Capítulo 1: The man, the myth, the legend. Daichi Ushiguro
Daichi Ushiguro is, to say the least, a "big man". The undisrupted "king" of his school, he reigns over his subordinates with hurt and fear. Everybody in his school knows not to mess with "Big Man Daichi" or they'll have their ass handed to them. Nobody likes Daichi's way of keeping the school in check, but then again, nobody was brave enough to stand up to this absolute unit of a man.
'Are you kidding me?!' Daichi yelled at a second-year. 'Ya wanna die?'
'W...w...well Daichi-senpai, y...y...you s...s...see, m...m...my dog d...d...ied las-' The terrified second-year stuttered.
'Does it look like I give a damn about your dog?!' Daichi shouted. 'I gave you three days to do this essay, three goddamn days!'
'I...I swear I'll get it d...d...one to...tonight Daichi Senpai!' The second-year promised. 'I swear!'
Daichi grabbed the petrified boy by the collar and pulled him up to his face. 'Three. Days. Matsumoto. I gave you three. Days.'
The boy called Matsumoto only gulped and braced for impact.
Daichi threw him across the room to his lackeys. The group of lads cracked their knuckles and got to work. 'Go easy on him boys. I'd need him to get to his sister.'
He beckoned one of the boys who was standing at the side to come over. 'Inuzaki, lad, come here.'
The tall third-year, known as Inuzaki strolled over. 'What's up.'
'You think you'd be able to write this goddamn essay for me in a night's time?'
Inuzaki blinked. 'of course, I don't want you to be held back a second time do I?'
'Sound, you're always reliable.'
Daichi sat back in his chair and watched the action unfold in front of him. He enjoyed doing this, there's no way in hell that he wanted to graduate in two months time, he'd rather get held back a third time and continue his reign, but being held back again would disappoint his mother. And if there's one person in the world he cared for, that's his mom. Inuzaki was smart, he knows for a fact that he'll get the job done, and Inuzaki also knows that if he doesn't, there'll be consequences.
He held out his hand. 'That's enough boys, thank you.'
He walked over and squatted beside the half-conscious Matsumoto. 'you know, I'll give it to you. You're pretty smart. But brains can only get you so far in life, now shoo. Get out of my sight before I call in a round two.'
Matsumoto's bruised eyes opened wider than it should and he scrambled off. Daichi sighed, he looked outside the window. It was a beautiful day, no clouds, miniscule wind and the sun was beating down brightly.
'Hiro, get the ladies, screw school, we're going to the basketball court.'
The little First-year known as Hiro quickly ran off to inform the girls that Daichi and the gang are going to play basketball, The rest of the boys cheered and climbed out of the classroom window, until the only ones left were Inuzaki and Daichi.
'Daichi-san, you can't keep on going on like this, sooner or later, you'll have to progress in life. Know that you can't always be on the top of the food chain.'
Daichi had a look of confusion on his hard face. 'Are you telling me to quit what I'm doing, Inuzaki?'
'No, definitely not. Just...rethink your decisions. That's all, because all of, this nonsense, could get you killed one day.'
Daichi just sneered at Inuzaki's comment. 'I'll think about it when that day comes.' Then he left the classroom via the window.
Inuzaki's long greasy hair fell onto his face as a shadow cast over it. 'You better think about it soon, Daichi-san, there's a lot of people who don't agree with the way you're doing things. All they need is a little tap...' Inuzaki laughed a cold laugh and shoved his hands in his pocket, he then finally walked out of the classroom door.
Daichi likes to live fast, live the moment, and would rather not spend time thinking about what could go wrong and when, he'll just encounter it head on when the time comes. Daichi saw the group of girls waiting in front of the now-overgrown old track and field and smiled. Hiro's done the job.
'Hiro's a good kid.' He thought. 'I'd probably pass the crown to him after I graduate, shame Inuzaki would graduate with me. But all the better, I'd have a trusted man when I finally enter society.'
'Daichi-kun, when are we leaving?'
'You got me standing out in the boiling sun for this long, when are we going already?'
'Daichi-senpai, I'm reaaaallly waaarm...'
'Now, now, ladies.' Daichi extended both his arms. 'Inuzaki is the person who was able to make this happen in the first place. If he haven't found the spare classroom, we wouldn't get the chance to go to the basketball court.'
