In the various halls and classrooms of Seiryu High School, the atmosphere buzzed with youthful energy. Students of all kinds immersed themselves in school life. While some focused on academics, others were dedicated to extracurricular activities like sports or school societies. Some even focused on building their personal charisma. Each student had their own agenda, contributing to the vibrant yet diverse environment.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/b/b8/Osamu_Uchida_Profile.png]
But there was one student who stood out from all the rest. The respect he commanded wasn’t due to his academic prowess, athletic skills, or charisma—it was rooted in fear. His name was Osamu Uchida, already 19 years old and still attending Seiryu High, having repeated several years. Osamu had cultivated a reputation as the school’s most notorious bully, a role he embraced with pride. His disregard for school rules reflected his approach to life—wild, dominant, and unapologetically violent. No one dared challenge him. The school administration, aware of his ties to the yakuza, turned a blind eye, and the students knew they couldn’t beat him in a fight, which only fed his sense of invincibility.
Osamu casually leaned against one of the many lockers lining the corridor, exuding an air of confidence and dominance. As students and teachers walked by, they nodded in acknowledgment of his presence, treating him like royalty. His appearance was hard to overlook. With a robust and imposing build, he sported a small blond pompadour that added a rebellious edge to his look. His yellow contact lenses gave his eyes an unsettling intensity, hinting at a soul both fierce and unbridled.
He wore a white school uniform shirt, untucked and casual, paired with the standard black school pants. While technically adhering to the dress code, his attire showed a blatant disregard for conformity. Osamu stood as a living testament to his defiance of the mundane and the routine, an untouchable figure in the world of Seiryu High.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/7/7f/Metal_Pole.png]
Osamu’s weapon of choice was a steel pole, a blunt and straightforward tool that perfectly reflected his aggressive and dominant nature. The pole was made of hardened steel, ensuring it was both sturdy and heavy enough to deal significant damage. Its industrial, rugged design embodied Osamu’s no-nonsense approach to combat, where power and intimidation were key. With the 1.5-meter steel pole in hand, Osamu commanded authority on the battlefield. His aggressive stance and the pole’s reach made him a formidable figure, forcing any opponent to stay cautious.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/d/d4/Pimiko_Nyanko_Profile.png]
Another student walked toward Osamu, showing no sign of fear or intimidation, treating him as though he were beneath her. She sported burnt orange hair, tied up in two long pigtails with red bands. The girl wore a short-sleeved white sailor uniform, paired with a black school skirt, perfectly balancing the line between schoolgirl innocence and a personalized statement of style. Most prominently, she wore a hairband adorned with playful brown cat ears and a matching black choker. Her slender yet curvaceous figure, which she was acutely aware of, allowed her to navigate the social landscape of Seiryu High School with calculated grace. She approached Osamu, singing happily to herself, reflecting her good mood. The girl was none other than Pimiko Nyanko.
"Lalalala!" Pimiko sang, stopping in front of Osamu, who was still casually leaning against the locker, acting cool in her presence. Her big brown eyes brimmed with innocence as she called out, "Osamu," her high-pitched, cute voice capable of melting hearts. "Have you taken care of my request?" Pimiko asked, wanting to know the outcome. "Did you handle the samurai girl and teach her not to mess with me?" she inquired, clearly still upset about yesterday’s incident where Yoko’s intervention cost her the chance to buy the limited edition Mega Cat Gundam. Pimiko wanted Yoko to learn not to interfere in her affairs.
Upon hearing Pimiko's cute, sweet voice, Osamu couldn’t resist her charm. He draped his arm over her shoulder, treating her like a queen. "But of course, my dear Pimiko," he replied, a note of smug satisfaction in his tone. "It’s already been taken care of," Osamu declared with a grin. "The samurai girl should be handled by Ushio. Rest assured, he’ll return soon with news of his success," he added, his voice smooth and confident, like a criminal who always gets away with it.
His other hand casually twirled the steel pole, a display of charisma and a testament to his unshakable self-assurance. "So, how are you going to reward me, my little kitten?" Osamu said, placing the finger holding the pole against Pimiko’s lips.
Pimiko, unhappy with Osamu’s touchy behavior, immediately pushed his hand away, releasing herself from his draped arm and stepping back to put distance between them. "Wait until we hear what Ushio has to say, then we’ll decide!" Pimiko replied, her voice now more assertive and commanding, expressing her annoyance.
From a distance, they saw Ushio scampering toward them with urgency. "See? The good news is coming. You better prepare for my reward, kitty," Osamu sneered, confident that he would get the result he wanted from Ushio, ready to claim his promised reward from her.
