One of the things I found most disappointing about this story was the interaction between the characters. I'd like to know what you thought of the interaction between the characters and their point of view in this chapter.
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____Narration____
"Hahaha! You were so confident! Now look at you!"
In a rest room, Doppo Orochi was laughing non-stop as he pointed at Kuroki Gensai, who was sitting on a bench with a grim expression on his face.
Kuroki had half his face covered in bandages and his right eye was blood red.
Doppo, who was looking at his fellow karateka with a smile, sat down while maintaining his dismissive smile.
"That boy's a monster, isn't he?" Doppo rested his chin on his fist, his eyebrow rising as he noticed Kuroki sigh.
"He showed me skills that even I wasn't prepared for." Kuroki cracked a small smile, his eyes turning to the ceiling of the room. "But I'm not sad about the defeat."
"Because I wouldn't ask for someone better to beat me."
"What about me?" Doppo pointed to himself, but was quickly cut off by Kuroki, who stood up and started walking towards the exit.
"I need to meditate."
"Don't be an old man!"
.
Wakatsuki was surprised when Yuji was declared the winner of his match against Kuroki Gensai, but that wasn't what surprised him most; it was the final blow that brought him victory.
He recognized that technique. How could he not? After all, he was the one who created it.
[Blast Core].
This made him certain of something he had been thinking ever since he saw the boy surpass Mikazuchi Rei.
Yuji Shinakawa was able to copy not only the techniques, but also the style of his opponents, to a level where he could use most of their skills immediately. Seeing him use Mikazuchi Rei's Raishin style was the greatest confirmation of this.
It was frightening to think that someone like that existed, even for someone like Wakatsuki, who had faced hundreds of opponents.
It was unthinkable that someone with such ability existed. Yuji wasn't like the copyist who faced Hatsumi Sen. His level of copying was light years away.
But fortunately, Wakatsuki believed that he needn't worry, after all, Yuji had come out of his fight against Kuroki Gensai extremely weak, so believing that he would be able to beat Kanoh Agito was just a distant dream.
For now, he only had to worry about winning against Ohma Tokita, who despite being a formidable opponent, was also badly injured.
Wakatsuki was sure that he would be able to achieve his rematch against Metsudo's current Fangs.
.
"Thank you very much, this will really help me. I feel light as a feather."
Sitting on the floor, Ohma had numerous acupuncture needles in various parts of her body, a strange sight for anyone who didn't know the reason behind it.
"Of course. The Kure clan's techniques aren't just for killing, after all." Kure Erioh was the one who spoke, his eyes moving to find Yuji surrounded by girls, one of whom was his granddaughter. "Besides, I only did it because that boy asked me directly. Don't go thinking you're special or anything."
"It's still a bit strange to imagine that in the future Yuji will become the leader of a clan of assassins... Shisumi will go crazy when she finds out." Yamashita Kazuo, who was monitoring Ohma's treatment, said as he turned to his nephew, who was completely focused on talking to the girls around him. "Actually, I don't think that's the only thing that will drive her crazy."
"I thank you. Even if I can only recover a little of my energy, it's enough." Ohma clenched her fingers, feeling her strength slowly returning to her body.
"Yuji said that you need to be at your best, since Wakatsuki is not an easy opponent." Kazuo said as he sat down opposite Ohma.
"And that's true." Suddenly, everyone's attention turned away when they noticed Yuji approaching. "Wakatsuki Takeshi is a formidable opponent. I asked them to treat you, because I want to have our rematch in the finals, so don't lose at all."
Yuji stopped in front of Ohma, a proud smile appearing on his lips.
"Because this time, I have no intention of losing."
Ohma returned his own smile, his eyes filling with determination at the sight of that boy confidently taking him on.
"That's good, because I don't want to lose either."
Yuji laughed lightly, his gaze landing on Erioh.
"Thanks, old man."
The patriarch of the Kure clan rolled his eyes, turning to leave.
