End of First Day.

Before diving in the resulting aftermath of a rather crazy morning, let's see further into the past, as three six year old boys struggled to save a trapped cat for nearly an hour under the blazing hot sun.

"Come on, give it everything we got!" One of the boys cried out as all three strained to slightly lift the debris. Eventually, the small cat then scurried off upon seeing an opening, the three boys groaning loudly as they finally released their grips, the debris crashing down back into place. "Whew!" The same boy gasps out, sitting on the ground. He turns and gives a grin to one of them. "It's a good thing we saw you, huh? You're Mr. Hino's son, Yuusuke, right?"

Yuu couldn't help but stammer as he grew flustered. "Y-You're Mr. Onimada's kid..."

Hiro gave a grin in response. "Yep! The name's Hiro! That sad looking sap here is Jin!"

"Oh shut up." Jin said annoyingly. "I didn't think we'd spent hours helping a stupid cat." He glared at Yuu. "If you weren't so weak, Hiro would have ignored ya and we'd be on our merry way to play games at his place by now!"

"I-I'm so sorry!" Yuu said, feeling regrets, biting his lip. "I didn't mean to waste your time..."

"Nah, Jin's always been a killjoy, but trust me when I say he's a total softy too." Hiro chuckled while Jin grumbled to himself. "Say, since my Dad apparently suckered yours to help him fix this house on the other side of town, you're home alone, right? I heard your mom isn't usually home for some reason." He noticed Yuu looking away, too ashamed to admit it. "Hey, how bout you come to my place?" He smiled. "My Mom would love more company!"

"Say what?!" Jin cried out. "It's bad enough Miki is coming, but him too?!" He paused as he looked at Yuu, and sighed as he softened his expression. "...Alright, I guess it ain't that bad. Anyone is better than Miki."

"It's settled then!" Hiro said, grinning at Yuu. "So, wanna come with us?" Those very words were words that to Yuusuke Hino, who rarely made friends as a child, started an unbreakable bond...

"...O-Okay." Yuu replied quietly, a small smile on his lips.

----------------------------------------

Now, the present...In a screaming principal's office.

"I can't believe this!" Principal Homare Hojo cried out, glaring at the three students that have just fought off a dangerous punk. Yuu gave a nervous look, Hiro simply giving a scowl, and Jin looking elsewhere much to Hojo's annoyance. All three are patched up with band-aids and bandages. "You three just started high school and the very first thing you all did was get into a fight?!" The older bald man shouted, slamming his hands down on his desk. "And why is it I can barely contact your parents?!" He took one dirty look at Jin. "And I can't even find yours!"

"Oh...I guess that meant my old man left work early and went drinking." Jin said, scratching his head while again avoiding eye contact. "Don't even bother with that old hag of mine too."

"Eh, my Dad was probably fixing a house." Hiro said, rolling his eyes. "Doesn't like it when some blowhard tries calling him while working."

"...I-I live in a houseboat." Yuu said sheepishly.

Hojo could only be baffled at such responses. "What even are you kids?!"

----------------------------------------

As that is going down, a man and his ten year old daughter walked down the hallways of the school.

"Oh boy, Hiro's in trouble." Ami Onimada, the little girl, said in a singing tone with a smirk. "He's soooo in trouble."

Lent Onimada, Hiro's father, gave an exasperated sigh. "Ami, don't give your older brother a hard time. Still, didn't think he's already got into trouble." He frowned. "Can't believe I gotta leave work for this-"

"You gotta be kidding me." Enishi said bluntly as both he and Lent simply exchange blank stares as they unexpectedly ran into each other, face to face. "...Why are you here?"

"That's my line!" Lent growled out. "Your boy actually did something wrong?! I thought he was way smarter than his old man!"

"Fine words for a liar!" Enishi hissed out. "If you didn't want to join the fishing business with me, at least be honest. But nope, it's exactly like that time you suckered me in helping you fix that stupid rundown house people said was haunted!"

"Oh my god, you're still angry about that?!" Lent shouted. "Grow up! ...There's no such thing as ghosts, fish for brains!"

