The two fighters, the 13-year-old Martin and the older leader, muscled Hiroto in his twenties, stood facing each other, their eyes locked in intense determination.
The fight began.
There the captivated spectators were not bothered about the fact that the fight was not taking place in an equal manner and that Hiroto was egoistic. Because they were afraid of Hiroto and also they were simply enjoying the bloody fight which was keeping them entertained.
The fight was intense. Martin, despite his smaller stature, displayed a fighting spirit beyond his years. His youthful energy and courage made up for the gap in age and experience, and he managed to keep pace with the older boy. Hiroto, meanwhile, was fighting with all his skill, but he couldn't shake off the fact that he was being challenged by someone so young and seemingly inexperienced.
As the fight raged on, the spectators could feel the tension building. Neither fighter was able to gain an advantage over the other, and it appeared that this battle might go on indefinitely. They both continued to fight with intense focus, neither giving any ground.
The two fighters' styles were quite different, with Martin relying more on his youthful energy and speed to outmanoeuvre the older fighter. Hiroto, in contrast, relied on his experience and skill to predict Martin's moves and countering them effectively.
As the fight continued, the time ticked on slowly, and both fighters began to show signs of exhaustion. Both Martin and Hiroto were fighting with all their might, but neither seemed to be gaining the upper hand.
Hiroto, who had been arrogant and confident before the fight, now realised that this young child was a stronger opponent than he had anticipated. He was not accustomed to such a prolonged fight, especially against someone so much younger and less experienced than him. But the young Martin proved to be a stubborn opponent, refusing to back down. Despite his own experience and size advantage, he couldn't seem to find a way to defeat the determined Martin.
As the intense fight continued further, the crowd of spectators was in the middle of cheering and shouting, caught up in the adrenaline of the moment.
Suddenly, a voice called out from the top of the play slide.
"Enough!"
Gale's voice was authoritative and commanding, carrying an air of power that immediately quieted the crowd. Everyone turned to look including Jackson and Daniel as Gale slid down the play slide and began walking toward Martin and Hiroto.
His long, onyx black hair was blowing in the breeze, and his stride carried an air of grace and confidence. It was as if he floated across the ground, each step deliberate and purposeful. Even the two fighters halted their fight, their gazes following Gale's approach.
Hiroto, though surprised by Gale's interruption, still held onto his arrogance and did not show any fading confidence. He stood tall, his eyes fixated on Gale's approaching figure as he clenched his fists tightly. Meanwhile, Martin watched Gale's approach with a mixture of admiration and anticipation, wondering what Gale's next move would be.
Gale came to a stop in front of Hiroto, standing tall and maintaining an unreadable expression on his face. Hiroto looked at Gale with a sneer, his eyes full of disdain. The spectators who were watching the scene unfold whispered to each other, wondering what Gale was going to do next.
"What kind of thug are you? You can't even defeat a little kid." Gale retorted with a mocking tone.
This comment only fueled Hiroto's anger, and he bristled at the insult.
"You didn't do the right thing by saying those words about my sister." Gale said, now in a heated tone.
Hiroto sneered at Gale before leaning closer to him and retorted, "I just mistakenly said those words about your sister, I didn't know it would make your ass burn so much."
Hearing this, anger appeared in Gale's eyes, but his expression remained unreadable. Without any indication of emotion, he replied,
"There are consequences for mistakes."
Saying this, without warning with a swift and powerful backhand, Gale landed a thundering slap across Hiroto's face, causing blood to fly from his mouth and his slap had such an impact that Hiroto's legs suddenly became weak and he automatically fell on his knees on the ground in front of him, dazed and disoriented.
The spectators around them watched in stunned silence, their eyes wide with surprise and awe at the impact of Gale's blow. Gale, still maintaining his unreadable expression, flicked Hiroto's forehead lightly, and Hiroto immediately collapsed to the ground on his back, his body limp and motionless.
The spectators watched in shock as they realised that Hiroto had already lost consciousness even before he hit the ground. They were amazed by the incredible strength and power that Gale possessed.
