Anime Crossover : Living in the Heart of Tokyo

"Makki-senpai, can we keep going?"

Hojou Kyousuke didn't feel like he'd done anything remarkable, nor did he realize that he had become a monster in the eyes of others.

Ever since he had slowly converted his "kendo talent" into actual strength, he had gotten used to cutting through any opponent with a single strike.

Now a kendo master in his own right, Hojou Kyousuke could clearly see that his opponent's right hand was completely useless.

Out of respect for his senpai, he didn't follow the advice Kisaki Tetta had given him before the fight to go all-out at any opportunity.

Instead, he stepped back and asked with genuine concern, "Are you alright, Makki-senpai?"

"Hahaha, kid, you still have a long way to go," Makki-senpai laughed, his tone as lively as ever, though beads of sweat dotted his forehead from the pain.

"Remember, the world of delinquents isn't like a kendo match. You can't stop until you're sure the opponent is no longer able to fight."

Makki-senpai switched the wooden sword to his left hand, still smiling through the pain.

…In my eyes, you've already lost the ability to fight, I mean, one of your hands is done for, and even if we kept going.

I could probably break both your hands in an instant if I wanted to.

Hojou Kyousuke mentally complained to himself. It was clear now—his strength was near unstoppable at this stage.

"Well then, I'm going to continue, Makki-senpai."

"Come at me! Let me see your true potential. Can you really lead Higashi forward?"

You want to see my potential? You don't even know how much I've been holding back.

With that thought, Hojou Kyousuke gripped the bamboo sword horizontally at his waist, preparing for a strike.

This time, the roles had shifted: Makki-senpai had taken a middle guard stance.

When Makki-senpai raised his wooden sword to block, the clash of bamboo against wood was deafening.

The force almost knocked the sword from his hands.

Hojou Kyousuke pressed all his strength into his sword, forcing Makki-senpai to retreat.

He knew that with Makki-senpai's left hand weakened and his right hand out of commission, it wouldn't take much to expose a flaw.

As expected, Makki-senpai couldn't hold out much longer.

His left hand was weak, and his right hand wasn't doing much either.

I can't keep retreating!

Makki-senpai gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, and pushed with his right hand to deflect Hojou Kyousuke's sword.

He shouted, making a desperate thrust forward.

But Hojou Kyousuke was ready.

He pulled his right foot back and tilted his body slightly backward while raising his sword over his head.

'You dodged?'

Makki-senpai's thrust missed, and he was about to follow up with a series of attacks, but Hojou Kyousuke let out a loud roar.

"Ha!"

Hojou Kyousuke had already seen through Makki-senpai's every move.

Years of practice weren't in vain.

If Makki-senpai could make a hundred different moves, Hojou Kyousuke could come up with a thousand ways to counter.

With all his strength, he brought his sword down hard on Makki-senpai's left hand, which had just formed a high guard.

The cut was clean and swift. As with all the previous moments, it was a familiar, unstoppable outcome.

Makki-senpai couldn't hold onto his sword anymore.

It fell with a sharp thud, and the entire area fell silent, like a pin could drop and echo.

The members of the "Rampaging Angels" couldn't believe their eyes.

Their leader, the one who had led the group to dominate the Higashi region, had just lost three times in a row to a first-year middle schooler!

Was this some kind of bizarre comedy?

The delinquents rubbed their eyes in disbelief.

Their leader's wooden sword was indeed on the ground.

Could this be it? Was the "Rampaging Angels" about to have a new leader?

Was this monster going to take over the kendo club of Higashi?

Looking at the boy in the blue kendo uniform, standing tall with a face that could easily launch him as an idol, the members of the Rampaging Angels were in turmoil.

But Hojou Kyousuke didn't pursue the victory.

Makki-senpai didn't pick up his sword either.

"Well, no surprise there. I've lost," Makki-senpai said with a relieved smile, standing up straight and bowing to Hojou Kyousuke.