"Ghosts do exist and I think you got me cursed that day, you jackass!" Enishi protested as the two men started grappling each other, Ami simply looking at the childish scuffle going on in annoyance. The three young men and Hojo peeked their head out from the door all the way down the hallway, witnessing this farce of a fight.

"...That's our Pops alright." Hiro muttered in embarrassment. "Geez, they're still at it, huh?"

"Yeah..." Yuu said quietly. "This is just cringe..."

----------------------------------------

"Ahem, now that you know the story, I strongly urge you both to discipline your sons!" Hojo said sternly, ignoring both Enishi and Lent fuming as they sat on the couch in considerable distance away from each other. "And bringing alcohol to the grounds to boot!"

"Look, you old idiot." Jin finally opened his mouth, Hojo being taken aback. "That fatass was asking to get his ass kicked, beating up Kiyo and wasting damn good alcohol on that idiot girl! Someone's gotta do something!"

Shigeharu Takahiro, the teacher that turned the three in and now sat in a chair in the corner, speaks up. "All well and good, Jin...It certainly still doesn't quite justify kicking down the doors to the gym shed, right?" Jin froze stiff at the mere mention of that incident. "I guess shaving all that lice ridden hair of yours didn't exactly achieve enlightenment...Or an IQ boost."

"Aniki, we live next door...But you didn't need to bring that up..." Jin muttered, red faced.

"Look, I think we can attest that while they're idiots, they're just trying to protect that girl." Lent finally spoke up. "I know her father and despite their background, they're good people and she's fortunate to have good friends...Who would apologize to her later today." He glared at Hiro. "I'll see to that."

"Y-Yeah Dad..." Hiro said nervously. "I-I'll apologize..."

"I admit, Lent may be an absolute prick, but it's just boys doing what's right, I'd say!" Enishi said, looking at Lent with disdain. "This ain't an apology." He said grimly much to Lent's nonchalant rolling of his eyes in response.

"Jeez Dad, you really want to add the final say, huh?" Yuu muttered with sarcasm.

"But come on!" Hojo said, exasperated. "This really doesn't look good no matter how much this can be spun around like a heroic tale! The school demands I do something!"

"Hojo, we may as well say it is a tale of heroics because we sure as hell did jack, and we're the adults. It certainly doesn't look good on our part so far." Takahiro said as he lit a cigarette. "We do have another testimony in support of those three anyway. A Kiyomaro Murakami." The gang suddenly raised eyebrows, surprised at this reveal. "He was unconscious during the incident but he seemed pretty sincere that those three fought that punk in defense of Ms. Tozawa. I mean, the alcohol is still shady, but I think we can spin this story around, than let that scandal start the year. Right, Hojo?"

"Guh...." Hojo grunted, feeling pressured at the fact he might need to redo his reports after all... "I can't believe I'm really doing this..." He muttered as he pulled out a slip and pen. "Lips are sealed the moment we all leave this room, right?" He said, meekly.

----------------------------------------

"Soooo, should we give Kiyo some porno mags as thanks for making us sound like heroes?" Jin asked, before being smacked from behind his head by Takahiro as the group left the school grounds during late afternoon. "Ow...I was just kidding."

"Good grief, it seems like Kiyo's still far more responsible than you ever were." Takahiro said bluntly, the lit cigarette between his teeth. "You three should be glad Hojo's a bit weak on willpower for the sake of Kaimon High's reputation."

"Aniki, when you told me you managed to find a teaching job here, I thought you were yanking my chain." Jin said annoyingly, looking away. "Can't believe I'm gonna deal with this for all of high school..."

"You seem to know Jin quite well." Yuu said to Takahiro, surprised. "For a teacher that is."

Takahiro snorted in annoyance. "Can't believe he never told ya." He said as he quickly disposes the cigarette in his mouth. "I used to be the assistant instructor in Kiyo's sword school with his father a few years back. I personally taught Jin myself, because apparently he was a pain in the ass to the other students."

"That's definitely Jin, alright." Hiro said, much to Jin's embarrassment. "Wait, I recalled the reason you kinda stopped going to Murakami's was because you said you got someone expelled-"

"Haha!" Jin intervened, laughing nervously. "Let's just walk away and forget our troubles-" He froze as Takahiro placed a hand on his shoulder, a deathly glare staring at him eye to eye.