Ushio stood in front of Osamu and Pimiko, panting heavily from his confrontation. "Bringing us some good news, I suppose, Ushio?" Osamu said, folding his arms confidently, expecting his reward from Pimiko. But Ushio, still catching his breath, looked disheveled and visibly worn, carrying the weight of delivering unexpected news.
"Osamu..." Ushio’s voice was filled with exhaustion and humiliation. "I... I was defeated!"
Both Osamu and Pimiko's faces registered shock and disbelief, struggling to comprehend how Ushio, of all people, could have been defeated. "Defeated? How could you lose to the samurai girl?" Pimiko looked at Osamu and scoffed. "Sorry, Osamu, no reward for you," she said, dismissing the idea now that Ushio had failed.
"Ushio! Tell me exactly what happened!" Osamu demanded, his voice simmering with anger and vengeance.
"I was defeated by a girl... using a pair of sais," Ushio muttered, his head hung low, unable to face Osamu.
"Be clear! Sais? I don’t remember the samurai girl using sais. What do you mean? Someone else from our school?" Osamu continued his relentless questioning, showing no sympathy for his ally.
"It wasn’t just her. There were others... They’re not from our school, judging by their clothes," Ushio explained, still struggling to fully describe the situation, which only fueled Osamu’s frustration.
"Speak properly, you gorilla!" Osamu growled, slamming his metal pole against the locker with a loud "Bang!" that echoed through the school hallway.
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"The samurai girl brought a group of allies from somewhere. They don’t look local," Ushio elaborated, his words piquing both Osamu and Pimiko’s curiosity. Osamu’s expression hardened, his voice taking on a sharper edge.
"And how many accompanied the samurai girl? Anyone among them stand out as the strongest?" Osamu asked, his interest growing. He believed that defeating the strongest would set an example for the others and reassert his dominance.
Ushio, struggling to recall clearly, rubbed his chin as he took a moment to compose his thoughts. "I think... maybe four or possibly five?" he muttered. Pimiko whispered into Osamu's ear, "He’s quite slow-witted; you’ll have to forgive him."
Osamu then said loudly, "Four or five, it doesn’t matter! Tell me more about who you can remember," his confidence in his fighting ability showing.
"I was defeated by a Japanese girl wielding a pair of sais. She’s fast, I couldn’t keep up," Ushio explained.
"Uh huh! Continue, please!" Osamu urged, already aware of Ushio’s weakness against faster opponents. He was more interested in learning about who Ushio thought was the strongest. Ushio furrowed his brow, thinking hard. "There was a blond, spiky-haired guy wearing a gray sleeveless hoodie and green track pants, wielding a hockey stick. He wanted to fight me, but the samurai girl stopped him. I think he’s the strongest, based on his muscular arms!"
Ushio had assumed Carter was the strongest based on his physique and the fact that the group had stopped him from engaging, as if they were saving him for the toughest fight.
The description of Carter drew Pimiko’s attention immediately, reminding her of the incident at Hobby Off Harajuku, where Yoko had helped him get the Mega Cat Gundam. "The guy with the audacious spiked blond hair?" she asked with a hint of annoyance. "I think I know who he is! The very same guy who claimed victory over my treasured limited edition Mega Cat Gundam model just yesterday?"
Pimiko couldn’t conceal her vexation, recalling the frustration of losing the Gundam to him.
Osamu’s eyes, however, lit up with excitement. "This is interesting! The school’s been boring lately with no real challenges." Clutching his metal pole, he grinned, the gesture speaking volumes about his intentions.
"I’ll make an example of this group by challenging their strongest," Osamu declared. "I’ll show the whole school what happens when someone crosses us! Let this be a lesson to the samurai girl!" Fired up by the prospect of a worthy challenge, Osamu was eager for the confrontation ahead.
As Jake and his friends continued into the heart of Seiryu High School, their mood wasn't dampened by the earlier confrontation at the school gate. Though Yoko was still somewhat worried, she maintained her graciousness, leading the group around the campus. Friendly students greeted them along the way, offering help to Yoko and warmly welcoming the group of visitors. The environment was far from the hostility they had experienced earlier.
Yoko took them to various clubs, including Calligraphy, Tea Ceremony, Drama, and Kendo. The club representatives were all welcoming, smiling warmly. While some weren’t able to speak English, Yoko stepped in as a translator, guiding the group through the club histories and giving them hands-on opportunities to try activities. Jake and his friends could sense that Yoko was well-liked and possibly even popular among the students, which made Jake feel even worse about the school bullies targeting her. In his heart, he felt the need to do something for his cousin.
The tour reached its climax when they arrived at the school's baseball field, a particularly exciting moment for Jake. The baseball club captain was there, awaiting their arrival. Yoko introduced Jake, saying, "This is my cousin Jake. He plays baseball too!" The Seiryu High baseball team was in the middle of practice, and the captain was more than happy to invite Jake to join them.