"Thank you for the lesson."

"Thank you for the lesson," Hojou Kyousuke replied, bowing in return.

Despite it being a battle between delinquents, the two had carried themselves as if it were an official kendo match, except the weapons were far more dangerous.

Neither of them really considered each other enemies.

The real reason for the difference in their performances was simply their disparity in strength.

With his almost unbeatable strength, Hojou Kyousuke could afford to hold back.

If they were on equal footing, he would have finished the fight long ago, after that first strike to Makki-senpai's right hand, knocking him to the ground in a swift victory.

"Listen up! I'm announcing it right here, right now. From today onwards, Hojou Kyousuke will be the second-generation leader of the Rampaging Angels!"

Because of the unique nature of the Higashi High School Kendo Club, leadership transitions were always a big deal.

Makki-senpai scanned the group before shouting at his followers. Without waiting for a reaction, he turned to Hojou Kyousuke.

"Now, tell me, will you take the reins of the Rampaging Angels and lead everyone as we ride through the streets?"

Makki-senpai's voice was full of raw energy as he stared fiercely at Hojou Kyousuke.

"I will," Hojou Kyousuke answered calmly, his voice carrying a conviction that was hard to ignore.

"Will the Rampaging Angels still be the group that rules the entire Bunkyo District and the kendo clubs of every high school?"

"Of course!"

"Ryou! Where's our flag?"

"The flag was always kept by Onizuka, wasn't it?" Tsuzuki Ryou answered quickly, his voice choked with emotion from Makki-senpai's words.

"Where is he?" Makki-senpai demanded.

"He and Tanaka Ryuuji went out for a ride this afternoon, and Onizuka took the flag with him, attaching it to his bike."

"Damn it! Call him back, how can we do a transfer of power without the flag?"

"Got it, I'll call him now."

"Hojou, wait a moment. I'll introduce you to some of the members of the group," Makki-senpai said, smiling.

"Senpai, don't you want to take care of your right hand first?" Hojou Kyousuke asked.

He had intentionally spared Makki-senpai's left hand earlier, so it hadn't caused serious damage.

"It's just a small injury, I'll deal with it later. Do you believe I can still ride a motorcycle around the Tokyo Ring Road?"

"I believe it, I believe it."

In truth, Hojou Kyousuke felt it was a bit cruel to force the defeated Makki-senpai to hand over control of the very organization he had built from the ground up.

He wanted to take a moment before continuing with the transition.

"Douta, come over here." Makki-senpai waved his hand.

"This guy is Kanbara Douta. He's a high school student like me and one of the officers of the Rampaging Angels."

"Hi, I'm Hojou Kyousuke," Hojou Kyousuke said politely.

"Senpai, I don't accept this. If you really want to hand over the Rampaging Angels to him, I'll quit. I want to keep following you!" Kanbara Douta bowed his head, looking as dejected as a kid who'd just been scolded.

"Are you ignoring the boss's orders?" Makki-senpai's voice turned cold.

"Without the boss, the Rampaging Angels aren't the Rampaging Angels," Douta replied stubbornly.

"Bastard!" Makki-senpai snapped, his voice deep and commanding.

"Makki-senpai, can I say something?" Hojou Kyousuke interjected, stopping the heated exchange.

"Of course, even though the transfer hasn't been completed, you're already the leader of the Rampaging Angels," Makki-senpai replied, not knowing exactly what Hojou Kyousuke was planning but agreeing nonetheless.

"Thank you."

Hojou Kyousuke bowed in thanks, then turned to the group of mournful faces.

"I'm guessing you all feel the same as Douta, right?"

No one said a word, as if silently resisting.

Hojou Kyousuke raised his bamboo sword and swung it horizontally, pointing it at the crowd.

"Well then, come at me! Anyone who doesn't want to accept my rule, step up! I'll beat all of you into submission."

Just like at the beginning, Hojou Kyousuke was declaring war on the entire Rampaging Angels.