"I almost forgot that moment of covering your ass..." Takahiro hissed out. "How about I walk your bald ass home while you pay for whatever interests me on the way?" He grabbed Jin by the back of his jacket collar and dragged him off. "Try to stay out of trouble next time!" He said to Yuu and Hiro, baffled as Jin is frantic in trying to escape Takahiro's grip.

"Wait! Stop! Aniki!" Jin cried out in various pleas. "Help me!!"

"Sorry Jin..." Yuu said disappointingly, as he points to both Enishi and Lent being engaged in a ridiculous slap fight. "We got our own problems..."

"Go, Dad!" Ami shouted in glee, to Hiro's bafflement.

----------------------------------------

Deep in Central Kaimon. Masuda High School, home of the delinquent faction known as the Masuda Empire. Infamous for its student population consisting of the worst youth in town, more so than the delinquent school of Sutogi Commerce in South Kaimon. However, recent events had left the Empire's status of power in question...

"Well, I just got off the phone with Rou." Ghai Lingstein, a second year student and newly appointed interim vice head, said bitterly. "It looks like yet another one of our senpais won't be coming back to school." He sighed. "Locked in juvie. Who knew this failed invasion the upperclassmen set up would be that much of a clusterfuck?" He gave a dry chuckle, turning to face a bowing Brody. "It's funny...He was the guy you replaced as Warden. A month and half since Tokyo...And you got knocked around by a bunch of idiots." He sighed, relaxing his tense composure. "Level with me, man. What happened?"

"There ain't an excuse, Ghai." Brody said quietly. "I was supposed to find Mikamura like Bandai ordered us to do...And I got carried away."

"Well no shit!" Ghai snapped back, adjusting his dark red headband. "You honestly had to screw around with some chick! We're already been dealing with gangs breaking off from the Empire when they heard what happened in Tokyo, so we can't afford screw ups!" He grimaced for a moment. "Look, we always had our backs...But I have to punish you for this."

Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

Brody paused while the students around them gasped out in horror. "I have followed you and Bandai since day one. I'm happy to know Bandai-...Mitsuo rose up to be leader even when things don't look so hot for us. He saved my ass during Tokyo." He gritted his teeth. "Give me your knife, Ghai." He growled out. "I'll punish myself."

Ghai paused for a moment, finally unsheathing a small kitchen knife as he tossed it to Brody's side. "...You better give a good scar." He said regrettably before walking away to the school yard. "I need a freaking smoke." As he heads outside, he reaches for a box of smokes in his pocket.

"Well, I certainly didn't think things would be this bad for you boys at Central."

Ghai's eyes widened in shock as he turned to see a large man in a Kaimon High uniform standing at the school gates, the unconscious bodies of the few delinquents guarding it laid down before him. "...Heiji Mikamura." Various students now started gathering, seething in rage as the unofficial leader of East Kaimon's delinquency has shown himself to them. "...Got a lot of balls coming here, Mikamura. Especially for that shit you pulled!"

"I gotta admit. I was actually for once looking forward to going to school until my guys told me a bunch of Masuda mooks were waiting for me." Heiji said with a smirk. "It was amusing watching your guys get whipped by a bunch of random guys."

"You son of a bitch!" Brody cried out, shirtless and carrying Ghai's knife, a bloodied slash across his chest. "Don't think we forgot what you did at Tokyo! We were promised that you help out in the invasion! Instead, you fucking bailed on us!"

"Tch, don't misunderstand." Heiji said bluntly. "I promised Masuda Head, Iga, that I'd showed up to help in your little war. That was null and void the moment I heard he got his head smashed in by a tire iron just when I was getting my guys together. I got no obligations when he's apparently replaced."

"You bastard..." Brody growled as he slowly walked up to Heiji, knife in hand. "I'm gonna do what I planned this morning if I did see your-" He suddenly flew several feet away as Heiji nonchalantly drove his fist right to Brody's bandaged face, much to the shock of many. It took a few tumbles onto the ground for the unconscious big man to be out cold.

"Shit, so much for that." Ghai muttered sadly as he walks up to Heiji, picking up the discarded knife. "Heard you're a monster...Just like Mitsuo..." He grinned. "I ain't like that, but with a knife, expect a life or death struggle from me."

