Chapter 28: Burgers, Bruises, and a Very Familiar Name
(Where We Learn Our Gang Has a Name, a Headquarters, and a Serious Cat Problem)
Let me set the scene for you:
A group of bruised, sweaty teenagers with limping pride, hunched over plastic arcade chairs, surrounded by blinking lights, retro game music, and the sweet, healing aroma of grease-soaked fries.
In other words—
paradise.
Tōma was using a bag of frozen nuggets as an ice pack.
Ryōhei was sipping a milkshake through a bent straw like it contained the cure to all physical injuries.
Sora was sulking in the corner with three ketchup packets for company.
Shōgo looked perfectly fine because apparently pain had taken one look at him years ago and decided to bother somebody else.
Haruki looked like he was still reconsidering every life decision that had led him here.
And me?
I was lounging in the middle booth like a benevolent overlord, nursing a Sprite and victory.
Reina sat across from me, chin propped on one hand, bruised lip still visible from our fight.
"So, fearless leader," she said, stealing one of my fries without shame, "you've recruited us, beaten us up, and dragged us into your grand mission of delinquent redemption."
I nodded solemnly.
"So far, excellent leadership."
"You threw Tōma into Ryōhei."
"Team-building exercise."
Tōma lowered the frozen nuggets from his face.
"You used me as a weapon."
"And you performed beautifully."
"I hate you."
"That's just the bruises talking."
Reina rolled her eyes.
"But you haven't told us one thing."
I blinked.
"Is it how I get my hair to look this good after a fight?"
"No."
"How I learned to fight like a miniature martial-arts encyclopedia with attention problems?"
"No."
"Whether Shōgo actually eats bubblegum instead of throwing it away?"
Shōgo paused mid-chew.
Everyone looked at him.
He slowly blew a bubble.
Pop.
"No."
Good.
Some mysteries were better left unexplored.
"Then it has to be—"
"The gang's name," Reina cut in. "You never told us what we're called."
Oh.
Right.
That.
I sat straighter and cleared my throat with all the drama of a magician about to pull a rabbit from his hoodie.
"The name…"
Everyone waited.
I raised my burger like a sword.
"…is Red Dawn."
Silence.
Lots of blinking.
Ryōhei slowly lowered his milkshake.
"Red Dawn?"
"Red Dawn."
Sora tilted his head.
"That's pretty dramatic."
"Thank you."
"That wasn't necessarily a compliment."
"I accept all praise regardless of intent."
Reina stole another fry.
"Why Red Dawn?"
I leaned back.
"A dawn means the beginning of something new."
That actually got everyone listening.
"We're taking people who are heading down one road and giving them another one. New group. New rules. New purpose."
I gestured around at them.
"A new beginning."
Tōma nodded slowly.
"That part actually sounds pretty good."
"And the red?"
I looked at his bruised face.
Then at Ryōhei's swollen lip.
Then at Reina.
Then at Sora.
Then at myself.
"…Have you seen us?"
There was a pause.
Sora snorted.
Ryōhei nearly inhaled his milkshake.
Reina covered her mouth.
Even Haruki laughed.
"That's your explanation?" Reina asked.
"I had a more poetic one."
"What happened to it?"
"You kicked me in the head."
"Fair."
I pointed my burger dramatically toward the ceiling.
"We shall be the Red Dawn! Bringing change, purpose, justice—"
I glanced at the fries.
"—and affordable combo meals."
Shōgo nodded.
"I support the fries."
"See? We're already united."
Reina laughed for real this time.
And somehow, something shifted around the table.
It wasn't anything dramatic.
No speeches.
No music suddenly swelling in the background.
Just six bruised idiots, one terrified Haruki, several rapidly disappearing fries, and the feeling that maybe this ridiculous thing was starting to become real.
We weren't just several fighters who had beaten one another up anymore.
We were Red Dawn.
And for now?
Our glorious new beginning involved burgers.
Honestly, there were worse ways to start.
"So," Reina said, one leg crossed over the other like she was conducting a job interview instead of sitting in an arcade restaurant with a bruised lip.
"You've got a name."
"Excellent name."
"Debatable."
"Traitor."
She ignored me.
"But what about your base?"
I paused halfway through a fry.
"Our what-now?"
"Headquarters. Hangout. Base of operations. Secret lair."
"Oh."
Reina stared.
I stared back.
Her eyes narrowed.
