Path to Strength

It had been a week since Yuji's defeat by Mokichi, and unlike what many would think, the teenager was not discouraged, but on the contrary, he was extremely excited, this due to his rewards. With his image training, he was able to train for 3 hours before he needed to rest his mind, and a week of making use of the skill stopping only to rest, improved his styles considerably, he even reaching Lvl 5 in Baritsu without needing a master.

This did wonders for his mood, and got him through the whole day in high spirits. Even with other gangs trying to take over his territory through trafficking, it didn't do much to discourage him, a matter that was easily resolved with those responsible receiving a good beating.

Toman's territory was part of Yggdrasil, but Yuji didn't do much to officially take it, because he didn't want to get in contact with the Toman members. At least Takemichi was the only one the boy could talk to, because although he didn't like his cowardly attitude, he sympathized with his situation, besides he had already agreed to help the boy if he needed it, after all, Hina was a sweet girl, and didn't deserve the fate that was imposed on her.

At his school, he would see the girl walking through the corridors with her friends, and the two of them would always greet each other, sometimes talking about subjects that usually involved Fenrir, Yuji's little dog. Don't get him wrong, he wasn't lusting after Hina, Yuji wasn't that kind of guy, but Hina was simply a nice person to talk to.

As for Takemichi, Yuji hadn't seen him in a few days, and that made him tempted to take a peek between Toman. He didn't want the blond to die because of his change in the timeline.

That would certainly lessen his current mood.

. . .

Yuji Shinakawa.

When the school bell finally rang, I packed my things and started walking through the halls. The world may see me as a delinquent now, but that doesn't mean that I can't be an exemplary student... Who am I kidding? I'm coming to school only because my absences can fail me, I don't really need to learn the school contents, since since I've been transmigrated my memory has improved monstrously, and I've become able to remember most of the contents I've learned during my life.

Writing in my notebook is more of a mere whim than anything, so I have something to do during class.

As I walked down the hallway, I couldn't help but notice the sound of fast approaching footsteps, my eyes landing on the corner of a hallway as the footsteps gradually increased.

I understand that running home at the end of class is really common, but so desperately? Besides, the person who is running is going in the opposite direction of the exit? Did you forget your things or something?

I couldn't help but question, my body unconsciously bracing itself as the footsteps came closer and closer. With a bit of anticipation, I waited until the figure arrived, and it didn't take long, when a familiar face, turned the corner with a completely sweaty body.

"Takemichi?" I spoke with genuine surprise, since I hadn't seen him in a while.

The blond man stopped in front of me and started breathing like a dog, the teenager looking like he had run an entire marathon before he reached me. Curious as to why he was so desperate, I couldn't help but ask. "What happened?"

He for a moment caught his breath, finally stabilizing his breathing. With that done, I was surprised when he raised his head to face me with a determined look that only he was capable of showing, his sweaty hands landing on my shoulders, making me curse him for a moment before giving the boy my full attention.

"Shinakawa, I need your help."

"I figured."

Looks like I'll have to save my peace and quiet for later use.

. . .

Whatever it was I was hoping for turned out to be not a third of what actually happened. Takemichi revealing to me bluntly that he was a time traveler was not something I could have predicted, after all, we weren't that close, and until then there was no reason for him to tell me anything, but that wasn't hard to understand when he started telling me everything he had done to change the future, and how the future was currently, at the end of it all, accusing me of also being a time traveler.

"So let me understand..." I am doing this just to annoy the boy, don't judge me. "You are a time traveler who has returned to the past to save Hina, only to do so you have to deal with a criminal organization that is currently nothing but a bunch of catarrhous delinquents? And even though you seem to have done everything right, nothing changes, and Hina always ends up murdered? And on top of all that, you believe that I am also a time traveler?"

Takemichi agreed fiercely, and I couldn't help but sketch a fake "I don't believe a third of what you said" expression. This seemed to make the blond man indignant, drawing a few chuckles from me. Pissing people off is quite pleasant... Maybe this high mood of mine is driving me crazy....

"I'm telling the truth!" He shouted angrily, shaking me by the shoulders as I avoided looking at his face.

This continued with Takemichi's complaints for a few seconds, before I decided that playtime was over. Thus, with a firm and serious look, I faced Takemichi, causing him to freeze for a moment.

