Chapter 57: Aspiring Disciple
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 57: Aspiring Disciple
Goto Kazuya.
At seventeen years old, he was the third-generation leader of the Byakkiyakou, a biker gang based in the Setagaya area.
He had admired strong men since he was a child and happened to catch the eye of the second-generation leader, joining the Byakkiyakou while still in middle school.
By the time he took charge, the Byakkiyakou had grown to a force of literally one hundred members, becoming a biker gang formidable enough to command respect anywhere.
The street race three months ago was to commemorate that achievement.
But on that day, for the first time in his life, Kazuya came to know ‘fear.’
The bikes that gang members ride are typically much louder than standard motorcycles due to their illegally modified mufflers.
And when dozens of such bikes ride in formation, the noise is unimaginably loud.
He was the type to just laugh it off when sleeping residents opened their windows to shower them with curses, but he never imagined there would be a madman crazy enough to block a procession of dozens of motorcycles with his bare body.
The man, who looked like he had just come from a workout, was bare-chested with only a towel draped over his shoulders. From beneath his disheveled hair, he stared at them with the eyes of a wild beast and spoke.
‘Get off. You'll wake my parents.’
Of course, Kazuya and his underlings scoffed and tried to ignore him, but the man silently walked up to Kazuya's motorcycle and grabbed it by the rear.
‘Heh, you think that's gonna scare me?’
The man's calm demeanor only fueled Kazuya's defiance, and he twisted the throttle all the way.
He thought the man would have to let go to avoid being dragged by the bike.
But contrary to his expectations, the bike didn't move forward a single centimeter.
‘What the hell?’
Flustered, he gunned the engine again, but there was no response.
When Kazuya instinctively looked down to see why, he was horrified.
The man was holding his bike with just one hand.
To be precise, he was lifting it with one hand.
The all-important rear wheel wasn't touching the ground, so no matter how much he revved the engine, it wouldn't go forward.
It was truly unbelievable, monstrous strength.
‘I'm getting off! I'll get off!’
Terrified by this realization, Kazuya immediately declared his surrender and got off the bike.
That was the first meeting between Goto Kazuya and Kim Yoo-Sung.
*
As soon as I entered the shop, the guy with the pompadour who had suddenly called me "Boss" finished his meal and introduced himself as Goto Kazuya.
"Please, feel free to call me Kazu, Boss!"
Even though I was wearing a gakuran, he looked much older than me, and I felt uncomfortable with him calling me "Boss," so I asked cautiously.
"Could I ask how old you are?"
"I'm seventeen this year! I just became a second-year in high school a month ago!"
“…”
I thought I looked old for my age, but this guy was on another level.
Then again, it might just be his retro styling, like a biker from the 70s or 80s, but he looked to be in his twenties at the very least.
Wondering how to handle this awkward situation, I finally managed to speak.
"There's no reason for you to call me 'Boss.' We're the same age, for one thing."
"To me, you're the one who taught me what it means to be a real man, so I want to call you Boss! Please, I beg you to allow it!"
This is insane.
I thought I'd experienced all sorts of things in the two years since I was thrown into this manga world, but I never imagined something like this would happen.
Biker gangs, along with the yakuza, are often glorified in Japanese manga, but that doesn't change the fact that they're criminal organizations made up of minors.
As if sensing that prejudice in my gaze, Goto thumped his chest and said.
"I have no intention of making excuses for what I've done in the past. But the reason I've come to find you now, Boss, is because I wanted to convey my sincere feelings."
"...What are you talking about?"
"I became a biker because I've admired strong, macho men since I was a kid. But before I knew it, I had become a fool who just got his thrills from life-threatening street races and put on a tough act in front of others. I still respect the opinions of the guys who remain in the gang, but meeting you during spring break was an awakening for me, Boss."
After saying that, Goto paused for a beat before declaring.
"That a real man doesn't show off his strength."
Feeling a headache coming on, I said to him.
"If you've realized that, why don't you go home and be a good son to your parents? Wouldn't that be a bit more helpful to society?"
"Of course, I plan to! But before that, there's something I absolutely must ask of you, Boss, which is why I came."
"...And what's that?"
"Please accept me as your disciple!"
As he said this, Goto Kazuya suddenly slammed his forehead to the ground.
His sudden performance naturally drew the attention of everyone around us.
Maybe it was because he was a former biker gang leader, but Goto Kazuya was a master of over-the-top, dramatic reactions.
It was the perfect scene for anyone watching to misunderstand and think I was a delinquent too, so I hurriedly pulled him to his feet.
"Don't do this here. Let's go outside and talk."
"Yes, sir!"
"And lower your voice."
"Yes."
After apologizing to the regulars and other customers who were eating, I dragged Goto Kazuya straight out of the shop.
*
I took him to a playground in a park near my house.
I figured we could talk quietly there without worrying about prying eyes.
I handed him a soda I'd gotten from a vending machine and started to speak.
"Look... I can somehow stomach the 'Boss' thing, but what's this about accepting you as a disciple?"
At that, Goto Kazuya clutched the soda can and spoke with fiery passion.
"It's exactly what it sounds like! I want to become a real man, just like you, Boss!"
The topic hadn't changed a bit from our earlier conversation, and I instinctively put a hand to my forehead.
What on earth is this 'real man' thing anyway?
But whether he was just clueless or stubbornly earnest, Goto Kazuya didn't stop his sales pitch.
"I know you must be wary of me because I was in a biker gang, Boss! That's why I've taken this opportunity to wash my hands of the organization completely!"
"Uh... right."
For the leader of a fairly successful biker gang to give up his position overnight... I could tell he had made a serious resolution.
But that was that, and this was this.
"I'm not the amazing person you think I am. The only reason I stopped you guys back then was because my parents work late, and I knew they'd be exhausted the next day if the noise woke them up."
"Yes! I know! The very fact that you could do something like that out of filial piety is proof that you are a true man of this era, Boss!"
...I can't get through to him.
I let out a small sigh and asked.
"What is it you want to learn by becoming my disciple?"
"Many things. The mindset of a man, the training methods to become truly strong, how I can become a cool guy like you, Boss, and so on."
At this point, he was practically putting me on a pedestal.
"I have nothing to teach you. You still want to be my disciple?"
Goto Kazuya nodded and replied.
"They say that if you go to a master's shop, you can learn by watching over his shoulder! If you'll just allow it, I want to stay by your side from morning till night and learn the secret to becoming a real man!"
I had a feeling that even if I said no here, he would just keep coming to our shop, pestering me to take him as a disciple.
That's how the cliché goes in shonen manga, after all.
Rather than deal with that, I decided to get rid of him another way.
"Fine. I'll give you exactly three days."
I said, holding up three fingers to make it seem more profound.
Goto Kazuya swallowed hard and muttered.
"Three days, you say?"
"I can't just accept anyone as my disciple, can I? I'll give you a chance for exactly three days. Prove to me that you have what it takes to be my disciple. If you do, I'll acknowledge you."
"Prove it? In what way?"
"You just said it yourself. You want to be with me from morning to night to learn how to be a real man."
"Yes. I did."
"So, for exactly three days, excluding the time I'm at school, you're going to follow my daily routine. If you can endure that, I'll accept you as my disciple."
"Really?!"
"A man doesn't go back on his word."
"Thank you, sir! I'll work my hardest!"
Once he had my permission, Goto was as happy as a child who'd just received a Christmas present, bowing his head over and over.
I looked down at the back of his head and thought.
Sorry, but I'm going to run you into the ground until you beg to quit.