As I let Niijima scurry off to complete his end of the deal, I headed into town, my mind already planning my next steps. With no real place to stay, I'd have to rough it for a while, probably setting up camp somewhere in the outskirts. Tokyo was buzzing, people everywhere, and it made blending in easy enough. My focus, though, was on finding Ryōzanpaku. A few new masters might actually be a challenge.
Miu's POV
This morning had been... chaotic. I had wanted to help Baki find his way, but it looked like he had already vanished before we even got to class. I couldn't help but feel a little curious about him, though. For a kid that young to be that strong... It was unusual.
When I got back home, I went straight to my grandfather, Hayato Fūrinji. "Grandfather, do you know of a Hanma family? I met someone today—a kid named Baki Hanma. He's younger than me, only seven, but he was... probably stronger than I am."
My grandfather's eyebrows rose slightly, a rare sign of intrigue. "A Hanma family, you say? No, I'm not familiar with them, but that is interesting indeed." He looked thoughtful for a moment before asking, "Did you fight him?"
I shifted a little, feeling sheepish. "Well, not exactly. I tried to throw him at first and, um, might have tried a quick kick. But he just dodged everything so smoothly…" I laughed a bit nervously, rubbing the back of my head.
"Dodged everything, did he?" Grandfather's eyes lit up with a spark of interest. "Sounds like he has great instincts and agility for his age. Perhaps he's had training."
I nodded, wondering about Baki's background. "Yeah, he mentioned his father trained him."
Baki Pov
The morning air was thick with anticipation as I approached Niijima. He had a way of spotting people before they even realized he was there, and sure enough, he noticed me immediately. This time, though, he didn't bolt. Instead, he just gave a nervous, hesitant wave.
"Hey, Niijima," I greeted, keeping my tone even, "I hope you managed to get the ID sorted out."
He scratched the back of his neck, avoiding eye contact for a moment before finally meeting my gaze. "Yeah… but there are a few issues. You'll have to come with me to get a picture taken. Oh, and… what's your name?" He seemed a bit thrown off by the fact that I already knew his.
I kept it simple. "Baki Hanma," I said, watching his reaction as I started following him.
It took about ten minutes to reach the place. As we approached, I noticed the building was discreet but unmistakably fortified—an office lined with muscular men at the entrance, some with tattoos marking them as Yakuza. I caught Niijima glancing nervously at me, but I kept my expression neutral. If he thought I'd be intimidated, he'd miscalculated. If anything, the sight amused me. Compared to the challenges I'd faced before, these guards were hardly a threat.
As we walked up, Niijima approached one of the bodyguards, a giant of a man with arms folded across his chest. "Hey, we're here for business. I already made the arrangements," Niijima announced, doing his best to sound confident.
The guard raised an eyebrow, clearly sizing us up. "Name?"
"Sasuke," Niijima replied smoothly, using what was an alias.
The guard gave a brief nod, then jerked his head toward the door. "Second floor. They'll handle the rest."
Inside, the place felt even more intense. The air was thick with the kind of tension you'd only find in places where power was constantly being tested. But Niijima navigated it with surprising ease, leading us to the second floor without a hitch. After a quick exchange, I was seated in front of a camera, and within minutes, they'd taken my photo and printed two IDs—one with my real age and one with an adjusted age of 18.
On the way back to school, I glanced over at Niijima. "Thanks. You're better at this than I expected."
He gave a nervous chuckle, still clearly in awe—or maybe shock—that everything had gone so smoothly. "Well, I'm… resourceful. Just remember who helped you out, yeah?"
"Understood, Niijima, now I need your help to enroll." I replied with a nod. He might have been scheming, but he'd proven his worth. He looked shocked and unsure of how to do this."we can try talking to the principal?."
Niijima's nervous chuckle faded as we stood in front of the principal's desk, his hands clasped in front of him like he was about to negotiate a hostage situation. "So, what brings you here?" the principal asked, looking between us with a raised brow.
"I want to enroll," I said plainly, not bothering with embellishments.
The principal's brow arched higher. He looked at me and Niijima, waiting for the "explanation," and Niijima didn't disappoint. He launched into a story about my background and how I had "connections to an esteemed family" overseas, sprinkling in just enough mystery to keep the principal's attention. The principal's skeptical expression softened a bit, interest sparking in his eyes.
"Well," he said, considering, "I'd need some academic test scores and a meeting with a legal guardian. If that's handled, we can look at a probationary enrollment."
