Chapter 42: 42 I'm Tired, Let It All End
"Hey, boss, Kiyomaza and the others are all taken care of, they're at the Tonyuki Park," Redhead reported before hanging up the phone.
"Why didn't you tell them to hurry?" Hojou Kyousuke said, clearly displeased.
Even though they had just finished dinner, the wasted time waiting irked him.
He hated things that were troublesome, and waiting was one of the top annoyances.
Of course, if it were waiting for Sakura and Shouko, that would be a different story.
Thankfully, the girls never made him wait.
Whether it was for a date or any outing, they were always ready ahead of time.
"Our Kanto Manji headquarters is in Shibuya, so even if you didn't call, they'd be here soon enough," Redhead answered honestly.
Meanwhile, he felt a bit of joy inside, knowing that once the boss arrived, they'd get their revenge.
"Well, then you're useless." Kyousuke sighed and raised his bamboo sword, bringing it down with one swift strike.
Redhead rolled his eyes and collapsed to the ground.
"Wow, you're amazing, no wonder they call you the 'Handless Demon' and the second-generation Rampaging Angel," one of the guys, Atsushi Sendo, said, still in awe, despite being bruised and battered.
"Kisaki, should we take you to the hospital?" Kyousuke asked, noticing Kisaki Tetta and Hanagaki Takemichi were leaning against a tree nearby.
"No need, it's just a scratch. I still need to settle the score with that guy," Kisaki said, his eyes full of rage as he glared at the unconscious Kiyomaza Masataka.
He spat a mouthful of blood as he spoke.
He was never a good person and didn't mind bullying those who couldn't fight back.
"Boss, can I borrow your bamboo sword?" Kisaki asked, his tone full of determination.
"No," Kyousuke replied instantly. "No lending swords or women, same with motorcycles."
Kyousuke already figured out what Kisaki was planning, so he quickly rejected.
Instead, he picked up a baseball bat from the ground and tossed it to Kisaki.
"Use this. Just don't overdo it, and keep it in check."
"Got it." Kisaki checked the tooth he had lost earlier, wondering if it was even possible to fix it.
But more than that, he needed to vent his anger.
While Kisaki went to take care of Kiyomaza Masataka, Kyousuke turned to Hanagaki and the others.
"You guys want to go to the hospital?" he asked.
"No, thanks for saving us!" Hanagaki quickly bowed, despite the pain he was in.
"Oh no, I meant Kisaki..." Kyousuke realized that he might have stolen Kisaki's thunder, so he quickly tried to explain himself.
"Wow, you're amazing!"
"You really are the 'Handless Demon' who defeated the 'Higashi Heroes'!" Hanagaki said, looking up at Kyousuke with admiration.
Kyousuke's face immediately fell.
Wait, you didn't even see me knock that guy out with a single blow?
Why are you still going on about this "Handless Demon" nonsense?
"Yeah, Hojou-senpai is incredible!" Atsushi Sendo chimed in, still starstruck.
"But are we really okay just staying here?"
"Shibuya is the headquarters of Kanto Manji. Their backup will be here soon," said Yamagishi Kazushi, who was the most knowledgeable about delinquents and referred to himself as the "Delinquent Dictionary."
Hearing this, Hanagaki and the others' expressions shifted.
"Uh, Hojou-senpai, we should probably leave. Even if the Rampaging Angels come to help, it won't be faster than Kanto Manji's backup," Hanagaki said, trying to tread carefully, not wanting to offend Kyousuke.
"Oh, Kanto Manji's reinforcements are almost here. The guy named Redhead already called. We just need to wait a bit," Kyousuke said nonchalantly.
Hanagaki's face fell.
What are you saying?
Why are you making it sound like we're in danger again?
"Ha, Hanagaki, your face is priceless," Kyousuke laughed, sitting down.
Since the reinforcements from Kanto Manji weren't here yet, he decided to sit and wait.
For someone as lazy as him, if he could sit, he would never stand.
"Wait, Hojou-senpai, you called for reinforcements too, right?" Hanagaki asked, holding on to his last hope since Kyousuke seemed completely calm.
"I don't need any backup from a third-rate group like Kanto Manji. One person, the boss, can handle it all," Kyousuke said, dismissing the idea.
"Yeah, that's right! Kanto Manji's reinforcements are just a waste of time."
"I could handle them all by myself," Kisaki said, walking up with a bloodstained baseball bat in hand, answering Hanagaki's question.
Kyousuke turned and looked at Kiyomaza Masataka, who was still groaning in pain, holding his mouth.
'Now that's a sight. Kisaki is looking better than Masataka, who is still conscious and whimpering,' Kyousuke thought, silently enjoying the contrast.
Kisaki, determined, walked toward Hanagaki again.
"Hanagaki, it's all my fault I didn't come sooner."
Kisaki's dramatic expression almost made Kyousuke clap, but he held back.
"It's not your fault. If it weren't for you and Hojou-senpai, we'd be in real trouble," Hanagaki quickly reassured him.
"Well, that's good to hear. If anything like this happens again, just come to me. I'll help you!" Kisaki said with a tone mimicking that of a TV hero, feeling proud of himself as he looked at his glowing reflection.
"Kisaki, you're so kind! But, your nose is bleeding again," one of the others said, noticing Kisaki's ongoing injury.
Kisaki wiped the blood away, a sense of fulfillment washing over him, even if it meant losing a tooth.
"Oh, it looks like Kanto Manji's people are here. I need to handle them."
Kyousuke stood up with his bamboo sword, speaking with calm authority.
"Good luck!" Kisaki Tetta bowed respectfully, while Hanagaki and the others followed suit.
As Kyousuke walked toward the scene, Hanagaki couldn't help but keep watching, his eyes filled with admiration.
"That was so cool!"
"That's Kanto Manji! Facing off against an entire delinquent gang, and Hojou-senpai talked to them like it was just going to the convenience store!"
Hanagaki clenched his fists, full of admiration for Hojou Kyousuke.
"You didn't know? Our boss defeated the entire Rampaging Angels by himself, and then he took down Aimei Aishu too!" Kisaki boasted proudly.
"Of course I know!"
"Everyone in the Tokyo delinquent scene has heard about the 'Handless Demon' ruling over Higashi, the new leader of Rampaging Angels!" Hanagaki said excitedly.
Kisaki began to sense something was wrong.
It seemed like Hanagaki wasn't as enamored with him as he had thought.
"Uh, Hanagaki, today I came to help you, but the boss came to help me," Kisaki tried to clarify.
"Even taking care of his subordinates' requests, Sendo, this is what I was telling you about!"
"Hojou-senpai is going to become the strongest delinquent in all of Japan!" Hanagaki said, brimming with admiration.
Exhausted, Kisaki closed his eyes, feeling defeated.
[TL Note - lol]