"I did it just as a reward for winning." Walking to the exit, Erioh gave the boy one last look. "Don't you dare lose, kid."
"Lose? To this guy?" Yuji pointed at Ohma, who was slowly removing the needles from his body. "Unlikely."
Snorting, Erioh just left when he saw that boy's playful manner.
'It's the first time I've seen an old man with that kind of personality... It's strange.
"How are you feeling, Yuji?" Kazuo, who had watched the interaction with a smile, suddenly asked with concern in his tone.
Yuji, who had heard his uncle's question, turned around while slowly moving his right arm. Thanks to the Kure clan's acupuncture, he had recovered some movement, but if he had to put it into a percentage, he would say that he had only recovered 40%.
"I'm fine. At least out of danger." Yuji declared and sat down, letting his body relax.
Kazuo didn't answer, his eyes moving until he was staring at his own hands, his expression turning grim, something his nephew promptly noticed.
"What is it, Uncle Kazuo? Is something wrong?"
"..."
"Yuji, you and Ohma are badly hurt."
Kazuo simply stated, which caused Yuji to raise an eyebrow in question.
"Yes, that's true."
"Then I think the best option is to give up."
"..."
Silence reigned moments after the words left the man's mouth, Ohma and Yuji staring at him in silence, while even the girls in the room fell silent.
"Ohma, I was able to have a decent conversation with my son after ten years, thanks to you. I was finally able to see him after so long of being neglected by his father.
He even offered to pay my debts! It's too much for me as a father."
Kazuo, who until then had a gloomy expression, was suddenly filled with joy, a smile appearing on his lips.
"So I no longer have any reason to stay in the tournament, even though I feel bad about letting President Nogi down.
What I'm trying to say, Ohma, is that you don't have to force yourself anymore."
Ohma remained silent, her expression unchanged, even in the face of Yamashita's words.
"And you, Yuji, you don't have to try so hard either. I... I don't think I have the right to tell you what to do after so long without contact, but I can still advise you.
You're hurt too much, and soon you'll be facing the one considered the strongest in this tournament. Why not give up and wait until next time? You and Ohma can always try again! I talked to Doctor Hanafusa, and he explained to me about your arm. You could treat it! Why risk losing its movement forever?"
"..."
"Yamashita Kazuo, you know well." Ohma was the first to speak, a small smile appearing on his lips. "There won't be a next time for me."
Those words seemed to have a profound impact on Yamashita, who suddenly let his happy smile disappear from his face.
"Besides, it was my stubbornness that got us into the tournament, so I'll be stubborn to the end."
Before Kazuo had a chance to answer him, Yuji was the one who continued, the boy raising his right hand in front of his face in one swift movement.
"Uncle Kazuo, I understand your concern."
Moving his trembling fingers, Yuji closed his hand into a fist.
"But I've come so far. I can't give up now. Even if I have to sacrifice my arm to win, I'll do it twice.
Because I'm no longer fighting just for myself, no longer just for my selfishness, and my own goals."
Dropping his right hand to his side, he gave a confident smile.
"I'm fighting for the pride of those I defeated, for the promise I made to people important to me, and also for my own convictions.
If I gave up now, I'd just be a coward. Someone who abandoned their ideals."
"So I don't"
"Listen to me!"
Suddenly, Kazuo Yamashita's loud voice boomed over them, the man gritting his teeth hard as he struggled not to let the tears flow from his eyes.
"I... I don't want to lose any of you. Yuji, you forgave me, even after I didn't even show up to support you when your parents died. You gave me a second chance to be your uncle!
Ohma, thanks to you, I was able to change! I was able to stop being that man who cowered in his own shadow! I've come this far because of you!"
Surprising them both, Yamashita knelt down, resting his forehead against the floor as tears began to stain the carpet in the room.
"Please, just forget about it."
"..."
"Thank you very much." 2x.
"But we're not giving up" 2x.