"Go ahead, Jake! We’ll be watching you!" Luna encouraged, as Yoko, Carter, and Akane took their seats in the spectator stands, ready to admire Jake's skills.
Jake nodded, his initial hesitation fading as he felt the fire of competition stir within him. He stepped onto the baseball diamond, ready to join Seiryu High’s team for a practice game. The exchange of sports became a bridge between cultures, a universal language they could all understand and enjoy.
Halfway through watching Jake play baseball, Carter's focus was sharply diverted as he caught a glimpse of someone familiar walking by. A flash of burnt orange hair, styled into playful pigtails that bounced with each step, crowned with whimsical cat-ear accessories, sliced through the school crowd.
He quickly stood up from his seat, drawing the attention of the others. "Carter, where are you going?" Yoko asked, noticing his sudden movement.
"Hey, guys, keep watching Jake. I'll catch up in a bit," he hastily informed them, his tone laced with urgency. His friends, slightly confused, exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of the reason for his sudden departure as Carter hurriedly ran in the direction of the familiar figure.
Carter made his way through the throng of students, his eyes fixed on the familiar sight of burnt orange pigtails tied with red bands and brown cat-ear hairbands. Even though she was wearing her school uniform, he confirmed it was Pimiko, the girl he had met at Hobby Off Harajuku. Determined not to miss this opportunity, Carter quickened his pace, eager to know her better. Catching up to her, he tapped her on the shoulder, placing his hand lightly on it.
"Hey, remember me? I’m the guy from Hobby Off Harajuku yesterday!" he exclaimed, his voice buoyant with optimism.
What Carter couldn’t see from behind was Pimiko's face, turning red with anger and disapproval. She loathed being touched, especially by him—the same person who had snatched her beloved Mega Cat Gundam the day before. Recognizing his voice, speaking English, only made it worse.
"Take your hands off me!" Pimiko said in Japanese, her tone laced with disdain, though she masked it with a feigned sweetness that was entirely lost on Carter.
Unable to understand her words, Carter offered a confused, bemused response. "Sorry, I didn’t quite catch what you said?" His voice was innocent, attempting to remain friendly, oblivious to the mounting tension.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/7/7f/Tekko_Kagi.png]
Pimiko’s patience snapped. Without Carter realizing what was happening, she discreetly readied her weapon—a Tekko Kagi, traditional Japanese hand claws made of high-quality steel, durable and razor-sharp. The three claws, each measuring 7.4 inches, were designed for quick, effective close-range combat. Pimiko’s Tekko Kagi perfectly matched her cat-like qualities—grace, agility, and precision. The claws, sharp and swift, mimicked a cat's, reinforcing her unpredictable and feline nature.
Her voice shifted to one of undeniable authority, this time with a forceful intensity that left no room for misinterpretation. "I SAID, TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF ME!" she barked in Japanese.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/d/d4/Feline_Grace_Strike.png]
Before Carter could react, Pimiko turned around and unleashed her Feline Grace Strike, wielding her Tekko Kagi with deadly finesse. In one swift motion, she slashed at his arm, causing it to bleed and forcing him to release his grip on her shoulder.
"Whoa, easy there, cheer girl!" Carter gasped in astonishment, still unaware of the gravity of the situation and unsure whether this was a misunderstanding or something far more dangerous.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/f/fb/Osamu_Uchida%2C_wielding_his_metal_pole%2C_captures_his_defiant_and_authoritative_essence..png]
As the tension escalated further, another figure appeared. A metal pole sliced through the air toward Carter, who barely managed to dodge it in time. It was Osamu, emerging with predatory focus and excitement. His eyes locked onto Carter's as he spoke in Japanese, "So, you're the mightiest of your group?" Osamu sneered. "What a great opportunity, you coming to find us!"
"Osamu! He dared to lay his hands on me!" Pimiko cried out in Japanese, her usual cute demeanor in full display, portraying herself as the wronged party in need of protection.
"Fear not, my baby kitten, for I shall make sure he learns his lesson," Osamu declared, his voice filled with a promise of retribution for the insult to Pimiko. "Defeating him will also serve as an example to any visitors who dare interfere with our school affairs!" Osamu saw this as an opportunity to use Carter as an example, warning other students not to seek outside help.
Carter, lost in translation and unable to understand the specifics of what was said, could still feel the confrontation shift into something far more serious. He could tell from Osamu's body language that a challenge had been issued, one he couldn’t back down from. Raising his hockey stick, Carter assumed a battle-ready stance, preparing to duel Osamu, knowing this fight was inevitable.