Chapter 13: Club

Name: Koda Ihono

Age: 15

Lvl: 2

Notoriety: 30(Boss)

STR: 15

AGI: 12

DEF: 9

STA: 10

CHA: 7

Skills: [Street Brawler]{Lvl 2} Evade]{Lvl 1} [Iron Skin]{Lvl 1} [Glutton] [Leadership]{Max} [Cunning}(Passive)

TP: 85

'Everything is going up... But why can't I level up?' Koda thought to himself as he sat on a pile of thugs. He'd skipped school to mess around in the east side, but there weren't any guys that were strong enough to give him an actual challenge. The 3rd strengthening quest had just given him another +1 to all of his stats.

"Hmm... I'm in the area, should I go say hi?" He thought aloud, putting out his cigarette into one man's ear and standing up, stretching and yawning. "Fine, I'll go see how that black flame is doing."

Sakura Amaterasu sat in front of the hospital bed, cutting up an apple and talking with Emily and Hiroko.

She glanced at his cast, her face grimacing as she was reminded of the one who had caused that.

"Hey don't worry about it," Hiroko said, seeing her sudden mood change. "You'll get him next time, he wasn't all that strong he just caught us off guard... I'll handle that Koda Ihono once I get out of this damn cast."

"Hm? Handle who?" A voice came from the door, and all three looked on in shock as Koda stood there holding flowers.

Koda entered the room with a grin, ducking under Sakura's fist and placing the flowers next to Hiroko's bed.

Sakura clenched her fists, her anger flaring. "What do you want, Ihono?" she hissed.

Koda smirked, his eyes locking onto Sakura's. "Well, well, aren't you feisty today? I just wanted to check up on Hiroko, didn't think he'd still be in the hospital, I didn't mean to do so much damage..."

Emily, who had been silent during the exchange, chimed in, her voice laced with venom as she grabbed the knife Sakura had been using to cut Hiroko's apple. "Why are you really here, Koda? No one's buying this friendly act."

Koda chuckled as he leaned against the wall. "You're a smart one, Emily. It's good to be suspicious, but nah just here to check in."

"Get the fuck out you-" Hiroko began to say before Koda plopped his hand down on his cast, causing the older boy to yelp.

"I paid all your hospital bills by the way!" Koda interrupted, smiling at their shocked faces.

"Why would you do that, what are you planning you sick little-"

"God Sakura, can't you just say thank you? I know Hiroko's parents weren't going to pay for it, he was probably already planning to drop out of school and get a job to pay those bills."

Sakura clenched her fists, her anger burning. She shot Koda a withering look. "Why do you care about Hiroko? What's your game here?"

Koda merely shrugged, his expression inscrutable. "Call it a random act of kindness... Though it's not exactly free..."

"Hah, knew it was too good to be true, I don't want your damn money," Hiroko spat, glaring at Koda as the boy shook his head with an exasperated sigh.

"Can you just shut up... But yeah, I'm planning on joining the big leagues, I'm getting tired of this highschool bullshit, I wanna take my first steps into the real world..."

Sakura had an unsettling feeling. Being a delinquet was one thing, but someone like Koda, his unstableness out and about on the streets? She didn't want to see that.

"Aww... Are you worried about me?" Koda asked, grabbing Sakura's chin and pulling her close.

"The opposite actually, you still haven't explained what the fuck you're doing here, and I'm pretty sure Emily is ready to gut you."

Koda chuckled softly, his fingers tracing down Sakura's cheek before he let go of her. He leaned back against the wall, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Nothing too exciting, really. Just thought I'd check in on Hiroko, to see how he's doing," Koda replied with a sly smile as if he was keeping a secret.

"Just... Remember this," Koda finished, bowing his head a bit before leaving the hospital room.

"Fuck... That can't possibly be good," Hiroko muttered as the door shut, leaving him and his friends there once again.

"No..." Sakura said, touching her cheek with a disgusted expression on her face. "It can't."

***

Amidst the neon lights, pounding music, and the lively atmosphere of a city nightclub, Koda sat at a corner booth. He was surrounded by his gang, Takeshi, Akira, Ryuuga, Satoshi, and a few others who had earned their place by his side over time. The dimly lit room was filled with the rhythmic beat of music, laughter, and conversations.

Hana sat next to Koda, sipping on a cocktail as she watched the dancers on the floor with a blank expression. She was dressed in a revealing outfit that made her lok twice her age, something she'd never have worn before.

Koda, on the other hand, leaned back in the booth, a cigarette smoldering between his fingers as he scanned the crowd. He exchanged occasional words with his friends, shared a laugh or two, but his eyes were always vigilant.

Takeshi leaned over, shouting to be heard over the music. "Koda, this is the life man! Relax and enjoy it!"

Koda eyed Takeshi before smiling. 'Fuck are you even planning loser?' He thought as he exhaled the smoke. "I am enjoying it. But I never relax, Takeshi. That's how you get caught off guard."

Takeshi winced, but quickly recovered, laughing lightheartedly. "Imma get us some more drinks."

Takeshi left to get the drinks, leaving Koda and Hana at the table. Hana continued to sip her cocktail, her eyes still distant, as if she were lost in thought.

Koda reached over and gently touched Hana's hand, gaining her attention. "Hey, what's on your mind, Hana?"

Hana turned to Koda, and for a moment, her gaze hardened, clearly uncomfortable with the contact. "I'm uhh, not used to this kind of scene, Koda. It's just so... different."

Koda leaned closer, his voice softer in the loud environment. "It is different, but that's what makes it exciting. We're here to have fun, Hana. You don't have to be anyone but yourself."

Hana managed her best fake smile. "I know, it's just a lot to take in."

The conversation was interrupted as Takeshi returned with drinks for the group, setting them on the table. The music continued to pulse, and the night was far from over. Koda leaned back in his seat, glancing around the club, his eyes never truly resting as he remained the ever-watchful guardian of his domain.

The night wore on, the music and dancing casting a spell on everyone. The cocktails kept coming, and the laughter flowed freely as the group let loose. Hana, too, found herself caught up in the energy of the club, dancing with Koda and her newfound friends.

As the hours passed, the effects of the drinks and the atmosphere began to show. Laughter became louder, and the dance moves more exaggerated. Hana, who was not accustomed to the party scene, felt the impact of the alcohol and was gradually swept away by the rhythm of the night.

Koda, still vigilant, noticed that his gang had become quite drunk or high, and Hana, her once-distant expression replaced with carefree joy, was dancing wildly with Ryuuga and a couple of the other guys.

It was in this euphoric moment, when the group was at their most vulnerable, that a group of around a dozen guys entered the club. They looked rough and had an air of trouble about them.

"You Koda Ihono?" The clear leader asked, smiling down at him as he stepped close to the table, brass knuckles on his fists and his brown hair spiked up.

"Hah... Who the fuck are these bums?"