As Gale stood over the prone Hiroto, his fingers quickly on his lips in a mocking gesture. "Oops, seems like he has already fainted, now who will apologise?" he said in a taunting tone.
Jackson, Daniel, and Martin couldn't help but smirk at the scene, knowing that Hiroto had been completely outclassed in front of Gale. Jackson and Daniel courageously stood up despite their wounds on their faces and some parts of body and made their way towards Gale and Martin.
Meanwhile, the spectators who had witnessed the display of strength and power were left in awe of the young men's abilities. They begin to cry out in amazement, applauding and cheering loudly.
However, beneath the excitement and surprise, there was a sense of fear and respect that the spectators felt for Martin, Jackson, Daniel and especially for Gale, for his unimaginable and unbelievable strength and power, he held even at such a young age.
***
Jackson, Daniel, Martin and Gale were walking along the streets of Osaka, the city lights and the setting sun giving the area a beautiful, picturesque feel. They joked and laughed together, their expressions carefree and joyous.
Gale, in a playful and mocking manner, asked them. "How it felt to bear the cuts and bruises from the fight."
Hearing him, four of them chuckled softly including Gale himself, and Jackson replied, "As painful as those attacks were, Hiroto was certainly stronger than Daisy's kicks."
Daniel and Martin nodded in agreement, and Daniel added, "You're right, we have to admit he was one hell of a powerful opponent. It seems he is as powerful as Martin. But still see, both of us are so strong that we didn't faint and despite being injured, we are somehow able to walk."
They continued walking and bantering, their voices filled with humour and good nature. Suddenly, they heard a voice calling out behind them, and they turned around to see a 14-year-old boy approaching them. The boy looked somewhat hesitant and intimidated, and he was bowing as if seeking their approval.
"My name is Kato Ken," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "I was hoping you guys could form a gang and let me join you." He continued nervously, "Everyone bullies me and I'm powerless to do anything, but if I'm part of your gang, no one will bully me."
Hearing him saying all these words in one breath, four of them exchanged a glance with each other, surprised by the boy's sudden admission. And they understood that he was one of the spectators of that fight between them and Sano Hiroto.
Then, Martin spoke up, saying, "Up!" Ken quickly obeyed, straightening his body and looking up at them with a mix of fear and respect.
After the boy Ken stood up, Gale took a few steps towards him, causing the boy's eyes to dart downward in fear. Ken's body trembled slightly as he knew how powerful Gale was.
Gale spoke in a calm but authoritative tone, saying, "Look at me."
The boy, filled with hesitation, slowly tried to look up and meet Gale's deep, dark oceanic blue eyes with a mix of fear and awe but quickly looked down back.
Gale repeated, "Look at me" again, with a firmness that left no room for arguments.
The boy, terrified, quickly looked up and held Gale's gaze again.
After a few moments of tension, Gale spoke again, saying, "You can be part of our friend circle, but for now, leave."
Hearing this, Kato Ken immediately bolted away from the spot and ran as if his life depended on it.
After Ken left, Daniel, Jackson, Martin and Gale were walking back home together. Throughout the way, Jackson and Daniel kept exchanging glances, their minds clearly preoccupied with the idea of starting their own gang just like Kato Ken had suggested. They both seemed to have an unspoken understanding of what the other was thinking, but they didn't say anything aloud, instead, continuing to walk with Gale and Martin.
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Daniel was meticulously tidying up his desk in his room, putting away his books and organising his study materials. He was completely immersed in his task, laser-focused on creating a neat and organised workspace.
Suddenly, Martin and Gale barged into the room without warning, and while Gale collapsed onto Daniel's bed with a dramatic flair, Martin sauntered over to the window and nonchalantly looked out at the view of the nearby forest, seeming uninterested in his surroundings.
Daniel briefly glanced up at the sound of their entrance but didn't respond, too absorbed in his work to be bothered. He continued sorting his books and papers, occasionally pausing to look up as he heard the sound of Gale's exaggerated sigh or the clink of Martin's boots against the floor, but he refused to be distracted from his task.
