Chapter 56: A Swig of Liquor
CRASH!
The sudden, massive commotion terrified the scattered customers in the bar.
"Waaaaah!"
"Fight! It's a fight—!"
The customers scrambled back, clearing a large space. Then, a deafening roar echoed.
"SHIRAKI!"
Hanayama Kaoru kicked a sofa out of his way, striding forward.
Shiraki Kei was still lying on the floor, dazed from Hanayama's punch.
Even though he had blocked with his forearms and jumped back to disperse the force, he couldn't completely neutralize Hanayama's power.
The terrifying force had pierced through his arms like a spear!
"?!"
Kei didn't dare relax. He gritted his teeth and held on.
The world's number one fighting genius—a Natural Born Strongman. His massive fist hit harder than the enhanced soldier Maruko!
THUD!
Hanayama stomped the ground, glaring down at the prone Kei. He clenched his right fist and smashed it down.
"Gah—!"
Kei had just taken his first breath. Seeing the danger, he curled into a ball, using his arms and legs to protect his vitals.
BANG!
The giant fist slammed into Kei. The recoil from the floor bounced him up like a rubber ball!
"..."
Hanayama said nothing. His left uppercut was already there, catching the airborne Kei and launching him straight up into the ceiling.
CRASH!
The plywood ceiling cracked, and the chandelier shattered. Wood chips and glass shards rained down, illuminated by the exposed filaments like a glittering shower.
Amidst the falling "rain," Kei dropped from the ceiling. Blood smeared his face as he slammed heavily onto the floor. Agonizing pain shot through his body, and his vision blurred.
...
...
The barrage was too fierce, too fast. There was no time to react.
"Wait... Hey!"
At the distant table, Tenma Nozomi's face paled, cold sweat breaking out again.
Kizaki had expected this. "Miss Tenma, like I said, a fight isn't a match. There doesn't even need to be a conflict of interest. When you want to punch someone, you just punch them."
"Shiraki-bro is ridiculously strong, too. He managed to protect his vitals against the Boss's fists."
Kizaki sipped his juice, his tone changing.
"But as a 'fighter,' Shiraki-bro probably won't find a tougher opponent than our Boss..."
...
...
Swish!
Hanayama grabbed Kei by the collar, hauling him off the floor.
But since they were similar in height, Kei wasn't dangling. He could still push off the ground.
BANG!
Kei gritted his bloody teeth and stomped forward, gathering explosive power in the shortest distance possible, driving his left elbow into Hanayama's chest.
[Aura Counter • Piercing Elbow]!
Hanayama ignored it completely. He slammed his forehead into Kei's face.
With a dull thud, both attacks connected. Hanayama grunted and took half a step back. Kei's face exploded, blood gushing from his nose and mouth.
The damage disparity was huge. They weren't in the same weight class!
This was the first time Kei's [Aura Counter] had failed to turn the tide. Hanayama didn't even let go of his collar.
That iron grip held him fast as the monstrous fist launched a series of uppercuts.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Punch after punch. Kei was forced to defend, covering his chin with his arms.
Hanayama's punches were simple, devoid of technique, hitting the same spot over and over. Yet each was heavier than the last, instantly breaking through Kei's guard.
Swish!
The iron fist came for Kei's chin.
Kei threw his head back, rolling with the uppercut, barely avoiding a direct hit.
The fist grazed his jaw, easily tearing the skin and drawing a line of bright red blood.
Drops of blood scattered like rain!
Swish!
Hanayama didn't stop. He raised his leg and kicked Kei squarely in the face, sending him flying, blood trailing in the air.
The spectators trembled.
"What a crazy yakuza kick!"
"Someone's gonna die! Stop them!"
"You go stop them, idiot!"
"So strong—he's gonna hit the window!"
CRACK!
Kei flew backward, slamming into the bar's outer window. The tempered glass cracked.
"Hoo..."
Kei leaned against the window, forcing himself to stand. He clenched his fists, his arms trembling as he raised them.
The next instant—
Hanayama lowered his body into a sprinting stance, like an American football player. He charged, driving his massive shoulder into Kei!
The giant man was like a runaway semi-truck at full speed!
BOOM!!
The shoulder slammed into Kei. The monstrous force shattered the already-cracked glass!
CRASH!
With nothing to stop them, Kei and Hanayama flew out the window together, plummeting to the street below.
"?!"
"Waaah! The glass broke—!"
"No way—"
"They... they fell!"
The spectators, including Nozomi and even Kizaki, were shocked.
But then they remembered—this was only the second floor. For those two, a fall like that wouldn't mean much.
"..."
Without hesitation, everyone rushed to the window, ignoring the broken glass, craning their necks to look down.
On the ground below, several promotional display racks had been crushed by the falling men, bottles of alcohol shattered everywhere.
Clatter...
Soon, Hanayama and Kei stood up from the mess, facing each other.
The spectators upstairs erupted.
"WOAAAH! They're fine!"
"It's crazy! Like a Jackie Chan movie!"
"Are they still fighting? They're still fighting!"
"..."
...
Hanayama stood still, then bent down and picked up a bottle of "Wild Turkey"—the same brand he had offered Kei earlier.
"This liquor is good."
Hanayama reintroduced it. But instead of opening the cap, he gripped the bottle with one hand and the neck with the other, and simply pulled.
CRACK!
The glass neck was torn off, leaving a jagged opening.
Hanayama drank straight from the bottle, downing the entire liter of 40-proof bourbon in one go!
CRUNCH!
He crushed the empty bottle in his hand and looked at Kei. "I like it. So—shall we continue?"
"..."
Kei's vision was red. He swayed, barely able to stand, but he managed to force out a few words—
"Bad. Too spicy."
Kei let his arms hang, licking the blood from the corner of his mouth. He grinned. "I like lighter flavors. Wine, fruit liquor... beer is good too."
Hanayama understood.
Since the argument about "liquor" continued, the reason for the fight remained. Neither of them would stop!
"Hoo—!"
Hanayama blew on his fist and stepped forward.
Kei's vision was blurred. Maybe from the fall, maybe from the beating. His head was spinning, hot and red, as if he'd downed a shot of strong spirits.
"Body... getting warm..."
Blood flowed from Kei's nose. He opened his eyes wide, the whites filled with blood vessels.
THUD!
Hanayama stepped forward, drawing back his fist again.
But Kei moved first. He dashed forward, driving the heel of his left palm into Hanayama's chest.
BANG!
Hanayama didn't budge. Kei switched steps, driving his right palm forward for a second strike.
BANG!
The successive heavy blows finally threw Hanayama off balance. His punch missed, the knuckles grazing Kei's ear.
Finally, Kei could see it clearly—the lithe phantom with long hair tied back and a wine gourd at his waist.
He leaned on Kei's shoulder, patted his foolish disciple, took a swig from his gourd, and wiped his mouth.
Haha, how is it? Feeling it now?
Jamie Siu—signaled for Kei to follow his lead.
Kei and the phantom moved in sync. A quick step forward, a palm strike, hitting Hanayama for the third time.
[Jamie • Swagger Step]!