As evening descended, the members of PROUD parted ways without exchanging a single word. The atmosphere was heavy with defeat, and the once-proud gang that ruled Seiryu High now faced an uncertain future. Normally, at this time, people would be settling in for dinner after a long day, but for Osamu, Pimiko, Reiji, Ushio, and Daika, the weight of their loss hung over them like a dark cloud. Each member went their separate ways, lost in their own thoughts, none of them daring to say goodbye or even acknowledge the bitter taste of failure.

Osamu, in particular, carried the burden of their defeat. His body, battered and bruised from the battle, didn't concern him as much as the wounds inflicted on his pride. The respect and fear he had commanded within the school were now at risk. His ego, once larger than life, felt fragile, threatened by the uncertainty of what tomorrow would bring. The thought of facing the students and teachers after such a humiliating defeat was unbearable.

As he walked the streets, a storm brewed inside him, far more violent than the physical pain he endured. He couldn’t let it end like this. The loss was not just a blow to his standing within the school’s hierarchy, but it also shook the very foundation of his authority. Desperate to regain what he had lost, Osamu's thoughts turned to the Yakuza—the shadowy group that had been backing him all along. In his mind, they were the key to reclaiming his power, to making sure that Jake and his friends paid the price for defying him, and to ensuring that his dominance would once again reign over Seiryu High.

With his pride wounded but his resolve hardened, Osamu set off with a singular goal: to restore everything that had been taken from him, no matter the cost. His mind was set, and the Yakuza would be the tool to get him there.

Osamu, knowing the way by heart, made his way toward a small, shabby Chanko Nabe restaurant—often called Sumo Stew. He had been here more than a hundred times, and the familiarity showed in his stride. The restaurant, filled with the hearty aroma of rich stews, stood nearly empty. There were no customers inside, save for one.

The man seated at a table was immense, far more imposing than Osamu despite his own considerable size and muscular stature. His broad, powerful frame made the chair he sat on look absurdly small. His physique spoke of immense physical strength, the kind only a lifetime of combat could cultivate. Dressed in a black mawashi, with his hair tied in a traditional chomage topknot, it was clear he was a sumo wrestler.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/9/9f/Takeshi_Ono_enjoying_a_traditional_sumo_meal_of_Chanko_Nabe.png]

The large man, his face unreadable, focused intently on the pot of Chanko Nabe before him. The meal, brimming with chicken broth, tofu, vegetables, and chicken, seemed a small task for his oversized hands, which deftly maneuvered the chopsticks. His deep-set eyes, sharp and focused, revealed nothing of the thoughts that brewed beneath the surface. The only sounds were the quiet slurping of stew and the crackle of the restaurant’s kitchen.

Osamu, gathering his courage, approached the table without his usual dominant and authoritative demeanor. His voice, tinged with both respect and a hint of fear, betrayed his unease as he spoke. Upon reaching the table, he immediately bowed at a 90-degree angle—a gesture of deep humility.

"Ono-san, I need your help..." Osamu's voice trembled slightly as he addressed the man, revealing him to be Takeshi Ono, a prominent member of the yakuza who had provided the backing that allowed Osamu to remain defiant and powerful at Seiryu High. "Some foreigners have come to the school and dismissed my authority. I seek your help to restore it," Osamu continued, his voice low and filled with desperation. He did not rise from his bow, remaining in that humbled position, waiting for Takeshi to acknowledge him.

Takeshi Ono, however, remained silent. His attention was entirely focused on his meal, the quiet clink of chopsticks against the pot of Chanko Nabe the only sound in the room. He showed no immediate sign of interest or reaction to Osamu's plea, continuing to eat in deliberate silence, as though Osamu wasn't even there.

"Please!" Osamu's bow deepened, his teeth clenched hard, the strong tension in his body as he strained for a reply. But Takeshi's only response was the steady rhythm of his chopsticks, his meal the clear priority. Despite the anxiety gnawing at him, Osamu did not dare rise. He knew that walking away now meant certain failure. So, he stayed, bowing low, hoping that once Takeshi finished his meal, the man would acknowledge his presence and grant him the assistance he so desperately sought.