"I won't lie to you, I already knew about your ability to return to the past." Although he was accusing me of also being a traveler, seeing such words coming out of my mouth left the boy in shock, causing him to stare at me with a serious expression. "But I'm not a time traveler..."

I can't really reveal that I watched his life through a laptop screen, and to agree that I am also a time traveler would only be dumb, so I thought of something that fits why I know about so many events.

"But a few months ago, I had several visions of what was going to happen in the future with several different people. At first I didn't believe them much, and didn't even care much, after all, I didn't know any of the people in the visions, but after I started receiving them incessantly, and seeing some of the people in my visions at school, I wrote down everything I saw in a notebook and kept it. The moment you returned to the past, I had another vision, which showed me what led you back in time." I paused for a moment to look at Takemichi, who seemed immersed in my explanation. I was pleased that he seemed to be believing, so I continued. "The vision also vaguely showed me about the events at Toman, Valhalla, and revealed to me that Kisaki was behind it all..."

"And why... You didn't do anything?"

As I was speaking, Takemichi suddenly interrupted me with a question that made me think for a moment. I'd had the answer to that for a while, but seeing how Takemichi suddenly threw the question at me just pissed me off, after all, I had no obligation to help anyone, and honestly, I wouldn't have done it if it weren't for the shit Moebius was doing. I couldn't just let the gang rape a girl in front of me, and saving the girl with her boyfriend, ended up putting me in the middle of this problem that was Tokyo Revengers, so without caring too much, I decided to mess with Kisaki's plans at once.

One thing led to another, and in the end, I ended up defeating Toman and Valhalla, thwarting the psychopathic genius' plans once and for all... Well, it should be that way, but considering Takemichi's presence, that ended up not working.

"It wasn't my obligation." I said bluntly, shocking Takemichi, who looked at me in disbelief, as if I were committing a crime with such words. "You know I hate delinquents, and for all I care, Toman and the other gangs could go splinter themselves, but when Moebius started acting out from under my nose, I couldn't stand still, and that put me in Kisaki's crosshairs. So, knowing that, I thought 'Fuck that shit.' And I went in headfirst, using my visions to the fullest to put a stop to the bastard's plans.... But nothing seems to have changed, does it?"

Takemichi, who heard my question with a defeated expression, bit his lips as he looked at the ground. Seeing this, I sighed as I leaned my back on the wall.

"Tell me what happened." I asked bluntly.

And that's how my mood plummeted in less than 30 minutes.

. . .

Sitting on the couch in my living room, with Fenrir on my legs, I stared at the TV for several minutes, not focusing my attention on what was on the screen, my mind lost in what Takemichi had told me.

Even after Kisaki was foiled from his plans, he was somehow able to join Toman and Mikey still brutally killed Kazutora after Baji stabbed himself so that Kazutora would not feel guilty, dying soon after. This caused Mikey to sink into darkness and made it simple for Kisaki to manipulate him. That just makes me wonder how bad in the head Mikey is.... Kisaki is probably still manipulating Valhalla while on the run, but there was no manipulation in the events he used to join Toman due to my interference...

So probably, even if Kisaki didn't move a finger, Kazutora would still face Mikey anyway, and the younger man would beat him to death every time, making the job easier for Kisaki.

It's no wonder that the blond is able to unleash that strong murderous intent... Some kind of psychopathic disorder? There is a good chance of that. This kid needs urgent psychological counseling... Didn't anyone think of this when he lost his brother?

"Ugh, what a hassle." I grunted in frustration as I thought about the events that were unfolding.

Even with Toman's defeat, they are still standing firm as a gang.... Now it is more like they have fallen through the ranks, since I did not declare that she was undone. Although the defeat caused a considerable loss of members, if Akira's information is correct...

Wait a minute...

Valhalla is currently at a declared war with Toman, even after both gangs lost several members, and even their main leader, to Valhalla. But even with the loss of members, Valhalla is still monstrously superior to Toman in numbers, so...

Damn, Kisaki could have used this to blackmail Mikey. He would bring members of the old Moebius to Toman, provided Mikey put him in a high position within the gang, and very conveniently, Baji would resign his position after hearing this conversation, to infiltrate Valhalla. That would be a perfect situation for Kisaki... Shit, what kind of luck does this bastard have?

In the end, everything fell into place as it originally did even after I beat the shit out of both gangs.... It seems that my approach of trying to deal with this problem following the gang war style did not work.

I will have to be direct.