"You haven't thought about this at all."
"Well…"
I scratched my cheek.
"The park has great trees."
Reina closed her eyes.
"Excellent pigeons," I added.
Haruki, apparently deciding to help me dig the grave deeper, raised one finger.
"There is a vending machine near the south entrance."
Tōma nodded.
"Sometimes it gives you two drinks."
Sora leaned back.
"And that one bench isn't completely broken."
Reina slowly looked around the table.
"So basically…"
She pointed at all of us.
"…you're a gang of ambitious squirrels."
"Ouch."
She wasn't wrong.
"But," I said, "the squirrels are organized now."
"That doesn't improve it."
Reina sighed and reached into her jacket.
Then she slid a folded piece of paper across the table.
I picked it up.
"What is this?"
"A place."
I unfolded it.
"There's an old construction property near the river," Reina explained. "It was supposed to become part of a shopping complex years ago. The project fell through."
I looked up.
"Abandoned?"
"Mostly."
"Mostly?"
"It's complicated."
That was never a comforting answer.
"The structure itself is solid," she continued. "Lots of room. Private. Nobody really cares if we're there."
I stared at the paper.
"Wait."
Then at her.
"Are you offering us your headquarters?"
Reina's eyes narrowed.
"I'm offering to share it."
"Right."
"Don't get cocky."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
"You are literally smiling like you just conquered a country."
I couldn't help it.
"This is the coolest offer I've ever received from somebody I punched in the face."
She raised her soda.
"To mutually assured bruises and new beginnings."
I lifted mine.
Everyone joined in.
Clink.
Even Sora.
Although he still seemed deeply suspicious when Reina mentioned the building had animals living around it.
"What kind?" he asked.
"Probably raccoons."
Sora lowered his cup.
"I knew there was a catch."
Later, as we limped toward our new base-to-be, Reina somehow jogged several steps ahead despite the fact that I'd thrown her onto pavement less than an hour earlier.
I respected that.
Also feared it slightly.
"So, fearless leader," she called over her shoulder, "what's your plan for the other gangs?"
"Peaceful negotiations."
She stopped.
I nearly walked into her.
She turned.
"Seriously?"
"Why does everyone sound surprised when I say something reasonable?"
"Because I've known you for less than a day and you've already fought four members of my gang."
"Friendly negotiations."
"With your fists."
"They were very persuasive."
Reina snorted and resumed walking.
"So what? You invite everyone to a cookout?"
I considered it.
"That could work."
"Athena's Amazons would stab you with the barbecue forks."
"…Less ideal."
"You know they use actual weapons, right?"
"Yep."
"And coordinated formations."
"Yep."
"And they're probably the most organized student gang around here."
"Also yep."
She glanced sideways at me.
"You don't sound worried."
"I've fought organized groups before."
Not that I could explain which organized groups.
Or where.
Or why some of them had been capable of collapsing buildings.
So I left it there.
Reina continued.
"If you're going after somebody next, go for Hephaestus."
I looked at her.
"The Combat Sumo leader?"
"Exactly."
"Hephaestus."
"Yep."
"The giant sumo wrestler is named after the Greek blacksmith god."
Reina shrugged.
"You hang around with a guy named Hermes."
"…Fair."
"Hephaestus is strong. Ridiculously strong. His people are heavy hitters too, but they're straightforward."
"So…"
I raised a finger.
"Big."
"Yes."
"Strong."
"Yes."
"Slow?"
Reina gave me a look.
"Slower than you."
"Excellent."
"You sound way too happy about this."
"He's basically a boss fight designed specifically for my build."
She pointed at me.
"That's exactly what I was thinking."
I stared.
She stared.
A terrible realization passed between us.
"…Are we nerds?" I asked.
"Absolutely."
Huh.
I was starting to really like Reina.
Not like that.
Don't get weird.
But battle nerds?
Rare and beautiful creatures.
"Take down Hephaestus," Reina continued, "and Athena loses one of the biggest independent groups that could support her if things get messy."
I nodded.
"So your strategy is: remove the tank before fighting the raid leader."
"Exactly."
Haruki groaned behind us.
"You two are actually speaking like this is a video game."
Shōgo walked past him.
"Everything is better when you assign boss music."
Haruki stared at him.
"You too?"
Shōgo blew a bubble.
Pop.
Haruki looked toward the sky.
"Why me?"
Eventually we reached the old construction site.
