The Day We Realized We're Both Electric

The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm golden glow over the city. Ren left the café, his mind still buzzing with the events of the evening.

He flagged down a taxi and gave the driver the address of his apartment. As the city lights blurred past, he couldn't shake the feeling that something significant had shifted in his life.

The ride back was quiet, the city's hustle and bustle dimming as they moved towards his apartment. The silent humming of the engine and the soft chatter of the radio provided Ren a sense of peace.

Suddenly, loud defeaning roars of motorcycle engines filled the air around them, drowning out everything else.

Ren quickly rolled to his left to catch the sight of the first rider. He was clad in a sleek black leather jacket adorned with intricate patches and bold kanji that read "Sons of Thunder God". His black helmet strapped a mirrored visor, reflecting the streetlights and the blurry scenery as he speed past them. His bike growled loudly as he twisted the throttle more, accelerating ahead.

Right behind him more riders crawled out of the darkness, their synchronized movements and matching jackets create an imposing sight. The air was filled with the burning scents of gasoline and rubber as their tires shot through the asphalt.

Ren was dazzled, he had never seen a sight like this before and watched through the glass window. The riders weaved through traffic with astonishing precision.

Two riders broke free from the rest of the pack engaging in a daredevil race.

The first rider had a black helmet with red dragon decals snaking across its surface. He rode leaning all the way forward in an aggressive stance, as if ready to pounce on any obstacle in his path. His bike a smaller one than the first rider that passed by earlier emitted a high-pitched whine.

The second rider had his black helmet marked with a bold white lightning bolt. His bike, painted in electric blue, flashed periodically under the streetlights.

Other pedestrians too stopped and stared, some in awe, others with a mix of fear and admiration.

The taxi driver tensed up, gripping the steering wheel tighter as he navigated through the sudden avalanche of motorcycles.

Ren could only count a hundred of them but he would later learn that their numbers far exceeded that. The Sons of Thunder God or shortly Raijins were one of the largest and strongest gang of delinquents in all of Japan!.

The gang moved as a unit, an unbroken chain of roaring engines and flashing lights. Within seconds, they were out of sight, leaving behind a trail of fading noise and clouds of black exhaust.

The driver exhaled slowly, "thank the heavens ," he muttered, a mixture of relief and irritation in his voice as the taxi resumes its steady pace through the streets of Yugen City.

When he arrived at the apartment building, Ren noticed a boy around his age sitting on the steps, staring up at the night sky. The boy wore glasses and seemed lost deep in thoughts, the streetlights casting a soft glow on his face.

*Ren stopped watching him *

"Hey, " Ren called out as he approached, walking up the steps. "Nice night, huh?"

The boy looked over and smiled. "Yeah it is, pretty peaceful out here. "

"The stars are out brightly tonight. "

"I'm Ren, " he replied, extending a hand, taking a seat on the step next to him.

"Nice to meet you, Ren. I'm Seiji, " the boy replied, adjusting his glasses.

Ren took his hand, and as they shook, a small, unexpected shock passed between them. They both pulled back, surprised.

"Whoa, didn't see that coming," Ren said with a chuckle.

"Neither did I, " Seiji laughed. "Guess we are electric. "

They sat on the steps, talking about life, school, and the city. Seiji shared his own experiences.

"You'll like it here," Seiji said. "It's a bit crazy sometimes, but it's never boring."

"Crazy, I can handle," Ren replied, thinking back to the day's events.

"So how did you find your first day in the city?, "

Ren didn't hesitate for a moment, deciding to share a bit of his story. "Damn man, it was a long day. I got into this fight with this biker guys and met this super cool guys. It was real fun man!. "

Seiji laughed at Ren explaining his day. "Sounds like you had quite a day. "

"Hhhh you could say that. "

They continued to talk, sharing stories and experiences. Ren found Seiji easy to talk to, his calm demeanor a welcome contrast to the chaos of the day.

After a while, Ren stood up, feeling a bit more at ease. "Well, I should get inside. It was nice talking to you, Seiji. "

Seiji stood up as well and extended his hand. "Yeah, let's catch up again sometime. "

Ren smiled. "See you around, Seiji."

"Definitely," Seiji said, extending his hand again. They shook hands, feeling that same small shock

They both smiled, a newfound friendship forming between them.

"Good night, Seiji. "

"Good night, Ren. "

Ren headed inside, feeling a sense of connection and hope as he climbed up the stairs.

Ren unlocked his door and threw himself onto his tatami mats, the events of the day replaying in his mind.

His thoughts drifted back to the scene at the cafe, when he and the Third Division were together eating.

Tatsuya, Reiji, and Kenta were goofing off, laughing and teasing each other. Fubuki, with her usual sass, was making fun of Matsuno's bald head.

Between bites, Ren turned to Matsuno and asked, "Why did you save me anyway? "

Matsuno turned to Ren, his expression serious. "Because you were wearing our jacket and mostly because it was the right thing to do. I'd do the same for anyone in your place. "

Ren looked down at the jacket, realizing its significance. "This was my brother's... I didn't know it meant something."

"Your brother must have been someone important then, " Matsuno said, placing a hand on Ren's shoulder. "We protect our own here. "

"Why don't you join the Sakurakai? " Tatsuya suggested.

"Yeah, that's a great idea! You look like a good fighter," Reiji chimed in.

"We desperately need good fighters. This past few days has seen a large influx of biker gangs passing through town and causing a huge ruckus, just like the Kotekai from earlier, " Kenta added.

"I don't know, I'm more of a lone wolf. " Ren pondered. "But I'll definitely think about it."

"Ehhh, don't say that," Tatsuya exclaimed, jumping on him and almost strangling him in a playful hug.

Ren almost choked. "You're gonna kill him," Kenta laughed.

He snapped out of his reverie and stared at the ceiling, feeling the exhaustion finally settle into his bones.

"First day at school tomorrow, " he mused aloud. "What kind of day am I going to have, I wonder. "

"I need to avoid make sure I avoid fights. " he concluded. "Can't cause a scene on my first day. "

The room was quiet, save for the faint sounds of the city outside his window. He let out a long breath, thinking about the new people he had met today— Ms. Kato, Fubuki, Matsuno, Tatsuya, Reiji, Kenta and finally Seiji.

As he drifted off to sleep, he couldn't help but wonder what challenges and adventures the next day would bring.