"So this Mitsuo Bandai is Iga's replacement." Heiji muttered. "I didn't expect most of the old leaders to either be half dead or becoming the cops bitch. Your empire must be on life support and even then you got guts to threaten me." He smirked. "But I got an offer to make with your leader. Call it a way to make up for my...Tardiness, if you want to call it that."

"You want to see Tallgeese even after all that?!" A random Masuda student shouted out. "Man, let's just beat his ass up!" Ghai simply waved his bloodied knife up, signaling hostility to simmer down.

"No! I'd say we escort him to Bandai!" He replied loudly. "Hear what he got to say. If ain't worth Bandai's time...Then we'll kill him!" Cheers are heard as the delinquents are thirsty for blood. "Someone get Brody to a doctor to boot!" Ghai then sheaths his knife, looking at Heiji. "Follow me to the roof, where Mitsuo is." He then gave a smirk. "If you don't impress him, remember you're deep in a place that'll quickly be your own personal hell."

Heiji scoffed only to smirk as he followed Ghai into the building, ignoring the deathly glares of those around him. "Still gutsy. That's just cute."

----------------------------------------

Back at East Kaimon, near a convenience store.

"You serious about this Aniki?" Jin said as he carried a series of large plastic bags.

Takahiro nodded. "I'm surprised you didn't hear it yourself." He paused. "I guess I owe you an apology for thinking you were talking out of your ass when you told me you were changing your ways."

"Aniki, please just keep focus on what you're telling me while I'm going broke buying you snacks." Jin said bluntly. "I told you I was serious..."

Takahiro sighed. "Well, the Masuda Empire tried to make a move in Tokyo. A mass invasion to expand their influence." He rolled his eyes. "I say it's a bunch of dumb third years trying to make a name for themselves."

"Gee, I guess that arrogance I heard about is spot on." Jin muttered as he attempted to open a can of beer from one of the bags before it got snatched away. "You're a total buzzkill, you know that?"

"Quiet cueball, I'm still technically a teacher." Takahiro said sternly before continuing on. "Thing is, Tokyo has its own delinquent faction, the Tokyo Orochi Alliance. Within a week, the Masuda Empire lost over half its leadership."

"S-Seriously?!" Jin cried out. "How tough are those Tokyo guys?!"

"Given the news...I would rather not tell you." Takahiro continued. "It's been over a month since and I've heard they're still quelling small rebellions from gangs in town that never did like them. They all think it's time to break out of the Empire."

"Well shit, I guess that means they probably won't care much about us since they got bigger stuff to deal with." Jin said, chuckling. "Guess I dodged that bullet with my pals."

"Hey, you got lucky." Takahiro shot back. "But I heard rumors that the new head is bad news. So as long as you don't do any more stupid crap, I think you guys will be safe." He frowned. "Seriously, don't worry your father like this, especially since he got a lot on his plate. I'm surprised you're taking it rather well compared to him."

Jin paused, an eyebrow raised. "Aniki, what the hell are you talking about?" Takahiro froze, now aware he may have revealed something going on beneath Jin's notice. "Did my Dad told you something?" He growled as the silence grew uneasy. "Aniki!"

"Shit, I really should've kept my mouth shut." Takahiro muttered. "But I guess I have to tell you. Jin, your Dad told me..." As Takahiro explained, Jin's confused expression slowly turned to surprise...Then into upset.

"...You asshole." Jin growled out. "You should have told me about this!" He dropped the bags as he turned around. "You can drag that crap yourself!"

"Jin, where are you going?!" Takahiro cried out.

"To find my Dad, what else?!" Jin shot back as he ran off into the streets. "Don't follow me!"

"Jin, wait!" Takahiro shouted before giving a sigh, well aware he had just lost Jin. "...Shit, that's definitely on me." He gave a sad look. "Don't blame your Dad for not letting it go..."

----------------------------------------

"I really don't want to do this." Hiro moaned out, as he and his father slowly walked into an apartment complex. He changed out of his uniform long ago, dressed ruggedly in an open flannel shirt, a t-shirt underneath, and jeans. He shuddered in dread as they walk past the lobby. "I'm telling ya, I really really don't want to do this."

