章 464: Life... Is Really Troublesome~

Maybe a Fake Gintama Chapter 464 Life... Is Really Troublesome~

"That's it..." Houichi's cold voice came from the rising smoke, "I won't let you take another step forward!"

When the smoke dispersed, Houichi raised his claws and stood on his feet. Facing the lion, he protected the group of stray cats without any fear.

"From here on, this is all the territory of me, Kabukicho Stray Cat King, Houichi!" Houichi's face was fierce. He frowned and stared at the lion in front of him.

"He... he stood up! He stood up with two legs! What is that?!" The cat king who was looking through the glass window was full of shock.

At this moment, the lion that had not moved suddenly moved! It roared, raised its front paw, and forcefully swung it toward the floor in front of Houichi.

Boom!!

After a loud bang, the ground that Houichi was standing on had been smashed into pieces. A second before the attack arrived, Houichi, who had already jumped high, raised his right claw without any hesitation, and ruthlessly swung it down toward the lion's left eye!

"Woo!"

The male lion screamed and was slapped to the side!

"What happened to that cat?!" The cat king opened his mouth and widened his eyes. He stared at Houichi in horror.

"King..." Kurogoma Katsuo, who was also in the control room with a toothpick in his mouth and watching the battle below, slowly explained, "That is the boss cat that dominates Kabukicho and rules over all stray cats. The pinnacle of them all, the Stray Cat King - Houichi!"

Looking at the figure of Houichi who had no fear and was fighting with the lion without any disadvantage, the king cat was shocked, or perhaps it was because of excitement that he became a little incoherent.

"Too... too perfect!" The cat king's eyes flashed with crazed excitement, "That vitality, courage, and endless outpouring of energy!"

"Ho-Houichi..." The group of stray cats watched in disbelief as Houichi, who had kicked the lion to the ground once again landed in front of them.

"Why... Why? Why do you want to save us who did that to you!"

However, Houichi did not reply. Instead, he once again charged toward the lion that had already stood up and roared as it charged over.

"Why exactly?!" The group of stray cats shouted.

Houichi was extremely fast. He charged forward along the lion's right claw and charged toward the lion's right eye without the slightest bit of fear.

It was his right eye! Houichi's target was the lion's eyes!

However, the lion obviously had intelligence. Just when Houichi jumped up high and waved his front paws toward the lion's right eye at a very fast speed, the lion opened its mouth and roared at Houichi who was in mid-air!

The roar that came straight at Houichi pinned Houichi in mid-air. Then, the lion took advantage of this opportunity and ruthlessly swung its front claws at Houichi without hesitation!

After a loud bang, Houichi was slammed heavily on the wall on the side and spat out a mouthful of blood.

The lion did not stop and once again swung its front claws at Houichi, who had yet to react.

Houichi reacted at the last moment before the lion's attack landed and quickly jumped down, landing on the floor behind the lion.

"Tsk!" Houichi wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. His expression was still fierce, staring at the lion in front of him.

The lion turned its body and roared again. At the same time, its right claw swung down toward the floor! The several large pieces of the floor that had been crushed by the claws quickly rushed toward Houichi!

Glancing at the few stray cats who were trembling in fear and unable to move, Houichi made up his mind in his heart...

Boom!!!

After a loud noise, the place where Houichi was filled with smoke.

After a few seconds, the smoke gradually dispersed. The group of stray cats also saw Houichi's appearance clearly. They only saw that Houichi did not move half a step and tightly guarded the stray cats.

Houichi's body was full of wounds from the sharp stones. Fresh blood was constantly gushing out from the wounds. Houichi's body also began to tremble slightly because of the pain.

At this moment, the stray cats may truly begin to understand something...

"Roar!" The lion roared again, raised its right paw, and waved it toward Houichi.

Houichi gritted his teeth and struggled to raise his two front paws to resist the lion's attack.

The entire room began to shake because of this attack.

'Please... hold on for a while longer, just a little longer...' While resisting, Houichi also prayed in his heart, 'Hold on, don't let it break! This guy is the last one! Lend me your body... for a little while longer!!'

The floor that Houichi was stepping on began to collapse. Similarly, Houichi's body also collapsed. The place that had just been cut by the stone began to bleed continuously.

However, at this moment, the lion does not give Houichi another chance. It used the right claw that Houichi blocked to pin him. It then raised its left claw high and swung it down at Houichi without any pause.