And honestly?
Calling it a construction site was underselling it.
There was a mostly finished main building, several smaller structures, a large paved courtyard, and enough open ground around it for training.
I climbed onto a pile of bricks.
Reina immediately sighed.
"Kaito."
I spread my arms.
"No."
"This…"
"Kaito."
"…shall be the headquarters of—"
"Get down."
"RED DAWN!"
Shōgo clapped once.
Haruki covered his face.
I continued.
"From this sacred location, we shall plan battles! Train our minds and bodies! Guide lost delinquents toward a brighter future!"
I paused dramatically.
"And maybe—just maybe—find a working microwave!"
Reina slowly clapped.
"Beautiful speech."
"Thank you."
"Now get off the bricks before you fall."
I hopped down.
"Your lack of faith wounds me."
Then something brushed against my leg.
I froze.
Looked down.
A black-and-white cat stared up at me.
"…Hello."
Meow.
Another cat appeared from behind a stack of wooden boards.
Then another.
Then three more.
I stared.
Reina smiled.
"So…"
I slowly turned toward her.
"You said raccoons."
"I said there might be raccoons."
"You failed to mention the feline occupation force."
A fat orange cat was sleeping on a crate.
Two kittens chased each other beneath a bench.
A calico sat on top of a railing looking down at us like we had entered its headquarters without permission.
Reina crouched and scratched the black-and-white cat behind the ears.
"Oh yeah."
She smiled innocently.
"Did I forget to mention I'm a cat person?"
I looked suspiciously at her head.
"Person with cats, or should I be checking for ears?"
She smirked.
"That's for you to find out, fearless leader."
I stared at her for two seconds.
Then immediately turned away.
"Nope."
"What?"
"Not accepting that quest."
She laughed.
I stepped inside.
Then stopped.
Because—
uh.
This was not an abandoned construction site.
This was heaven.
There were arcade cabinets along one wall.
Actual arcade cabinets.
Old classics mixed with newer ones.
A kitchen occupied another section, complete with industrial microwaves—
plural.
Plural.
A stocked refrigerator.
Somebody was frying eggs.
There was a gym area filled with punching bags, free weights, mats, and training equipment.
A half basketball court occupied part of the larger room.
There was a foosball table that looked like it had survived an actual war.
And in one corner—
beanbags.
Television.
Game console.
Controllers.
Posters.
I slowly turned in a circle.
"This…"
Reina walked past me.
"…is not what I expected."
She tossed a towel toward a guy bench-pressing a weight with a suspiciously cute cartoon-cat sticker on the side.
"What did you expect?"
"Dark room."
"Uh-huh."
"Single light hanging from the ceiling."
"Of course."
"People sitting around plotting crimes."
Reina stared at me.
"We're Predator, not psychopaths."
"Right."
"We hang out here."
I looked around.
"You have a kitchen."
"People eat."
"Arcade machines."
"People play."
"A basketball court."
"People have hobbies, Kaito."
I pointed dramatically.
"You have a football goal."
"Yes."
"That's not gang equipment. That's a school PE department."
"Exactly."
She gestured around.
"We're not criminals."
That part mattered.
Her tone changed slightly.
"We're mostly awkward kids who happen to know martial arts, have rough histories, and way too much free time."
I stared around again.
"So you're basically a bunch of side characters who formed a club."
Reina looked offended.
"Excuse me?"
She put a hand against her chest.
"Main characters who haven't gotten their proper arcs yet."
I considered this.
"Touché."
She pointed toward a green-haired boy hunched over a controller like it contained the meaning of existence.
"That's Mondo. Thinks mostly with his fists but has ridiculous reflexes."
Mondo shouted at the screen.
"THAT WAS LAG!"
His opponent laughed.
Reina pointed toward a girl near one of the mats.
"And that's Mina. Looks sweet."
Mina waved cheerfully.
"Black belt."
I nodded.
"She once suplexed a vending machine because it ate her money."
I immediately bowed my head.
"Respect."
Mina gave me a thumbs-up.
Honestly?
I liked this place.
Despite the bruises.
Despite the fact that half the people here had probably fought each other at some point.
Everyone looked…
happy.
Relaxed.
Like this was the one place where none of them had to pretend to be normal.
Tōma wandered inside and immediately joined the foosball game.
Shōgo walked toward the gym with the expression of a pilgrim who had finally reached holy ground.