And it was true, back when Daichi was a second-year and Inuzaki was a first-year, Inuzaki found an unused classroom when he took a wrong exit to the bathroom, after finding it, Inuzaki immediately reported back to Daichi and told him his plan. After, Inuzaki was able to pick the padlocks that locked the windows and was able to reboot the eletronic lock on the door. It has functioned as their base of operations ever since.
He caught Inuzaki slowly walking towards them with the corner of his eye. 'So it's only courtesy if we wait for him.'
'Hiro, lead the way.' Daichi nodded to the small first-year. Hiro gestured at the girls and some of the new members of Daichi's gang to come with him, he ducked below the rows of bleachers and held open the wall of vines dangling from in between the metal walkways for the girls, he waited for Daichi but he told him to go ahead with a nod, Daichi took over and held the vines for the remainder of his gang. Hiro then swerved in and out of tall, overgrown grass and bushes with pricks. Inuzaki remained silent and trailed behind the rest of the group, seemingly lost in thought, they reached a wall before Inuzaki spoke up. 'There's a phone call I need to make. You guys go ahead, I'll be right behind.' Hiro nodded and scaled the wall with ease. 'Daichi-senpai, mind giving me a hand here.'
Daichi who has previously been staring at one of the girl's behind snapped back to the present. 'Ah, ah ha ha, sure! I'll be up in a moment.' And then boosted himself up the wall.
Hiro and Daichi help each girl one by one up on the wall, then Hiro jumped off and help the girls off. Daichi stayed on the wall to help some of the boys who were more capable at fighting than anything else up unto the wall. Hiro looked at Daichi quizzically, Daichi chuckled. 'I'll wait for our Inu. You go and set up the game for us.' Hiro still looked puzzled. 'Well, if you say so senpai. But where is our equipment?'
Daichi pointed at a white van parked in an alley and threw him a set of keys. 'Third from the right opens the back, first from the left opens the front. There's basketballs, cones and stuff at the back, there's water and refreshments at the front.'
Hiro fumbled around with the keys before running off, Daichi looked down from the wall at the spectacle in front of him. 'It almost feels like we're normal students having fun on a weekend doesn't it?' A voice came from behind. 'Heh, if every normal student is a delinquent and probably doesn't have a future. Yeah.' Daichi replied.
Inuzaki climbed up beside him. 'What would you do in the far future.'
The question caught Daichi off guard and he thought about it for a while. 'I don't know.' He mused. 'I might try to join the Yakuza or if that doesn't work out, find some day labor job then. Or I might try my luck with sports teams and try to make it big.'
Inuzaki smirked. 'And here I thought you were a brainless meathead. You have really thought through your life, I didn't expect you to think that far, Daichi-san. I must say I'm surprised.'
'Yeah, well. Living with a mother is hard you know. No everybody is as responsible as you, O wise Hound.'
Just then a ball came soaring through the air straight to Daichi's face, he caught it. 'Senpais, are you two going to join or?' Hiro's annoyed voice shouted up at them. 'We can't wait forever you know?'
'And twenty minutes ago we were just beating up a kid for not doing an assignment on time.'
Inuzaki chuckled.
'But you know that you have to get it finished tonight, right? Inuzaki?' Daichi's tone suddenly dropped into a threat.
Inuzaki simply waved his hand and dismissed the subject. 'Mine took me a mere twenty minutes, I doubt yours would take me longer.'
'Good, just checking.'
Daichi and Inuzaki slid down the wall. 'Fear not my dear Hiro. We are now ready to commence the match.'
Six hours breezed past and before you know it, the boys and girls one by one went home and all that left was Hiro, Inuzaki and Daichi.
'Hiro, aren't your parents worried?' Inuzaki asked. 'You should be running along home now. Leave the tidying to me and Daichi.'
'Nah Inuzaki senpai. I'm perfectly fine, and besides, I told my parents I would be out until late.'
The three boys picked up the cones and went and found the basketball that got lost prior. They brought the stuff back to the van and closed the double doors, Daichi locked the back and then took three bottles of water out and threw one each to Inuzaki and Hiro. 'Y'all wanna go and get some steamed buns? I'm feeling generous today, the tab's on me.' He patted his pocket to see if his phone was still there.
