Chapter 60: Imperfect Proof of Existence
Swish!
Hanayama's massive hand shot out, grabbing Kei's upper arm.
Shouts erupted from the second floor: "He got him again! He grabbed him again!"
But this time, because Hanayama was half-kneeling, Kei seized the opportunity. He raised his right leg—the one with the exploded calf—and drove a brutal front kick into Hanayama's face.
BANG!
Hanayama was knocked flat on his back, blood from both men spraying around them.
"..."
Kei stood on his tiptoes, his right leg trembling. The muscle fibers of his calf were exposed, blood flowing ceaselessly, pooling in a bright red puddle at his feet.
"Hurts..."
Kei's expression was calm.
Or rather, his stamina was nearing its limit; he didn't even have the energy to move his facial muscles.
How was his right leg?
Five toes could still grip the ground. Ankle could still twist. Good. The nerves were still connected!
But there was no time to celebrate.
Before his eyes, the giant named "Hanayama Kaoru" stood up again, resuming his wide-open brawling stance!
"Come... on..."
Kei whispered the words, barely understanding their meaning himself.
Simultaneously, he and Hanayama drew back their right arms, winding up for a punch, aiming at each other.
Seeing this, the crowd on the second floor gasped.
"They're going to trade blows head-on!"
"That Shiraki guy can barely move! He's got a death wish!"
"Is he giving up?!"
"..."
Tenma Nozomi frowned deeply, her hands unconsciously gripping the railing in front of her, her eyes glued to the scene below.
A head-on exchange would inevitably end in Kei's crushing defeat.
Was it really over?!
NO!
Even though it looked like Kei was about to lose consciousness, his movements suddenly changed. He twisted his body with the momentum, launching a spinning high kick.
[Ryu • Tatsumaki Senpukyaku]!
BANG!
Hanayama's neck took the hit. His head rattled, his body stiffening significantly.
Kei seized the chance, throwing a mid-level straight punch, followed by a low kick, and finally a spinning back kick to the head. A flurry of high and low strikes in a straight line.
[Ryu • Jodan Sokuto Geri Combo]!
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Blood sprayed from Hanayama's nose and mouth as he stumbled back again.
This rapid-fire combo not only pushed Hanayama back but also stunned the spectators on the second floor. Even Kei himself looked bewildered.
I—
Why am I moving?
He had no strength left, yet his muscles fired subconsciously, driving his body to move, to execute techniques.
And—
Why does this feel... happy?
Multiple broken ribs, a fractured jaw, severe damage inside his mouth, an exploded calf, countless cuts and abrasions all over his body...
This level of pain... retreating now would still earn him respect!
So why... why did he want to keep fighting?
Why not just throw a casual punch, let Hanayama knock him down, and accept the cheers of the crowd? Wouldn't that be enough?
"..."
Humans are creatures that cherish life. They have an instinct to seek benefit and avoid harm. Most people wouldn't do something life-threatening.
And people like Kei and Hanayama—people like them could easily achieve "success" in the worldly sense.
Money, status, fame, power, praise...
Anything they wanted!
Paying off debts, beating up punks, consolidating resources, picking up girls, making a fortune, becoming a superior being—doing these things might not actually be difficult.
But if you think about it carefully, that isn't a real "life." Those are just "decorations" that can be placed on anyone.
What truly made Kei happy was "doing something"—that passion, that action itself, was his unique proof of existence!
Because he existed, he was happy.
Where did happiness come from?
It was the first word written, the first punch thrown at a sandbag, a piece of knowledge learned, a tiny improvement in training, the execution of a move...
Maybe he'd make mistakes, maybe he was clumsy, maybe he took detours, maybe he wasn't a "perfect, successful person," but the key was that "Shiraki Kei did this."
The key was—the process of doing it all became his imperfect proof of existence!
"HANAYAMA!"
Kei roared, facing Hanayama who had raised his fists again. He leaped into the air, driving a knee forward.
[Zangief • Flying Knee]!
BANG!
Hanayama's nose sprayed blood as his head snapped back. At the same time, his massive hand shoved forward, sending Kei flying back as well.
SWISH—!
Both men hit the ground, and after a few breaths, both stood up again.
Clatter...
Hanayama grabbed two bottles of hard liquor. Kei kicked up a small keg of beer. They both chugged huge mouthfuls, refusing to back down.
The crowd on the second floor watched with trembling hearts.
Since the fight started, they had consumed an unknown amount of alcohol. It wouldn't be strange if they just passed out drunk.
The amount of alcohol and the scale of the fight were both unimaginably exaggerated!
Crunch!
They finished drinking and tossed the containers aside.
Hanayama moved first. With a whoosh, he stomped forward, swinging his fist.
Facing that terrifying iron fist, Kei gritted his teeth and swung his left arm horizontally, using his entire arm as a "track," enduring the agony to deflect Hanayama's punch.
Swish!
Hanayama's iron fist missed, grazing Kei's chest and tearing open a large, bloody gash.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Kei slammed three punches into Hanayama's chin, then hooked his right arm under Hanayama's armpit, dragging the giant toward him.
"Hanayama-bro, I can't take any more of your punches..."
Kei exhaled a hot breath. The thumb and index finger of his left hand spread wide, clamping horizontally onto Hanayama's Adam's apple.
Getsuga Saiho • Kai (Modified)—
[Hermit Offers Wine • Throat Lock]!
Kei's left hand wrenched downward, his latissimus dorsi muscles contracting, pulling with all his strength!
With a crisp CRACK...
Hanayama's massive, superhuman body was flipped onto its back. His Adam's apple was visibly deformed. His windpipe had taken a critical hit!
...
...
"WOAAH!!"
The crowd on the second floor erupted. Even Kizaki broke out in a cold sweat.
Tenma Nozomi saw it clearly.
Kei had used his brain to see through Hanayama's punch trajectory, used his arm to precisely deflect it, and aimed for Hanayama's... and the human body's... weakest point.
—The throat!
Kei had crushed Hanayama's throat. Hanayama must be in agonizing pain, and temporarily unable to breathe!
"Hey! It's just a fight! Someone's gonna die!"
Nozomi ignored everything else and frantically called out to Kizaki, "Go save your Boss! Shiraki-bro is gonna kill him!"
"...No. It's not over!"
Kizaki hesitated for a split second, then shook his head decisively, shouting, "The Boss is a true yakuza! With his last breath, he can still fire one last 'cannonball'!"
"..."
Hearing this, Nozomi slowly turned her gaze back to the street, witnessing an even more terrifying scene.
Hanayama Kaoru slowly stood up from the wreckage, his neck stiff and unable to breathe, his eyes wide and bloodshot, clenching his last breath into one final fist.
"I knew it. Goes without saying..."
Kei let his arms hang, blood streaming down his face. He walked forward on unsteady legs, stumbling, but gaining speed, charging at Hanayama!
Did he have no moves left?
...No!
Nozomi noticed that on Kei's clenched right fist... one index finger was suddenly raised.