Chapter 396: The Strongest Youth's Philosophy on Love
"Just... hanging out, huh?"
Ren Shiroki muttered to himself, suddenly tossing the short wooden training
staff into the air. As it reached its apex, he drove his palm upward, batting it
higher.
Clap!
The staff flew up about a meter, spinning end-over-end as it began its natural
descent.
Just before it hit the floor, Ren performed a stutter-step and popped his knee
upward, catching the wood and sending it spinning back into the sky at a
different angle. The air filled with the rhythmic whish-whish of the wood
cutting through space.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Ren unleashed a flurry of light strikes—palms, elbows, and knees—keeping the
staff airborne. It flipped and rotated, sometimes accelerating, sometimes
hovering, as if suspended by invisible wires.
It was a masterclass in "Juggling." But unlike a soccer ball, juggling a heavy
wooden staff required a terrifying blend of micro-precision and raw torque.
"Before I knew it, my house became the place to be, didn't it?"
BAM!
Ren used the back of his hand to flick the staff high into the rafters. He
grinned. "Maybe I should install a few arcade cabinets and a snack bar? Turn
this into a real entertainment hub."
Whish-whish-whish—
The staff spiraled down. Ren lunged forward with a [ZANGIEF: HEADBUTT], catching
the very tip of the wood with his forehead. The impact sent the staff whistling
horizontally across the courtyard, straight toward Baki Hanma.
Zip!
Baki adjusted his posture, slightly going up on his toes. He used his own
forehead to "catch" the projectile, tilting his head just right so the staff
stood perfectly balanced on his brow.
"For guys like us, Ren-aniki, the things in this yard are already more than
enough entertainment."
Whoosh—
The boy tilted his head back, letting the staff fall. Simultaneously, his left
leg fired. It moved with such astronomical velocity that the limb seemed to
vanish from the physical world. A vertical snap-kick.
SHICK!
The staff, which should have been launched across the yard, simply hovered for a
millisecond before splitting in two. The cut was perfectly level and smooth, as
if it had been sliced by a high-frequency laser. To sever a piece of reinforced
oak in mid-air without a fixed anchor point was a feat that proved Baki was
operating in a different dimension of power.
Clatter, clatter.
The two halves of the staff hit the sand.
Ren's eyes widened. He clapped his hands in genuine admiration. "Beautiful!"
Baki looked at the heavy bag in the corner. "That was just a game. It wasn't
even a proper 'Move.' You're the one exploring the essential nature of combat
lately, Ren-aniki."
Ren raised an eyebrow and smirked. "That kind of technical explanation really
doesn't sound like 'Baki Hanma'."
Baki gave a helpless shrug. "Yeah, explaining things is a pain. I'm definitely
not cut out to be a sensei~!"
Ren paused his training to grab some water. Baki joined him, the two of them
sitting on the wooden porch of the Hub, chatting about the recent
events—specifically the war between Yujiro and Kaku Kaioh. The ultimate
collision of Logic and Violence had left even the Champion with a lot to
process.
Inside the living room, a different gathering was taking place. Baki's
girlfriend, Kozue Matsumoto, and Karura Kure had both arrived. Along with Arisa,
Fusui, and Marco, the five of them were engaged in a rowdy, animated
conversation.
Kozue looked troubled, though she seemed unsure how to bring it up. She was
using the chatter of her friends to try and settle her nerves.
As noon approached, Ren decided to host. He ordered a massive delivery of soul
food from a local restaurant. No one turned down a free meal, and the Hub's
living room became a bustling banquet hall.
After lunch and chores, the group settled into a lazy afternoon. The autumn sun
was warm, and the breeze was refreshing. Ren stretched out on the sofa for a
quick nap, telling everyone to make themselves at home.
Arisa and Karura, having made a pact, retreated to a corner with their
textbooks. Marco headed to the weight room to work the iron. Fusui sat on the
opposite sofa, flipping through a high-end firearms magazine.
As for Baki and Kozue...
The young couple sat side-by-side on the courtyard grass, soaking in the sun.
Kozue hugged her knees, finally feeling relaxed enough to speak her mind.
"Baki... someone proposed to me."
Baki froze for a heartbeat. Then, remembering the iron-clad personality of the
girl he loved, he let out a helpless laugh. "To you? Who was it?"
Kozue buried her face in her knees, her voice muffled. "I'm not telling you."
Baki didn't press her. He leaned back, letting the wind ruffle his hair. This
made Kozue curious. She looked up, her eyes searching his. "I literally just
told you I got a marriage proposal, Baki. What do you think about that?"
Baki paused, his expression turning serene. "If it's true... I'm shocked."
Kozue let out a long "Hah!" and flopped onto her back on the grass. "Just
'shocked'? Hmph."
The boy raised an eyebrow. "What? Now you're 'hmphed'?"
"I was wondering," Kozue sighed, "what you were going to do about it once the
shock wore off."
Baki shook his head. "Kozue, you're the one who has to decide what to do. I have
no right to control your decisions. It's not my choice to make."
They continued their casual back-and-forth, much like any other day. Suddenly,
Baki noted, "You know... you haven't really looked at me all day."
