In Kyoto Kiyomizu High School, fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a sterile glow over the bustling corridors. Students in crisp uniforms hurried to their classes, their footsteps echoing against tiled floors. Among them, Shinji Takanashi walked the halls with a cocky smile, donning sunglasses, and a jacket hanging off his shoulders.
"Everybody make way for 'The painless Shinji Takanashi!' Kyoto's strongest! With an unhurt body!" Shinji cackled.
Murmurs rippled through the hallways as students exchanged glances and whispers. Shinji's confident proclamation didn't go unnoticed.
A tall, burly guy with a sneer on his face emerged from the crowd and approached Shinji. He grabbed Shinji by the shirt collar and hoisted him up. "Huh? You think you're tough, punk? You've got a lot of nerve!"
As he got punched, Shinji stumbled back and clutched his face. "It hurts." He wiped the blood from his split lip. "No it doesn't!" He said with a sadistic smile and slung his heavy backpack off his back and hit the boy with it.
The boy crumpled to the ground, blood dripping from his nose as he fell unconscious.
Meanwhile, nearby, two girls were engrossed in their conversation.
"Shinji's at it again. Why does he think he's so tough?" The first girl asked, struggling to balance a stack of books in her arms.
"Don't you know? His father was Shinbo Takanashi, the world-renowned MMA champion. Fighting's in his blood. Not to mention his C.I.P.A." The second girl whispered knowingly. "But there's one thing: Shinji's never been in a real fight with anyone."
Meanwhile, in the lunchroom, Shinji observed a group of students engrossed in books and discussing typical nerd topics. He chuckled to himself and swaggered over to them.
He casually shoved one of the students off the table and stepped on his face. "What's up with this nerd shit? Didn't I tell you that this table's off-limits?" He grinned with a hint of menace.
The boy on the ground groaned in pain. "B-but you weren't using the table, so we thought you'd be cool with it." He coughed, struggling to get up.
Seeing the boy attempting to rise, Shinji delivered a swift kick to his stomach. The other students immediately knelt before Shinji in fear.
Shinji seated himself and propped his legs up on the boy's back. "Oh? You thought I'd be cool with it? Do you even know who my father was? I could end you in an instant." He chuckled darkly, his words sending a chill through the boys.
He felt a firm hand on his shoulder and turned around to see the principal, his face flushed with anger. "Goddamn it," he muttered under his breath.
Later, Shinji sat in the principal's office, the principal's voice booming as he reprimanded him. Shinji wore an expression of annoyance, his feet propped up on the desk.
"Shinji Takanashi, son of Shinbo Takanashi. With your father's legacy, you'd think you'd use it wisely," The principal grumbled, rubbing his temples in frustration.
Shinji crossed his arms and bit his fingernails nonchalantly. "Yeah, sure. I should be like someone I've never met. He left me with a small fortune and a house. Great role model," he retorted, sarcasm dripping from his words.
The principal scoffed, leaning forward. "Do you even understand who your father was? He was a legend, up there with the greatest. He died in the ring, doing what he loved. And now his son is here, thinking he's invincible."
"I am invincible," Shinji said, pointing his thumb at his chest. "And Shinbo died getting beaten to a pulp. If he was like me and couldn't feel pain, maybe he wouldn't be six feet under." His voice held a bitter edge, a mix of defiance and sorrow.
The principal sighed deeply, his shoulders sagging. "Shinji, you can't keep living like this. You have a chance to make something of yourself, to honor your father's memory in a way that matters. But this… this isn't it."
Shinji's expression softened for a moment, a flicker of vulnerability crossing his face. He quickly masked it with a smirk. "Yeah, whatever. Can I go now?"
The principal shook his head, a look of resignation settling in his eyes. "Detention. And you're cleaning the gym after school."
Shinji rolled his eyes but didn't argue. As he stood to leave, he glanced back at the principal. "You know, it's not that easy being 'the son of a legend.' Maybe if you understood that, you'd cut me some slack."
With that, he walked out of the office, the door closing with a soft click behind him. The principal stared after him, a mixture of frustration and concern etched on his face.
Later, Shinji was sweeping the floor of the gym, having just finished detention. The gym was quiet, save for the rhythmic swishing of the broom. He was almost done and ready to leave when the gym doors swung open.
A pretty girl named Sarah Kimura walked in, her steps purposeful and confident. She had an air of seduction about her as she approached Cynji, her hips swaying slightly. Her long, dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, and she wore a sly smile. "Hey, Shinji," she purred, her voice smooth and enticing. "I've been looking for you."
He looked up, his expression a mix of curiosity and suspicion. He leaned on the broom handle, studying her. "Yeah? What for?" He had never seen this girl before but he was distracted by her beauty.
She stepped closer, her eyes locking onto his. "I've heard a lot about you. The painless Shinji Takanashi, son of the legendary Shinbo Takanashi. You've got quite the reputation."
He raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "So, what's it to you?"
"I like a guy with confidence," she said, trailing a finger down his arm. "And I thought maybe you and I could… get to know each other better."