Osamu remained frozen in his 90-degree bow, still awaiting Takeshi's response, the tension in the air thick with uncertainty. His heart pounded, eager for the assistance he so desperately sought to restore PROUD’s authority at Seiryu High. The sound of the restaurant door opening abruptly shattered the silence, drawing Osamu's attention. Though still bowed deeply in respect, Osamu strained to catch a glimpse of who had entered the shabby Chanko Nabe restaurant.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/5/5a/Kaito_Fujiimori_with_an_enigmatic_aura%2C_his_expression_and_the_surrounding_shadows_reflecting_his_involvement_with_the_darker_activities_of_the_Kurokaze-kai.png]

From the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar figure—someone he recognized but had never directly crossed paths with: Kaito Fujimori, Yoko Nomura's classmate. Known throughout Seiryu High for his academic excellence and strong moral compass, Kaito had garnered respect and admiration from both students and staff alike. Even when PROUD reigned over the school, Osamu had chosen to avoid any direct confrontation with Kaito, knowing it would only bring unwanted complications.

Kaito walked into the restaurant, and Osamu immediately felt something amiss. Kaito exuded an aura of mystery and secrecy. As he approached both Osamu and Takeshi, he stopped in front of them, ignoring Osamu's presence and speaking directly to Takeshi.

"You finished eating? I have something to talk to you about," Kaito said, addressing Takeshi, who continued eating in silence.

Osamu’s sense of anger began to rise as Kaito blatantly ignored him. He also noticed that Kaito hadn’t used any honorifics when addressing Takeshi, which added to Osamu’s growing fury. Finally, Osamu stood up from his 90-degree bow.

"You!" Osamu’s voice, thick with anger and rising hostility, cut through Kaito's conversation. Takeshi, however, continued eating without acknowledging either of them. Straightening his posture, Osamu gripped his metal pole tightly.

"How dare you speak to Ono-san in this manner! Who do you think you are?" Osamu sneered, his tone full of anger. "Treating me like I’m invisible? I left you alone at school and you think that makes you untouchable?"

Osamu glared at Kaito, his frustration mounting. He believed that by teaching Kaito a lesson for disrespecting Takeshi, he could demonstrate his prowess and strength. Maybe, he thought, by showing his capabilities, Takeshi would agree to help him take revenge on Jake and his friends. Then, everything that happened today would be erased, and his authority would be restored.

"Clink!" A loud sound echoed as Takeshi finished his meal, breaking the tense moment between Osamu and Kaito. "Thank you for the food," Takeshi said, putting his hands together to thank the chef, his deep, commanding voice cutting through the tension. He then turned his attention to the two teenagers. "If you both have to fight, take it outside," Takeshi demanded, not wanting to cause any trouble in the beloved establishment he frequented. "And Osamu, the guy is actually—"

Before Takeshi could finish or reveal anything, he noticed Kaito making a discreet hand gesture, signaling him to hold back. Understanding the cue, Takeshi paused.

"Very well," Kaito spoke calmly. "We shall take this outside. Takeshi, this little rascal says I don't know about respect. I suppose I shall teach him the hard way."

Kaito’s words further inflamed Osamu, especially being called a "little rascal" and still hearing Kaito use no honorifics for Takeshi. His grip tightened around his steel pole, ready for confrontation. Osamu felt confident—compared to Kaito's average physique, Osamu was clearly bigger and faster. "I will teach you what respect means and beat you down, make your life in school a living hell!" Osamu’s yellow eyes glared at Kaito with predatory fury, but Kaito remained unfazed, treating Osamu as if he were invisible, further inciting his anger.

"Look at me when I’m talking to you!" Osamu sneered, his patience worn thin.

Kaito, still not acknowledging Osamu directly, turned and walked out of the restaurant, signaling that he was ready to take the fight outside. Osamu, now seething with rage, quickly followed, eager to teach Kaito a lesson he would never forget.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Outside the Chanko Nabe restaurant, the quiet, cool night air made the perfect backdrop for the showdown between Kaito and Osamu. The street was empty, the atmosphere still, almost as if the world itself had paused to witness the impending clash. Osamu, his blond pompadour gleaming like a defiant flame under the ambient light, stood tall. Despite the bruises and gashes from his earlier battle with Jake and his comrades, his injuries seemed to do little to hinder his physicality. With a wild, untamed energy, he brandished his metal pole, its fierce swings cutting through the air with a whoosh that echoed his unchecked ferocity.