Haruki got trapped in an awkward conversation with a girl who had a scar along her jaw and a lollipop hanging from her mouth like she was using it as a weapon.
He looked toward me for help.
I gave him a thumbs-up.
His expression became one of betrayal.
Character development.
Reina stopped beside me.
"Still think you're just leading a gang?"
I looked around.
Someone laughed near the arcade machines.
Two guys were sparring on the mats.
One of the younger members was feeding pieces of tuna to the calico.
Another was helping somebody repair a controller.
And suddenly—
no.
This wasn't really a gang.
Not in the way I'd imagined.
It was a place people came because they belonged here.
A bunch of outcasts making room for other outcasts.
Kids who were too aggressive.
Too loud.
Too strong.
Too strange.
Too much.
But here?
Nobody cared.
I smiled.
"No."
Reina glanced over.
"No?"
I shook my head.
"This is better."
For a second she didn't tease me.
Then—
"So what do we call the place now?"
I looked at her.
"The headquarters?"
"The whole group."
"Red Dawn."
"Still?"
I frowned.
"What do you mean, still? We picked the name like an hour ago."
She laughed.
"I mean even with the cats, arcade machines, and microwave popcorn?"
"Especially with the cats, arcade machines, and microwave popcorn."
I spread my arms.
"Every dawn starts a little weird."
The calico meowed.
I pointed.
"See? Approved."
Reina shook her head.
"You're an idiot."
"An idiot with headquarters."
"Unfortunately."
You know how you expect certain things out of life?
A pop quiz.
A late-night noodle run.
Maybe getting yelled at by your parents.
Possibly meeting a shirtless lunatic whose fists are the approximate size of small vehicles.
Normal stuff.
What you don't expect is walking through a cat-infested gang-hideout-turned-youth-club with the Queen of Kicks while she interrogates you like an underqualified teacher at parent-teacher night.
"So…"
Reina glanced sideways at me as we passed the game area.
Tōma was currently losing badly to a kid who looked about twelve.
"I BLOCKED THAT!"
"No, you didn't!"
"THE CONTROLLER'S BROKEN!"
"You said that last round!"
Reina ignored them.
"How exactly did you get Berserker on your side?"
I looked toward the gym.
Shōgo was examining a heavy punching bag.
Probably deciding whether it could survive him.
"Shōgo?"
"No, the other Berserker."
"Good point."
I rubbed my ribs unconsciously.
"Honestly? I'm still figuring that out."
Reina gave me a sideways look.
"No offense…"
"This sentence always ends well."
"…but I didn't think Kaito Hoshino had it in him to make Shōgo Kitsukawa listen to him."
There it was again.
Kaito.
The person everyone here thought I was.
I kept my expression normal.
Couldn't exactly tell Reina that the Kaito Hoshino she remembered and the person currently walking beside her weren't the same soul.
And I definitely couldn't let Shōgo hear something like that.
Not yet.
So I shrugged.
"People change."
Reina studied me for a moment.
"You changed a lot."
"Training."
"That's your answer?"
"Very intense training."
She clearly didn't believe that explained everything.
Fortunately, she didn't push.
I looked toward Shōgo.
"Besides, he could still crush me if he wanted to."
Reina raised an eyebrow.
"You admit that?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
I nodded toward the gym.
"Physically? He's ridiculous. He's probably around Daigo-sensei's level. Maybe stronger in some areas."
"And yet he's following you."
"Yep."
"Like a pit bull that found a new favorite chew toy."
I laughed.
"That is an alarmingly accurate description."
"So why?"
I thought about it.
"He saw something."
"Such as?"
"Potential, maybe."
I watched Shōgo test the bag with one punch.
BOOM.
The entire thing swung violently backward.
Several people stopped talking.
Shōgo nodded approvingly.
Yeah.
Definitely a lunatic.
"Or," I continued, "he realized following me would lead to interesting fights."
Reina smirked.
"So he likes the vibes."
I snapped my fingers.
"Exactly!"
She blinked.
"Berserker is a vibes-based follower."
"Very modern of him."
We kept walking.
Someone in the gym was attempting a deadlift with absolutely horrible form.
My eye twitched.
Back curved.
Feet wrong.
Grip terrible.
I physically had to stop myself from running over and correcting him.
Reina noticed.
"You really can't help yourself, can you?"
"What?"
"The training thing."
