"Koko-kun, Inupee-kun, are you two working too fast?"

Takemichi, after meeting Mikey, officially introduces himself to the Black Dragon gang as the 11th-generation leader. He wears his usual clothes, but Kokonoi and Inupee bring him a brand-new white Black Dragon uniform. They bring him to their base, which is Shinichirou's old shop.

"Boss, you should have a bit of dignity. You can't just look like this."

Kokonoi points at Takemichi's outfit: long khaki pants, a T-shirt, and a baseball jacket. He shakes his head in disapproval. Takemichi tries on the uniform. He's used to wearing Touman's uniform, so putting on the Black Dragon's feels strange. But he admits it's really cool.

"It suits you, Hanagaki," says Inupee with a smile when Takemichi steps out in the uniform. He looks the part of a leader right away.

Takemichi scratches his head and smiles awkwardly. "Thanks, you two. It fits perfectly."

"Of course. I have great taste," Kokonoi replies with a smug shrug.

"But is this really okay? Letting us operate under Touman, keeping the name and uniform, while Touman doesn't interfere with Black Dragon's activities?"

Takemichi had told them about this before, but today they confirm it again. Kokonoi and Inupee still find it hard to believe that Takemichi managed to convince Mikey to agree to such terms. Even after seeing how Mikey listens to Takemichi on Christmas, they didn't expect him to allow this. Just how much influence does Takemichi have?

"After New Year, Mikey will announce this to everyone. I'll let you know right after. Until then, get along with Touman, okay? By the way, how's Black Dragon doing?"

"How to put it," Kokonoi starts, "it's not in chaos, but it's not stable either. The old boss was strong and ruled with violence, so there was at least 70% respect and 30% fear. Not to put you down, Boss, but there are members who don't fear you and are opposing you."

"Haha, you don't need to tell me. I already know. But we still have 100 members, right?"

"That depends on how you handle things today, Boss. Leave the rest to me and Inupee. We'll straighten them out," Kokonoi assures him.

When Takemichi arrives at the meeting spot, all 100 Black Dragon members are lined up neatly and orderly. Taiju has clearly trained them well, like a disciplined army. Even if they feel uneasy or dissatisfied, they don't show it much.

Takemichi steps forward, with Kokonoi and Inupee following behind him. If this were before, he would have been terrified by such a sight. But this time, he is determined to fully grasp the power of the Black Dragons in his hands.

He takes a deep breath and steadies himself. Kokonoi and Inupee, walking behind him, suddenly sense a shift in the atmosphere around him. His shoulders seem heavy with responsibility, yet his steps are firm. And there's an indescribable aura of distance and strength about him.

"Hello, everyone. I guess we've seen each other before, haven't we? But let me introduce myself again. I'm Hanagaki Takemichi, a member of Touman's First Division, and now I'm your new leader."

The Black Dragons stay silent. Takemichi can sense many doubtful and defiant gazes, but no one dares to speak up because of Kokonoi and Inupee standing behind him.

"I know you're dissatisfied with me and think I don't deserve this position. Honestly, if we're talking about fighting skills, I bet any one of you could probably beat me. I don't have Kokonoi's financial smarts, nor do I have Shiba Taiju's commanding strength. You're probably wondering if giving Black Dragon to me will weaken the gang, aren't you?"

Still, no one responds, though some lower their heads. Takemichi glances at Inupee, who is glaring at the group as if warning them.

"Inupee-kun, let's not," Takemichi says calmly.

"Boss, there's no need to talk so much. Anyone who defies you should be kicked out," Kokonoi chimes in.

Takemichi sighs lightly.

"Just say what's on your mind. I don't want to be a leader that no one respects."

One member steps forward. He's tall and has a slightly menacing look on his face.

"We don't respect you. I don't believe you beat Shiba Taiju. And you're still part of Touman. Now we're supposed to serve under two leaders? Black Dragon isn't weak enough to work under another gang. The two gangs have different paths. How can you even understand what Black Dragon is about?"

"Watch your words. Do you know who you're talking to?" Inupee moves to confront him, but Takemichi quickly stops him.

"I didn't defeat Taiju," Takemichi admits, "but you can't deny that Taiju left Black Dragon because of me. And you're right. I shouldn't expect your respect just like that."

Takemichi steps closer to the member. "If you don't respect me, let's settle this in a fight."

"Hanagaki, your head injury hasn't even healed yet," Inupee says, moving to stop him. But Takemichi raises a hand to signal him to hold back.

"I said earlier that any one of you might be stronger than me, didn't I? But I never said that means you'll beat me. Do you know what my greatest strength is? It's not giving up. In every fight, I'll be the one standing at the end."

The confidence in his voice and the determination in his eyes make the challenger hesitate. The other members watch him closely, their attention fully on him.