With a piercing sound, the sound of a sharp weapon cutting through a body rang out. At the same time, blood splattered everywhere.

Whether it was a cat, a human, or any other creature, when facing death, they would always think of a certain moment in their lives, a memory that allowed them to persist for a while and fight again...

-----Memory Dividing Line-----

Opening his eyes, Houichi saw Otose's face, whose face was full of wrinkles and heavy makeup, but was exceptionally kind.

"Are you awake?" Otose looked at Houichi, who was sitting next to him, and scolded with a smile, "Are you the stray cat that recently became Kabukicho's boss cat? You're a fool to pick fights with dogs."

As she spoke, Otose revealed a trace of happiness on her face, "Good thing you only lost your ears. You're quite a manly one. There's no need to worry. The one you were protecting is fine as you can see..."

As Otose spoke, she picked up a white kitten that looked underage.

However, the kitten let out a cry and broke free from Otose's hand. After it landed on the ground, it ran toward the door.

"Well, it ran off. You're not very well-liked." After saying this casually, Otose lit up a cigarette and took a light drag. She continued, "I was wondering why it felt like this wasn't our first meeting. You're exactly like him. I once picked up another stray. On the verge of death, just like you, lying on the side of the road...A stupid cat that was your match in every way."

Houichi, whose head was wrapped in a bandage, just lay on a chair by the side. He raised his head and blinked his eyes as he quietly listened to Otose.

"...I don't know how he ended up there though. Always seemed as though he was looking for something. Butting in where he wasn't wanted and putting his own body to protect the things that were important for other people.Almost like he was trying to atone for something. Meanwhile, he kept nothing for himself. Didn't get close to anyone. He was always alone...just like you..."

Otose continued to talk to herself.

"Maybe he was afraid of enduring the pain of loss again... Maybe he didn't want others to experience what he had... Perhaps he was trying to punish himself. But you know... There were other strays who were drawn to that idiot. Soon he could no longer stay alone."

"Maybe he just learned from them. That fatalism won't make anyone happy. Friends to protect, who protected him, may have given him the strength to move on. You protect and suffer losses. You're protected and suffer losses... Even so, you continue to bear the burden, and in the end, you make the same mistakes again. This is the so-called life..."

"Life... is really troublesome." Otose sighed softly, "But, looking at those three faces, I feel that life is not bad."

"Why do I have to say this to a cat? I always feel that after seeing you trying to be strong on your own, I can't help but think of that guy in the past." Suddenly, Otose came back to her senses and glanced at Houichi in surprise. Then, she turned her head and said something...

——Memory Dividing Line End——

Lying on the floor, on the verge of death, and covered in wounds, Houichi thought of the last sentence that Otose had said at that time, [Live positively. I'm sure you have friends waiting to support you. The ones you care for would want you to do so...]

"I can't be positive, Granny..." Looking at the lion that was walking toward him step by step in front of him, Houichi muttered to himself in a self-deprecating manner, "I can't make anything happen by being positive... I don't deserve any friends when I couldn't even protect my only pal... I forgot how to make friends a long time ago..."

"Still...Even if I couldn't make friends, I wanted to protect them. I wanted to protect something with these hands, instead of taking from others... Sorry... I couldn't protect you all till the very end...I'm a failure of a boss cat..."

At this time, the lion had already opened its claws and pounced toward Houichi...

'Pal, I broke another promise... Sorry...' With this thought, Houichi slowly closed his eyes.

"Hey, it's not over yet." Kawaki's voice came from the side, "Open your eyes and look. There is nothing in front of you. There is only a wall. If you can't break it by yourself, you can only rely on your friends to break it."

"Kawa...!" Houichi widened his eyes and looked at Kawaki, who was sitting next to him, "Why... Why are you here?"

"Even Tom has a few stray cat friends. I am no exception. I just came to play with my friends." After a chuckle, Kawaki stood up and glanced coldly at the lion who was about to pounce on him. Then, he kicked the lion hard in the stomach.

The lion screamed and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"What is that?!" The cat king opened his mouth wide and looked at the cat in front of Houichi with a cold sweat.

"Gintoki!" Kawaki raised his head and shouted, "Is it so difficult to break a wall?! Aren't you a man so stubborn that even if you turn into a cat, you can't bear to give up your most annoying natural wavy hair?!"