Kozue smiled. "I've been looking at you the whole time."
"No." Baki corrected her. "Instead of 'looking,' I've been trying to 'feel' you
with my heart. Is that not allowed?"
Kozue thought for a moment. "No. I want you to actually look at me."
Baki turned his head, staring directly into Kozue's eyes.
The distance between them slowly vanished, the atmosphere turning thick and
sweet with the directness of their bond.
Just then—
"Excuse me."
An uninvited guest stepped into the courtyard. He was a tall, powerfully built
Black man in a bespoke, perfectly tailored suit. He looked like a high-fashion
model who just happened to be a lethal weapon.
It was Mohammad Alai Jr.
He had followed them from the city, his objective as clear as a bell. He kept
his hands in his pockets, his tone casual. "Am I interrupting?"
Kozue gasped. "Wait... you?!"
"Jr.?" Baki's eyes narrowed. He realized instantly that this was the "proposer"
Kozue had mentioned.
"Baki-san," Alai Jr. said with absolute gravity. "I am going to marry
Kozue-san!"
Inside the Hub, the silence was deafening.
Whether they were napping, doing homework, lifting weights, or reading
magazines—everyone was suddenly wide awake. They were all huddled by the small
window overlooking the courtyard.
Stealth Observation: Engaged!
Arisa produced a bowl of popcorn out of nowhere. She handed some to Karura, who
passed it to Marco, who shared it with Fusui and Ren. The sound of synchronized
chewing filled the room.
Crunch, crunch, crunch.
Hearing a man propose to Kozue in front of Baki Hanma was a once-in-a-lifetime
drama. The Hub crew held their breath, waiting for the explosion.
"—Pfft!"
Kozue was the first to break. She couldn't hold back a burst of laughter. "Aha!
Hahahaha!"
She laughed until tears pricked her eyes. "Saying that right now, in this
situation... Hahaha! I'm actually a little moved by the sheer balls of it!"
Baki watched her for a moment, then turned his gaze to the towering Alai Jr. He
stood up, hands in his pockets. The "Sweet" atmosphere of the date had vanished,
replaced by the cool, effortless presence of a warrior.
"Listen, Alai Jr.," Baki said, looking up at the boxer. "Are you saying this
because you have a hidden agenda? Like... trying to make me angry or something?"
Alai Jr. bristled, the tension in his shoulders rising. "Do I really have to
answer such a boring question?"
Baki remained neutral.
"I'll say it again," Alai Jr. stated firmly. "I am going to pursue Kozue-san."
Inside, the Hub crew were shoveling popcorn into their mouths at a frantic pace.
They were nearly choking on the excitement. They were witnessing the birth of
the Strongest Youth's Philosophy on Love.
"Jr.," Baki said calmly. "You don't need to tell me that. Kozue doesn't belong
to anyone."
Alai Jr. blinked, looking genuinely confused. "Are you saying she doesn't belong
to you?"
Kozue also looked startled. "Wait... Baki? I am your girlfriend."
"I believe that too," Baki agreed. "But that relationship is a promise between
the two of us. It doesn't give me the right to place a 'Keep Off' sign on you
for every other man on earth."
"Anyone has the right to love Kozue. If they want to be her partner, they should
pursue her boldly."
"In the end, it's Kozue who decides who is No. 1 in her heart. That's her
fight."
Kozue froze.
Up until that moment, she had been annoyed by Alai Jr.'s persistence, but Baki's
words cleared the fog in her mind. Just like when Sikorsky had kidnapped
her—Baki had worried she was upset, but she had viewed the ordeal as her own
battle.
The decision of who to love was Kozue Matsumoto's Battle.
Baki had matured enough to realize that. She realized she had almost forgotten
it herself. She felt a massive weight lift from her shoulders.
Baki turned back to Alai Jr. "Whether it's a man or a woman, everyone has to
face competition. That's just how the world works."
"OK!" Alai Jr. raised a hand in acknowledgement. "That's fair. And it fits the
'Combat' lifestyle."
"I've won many battles lately. I've beaten some of the best the underground has
to offer. But it seems it's not enough." He looked down at Kozue. "Kozue-san, I
am about to fight the No. 1 of the Kengan Association. Allow me to offer that
victory to you as a gift."
With that, he turned and left before Kozue could even respond.
A moment later, Ren Shiroki stepped out of the Hub carrying three bottles of
ice-cold soda. He shared them with Baki and Kozue.
Looking at the gate where Alai Jr. had vanished, Ren grinned mischievously.
"Man, that guy really wants to beat you, Baki-kun. You should have just chased
him down and settled it right there!"
Baki raised an eyebrow, looking completely relaxed. "Wanting to win and wanting
to 'Fight' are two different things, Ren-aniki. Besides, street brawling is such
a hassle."
"I heard he turned boxing into a complete combat system?"
Baki flicked his thumb twice. Snap-snap. The caps of the soda bottles flew off,
launched by his finger strength alone. He handed one to Kozue and took a long,
satisfying gulp.
The autumn breeze ruffled his hair.
"It has nothing to do with me."
☆☆☆
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