CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37

When he was sure that the Haruto guy was gone, Seijirou exhaled slowly, the rush of battle finally draining from his veins, and as the adrenaline ebbed away, so did his strength.

The metal bar slipped from his hands and clattered against the broken floor, the sound echoing through the wrecked arcade.

"Ah..fuck."

His vision blurred for a moment, his legs trembling under his own weight before he started to fall, but Sakai and Shuo caught him immediately, moving with practiced familiarity as they each took one of his arms and slung it over their shoulders, keeping him upright.

"Don’t worry, boss. We got you."

"Just relax."

Suzune rushed forward, eyes sharp with concern, scanning him from head to toe, her hands brushing away the dust and blood.

"We need to get you to the hospital, you pushed yourself too much." she said, her voice tight as she checked his arms and chest for deeper wounds.

Seijirou shook his head weakly, forcing a faint smirk. "It’s fine. Just scratches. Nothing worth talking about. I just need a little rest and I’ll go back to normal."

Suzune let out a long breath, relief softening her expression.

"Idiot," she muttered under her breath, though her tone carried more worry than anger.

Sakai grinned as he adjusted Seijirou’s weight on his shoulder. "Still fighting like a damn beast even when you’re half dead. You really are something else, boss."

Shuo nodded with a chuckle, his face still streaked with dirt and blood. "Yeah. With this, Renji’s finally avenged. We should stop by the hospital tomorrow and tell him the news. He’ll want to hear it from us."

"What? Let’s wait next week!" Sakai complained, "He’d see our injuries and he’d definitely laugh at us!"

Suzune chuckled, "We can just tell him we fell down stairs."

Sakai gave her a thumbs up, "Nice idea."

The group started moving, stepping out of the shattered remains of the arcade.

The floor was littered with broken glass, snapped wires, and faint scorch marks from Ryuhei’s power.

The once noisy room now lay in ruins, silent except for the sound of their footsteps.

The Hunters who were beaten by them have already all ran away when Seijirou was fighting with Ryuhei.

Outside, the cool night air greeted them, the distant hum of the city faint against the quiet.

They walked together toward the nearby park where Suzune and Seijirou had parked their bikes earlier.

When they reached them, Suzune turned to the others and said, "I’ll take Seijirou on mine. One of you drive his CBR and follow us."

She swung a leg over her Yamaha R6 and started the engine, the roar cutting through the still night.

Shuo and Sakai carefully lifted Seijirou onto the back seat, steadying him as he gripped Suzune’s waist for balance.

Sakai mounted Seijirou’s red CBR600RR while Shuo climbed on behind him, adjusting his helmet with a sigh.

Seijirou, leaning on Suzune, stared at Sakai with a stern gaze.

"Don’t wreck it, or I’ll kill you." he muttered, earning a grin from Sakai.

"Wouldn’t dream of it boss! I love bikes!"

With that, Suzune revved her engine, the sound echoing through the park.

Sakai followed suit, and soon, the two bikes sped down the quiet road, their headlights slicing through the darkness as the four of them rode off into the night, leaving behind the wreckage, the blood, and the faint metallic scent of battle.

*

*

*

Haruto walked through the long, polished hallway of his academy, his footsteps echoing faintly against marble floors.

His entire body was wrapped in fresh bandages, the white cloth stark against the dark uniform he wore.

He had sent Ryuhei to the infirmary and he himself have already received medical care, but still every step made his muscles ache.

That bastard Kageyama really went all out. Even now, the pain didn’t lessen even a tiny bit!

Even so, he endured it in silence until he reached the grand double doors of the principal’s office at the end of the corridor.

He stopped, straightened his posture, and knocked once before entering.

The room inside was wide and elegant, lined with towering bookshelves, the faint scent of tea drifting in the air.

But what caught his attention wasn’t the décor, it was the figure sitting behind the desk.

A young man about his own age, dressed neatly in the school’s uniform, short brown hair combed perfectly, rectangular glasses reflecting the sunlight streaming through the window.

His calm brown eyes gave him an air of intellect and authority that contrasted sharply with his youthful face.

He is definitely not the principal. But he is someone who rules the whole school.

Haruto bowed deeply. "Boss."

This man—Matsuda Sosuke—was no ordinary student. Despite his refined and harmless appearance, he was the district leader of the 24th District, one of the most powerful figures in the underworld hierarchy.

Sosuke closed the book he had been reading and adjusted his glasses, his voice quiet but sharp. "You look terrible, Haruto. I only asked you to retrieve Ryuhei. How did it come to this? Did he try to fight you?"

Haruto hesitated, his face twitching in embarrassment. But he still chose to answer truthfully

He straightened up and spoke carefully. "Not at all boss. When I arrived, the King of Shunji—Kageyama Seijirou—and his group had already destroyed the Hunters. Ryuhei was... defeated."

Sosuke raised an eyebrow, "didn’t he use Karyoku?"

"He did boss. But even while using Karyoku, he lost completely."

Sosuke’s eyes widened slightly behind his glasses, a flicker of surprise breaking his composure, but it lasted only a second before his usual calm returned. "Go on."

Haruto nodded, lowering his gaze. "After Ryuhei was defeated, I picked him up, wanting to leave with him. But when I was about to leave, Kageyama attacked me. I didn’t provoke him at all! I just mentioned that I would like to fight one day, and he just suddenly attacked me! That man is insane boss! He’s not human!"

Sosuke raised a hand, stopping him. His voice was soft, but it carried authority. "So you’re telling me you got beaten like this... by Kageyama Seijirou?"

Haruto clenched his jaw and nodded once. "Yes. He’s strong boss, far stronger than the rumors. If my body wasn’t strengthened by Karyoku, I might not be standing here right now. And I’m sure that without Karyoku, I can’t see anyone among us—the Eight Limbs—being capable enough to beat him."

For a moment, the office fell silent.

The sound of the ticking clock on the wall seemed unnaturally loud. Sosuke leaned back in his chair, fingers lightly resting on his chin as he processed the report.

"Interesting," he muttered at last, his tone unreadable.

The Eight Limbs were his elite, his most trusted and capable subordinates—each one a fighter who could crush most opposition in the 24th District even without relying on supernatural power.

They were far more important than the Hunters he was using to earn money.

Sosuke had always believed that the only threat to them would come from another Karyoku user.

But now, there was Kageyama Seijirou. A man with no Karyoku, no connection to the supernatural, who not only defeated Ryuhei but overpowered Haruto himself.

Sosuke’s lips curved faintly, though whether it was amusement or intrigue, no one could tell. "So the rumors were true... and perhaps still an understatement."

He looked out the window, his voice low but deliberate. "To think Kageyama Seijirou would possess that kind of strength. It seems the 24th District has found itself an anomaly."

Haruto stood silently, waiting, unsure if he was supposed to feel shame or admiration.

Sosuke finally spoke again, his tone calm yet laced with quiet anticipation. "Keep watching him. I want to know everything about this Kageyama Seijirou. Every ally, every weakness, every fight. If he truly is this powerful..."

He adjusted his glasses, the faintest glint in his eyes. "...then he may be either our greatest threat, or our greatest asset."