This time, Makki Hojou didn't intervene.
After all, he was no longer the leader of the Rampaging Angels.
"Let's see how you pull off this one-versus-fifty feat."
He just hoped Hojou Kyousuke would go easy on them—these guys were going to be his subordinates soon enough.
Standing on the sidelines along with him was Kisaki Tetta.
Watching Hojou Kyousuke completely overpower the fully prepared Makki Hojou, he was practically beaming with excitement.
Seeing this, Makki Hojou made up his mind—he needed to keep an eye on that unsettling guy.
He knew from the beginning that Hojou Kyousuke never had any desire to be a delinquent, let alone inherit his position.
The only reason things had escalated to this point was because of Kisaki Tetta.
Sure, Makki had played along to an extent, but if Kisaki hadn't provoked him first, none of this would have happened.
That's right—Makki Hojou had already been thinking about stepping down.
Now in his second year of high school, academics were piling up, and he had been paying less attention to the gang.
Lately, he had noticed the Rampaging Angels changing, and not for the better.
The group had originally been formed as a simple riding club for friends.
But thanks to their talent, they grew rapidly, and what started as a fun bike crew had transformed into an aggressive gang.
He figured that was why Onizuka didn't show up today and instead went for a ride—probably his way of protesting.
So when Hojou Kyousuke disarmed him in their first match, showcasing overwhelming strength, Makki immediately had a thought:
"If it's him... with that kind of power, he could bring the Rampaging Angels back to what they were meant to be."
Even knowing that Kisaki was manipulating Hojou Kyousuke, Makki went along with it.
And when he saw that Kyousuke had no real interest in leading a gang, he even confessed his true intentions to persuade him.
And now, as he watched his defeated subordinates lying on the ground, Makki Hojou couldn't help but feel relieved. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ NoveIꜰire.net
Just then, the clubroom door burst open.
"Boss! Bad news! The Onizuka duo is being attacked by members of Aimei Aishu!"
Tsuzuki Ryou, whom Makki had sent to contact Eikichi Onizuka, ran in, shouting in panic.
"What?! Aimei Aishu must have a death wish!" Makki roared in fury.
The battered guys on the floor struggled to get up upon hearing this, shouting that they needed to go help.
But as soon as they propped themselves up, they collapsed again.
'Seriously? First day on the job and I already have to get to work?' Hojou Kyousuke sighed, but without hesitation, he swiftly secured his bamboo sword into its bag.
"Makki, can you still ride with that hand? Take me there."
"Hojou, the initiation ceremony isn't even complete yet. You..." Makki hesitated.
He worried that forcing Kyousuke into a fight so soon after taking over might make him change his mind about all of this.
"Quit whining. That Onizuka guy still has the Rampaging Angels' flag, doesn't he? I need him around for the official ceremony. Can't have him getting hurt now."
As he slung the sword bag over his shoulder, he thought to himself—bringing a bamboo sword to school was definitely the right choice.
"Boss, let me take Hojou-kun. Your right hand—" Tsuzuki Ryou spoke up, looking first at Hojou Kyousuke in gratitude, then at Makki Hojou with concern.
"You idiot! I'm not that weak! Bring me my special attack jacket!"
Hojou Kyousuke now saw Tsuzuki Ryou for what he was—a glorified errand boy.
The way he had stormed into class earlier, Kyousuke had mistaken him for someone important.
"His name's Tsuzuki Ryou."
Seeing Kyousuke's interest, Makki gave a brief introduction.
"He's not cut out for this life—he's small, weak, and terrible at fighting. But he's great at studying."
"Then why is he here?"
"Haha. The first day he met me, he dropped to his knees and begged me to take him in. Said he couldn't stand being bullied anymore.
I couldn't just ignore him, so I let him join."
Kyousuke was starting to understand Makki Hojou a little better.
He really wasn't like the stereotypical delinquent. Maybe he really did just want a group to ride with.
"There are a lot of guys like him—kids who get bullied and turn delinquent just to avoid being on the receiving end. Lately, though, we've been getting some real bad seeds."
"Wait, wait, hold on. That's different from what you told me earlier. You scammed me! I don't want to be some disciplinary committee captain!"
The image popped into Kyousuke's head: leading a bunch of thugs, strutting around like some gang boss, extorting money from elementary school kids.
A chill ran down his spine.
"Relax. Right now, we're just seeing early signs of trouble."
"The Rampaging Angels are still the same—they just love riding together."
"We still have a code of honor. But if you don't want it to turn into the kind of gang you hate, you'll need to clean house once you officially take over. That's why I chose you."
Makki's gaze turned sharp.
'This is a scam! You just want me to do all the work!'
Kyousuke was horrified—his dream of racing through neon-lit Tokyo streets with beautiful girls clinging to him was crumbling before his eyes.
What about my dear Sakura? Shouko? Naoka?!
A vision played out in his mind:
.....................................
"Hojou, let's check out that new dessert shop in Shibuya!" Sakura, in her adorable sailor uniform, clung to his arm, squeezing close.
"Can't, got gang stuff to handle." Her soft embrace vanished, and she disappeared.
.....................................
"Hojou-kun, let's go to the zoo today! I've been wanting to see pandas for so long!" Shouko's hopeful eyes sparkled at him.
"Can't, some guys in the gang are acting up again."
Her smile faded, and she vanished too.
.....................................
"Hojou, wanna hit the beach? I got a super sexy swimsuit~" Naoka whispered in his ear, her breath sending shivers down his spine.
"Let's g—" Before he could finish, a group of faceless delinquents grabbed his legs.
"Boss! You can't go! We've got trouble—some kid's parents showed up looking for you!"
.....................................
No way. I refuse to live ! I'd rather die! Studying is way more peaceful!
Kyousuke furiously shook his head and turned to Makki.
"Makki, I just remembered—I have homework to do! And I left my window open!"
"The forecast says rain tonight! I gotta go! You keep your 'Rampaging Angels Kendo Club' or whatever!"
He made a beeline for the door.
"Stop right there, you brat." Makki chuckled, half exasperated, half amused.
"Why do you sound like you're retiring? Just stay in the Rampaging Angels."
Kyousuke halted. That was a good point.
If Makki stayed, Kyousuke could just sit back, let him handle the mess, and reap the benefits. That was the plan all along!
"No way. Once you lose, you step down. That's how it works."
They had reached Makki's motorcycle.
"Well, then," Kyousuke smirked. "I'll be the boss, you be my second-in-command. We'll keep everything running just like before."
"And why would I do that?"
"Because I beat you. And I beat your whole gang."
Kyousuke shrugged. It was only fair.
If he was stuck with these guys, he might as well make the most of it.
........................
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