Before I could process how on earth I'd find a "legal guardian," Niijima, quick as ever, jumped in. "We'll have everything ready tomorrow!"
Once outside, I shot Niijima a look, but he just shrugged with an innocent smile. "Trust me; we'll work something out." I wasn't as sure, but it was the only lead I had.
As I left the school, thinking of what to do, I spotted Miu walking down the street.
"Hey, Miu!" I called, jogging up to her. Her face brightened as she turned, her surprise quickly shifting into a smile.
"Baki! I haven't seen you in a few days. What's up?"
"I'm trying to enroll at Kōryō," I said. "But they need a legal guardian to sign me in… "
Miu blinked, processing my words before a thoughtful look crossed her face. "You could come with me to the dojo and ask my grandfather. He might be able to help."
The idea was perfect. Meeting the famed Hayato Fūrinji wasn't just a stroke of luck; it felt like an opportunity. Training alongside Miu and the masters of Ryōzanpaku was the best way to keep leveling up, especially for when I had to face Yuujiro again one day.
With a nod, I followed Miu toward Ryōzanpaku. I could feel that this was the beginning of something big.
As I followed Miu through the gates of Ryōzanpaku, I felt a strange mixture of excitement and caution. This place had a unique atmosphere—intense, powerful. Just being here was like stepping into a zone of constant, unyielding energy.
The first person we encountered was a giant of a man, Apachai Hopachai, who was training with explosive force, kicking trees with enough power to splinter them into pieces. Each hit echoed through the grounds, and Miu immediately cringed at the damage being done.
"Apapapapa!" he chanted, mid-kick, clearly lost in his own world until Miu scolded him. "Apachai! Can you please not destroy everything? You know how much it costs to fix all this!"
Apachai's face dropped, looking almost like a guilty child caught in the act. "Apa… Sorry, Miu."
I couldn't help but smirk at the sight. For someone so physically intimidating, Apachai had a soft and innocent demeanor that was almost endearing. He gave me a curious look, his eyes bright with interest. But we didn't linger, and Miu continued leading me further inside.
As we made our way through the compound, we passed another figure—Shigure Kōsaka, the weapons master. She moved gracefully, as though every step and every motion were a carefully controlled dance. She was sharpening her blades with a practiced ease, barely glancing up as we passed, but there was an alertness about her that told me she was aware of everything happening around her.
Finally, we reached the main building and approached the office of Hayato Fūrinji, the Elder and Miu's grandfather. The closer we got, the more I felt an intensity in the air—one that reminded me of my father.
Miu opened the door, and we stepped inside. The Elder sat with a calm yet commanding presence that immediately struck me as familiar in a way I'd rarely felt. His gaze was warm but sharp, taking in every detail, and when Miu introduced me, his eyes focused on me with a quiet strength that held no hostility, but undeniable authority.
"Hey, Grandpa. This is Baki—the one I told you about. He had some questions for you," Miu said, gesturing toward me.
"Ah, yes. Baki Hanma," the Elder replied with a slight nod. His voice was calm but carried a weight behind it. "Miu tells me you're looking for guidance—and perhaps more."
I nodded, meeting his gaze with as much respect as I could muster. "Yes, sir. I was hoping you might consider being my guardian for school registration. I don't have anyone here to help with the process, and…" I paused, gauging his reaction. "And I'd like to train with you, if that's possible."
"Ah, train with me? That is not possible," the Elder replied with a chuckle. "I don't take disciples. But I can introduce you to the other masters here—they'll decide if you're worthy or not."
"Too bad," I said, feeling a little disappointed but not surprised. "You seem strong. Want to spar at least?" I added, knowing full well I stood no chance. But this was a learning experience, and people as strong as Hayato were rare. If I wanted to surpass my father someday, I needed to take every opportunity to grow.
"You want to spar?" The Elder's eyebrows raised with a hint of amusement. "Very well, let's do it. I've never backed down from a fight, and I've never lost." His voice held a calm certainty that made it clear he was not exaggerating. This was going to be interesting.
Miu, watching with slight concern, stepped forward. "Are you sure? You can start with the other masters first, you know."
I flashed her a reassuring smile. "It's okay. Thanks for worrying."
Before long, we were outside, facing each other in the sparring yard. I took off my top, wanting full mobility. There was a brief silence, and I could feel the air shift as everyone noticed the scars covering my body. Miu's expression softened, Apachai's widened in surprise, and even Shigure seemed to study me a little closer. The faint shock in their faces reminded me just how much those marks told about my past.