"You think you can stand against me?" he sneered, his grip tight on the pole, its presence an extension of his raw power.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/f/f7/Kendo_Stick.png]

Kaito, however, remained calm. With deliberate movements, he revealed his weapon of choice: a bamboo shinai. Crafted from high-quality bamboo, the weapon was light yet durable, designed for precision and control. The 4-foot stick reflected Kaito's disciplined nature, his approach to combat, much like his life, governed by careful thought and strategic insight.

This was the battle—a contrast of styles. Osamu's raw, explosive domination versus Kaito's intellectual, strategic finesse. Steel pole against bamboo kendo stick. As they squared off, the fight began.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/9/91/Kaito_Fujimori_uses_battle_institution_anticipates_his_opponents%27_moves_by_quickly_analyzing_their_fighting_style_and_adapting_his_defense.png]

Before the fight even started, something seemed off to Osamu, though he couldn’t quite place it. Kaito just stood there, staring at him, seemingly passive. Unbeknownst to Osamu, Kaito was analyzing him with Intellectual Intuition, adapting his defense to Osamu’s predictable movements. Kaito had already concluded, much like he had shared earlier with Jake and the others, that Osamu’s greatest weaknesses stemmed from his personality—his pride, impulsiveness, and aggression. These traits, compounded by the injuries Osamu had sustained in his earlier fight, made him vulnerable to a strategic approach.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/0/0f/Seiryu_Sweep.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/f/f5/Mindful_Defense.png]

With full confidence in his raw power, Osamu immediately went for Kaito's legs with Seiryu Sweep, a low, wide arc designed to knock Kaito off his feet. It was a brutal move that would allow Osamu to quickly end the match if it connected. However, Kaito, ever composed, wasn’t an easy opponent. He effortlessly employed Mindful Defense, sidestepping the sweep with minimal movement, conserving his energy with calculated efficiency.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/c/c0/Precision_Thrust.png]

In a fluid counter, Kaito saw the perfect opportunity and used his shinai to perform a Precision Thrust, aiming directly at Osamu's forehead with the tip of the bamboo stick. The sharp, targeted push landed, forcing Osamu back with a jolt of pain.

"Ouch!" Osamu roared in anger, his frustration mounting. Kaito had done it on purpose, intending to rile him up—and it worked.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/6/6e/Osamu%27s_Strike.png]

"You cocky bastard! You think you’re funny?" Osamu, fueled by the sting of the blow to his forehead and a mixture of wounded pride and unbridled aggression, pushed himself up from his crouching position. With renewed fury, he launched forward with Osamu's Strike, a powerful sweeping blow that turned his steel pole into a blur of motion, aimed directly at Kaito, intending to overpower him without mercy.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/8/8c/Feint_and_Parry.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/1/1d/Strategic_Strike.png]

Kaito, however, had planned several steps ahead. The opening he left after his attack was intentional. It was a Feint and Parry, a move designed to mislead Osamu. At the last second, Kaito parried the strike with ease, a demonstration of his strategic mind over Osamu’s brute force. Seizing the opportunity, Kaito executed a Strategic Strike, exploiting the weaknesses he had already calculated in Osamu. He struck with precise force at Osamu’s already injured back.

"Argh!" Osamu growled in frustration and pain as the blow hit, aggravating the wounds he had sustained earlier. The pain cut deeper than before, both physically and mentally, and it broke his composure. His vendetta against Kaito intensified, but his attacks had yet to land even once.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/6/6d/Wild_Fury.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/b/b0/Tactical_Retreat.png]

Desperate and enraged, Osamu launched into Wild Fury, an all-out assault that combined swings, jabs, and spins. "One has to land," he told himself, attacking with everything he had. But Kaito remained calm, choosing to employ a Tactical Retreat, knowing when to engage and when to withdraw. He created space between them, evading the chaotic strikes and leaving Osamu’s attacks flailing in the air.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/d/d4/Rebel%27s_Jab.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/8/89/Cerebral_Counter.png]