"Well, you better." Lent said sternly. "You've been there many times since it's not that far from our place, so what the hell are you so scared of?"

"Because Miki will bite my head off the moment I showed my face after what happened this morning!" Hiro cried out, panicking all the while. He noticed the older man chuckling to himself. "This ain't funny! Why can't you come with me the whole way?"

"Well, I can't obviously leave Ami to herself at home." Lent said, rather surprised at Hiro's lack of concern. "She's your sister, Hiro. At least be concerned for her safety."

"Dad, she once punched out a middle schooler." Hiro said bluntly. "I think she can handle herself." They both paused for a moment. "...She still cries about Mom, huh?"

"Right...She doesn't want to admit it." Lent said quietly. "When your mother passed away, I...I guess I just kept myself working away from home constantly."

"While I spent a few years beating up people." Hiro added, as the two waited at the elevators. "...We really sucked taking care of Ami, huh?" He gave a faint smile. "You'd expect Mom's ghost to start pestering us to do better."

"Can't deny that." Lent said, the two giving out dry chuckles, before glaring at Hiro. "...Someone in the house definitely taught Ami how to deal in poker, though."

"And I keep telling you it ain't me, old man." Hiro said annoyingly. "Dad, I'm just saying...I'm gonna try not...Like, solve everything with a punch."

"Tch, do you have to repeat yourself about that?" Lent said, rolling his eyes. However, he gave a faint smile. "I know."

Hiro couldn't help but feel something from his father, a carpenter who is devoted to his craft, being this open than usual. "...If you can say stuff like that, you really should patch things up with Mr. Hino-"

"Enishi is a freaking moron and I will smack you upside the head if you try to suggest that again." Lent said sternly once more, shutting Hiro up. "Now you better make a damn good apology." He then turns around to leave. "Dr. Tozawa always creeps me out anyway."

"God, you're so cold blooded to leave your son at the jaws of hell, old man!" Hiro shouted in an irritated tone. It wasn't long after an elevator ride for Hiro to finally reached to the Tozawa's apartment door. "Hey, open up!" He said, knocking on the door. He found nothing but silence as an answer. "...Come on, Miki! I know you're in there!" Hiro shouted. "Your lights are still on!"

"Go. Away!" Miki shouted from the other side. "You are freaking dead to me, Hiro Onimada!"

"Look, I'm sorry for all that crap this morning!" Hiro replied back, feeling guilty. "It's my fault, and kinda Jin's fault, that we thought letting you stash that bottle in your bag was a good idea!"

"And guess what, my uniform reeks of cheap alcohol!" Miki said with a barely contained fury. "I just wanted one good impression! Is that too much to ask for?!"

"I get it!" Hiro said, heated up for the moment before he calmed down. "...I mean, I hope I got it. Miki, please understand." He paused, looking at the plastic bag he brought with him. "I bought your favorite soda and snacks with me...So, can you at least see I'm trying to make up?" A long pause occurred until a click is heard as the door opens...Followed by Hiro getting smacked face first by a thrown plastic cup. "Ow!" Hiro cried out. "What the hell?!" He then noticed Miki, dressed in a simple tank top and shorts, looking surprised at his bandaged appearance.

"...You should have told me you're hurt." She said quietly, Hiro noticing her teary eyed expression beneath her glasses. As he could figure, a lot of tears were shed, probably for hours.

"Well...It was kinda obvious it was gonna be like that." Hiro replied just as quietly. "...So, can I come in?"

"...I guess." Miki said as she looked around before ushering Hiro in. "Besides, whoever patched you up is a flipping idiot. Let me fix that." She closed the door. "Don't mind the bullets on the table, my Dad just removed them from his latest client.

"Jeez, like I need to know that." Hiro muttered as the two quietly went deeper into her apartment.

----------------------------------------

Meanwhile, at the docks as the Hinos stared grimly at their houseboat...

"So apparently...It's barely floating and what used to be my room is halfway flooded." Yuu said bluntly, having changed out of his school uniform for a t-shirt, cargo shorts, and flip-flops. "...I should have known karma was a harsh mistress coming to bite me in the ass when I heard you weren't going to punish me, Dad."