Gale, feeling bored, turned his head slightly and asked Daniel, "Hey Daniel, do you want to play hide and seek with us?"
Daniel, still focused on his work, simply replied without even looking up, "I'm busy."
Martin and Gale, both piqued by curiosity and boredom, slowly approached Daniel's desk, with Martin asking, "What are you doing?"
Daniel, still fixated on his task, responded, "I'm tidying up my desk," he said tersely.
Gale leaned against the wall next to the desk, and Martin took a seat on the floor next to Daniel's chair, both of them watching as Daniel continued his work in silence. It was as if two little brothers were patiently waiting for their older brother to finish his task so they could play together.
As Daniel continued, his eyes darted around, noticing that Gale was looking intently at something inside the locker of the desk.
Gale, leaning forward abruptly, exclaimed, "Hold on, what is this?"
Daniel and Martin turned to see what had caught Gale's attention. At the same time, Daniel's eyes widened in surprise as he guessed what Gale had seen inside his locker, and he quickly tried to shut it to hide his secret item. However, Gale was too quick and managed to snatch out a white sketch paper just before Daniel could close the locker.
As soon as Gale and Martin laid eyes on the sketch paper, Martin immediately stood up and they both stepped back a few paces, keeping a safe distance, not wanting to let Daniel take it from them. They both stared in amazement at the sketch of Daisy that was drawn on the paper.
Daniel surged forward, trying desperately to snatch the sketch back from Gale and Martin.
"Give me that back!" he demanded.
But Gale, now holding the sketch firmly in hand, darted further into the room, keeping a safe distance.
He teased Daniel, asking, "Why are you hiding it? You've drawn such a lovely sketch of Sis, you should show it to her."
Daniel, frustrated by their intrusion into his privacy and the embarrassment of being caught, continued to pursue Gale, demanding, "Give me that back!"
But Gale, seeming to realise something, suddenly backed away further, a look of surprise on his face. "Wait a minute," he said, "Don't tell me you have a crush on Sis?"
Martin, still standing on the sidelines, watching the spectacle unfold, was equally surprised by this revelation, and a light blush crept over Daniel's cheeks, betraying his embarrassment.
Daniel's frustration grew as he continued to struggle to get the sketch back from Gale, his face now flushing a deeper shade of red as Gale teased him about his potential crush on Daisy.
Gale, managing to keep the sketch safely out of Daniel's reach, grabbed Martin's wrist with his free hand and raced out of the room, pulling Martin along at breakneck speed. Martin struggled to keep up, feeling like he was flying with as always how quickly Gale was pulling him along.
Daniel followed them out of the room, determined to get his sketch back, but when he looked up, he saw that Gale and Martin were nowhere to be seen. He stopped in his tracks, knowing that Gale was skilled at dodging and disappearing like a ghost, impossible to catch.
And he stood there, panting and frustrated. He leaned against the wall, seething with anger and embarrassment, cursing himself for letting Gale steal his sketch of Daisy and for the hint of a blush on his cheeks that gave away his potential crush.
••••••
On the terrace of the mansion, Gale and Martin stood alone, panting and catching their breath after their hasty escape. Gale held the sketch paper with Daisy's image carefully in his hands, holding it up towards the clear sky while saying.
"Daniel is a great sketcher, especially with body organs. It appears he accidentally learned to draw faces as well."
Martin, still panting, looked over at Gale and asked, "Aren't you angry that Daniel has a crush on Sis?"
Gale, without looking at Martin, replied casually, "No." His eyes remained fixed on the sketch, studying it intently.
Martin was surprised by Gale's reaction and asked, "Why not?"
Gale continued to stare at the sketch for a moment before responding with a hint of a smile, "Because Sis also has a crush on Daniel."
This revelation surprised Martin and he exclaimed, "How do you know everything?"
Gale gave a small laugh before sitting down on the edge of the terrace and turning to look at Martin. He replied with a shrug, "I just know."
