dogs. That's how you build an empire kid, or watch how fast it can be taken away from you."
Tenzo thins his lips, "I hear you Mr Sato."
"Good. I can't let my daughter know I'm sponsoring a delinquent no different from the one who hurt her baby girl."
—–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
[System Update]
[New sponsorship cemented!]
> The Sato Clan has taken in Brahman as a branch organisation.
Rewards:
+ 500 000 SP
+2 Strength
+2 Endurance
+ 2 Dexterity
+30% Influence
+ Traditional Japanese Katana.
Penalties:
+40% Police surveillance
+40% Threats detected
-20% Dark Impulses control
° Host has achieved all requirements to be a significant threat in this world.
All choices and events from now on are detrimental to the Host and inhabitants.
Good luck.
———————————————————
"Oi, kid? Are you listening?" Mr Sato called out with an annoyed pitch.
"Yeah...yeah..."
"Kids these days... either way, this sponsorship isn't out of kindness, there are certain expectations that you and your gang will have to fulfill for me to continue funding you."
"Of course, what are those expectations?"
...
The 5 shadows of Tokyo:
•The Date clan-
Territory: Prostitution and drug trafficking
Sponsors. Toman(Prostitution) and Valhalla(Drug trafficking)
• The Sato clan-
Territory: Gambling
Sponsor. Brahman
• The Uesugi clan-
Territory: Extortion and loan sharks
Sponsors. Tenjiku( Loan sharking ) and the Black Dragons(Extortion)
• The Oda clan-
Territory: Protection
Sponsors. Kōdō Rengou and Ragnarok.
•The Takeda clan-
Territories: Corruption and arms trafficking
Sponsors. Police
...
"After the rise of biker gangs in the 80s and early 90s, the Yakuza divided into 5 major families that shadow Tokyo's newest order." Mr Sato gestures to the suit holding a katana.
Hiss
Tenzo gasps at the hissing sheath of the fine steel.
"Extend your hand and open your palm, preferably the right hand. "
Tenzo doesn't hesitate to follow his instructions, his heart hammers against his ribs at the proximity to danger.
"If you wish to back out, I won't stop you. This road will not be easy kid, even after I pass on, the blade will need a new master." Mr Sato clarifies.
Tenzo's lips are tugging to display an unsettling devilish smirk.
'Castro, I hope St. Michael is watching over me.' Tenzo prays.
Placing his palm just under the blade's edge.
"Do it."
Shling
Splatter
Tenzo's blood spills down the coffee table, and the delinquent hisses at the searing pain on his open palm.
"Welcome to the family, Tenzo. "
---
[ Akashi gym ]
The gym didn't have its usual ruckus of leg kicks and groans. Senju opened up on Sunday for a private lesson with what could be her first blossom in Brahman outside of the gang activities.
"All right, listen up girls!" Senju roars out, her squeaky authoritative voice echoes across the gym.
"I know it's insane to train on a Sunday but this isn't a normal session. This is my official squad for Shinjuku's amateur martial arts tournaments, specifically Taekwondo." Senju announces, her hazel eyes looking at her chosen squad.
"Really!?" Emma squeals with excitement, jumping in her oversized Dobok.
"I'm honoured to be chosen, Senju-chan. " Hinata bows with gratitude.
"T-thank you..." Ayame whispers.
"Hey-you should be happy Ayame! This is way better than watching Akira bully poor little Naoto." Yozuha encourages her timid classmate.
Senju Akashi's Taekwondo squad for the girls' Taekwondo event are, the cherry blossom-haired Hinata Tachibana(Yellow belt), Emma Sano (Yellow belt), Ayame Sato( White belt) and Yozuha Shiba(Yellow belt with green stripes)
Her 4 girls are still amateurs but showing exceptional growth.
"I know this is a bit of short notice but the gym has been doing well, and after we passed our safety test, I jumped at the first poster of a tournament cause you girls deserve it and I have faith in all of you," Senju confesses with teary eyes.
"Senju stop. You're going to make me cry." Emma sobs out.
Hinata blinks away her tears, and Ayame hides her face behind Yozuha's Dobok.
"Sniff-sniff... damn you, Senju."
"I'm sorry! Please don't cry cause I'm going to CRYYY!"
Click
"NEE-CHAN!" x2
The emotional atmosphere was depleted at the dual shouts coming from two particular annoying boys.
"Move out of my way Akira!"
"Watch where your feet are going Naoto!"
Akira and Naoto bud heads at the gym's entrance, neither one fainting in their idiotic acts.
"Naoto. "
"Akira. "
Hinata and Ayame call out their respective brother with a chilling aura orbiting them.
Emma and Yozuha both took tentative steps back.
Like a biological switch stimulating their instincts, they stop their shenanigans.
"Sorry!" They simultaneously apologise.
"The quiet ones are always the most dangerous ~" Emma whispers to Yozuha.
Senju rubs at her temple, "You two brats better have a good reason for interrupting my meeting. " Senju growls in warning.
"Uhhhh–"
Click
"Akira. Naoto. Did you two make my cherry blossom mad? " Tenzo loops his shoulders over the two juniors, canines flashing under the light.
"Don't call me that!" Senju barks out, her face blooming with a blush complimenting her hair colour.
"Mhmph, idiot. " Hinata pouts with mock-jealousy.
"My fearsome Hina, I didn't forget about you ~"
"Shut up. " Hinata snaps back. The older Tachibana marches over to him.
"Naoto, get your jacket, we're going home," Hinata ordered.
"Yes, nee-chan." Naoto hurries over to retrieve his jacket.
Hinata loops her right arm around Tenzo's left, resting her pouty face on his bicep.
"Thank you for everything Senju. I'll see you girls on Friday. " Hinata bows.
"Bye~Hinata. " Emma waves at her.
"Bye Tachibana. " Ayame bows at her fellow student.
"Bye–Cherry blossom. " Yozuha teases.
Hinata rolls her eyes at her comment, "Tenzo. Take me home before my dad starts to worry."
"Of course Hina."
---
Tenzo proceeded to walk Hinata and Naoto back to their apartment complex. The stars guiding them on the pedestrian road, the busy city of Shinjuku muffling as they get closer to the suburban areas.
"Tenzo."
"Yes?"
"You've been awfully quiet since we left, is everything okay?" Hinata asked with concern.
Tenzo meets her eyes, "Just thinking about delinquent stuff, don't worry about me."
"Huff-you know I don't like it when you talk about that stupid stuff. "
"It's my life Hina, there's no other path for me." Tenzo jokes.
Hinata pinches his bicep.
"Hey–that hurts." Tenzo exaggerates.
"You two are so cringe. " Naoto shivers at the sight.
"Shut up." Hinata warns her brother.
Naoto picks up his pace towards the apartment complex.
"I'm serious Tenzo. I don't want you wasting your senior year trying to be some crime lord, please take this year seriously, that's all I ask." Hinata sincerely request, her choral eyes building with unshed tears.
'Damn it. She used the ult.' Tenzo groans.
"Fine. I promise to take school seriously and no more delinquent talks. "
"Good ~" Hinata hugs him tightly, pressing her chest to his left side.
Tenzo stiffens for a moment before returning her affection, his left hand resting on her lower back, rubbing small circles and his right soothing the hair on her nape.
"I hope your dad doesn't shoot me~"
"Don't ruin the moment. " Hinata muffles to his ribs.
"My bad." Tenzo chuckles.
End.