"Oh come on! You fought to help your friends, and..." Enishi suddenly stopped and stroked his beard in pondering. "Okay, point taken. Sorry, Yuu. I really tried. I guess I'm running out of tricks."

"And Mr. Onimada was just right there!" Yuu bemoaned, recalling the absurdity of the two old men bickering and fighting back at the school gates. "If you two just make up from whatever it is you two are so pissed off about-" He stopped immediately as Enishi gave a deathly glare. "N-Nevermind." Yuu quickly reeled back in embarrassment and fear. "You did your best." He bit his lip. "...Thanks for moving my stuff to the shack though."

Enishi gave a pause. "You know, for a growing boy, you surprisingly are lacking with your porn stash-"

"Dad!" Yuu cried out in shock, putting a palm over his face in utter embarrassment. "Please, just tell me there's a silver lining in this awful first day of high school. Anything."

It is then Enishi cracked a smile. "Perhaps there is!" He said as he pulled out an old cassette tape. Yuu's eyes widen as his grief slowly turns to excitement.

"You can't be serious." Yuu said as he's becoming more and more giddy in joy. "Is that the Tiger Man episodes you recorded that we thought we lost?"

"Very same!" Enishi said, chuckling with smugness. "Turns out it was under all the old fishing junk in the boat! Managed to salvage it just in time!" He grinned. "How about we end your first day of high school on a good note, watching all of these at once tonight?"

"Yes, yes!" Yuu said in much higher spirits. "Let's go to the shack, dust off the VCR, and pop that sucker in!" As soon as he said this, loud grumblings can be heard as both Yuu and Enishi took pause. "...After I buy some take-out!"

"Exactly, buy the good stuff while I set things up!" Enishi added as Yuu heads off into town. "Empty that wallet of yours!"

----------------------------------------

"Tiger Man's gonna defeat those mole men...with tiger spirit!!!" Yuu shouted with a laugh as he headed back home, take-out boxes in hand. "Heh, leave it to Dad, cheering me up even in the toughest of times." He smiled faintly. "...I hope Mom's doing alright." He shook off such thoughts. "No no, don't sour this night! We just recovered the greatest cartoon ever from my sinking house, and I get to binge watch it tonight with good food!" He said to himself, calming himself down as he continues his way home, entering an empty parking lot. "Sucks that I can't talk about Tiger Man to Hiro and Jin...They really don't know what they're missing!"

He then frowned for a moment. "Oh yeah...I used to own a limited time Tiger Man keychain too...Where was that thing?" He bit his lip, trying to recall it only to sigh. "Who knows, it's probably sunk in my room or-" He paused, recalling that the last memory of seeing himself carry the keychain...Was rather close to his rather painful memory. He felt an alarming increase of uneasiness, a feeling of dread and fury. He wanted to drop the boxes to clutch his chest, short panting coming out of his mouth. He can recall the raindrops, the feeling of wood shattering against his hand, cries of agony-

"Hey! You coming over or what?!"

Yuu gasps as he felt himself being pulled back to reality, panting as he turns to see a rather large group of young men, all wearing dark green sashes on their person, the leader yelling at the stragglers nearby to catch up. "You gotta be kidding me." Yuu muttered. The Eastern Sables, a small gang that frequented around the East Kaimon docks. Thankfully, they ignored the space where both the Hino houseboat and shack are in, but Yuu did recall reports that they were dangerous. "Not sure what they're doing, but I want none of it." He said while rolling his eyes. He bit his lip, remembering his encounter this morning. He again shook it off as he walked past a nearby pedestrian wearing a hoodie. "Yeah...Definitely best to just walk away-" He suddenly stopped, a stunned expression on his face as he turned around to look at the young woman he passed by. "W-Wait!" He said, unsure what drove him to stop this girl from walking away. She turned around, leaving Yuu completely at a loss. "...K-Keiko?"

Keiko, slowly lowering her box of strawberry milk, tilted her head in confusion, only to turn into surprise. "...Is that you...Yuu?"

The two could only stand awkwardly face to face, as old memories came flooding in, alone in that empty parking lot as the sunset ends...