Martin stood there silently, staring intently at Gale, his mind racing. He couldn't help but wonder how Gale always seemed to know everything, as if he had some secret knowledge that no one else did. As Gale sat there on the edge of the terrace, nonchalantly staring back at him, Martin couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to Gale than what meets the eye.
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An expansive outdoor field, where the grass was sparse and the crowd was minimal. Scattered construction materials, like several large cement pipes, were lying around. Gale was lazing on top of one of the pipes, his legs casually resting on top of each other while his hands rested under his head. His gaze was fixed on the sky, observing the few fluffy clouds that glide through the sunny, blue sky. In the background, the buzzing of insects and the distant hum of a nearby junior high school suggested nearby activity.
On the other side, Jackson and Daniel stood with their arms crossed, leaning their back against another big cement pipe, looking around the field. Their expressions convey boredom. Sitting nearby, on yet another cement pipe, Martin mirroring their expression, seemingly uninterested in the monotonous scene.
Off in the distance, a bustling ice cream parlour could be seen. It was positioned close to the junior high school, and swarms of students from the school could be seen heading towards it. The weather was pleasant, adding to the overall tranquillity of the scene, yet four of them seemed to be finding it hard to entertain themselves. Amidst the stillness, they remained idle, their collective gaze fixed on the ice cream parlour.
The scene was one of contrasts - boredom and activity, tranquillity and vibrancy, all in one place.
Jackson, having grown tired of staring at the ice cream parlour out of boredom, voiced his opinion to Gale with a purpose in mind. "Jae, don't you think we should consider forming our own gang?"
Gale remained mute and the tense silence between the four of them lingered. However, Daniel, quickly siding with Jackson, responded, "Yeah, we should definitely have our own gang."
Finally, Gale spoke up without facing them, looking disinterested. "Why bother when I'm destined to become a Mafia King in the future?"
Jackson, now facing Gale, his eyes reflecting a hint of excitement, tried to convince Gale. "Of course, that's in the future, but right now, we need something of our own. Something for us."
Daniel backed Jackson's words, looking at Gale and also trying to convince him. "And if our gang is successful now, it'll be ours in the future as well. And no one can stop us."
Despite Jackson and Daniel's persuasive points, Gale continued to look nonchalant, his gaze fixated on the sky. Martin, who had been silently listening in, revealed a slight interest in their conversation but maintained a poker face as he remembered the same thing that nerd boy Kato Ken suggested to them. And seeing the uninterested muteness of Gale, Jackson and Daniel exchanged meaningful looks.
Then Jackson spoke up again. "Oh please young master Jae, don't you think it's incredibly thrilling that the beginnings of our empire will start with us?"
Daniel chimed in, adding to Jackson's words. "Yes, we can worry about the future later, but we need to start planning now."
Finally, seeing them trying to convince Gale, Martin broke his silence, his expression one of thoughtfulness. "You both enjoy fighting and chaos, don't you?"
Jackson and Daniel responded with proud but excited smiles, their voices in agreement. "Absolutely, we have a strong passion for fighting and causing chaos."
Then finally, after a pause, Martin voiced his thoughts with a slight nod. "Actually, the idea doesn't seem entirely bad."
As Martin agreed, a flicker of enthusiasm lit up Jackson and Daniel's faces. While Gale wasn't convinced yet, Martin's acceptance, even if only partially, gave them a sense of hope and validation. They knew that they still needed to convince Gale, but the fact that Martin was expressing any interest was a good sign.
And they both chimed in together, "Absolutely. This idea isn't bad at all."
Jackson continued, his excitement building. "And that guy Kato Ken really gave us a brilliant idea."
"Yes, you're right." Daniel echoed.
They both exchanged hopeful glances towards Martin and Gale, waiting for their response, especially Gale's.
However, after a brief silence, Gale finally spoke, his words somewhat reluctantly yet agreeing. "Alright then, if that's what you want."
Jackson and Daniel high-fived each other, victorious, expressing their delight.
Gale sat on the pipe he was lounging on, joining them. With Gale finally on board, the four of them were now a united front, ready to embark on this new venture together.
