In a building near Tokyo Tower in Tokyo, Japan.
On the top floor, a dim light flickered beside a round conference table.
Several figures appeared and disappeared beneath that light.
"That fellow named Igarashi is back."
"That was an oversight on my part. I never expected him to have grown this powerful."
"Hmph, never expected it? There are plenty of things you never expected. You certainly make it sound easy. He's joined Tokyo Jujutsu High now. Making a move against him will only be harder."
"Yes, and the Gojo Clan's Six Eyes is there too."
"And that Masamichi Yaga actually dared to ignore our orders."
"Enough of this meaningless talk. The Goodwill Event between the two schools is next month, isn't it? We'll meet that boy then. We can try winning him over first. If he doesn't know what's good for him... then kill him. Sato, what do you think?"
"...Agreed."
April 6, 2006, 9:26 a.m. Clear skies.
Inside the second-year classroom at Tokyo Jujutsu High.
Masamichi Yaga looked at the empty classroom and helplessly pressed a hand to his forehead. "Those bastards..."
In the student dormitory, Satoru Gojo and Igarashi Amaha each sported an afro as they battled it out with game controllers in hand.
"Are you an idiot, Satoru? Sidestep!"
"Kick! What are you staring at!?"
"Amaha's about to use his super! Run!"
"You got hit by that? You really suck."
KO!!
Staring at the enormous KO on the television, Satoru Gojo seethed. He spun around and pounced straight onto Suguru Geto behind him, grabbed his bun, and started cursing. "Bastard! If you hadn't kept yelling at me, there's no way I would've lost!"
Then he turned back toward Igarashi Amaha, who had a cigarette between his lips. "I'm not accepting that. One more round. Geto distracted me just now. Otherwise, I definitely wouldn't have lost."
"Oh, really? I think so too," Igarashi Amaha agreed halfheartedly, his eyes dull.
These two bastards wouldn't sleep first thing in the morning and insisted on dragging me into playing The King of Fighters, saying they wanted to decide who was boss. But the problem is, they both suck ass. Every time they lose, they refuse to accept it and demand another round. They got distracted, their fingers were sweaty, the controller buttons stuck-they've used those same lousy excuses countless times. From seven this morning until now, they haven't won once.
"Damn it, Satoru, it's my turn. You already lost." Suguru Geto crawled out from under Satoru Gojo and grabbed a fistful of his white hair.
"That last round didn't count. If you hadn't distracted me, I definitely would've won."
"Won my ass! All three of your characters died, and Amaha's first character still had half his fucking health bar! Are your Six Eyes blind?"
"Bastard, you dare insult me? Got a death wish?"
"Cut the bullshit. You think I'm scared of you? Take it outside if you've got a problem."
"Bring it on!"
"Bring it!"
Igarashi Amaha stayed out of their war. He sat off to the side, propping up his chin and nodding off.
Smack!
Suddenly, a foot in a white sock planted itself squarely on Igarashi Amaha's face, jolting him awake.
Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto froze mid-scuffle. They exchanged a glance, then looked at Igarashi Amaha with awkward smiles.
"Uh... well... we didn't mean to... ha ha... ha..."
Bang!
Bang!
Two figures smashed through the door and flew backward out of the room.
They lay sprawled awkwardly on the ground and began blaming each other. "This is all your fault. Look, now we've been thrown out."
"Huh? That was your foot, not mine."
Just as they were about to start arguing again, Shoko walked over with a candy cigarette between her lips. Tapping away on her phone, she spoke without looking up. "Mr. Yaga wants the three of you on the field within five minutes. Anyone who doesn't make it should get ready to be hung from Tokyo Tower."
Their stray tufts of hair stood on end, and they immediately dashed off.
Shoko glanced at the broken door, then walked straight inside without giving it much thought.
At that very moment, Igarashi Amaha stepped out of the bathroom stark naked, having just taken a shower.
They noticed each other at the same time and stared at one another for a while. Neither screamed.
Completely unconcerned by his nakedness, Igarashi Amaha dried his hair as he asked, "What's up?"
Shoko's reaction was equally calm, as though there wasn't a man standing before her. She said evenly, "Orders from Mr. Yaga. Be on the field within five minutes, or get hung from Tokyo Tower."
"Got it."
"Mm." Shoko hummed in acknowledgment, her gaze involuntarily flicking downward before she left the room.
Only after reaching the field did she let out a breath and unconsciously touch her slightly burning face.
"Hey, Shoko, did you tell Amaha? I don't want a friend I only met yesterday getting hung from Tokyo Tower by Mr. Yaga."
Startled by the sudden question, Shoko hurriedly replied, "I-I did."
Hearing her flustered reply, Satoru Gojo's azure eyes lit up behind his sunglasses. He sidled over to her with a mischievous air. "Huh? Shoko, why does your face look a little red? Could it be... hehehehe?"
Whoosh!
Just as he was about to say more, Igarashi Amaha suddenly appeared beside him, hooked an arm around his neck, and leaned in toward his ear with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Satoru, that foot just now was yours, wasn't it?"
"Huh!? No way! That was obviously Geto's. How could it have been mine?" Satoru Gojo's expression changed, and he pointed at Suguru Geto, who stood nearby staring blankly at the sky.
Realizing his good friend had thrown him under the bus again, Suguru Geto went straight over to argue his case. Just like that, the three began roughhousing again.
Meanwhile, Shoko was busily tapping away at her phone with one hand.
Ding!
"So, what's your new classmate like? Is he easy to get along with?"
Seeing that message, Shoko suddenly recalled the scene from earlier. Steam everywhere, a feast for the... no, no, what am I even thinking? Still, his proportions really are perfect. Operating on him would be great.
"He's all right. It's only been a day, and he's already getting along with Satoru and Geto."
Ding!
"Huh? Then it's over. Another young genius is about to fall."
"Hahahaha, don't worry. He's not nearly as obnoxious when he talks."
Ding!
"He's fine now, but who knows what he'll be like after a while? With those two bastards rubbing off on him, anyone would probably change."
"But I think Mei Mei will definitely like him."
Ding!
"Huh? Is he rich?"
"You could say that. Yesterday, he gave each of us a first-meeting gift. Mr. Yaga and Mr. Ijichi each got a check for five million euros."
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
"Huh!??? Five million euros each? That's ten million! Converted into yen... that's over 780 million!!!"
"Are you serious!?"
"Forget Mei Mei. Anyone would like him."
Please support me in any way you can. I'd be endlessly grateful.