His eyes narrowed slightly. He wasn't one to be easily swayed by flattery. "What's your angle?" he asked, his tone cautious.
She laughed softly, a sound like tinkling bells. "No angle, just curiosity. You're different, Shinji. You're not like the other guys around here. I find that… intriguing."
He considered her words for a moment. There was something about her that set off alarms in his mind, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. "Alright," he said finally, his voice steady. "But if you're looking for a hero, you're talking to the wrong guy."
She smiled, a hint of mystery in her eyes. "Maybe I'm not looking for a hero. Maybe I'm looking for someone real." With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Shinji standing there, the broom still in his hand.
Shinji followed behind her and walked. "So, is there somewhere we can talk?" He asked in a low voice as he caught up to her.
Sarah turned to face him, her smile widening. "Follow me," she said, leading him out of the gym and down the corridor. They walked in silence for a few moments, the echo of their footsteps the only sound.
She led him to an empty park, lit only by the soft glow of a single street light. The night air was cool, and the distant hum of the city provided a gentle backdrop. The park was secluded, offering a rare moment of tranquility amidst the chaos of Seoul.
She stopped by a bench under the streetlight and sat down, patting the spot next to her. "This is one of my favorite places," she said softly. "Quiet, peaceful… away from prying eyes."
Shinji hesitated for a moment before sitting down beside her. He glanced around, taking in the serene surroundings. "Wait, do you even go to this school? I've never seen you here before." He chuckled nervously.
She smiled ear to ear and closed her eyes. "Of course I don't, I just needed to lure you out here."
Suddenly at least ten guys walked out of the darkness, with purple and black gang uniforms with kanji that read 'Purple dragons' and 'Death' on the back of it.
"So, you used her to set me up? You want a piece of me?" Shinji asked and cracked his knuckles. "You should know, I am the painless Shinji."
The leader (Daichi) of the group took a drag from his cigarette, exhaling a cloud of smoke. He smirked. "We heard that you've been causing quite a ruckus to my cousins." Daichi said and moved out the way to show the nerds that Shinji beat up and bullied today.
Shinji's eyes narrowed and he chuckled. "They had it coming," he retorted, his voice tinged with defiance. "They were asking for trouble."
Daichi chuckled darkly, his demeanor intimidating. "Trouble finds those who look for it," he said cryptically. "And now, you've found us."
The tension in the air was palpable as the gang members closed in, their eyes gleaming with hostility.
Suddenly, one of the gang members punched shinji in the stomach.
Shinji saw the punch coming and smirked. "Don't you know that I can't feel pain—" Before he could finish his sentence, the impact of the blow sent shockwaves through his body. Blood filled his mouth, and he doubled over, clutching his stomach in agony. "What the hell?" he groaned, struggling to catch his breath. It's true that he couldn't feel pain but the realization of the damage triggered something else.
Daichi stepped forward, his expression triumphant. "Looks like the painless Shinji isn't so tough after all," he taunted, his voice dripping with malice. "Let's see how long you last against us."
Shinji gritted his teeth, determination blazing in his eyes despite the pain coursing through his body. He straightened up slowly, wiping blood from his mouth with the back of his hand.
"You're gonna regret this," Shinji muttered, his voice hoarse but resolute. "All of you." As he said this he was kicked in the face and fell to the ground.
They began beating Shinji while Sarah just looked at the scene with a sadistic smirk on her face.
Shinji curled up into a ball as the strikes hit him. Tears and blood began falling from his face. "I-I shouldn't be getting pummeled like this. I'm the son of a legend dammit! But, have I ever even won a fight?"
Suddenly, one of the nerds got on top of him and began punching his face. Shinji felt something else other than pain. Fear. Fear of dying. Fear of all his karma coming to bite him in the ass.
Shinji's eyes went wide with panic as the nerd relentlessly pummeled his face. This was not how things were supposed to go - he was the son of a legend, the "painless" Shinji Takanashi. Yet here he was, helpless and afraid, taking blow after blow from a group of thugs and nerds.
As the beating continued, Shinji's resolve began to crumble. He felt utterly powerless, his father's legacy doing him no favors against this onslaught. Tears of frustration and fear streamed down his face, and he knew he was in over his head.
Daichi put his foot on Shinji's face and dropped cigarette ash on his face. "You belong to Purple Dragons now."
Shinji's eyes widened in horror as the gang leader, Daichi, pressed his foot down on his face, burning his skin with the cigarette ash. The searing pain cut through his body, breaking through his supposed immunity.
"Agh! Get off me!" he cried out, his voice laced with desperation. He thrashed and struggled, but the gang members held him down, their grip iron-clad.
"You're now a part of our slave unit." Daichi pressed the cigarette onto Shinji's forehead who luckily couldn't feel it.
Shinji's eyes widened in terror as Daichi's words sank in. "Slave unit?" he gasped, his blood running cold. The thought of being trapped, forced to serve this ruthless gang, filled him with dread.
Daichi grinned wickedly, grinding the cigarette into Shinji's flesh. "That's right."