"He's going to hurt his back."
"Kaito."
"His knees are collapsing inward."
"Kaito."
"That's a crime against biomechanics."
She laughed.
Then her expression became more serious.
"Well…"
She stopped walking.
"Let's see what you can actually do with all this, Leader."
The word came out half teasing.
Half challenge.
I faced her.
"Just don't expect me to follow you if you start doing dirty stuff."
I raised an eyebrow.
"No crime."
"Agreed."
"No extortion."
"Obviously."
"No drugs."
"Definitely."
"No harassing normal people because somebody wants territory."
"Absolutely not."
Her gaze remained hard.
"I mean it."
"So do I."
I looked around the base.
"I didn't come here to become some criminal."
"Good."
"Or a shady businessman."
"Good."
"Or the final boss of a yakuza game."
Reina looked me up and down.
"Definitely not."
I frowned.
"Why definitely?"
"You don't have the wardrobe."
I looked at my clothes.
"…Rude."
"Accurate."
"Rude but accurate."
We reached a quieter section between the foosball warzone and what appeared to be a beanbag meditation corner.
I leaned against the wall and watched everyone.
Some laughing.
Some sparring.
Some playing games.
Some feeding cats.
"I just want to guide them."
Reina looked at me.
I continued more quietly.
"Not everybody works well sitting behind a desk eight hours a day."
I paused.
"I still have to study."
A horrible image of Mom and her expectations flashed through my mind.
Especially that notebook.
I shuddered.
Reina noticed.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
"That looked like fear."
"Some enemies can't be defeated with martial arts."
"…Your mother?"
I looked at her.
"How did you know?"
"Lucky guess."
Terrifying woman.
"Anyway," I continued, "some of these guys aren't going to follow the normal path."
Reina folded her arms.
"So what?"
"I want to give them another one."
She listened.
"Martial-arts tournaments."
I counted on my fingers.
"Dojos. Coaching. Security work. Bodyguard work."
Another finger.
"Stunt performers."
Another.
"Training videos."
Reina's eyebrow rose.
"Online channels."
Another finger.
"Sponsorships."
She stared.
I stared back.
"You…"
She pointed at me.
"…just described a financially responsible method of channeling violent tendencies."
I smiled proudly.
"I am full of surprises."
"You are a surprise."
She said that part quieter.
Almost like she hadn't meant to.
I caught it.
She noticed that I caught it.
So naturally—
I grinned.
Reina immediately glared.
"Don't."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were about to."
"Impossible to prove."
She sighed.
I looked back toward the others.
"All I'm asking for is a little faith."
My voice softened.
"If they follow me…"
I watched Shōgo casually demonstrate something to another fighter.
Haruki was still talking to the scarred girl, and somehow he no longer looked terrified.
Tōma was demanding a foosball rematch.
Ryōhei was already eating again.
Sora had acquired one of the cats.
"…I'll try to lead them somewhere better than jail."
Reina said nothing.
"Somewhere they can actually do something with themselves."
Still nothing.
"And preferably somewhere that doesn't involve becoming disposable muscle for some real criminal organization."
That got a small nod.
Finally, she smiled.
"I'll be watching you…"
A pause.
"…Boss."
My eyes widened.
"Oh?"
"Don't get excited."
"Too late."
"It's temporary."
"Of course, subordinate."
Her foot twitched.
I immediately raised both hands.
"Friend! Trusted ally! Esteemed martial colleague!"
"Better."
I smiled.
"That better be a friendly watch. I don't need another person trying to roundhouse me through a wall."
Reina gave me that smile.
The one that made me feel like I'd just passed some kind of test without realizing I'd been taking one.
"No promises."
And just like that—
I knew I had her.
Not just her strength.
Not just Predator.
Her trust.
At least enough of it to start.
And looking around at the strange collection of fighters, gamers, delinquents, athletes, cats, broken furniture, and suspiciously powerful microwaves that now made up our headquarters…
I smiled.
Red Dawn.
Maybe it sounded dramatic.
Maybe we were dramatic.
But I wanted the name to mean something one day.
A new beginning for people who needed one.
And if I could make that real?
Then maybe all this madness would actually be worth it.
Even the cats.
One of them immediately jumped onto my shoulder.
I froze.
Reina laughed.
"Looks like you've been accepted."
The cat settled comfortably against my neck.
I sighed.
"Great."
Red Dawn had its first mascot.