As the battle rhythm intensified, Osamu, refusing to concede, unleashed his Rebel's Jab, a flurry of precise and aggressive thrusts aimed to regain control. But Kaito was always one step ahead. With his Cerebral Counter, Kaito deflected Osamu's attacks using minimal effort for maximum effect, each movement calculated to further exhaust his opponent. The relentless assault started to take a toll on Osamu's endurance, wearing him down.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/e/e6/Disarming_Maneuver.png]

Sensing the right moment, Kaito smoothly executed his Disarming Maneuver, striking Osamu’s hand with his shinai. The impact forced Osamu to lose his grip on his metal pole, which clattered helplessly to the ground. Breathless and in disbelief, Osamu knelt, his pride shattered, as the weapon that symbolized his strength was now out of reach, leaving him severely diminished and unable to continue.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/d/d2/Psychological_Warfare.png]

From the moment Osamu had stepped into the Chanko Nabe restaurant, Kaito had been thinking several steps ahead. He had been guiding Osamu, intentionally or not, toward his own downfall. His ultimate move, Psychological Warfare, had been in play from the start. By ignoring Osamu, taunting him, and outsmarting him at every turn, Kaito had gained a crucial advantage, both mentally and physically.

Now kneeling, holding his hand in defeat, Osamu still couldn't comprehend how thoroughly Kaito had outmatched him. His teeth gritted, but the realization slowly dawned: he was never a match for Kaito’s mind.

As the match concluded, Takeshi stepped forward, approaching the dejected Osamu and slowly helping him to his feet. He continued the sentence he had started earlier, "The guy you were fighting is just a normal school kid from your school," Takeshi exclaimed. "He holds a leadership role similar to mine, so there's nothing to be ashamed about being beaten."

Takeshi’s revelation left Osamu momentarily lost in thought. He looked at Kaito, trying to process this new information, unsure of how to react to Kaito's true identity—someone who commanded respect and was not to be trifled with. The realization hit Osamu like a physical blow, though Takeshi’s attempt to comfort him softened the humiliation, telling him there was no shame in losing to someone like Kaito.

Kaito, however, wasn’t finished. He raised his shinai and pointed it at Osamu in a threatening manner, fixing him with a stern gaze. "My identity stays between us, and Yoko Nomura is off-limits," Kaito warned firmly. "You can keep your reign over the school, but let her be. That’s my only warning. Now, scram!"

Osamu saw no room for argument. Picking up his steel pole, he slowly left the area, his pride battered but still clinging to the small consolation that PROUD could keep its reign over Seiryu High. Though he didn’t get the support he wanted for revenge against Jake, at least Kaito’s warning allowed him to walk away with some form of control still intact.

As Osamu left the venue, leaving Kaito and Takeshi alone, Takeshi turned to Kaito with a curious expression. "So, why are you here, looking for me?" he asked. It wasn’t common for Kaito to physically seek him out, as they usually kept their affiliation with the yakuza a well-guarded secret.

"It's an urgent request," Kaito replied, his voice steady but serious. "I need you to proceed to a certain location now to find a boy named Jake Harada. He and his group should be on their way home. I’m asking for your assistance in confronting him directly, forcing a situation where he will be compelled to draw his sword. This matter would pique Mori-san’s interest." Kaito showed Takeshi the location on a map where he needed to go.

Kaito’s suspicions had been forming ever since Jake walked into the classroom carrying two weapons, coupled with Luna's accidental revelation about coming from the future and her mission involving the Seven Swords. Kaito had pieced the puzzle together, suspecting that the extra weapon Jake carried might actually be one of the legendary swords.

So, how does this boy look?" Takeshi asked before heading off to fulfill the request.

"You'll recognize him by the weapon of choice he carries – a baseball bat," Kaito informed, giving the necessary details to identify Jake.

Takeshi listened carefully but said nothing. His only response was a nod of silent acknowledgment before he turned and walked away, his presence imposing as always. It was clear that he understood Kaito’s request and was ready to get the job done, prepared to confront whoever Jake was and uncover the truth behind the sword he carried.