Four of them began to discuss their positions in the gang, Jackson looked towards Gale and said, "Alright then, you'll be the head of the gang."
Gale lazily raised his hand, signalling his agreement, and responded lazily, "Yup."
(Head, Leader or Boss of the gang is responsible for making high-level decisions, setting the criminal objectives and strategies, and overseeing all gang members. They typically have the ultimate authority within the gang and can delegate tasks and issues to other gang members to manage.)
Jackson then pointed towards Martin and said, "And you'll be the vice commander."
Martin nodded, signalling his agreement, and replied, "ok."
(The vice commander or second-in-command assists the head in decision-making, enforces rules within the gang, and helps manage the overall operations.)
The boys were still finalising their positions in the gang when Daniel suddenly spotted 18 years old Daisy, who was walking out of the ice cream parlour with an ice cream cone in her hand.
Excited, Daniel shouted, pointing towards Daisy, "Look at Daisy!" Without wasting any time, Daniel sprinted over towards Daisy, quickly grabbing her by the arm and bringing her back to where Jackson, Martin, and Gale were before by holding her forearm from behind and pushing her towards them.
Daisy stood there, bewildered, holding her ice cream in her hand as she looked at the four boys in confusion.
Jackson moved forward with excitement, he placed his hands on Daisy's shoulders and said enthusiastically, "You're also a member of our gang."
Daisy frowned in confusion at his statement, and asked him in an impassive tone, "Are you telling me or asking me?"
Jackson gave her a tight-lipped smile in response, his tone firm as he clarified, "I'm telling you."
As Daisy looked amongst the lads, she asked again, still confused. "Which gang? And why should I join your child gang? Tell me any one reason?"
Daniel, who was still behind Daisy, holding her by her forearm, piped up, excitement in his tone as he interjected, "Because you're powerful."
A proud smile appeared on Daisy's face upon hearing the compliment, and she looked at Jackson and quickly demanded, "But on one condition that I should be made the head of the gang."
Hearing her, Jackson responded with a robotic smile, not blinking as he looked at Daisy. "The position of the gang head is already taken, and it belongs to Jitoku Jae."
Daisy looked at Gale and then back at Jackson, her expression now more determined. "Then, vice commander."
Jackson gave her the same robotic smile and replied, "The vice commander seat is already taken as well, and it belongs to Jay Martin."
Jackson's repeated rejection seemed to make Daisy determined to join their gang regardless of her favourite position offered. Daisy's frustration was evident as she looked at the boys and asked, "What role will I have then?"
Daniel immediately released her and stood in front of her, placing his fingers on his chin, looking her from head to toe and contemplating before suggesting, "How about taking the enforcer position?"
Hearing his offer, Daisy responded with a mocking scoff and taunted Daniel, "First add more members to the gang before worrying about this position's usefulness."
Jackson, stepped back before casually leaning against the large cement pipe behind him and striking a pose, answered confidently, "Don't worry about that. More members will join soon. For now, just take this position, and when we have more members, you can also become the captain of the first division."
Daisy paused for a moment, staring intensely at Jackson with narrow eyes before finally responding, "Alright. Fine. I'll take the position then."
(Enforcers are responsible for maintaining order within the gang and enforcing the gang's rules. They are often responsible for reprimanding, disciplining or punishing gang members who violate rules or cause problems.)
Hearing Daisy's agreement, Daniel and Jackson exchanged a quick high-five, both boys satisfied with her decision while Martin and Gale smiled slightly at Daisy's being easy to convince.
Then Daisy looked at Jackson and Daniel and asked, "What about both of your positions?"
Jackson took a moment to think before responding with pride and excitement, "For me, the positions of recruiter and spokesperson seem suitable, and in the future, I intend to become the captain of the second division."
(The Recruiter is responsible for finding and bringing new members into the gang and helping to expand the gang's territory and influence. While the Spokesperson or Public Face of the gang is responsible for communicating with other gangs, law enforcement, and civilians on behalf of the gang.)
