The streets of Tokyo were quiet, but tension hung in the air like a storm about to break. Takemichi walked alone, replaying every recent battle in his mind—the broken arm, the relentless rise of Valhalla, the injuries his friends had sustained, and the unstoppable power of James Lee. Every step was heavy, weighed down by guilt, fear, and the looming knowledge of the future.
From a shadowed rooftop, James Lee watched him. Calm, composed, and always three steps ahead, he activated his system's psychological overlay, scanning Takemichi's thoughts, fears, and potential reactions. The target was clear: convince him to join Valhalla, not by force, but by appealing to his deepest vulnerabilities.
The opportunity presented itself perfectly. Takemichi's thoughts turned to Hina—her tragic fate in the future, the inevitable heartbreak, the helplessness that had haunted him for so long. James Lee used this moment.
A voice, calm yet carrying subtle authority, reached him—not in person, but through a carefully orchestrated encounter. "Takemichi," James Lee called, stepping from the shadows, recruits quietly flanking but keeping distance. "You've been fighting, struggling to survive, trying to protect everyone you care about. But look around you—Toman can't protect you. They can't protect Hina. They can't stop what's coming."
Takemichi's eyes widened. "I… I can't just… I have to—"
James Lee shook his head, expression calm and cold. "You've tried. You've bled, you've hurt, and what do you have to show for it? Every time, someone gets hurt. Hina suffers. Your friends suffer. Toman can't change that future. But I can help. I can give you a chance to protect them, to change the course, if you're willing to take the right path."
The system highlighted Takemichi's hesitation, his emotional turmoil, and the perfect moment to press further. "Valhalla isn't just a gang," James Lee continued, stepping closer. "It's a force. A system. A network that grows stronger with every fight, every recruit, every strategy. Joining us isn't betraying your friends—it's giving yourself the power to protect them, to finally make a difference where Toman has failed."
Takemichi faltered, mind spinning. He thought of Hina, of the future he couldn't escape, and of the relentless rise of Valhalla that had already made Toman powerless in the streets. He remembered his broken arm, his inability to act, and the futility of fighting alone.
James Lee's gaze was steady, unwavering. "I can teach you to fight, to survive, to protect. But you have to trust me. You have to step forward. Let me show you how Valhalla doesn't just dominate the streets—it changes destiny itself."
The words cut deep. Takemichi felt the weight of inevitability pressing on him. Every option Toman offered now seemed hollow compared to the promise of real protection, real power, and the chance to prevent the future he dreaded.
Finally, Takemichi looked up, voice trembling but resolute. "…Alright. I'll… I'll listen. I need to… I need to protect them. If Valhalla can help—if it can stop this future…"
James Lee nodded slightly, a faint smile crossing his face. The system registered the alignment of variables: successfully recruited Takemichi without breaking loyalty or trust, and further leveraged his fears to ensure cooperation. The first step of manipulation had succeeded.
"Good," James Lee said softly, voice calm but commanding. "We start by teaching you to survive, to fight, to protect. Every step forward from here, Takemichi, will be under Valhalla—but it will be your path to change the future."
Takemichi swallowed hard, mind racing. The war was no longer just about gangs or territory—it was about survival, protection, and reshaping the fate of everyone he cared about. And for the first time, he realized that walking with James Lee might be the only way to truly make a difference.