The three of them walked to the local corner shop in the following order: Hiro in front almost bouncing, Daichi behind Hiro with his hands behind his head, grinning into the sunset and Inuzaki bringing up the end with a defeated smile on his face as he watched his two "friends" chanting 'Steamed buns! Steamed buns! Steamed buns!'. If anyone not from their city saw the three of them, they might just assume that they were three good friends getting something to eat after a long school day. Well, that was technically the truth, just that they weren't what you'll call friends, more like, ah, allies. And that they were the biggest delinquents in the city. But apart from those minor aspects, their guess would be correct.
*
The three of them stood in front of the corner shop with their steamed buns, each took a bite out of it. Inuzaki's eyes opened. 'Damn, this is actually pretty good, ain't it?' Hiro grinned from cheek to cheek. 'I agree! I agree!'
Daichi looked at his two allies' subconscious smiles and can't resist smiling himself. What if they were normal students under normal circumstances, no, if it was normal circumstances he wouldn't have met Hiro, slightly altered circumstances, would he consider them friends? And would this happen on a semi daily basis? Daichi doesn't know, but he does know to enjoy the moment while it lasted.
Hiro checked his phone and something fell over his face. 'Shoot guys, I have to go. I told mom I'll be back by now, see you tomorrow Daichi-senpai, Inuzaki-senpai!'
Hiro ran across the road, but just then Daichi noticed something, Inuzaki apparently caught on too as they both ran towards Hiro. 'Watch...Hiro!'. Hiro turned his head in confusion and saw the truck coming full speed at him, a terrified look casted over his face as he opened his mouth to scream. A rush of adrenaline enveloped Daichi as he took off with superhuman speed and pushed Hiro aside, before turning and shoving Inuzaki out of the way too. The truck took him head on and he went flying. He landed on top of a car and crumpled the bonnet. Daichi could feel something warm trickle down his face and cold pricks in his legs. He just about saw the face of the driver of the truck before it went speeding off. Matsumoto. It all fell into place, Matsumoto's dad owned the local postal delivery office. Daichi silently chuckled.
He can faintly hear Inuzaki shouting into his phone. 'I paid you guys to do this job! I knew something like this would happen! You just had to watch him and call us! No...no fucking way...' He could just about see the shopkeeper run out and ask what's wrong and Hiro pointed in his direction. 'Oh my god! Don't worry, I'll call an ambulance!'
Daichi smiled. 'I'd rather you call the police...tell them "Matsumoto delivery service" and...ask his Dad to look for his...truck...He's not going...home...tonight after committing...a...murder. I'm a gonner, so...catch him while...you can.'
The shopkeeper nodded and dialled 110. Inuzaki walked over. 'I thought they were trustworthy...'
'Here, Inuzaki, lad.' Daichi weakly said. 'Light me...a cig...would ya?'
Inuzaki nodded and pulled a cigarette packet out of his pocket and lit a cigarette with a lighter. He put it in Daichi's mouth.
'Hiro...come here.'
Hiro slowly walked over, still recovering from the shock. 'You're trustworthy...after Inuzaki graduates...take over, but...don't be like...us. Make friends...not enemies.'
'Why did you s...s...save me, I mean u...us?' Hiro asked.
Daichi smirked. 'Well...is it...wrong to save...two friends?'
As his adrenaline faded, so did his consciousness. 'Well...my time is up.' Daichi smiled. 'I'm sorry for...making you...listen to such a...cliché speech.'
Darkness slowly took over. Daichi laughed a hearty laugh. 'And Inuzaki, did...I mention you'd be a...great Yakuza? You got the...heart.'
A tear rolled down Inuzaki's face. 'Rest easy, friend.'
Then Daichi blacked out.
REFLEXIONES DE LOS CREADORES 
USS_Nii
USS_Nii here it is! The collab with Okazaki Fubuki! I hope you're able to tell what chapters are written by whom UmU.
This novel took ages of planning, and trial and error, in fact, this chapter wasn't meant to be the first chapter at all! It's actually woven together by three different draft chapters, written by Okazaki before I finally rewrote them into a somewhat similar chapter that you see right now. Of course, this is the refined final draft that both of us were happy to put out. So enjoy it, because I certainly did.
Nii
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