Daniel chimed in, continuing, "As for me, the roles of logistic manager and mentor fit perfectly, and I aspire to become the captain of the third division."
(The Logistics manager is responsible for managing the gang's resources, such as weapons, vehicles, and safehouses. They are responsible for ensuring that the gang has access to the equipment and locations needed to carry out their operations and maintain secrecy. While the Mentor or Trainer is responsible for mentoring and training new gang members, teaching them the gang's rules and strategies, and preparing them for more active roles.)
Hearing their responses, Martin interjected, as if reminding them, "We've divided our positions, but what about the name of the gang? Shouldn't we choose a name for the gang as well?"
The five of them exchanged glances as they began brainstorming for a suitable name for their gang. Gale, who had been quietly observing the conversation, now demonstrated interest in the discussion.
They all fell into deep thought, trying to come up with a name that would represent their gang's identity, but it seemed like they were having difficulty coming up with something that they all agreed upon.
It was then that Gale decided to chime in with a suggestion. And in a slow, dramatic way, he proposed the name "Doraemon gang. We are also five and Doraemon also has five."
His unexpected suggestion caught the attention of the group, and they all turned to look at him in disbelief. Martin, in particular, raised an eyebrow at Gale's proposal and exclaimed, "Seriously, Gale?"
Looking at their unimpressed expressions, Gale, undeterred by their reactions, replied, "Alright, if you don't like it, let's think of something else then."
With Gale's proposal being rejected, the group fell into deep thought once again, each member racking their brains for another name idea.
Suddenly Jackson, his mood energised by his own idea, clenched his fist in excitement before slamming it into his other hand's palm, declaring, "I have an idea for a name."
The rest of the group perked up, all eyes now turned towards Jackson, their curiosity piqued.
"Kamisato gang," Jackson announced with a hint of pride.
The rest of the group looked confused yet intrigued, and Gale asked curiously, "Why 'Kamisato'?"
Jackson, eager to explain his choice, took a moment to articulate his reasoning. "As a gang member, you would likely appreciate the name Kamisato for several reasons. Firstly, the name is unique and easy to remember," Jackson explained, pausing for effect before continuing. "Not only does the name have a strong and powerful connotation, but its origins and meaning also suggest divine land, honour and loyalty," Jackson explained, his eyes gleaming with conviction.
"Finally, the name carries a sense of mystique, making it mysterious and exciting, which can be appealing to gang members who may thrive on the sense of secrecy and power that a unique and interesting name like Kamisato can convey."
Daisy, Daniel, Martin and Gale listened intently, taking in Jackson's thorough explanation. Gale, somewhat sceptical, considered Jackson's words, trying to weigh the pros and cons of the name. But finally after considering all the aspects, they looked satisfied with the name.
Then Gale declared, "Well then the name of the gang will be Kamisato, it's done."
Hearing this, all of them enthusiastically clapped in agreement, appreciating Jackson's choice. At the same time when Daisy, who had been holding an ice cream cone the whole time, tried to clap her hands together, the cone slipped out of her hands, causing her to realise that her ice cream was melting the whole time, messing her hands and now it just wasted. Seeing this she let out a small scream, making all of them look at her in surprise.
Daniel, who had been standing nearby, asked concerned, "What happened?"
In response, Daisy complained, "My ice cream melted, and now I need to buy a new one."
After saying this, as she made her way towards the ice cream parlour to buy a new ice cream cone, Jackson called out to her, "Hey, Daisy, since you're heading that way, could you grab one for us too?"
Daisy turned around and looked at Jackson with a mix of annoyance and reluctance. "Why? Can't you use your own money to buy it?" she asked.
Jackson, however, tried to persuade Daisy by replying in a requesting tone, "We forgot to take the money with us. You bring it for us now, and we'll definitely pay you back later."
Daisy considered Jackson's request for a moment, her expression a mix of reluctance and a sense of obligation. With a reluctant sigh and rolling her eyes, she gave in.
With that, she turned around and headed towards the ice cream parlour once again, while the boys chuckled amongst themselves, amused by the small predicament.
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