Takemichi sees this moment as a test. Since being trained by Baji, he's worked hard every day. And when his two inner personalities emerge - both incredibly strong - they've even given Touman's members a tough time. Takemichi realizes that this is his body, and if his body has such strength, then he himself can achieve it too.

How many times has he already broken through his limits?

So, Takemichi, keep breaking your limits!

The one who fights Takemichi is a strong member of the Black Dragons, so it's natural for Kokonoi and Inupee to worry about him. But it seems they should watch and admire this fight instead.

For the Black Dragons, this battle ignites a blazing fire within them. After all, who among us hasn't admired the valiant, indomitable spirit of a true hero? And Takemichi embodies that spirit.

Despite his small frame, Takemichi's punches carry surprising power. He takes hits but retaliates with even stronger blows. With those bright, determined eyes, he keeps enduring and striking back. Even when it looks like he's about to be defeated, he gets back up with a smile.

They can't figure out where his relentless energy comes from. No matter how hard the fight, his posture remains proud and fearless, as though nothing can break him. And as he said, not just for show, in every battle, he's the one who stands at the end. Takemichi defeats his opponent.

He straightens up, raising his fist to the sky in a declaration of victory. Inupee, staring at him, finds himself unexpectedly moved, his calm eyes showing a flicker of something different. Kokonoi, too, watches Takemichi with wide, unblinking eyes.

Takemichi turns to look at his opponent, whose expression is understandably far from happy.

"You knew I had a head injury, so you avoided targeting my head, didn't you?" Takemichi asks, offering a hand to help him up.

The opponent doesn't respond but takes his hand and stands.

"That was a fair fight, and I'm guessing you're no longer among those who oppose me as the leader of the Black Dragons, right?"

The opponent nods slightly.

"Yes, I don't oppose you anymore."

Satisfied, Takemichi steps back into the center of the group. His uniform, no longer neat like at the start, now carries an air of charisma, radiating authority and brilliance.

"So, who's next?"

The group remains silent.

"I'll take this silence as agreement," Takemichi says. "Now, let's get to the main reason I called you all here today."

"First, as I've mentioned, from now on, I will take over the Black Dragons. From now on, the Black Dragons will operate under Touman and become the Sixth Division, the protection unit for Touman."

Frowns start to appear on several faces.

"However, the Sixth Division will only follow my decisions. Even the leader of Touman cannot give you orders. We will operate separately from the other divisions, keeping the name Black Dragons and your uniforms. If I don't summon you, you don't need to attend Touman's meetings."

Faces that were previously tense suddenly relax, turning to looks of astonishment. They glance up at Takemichi, then at one another. They had assumed Takemichi would fully integrate them into Touman, but based on his words, their relationship with Touman is more like a partnership. They wouldn't lose their identity as a gang.

"That being said, you still carry the name of Touman on your backs, which means you must abide by some of Touman's rules. There will be no disrespect toward Touman members, nor any disputes between our groups. You will become a source of strength for Touman, so I also need your full dedication when Touman requires it."

When Takemichi finishes speaking, he notices the delinquent members' faces lighting up with excitement.

"As for our operations, I won't ask you to completely change how you work. I know the Black Dragons is a gang built on violence, and many of you are here for money. However, from now on, every transaction will go through me. We won't accept every deal, so your activities will be slightly restricted."

The Black Dragons, along with Kokonoi and Inupee, fall silent, their expressions shifting to astonishment as they stare at Takemichi. Feeling something is off, Takemichi looks back at them.

"Did I say something strange?"

"No! Boss, I thought you'd shut down our operations completely. You know what kind of activities we..." Kokonoi trails off.

"Illegal ones, I know," Takemichi replies casually, leaving Kokonoi momentarily stunned.

"But Touman..."

"Why do you think I convinced Mikey to let the Black Dragons operate independently from Touman? As long as you don't kill anyone, it's fine with me. And like I said, we won't take on every deal."

Not surprised? Of course, they're surprised. Takemichi doesn't seem like someone who would condone illegal activities for money. Does he not understand how dark and dangerous such things are? How can he talk about it so calmly?

Kokonoi agreed to let Takemichi lead the Black Dragons because Inupee wanted it. He had planned to quietly keep the gang's operations away from Takemichi's involvement. But now, it's clear that Takemichi's insistence on separating their activities from Touman was meant to preserve their freedom.

Suddenly, Kokonoi senses something unusual.

"I'll say this upfront: I am loyal to Touman because Touman is my family. I will fulfill my duties as the leader of the Black Dragons, and I truly hope we can also become friends. So if you have any difficulties or ideas, please speak up so we can help each other."

Takemichi smiles, his gentle blue eyes shining. Everyone stares at him. They had come together under the strength of their former leaders, in a gang run with military discipline, controlled by violence, and motivated primarily by money. So hearing talk of friendship and mutual support feels strangely distant. This isn't Touman, a gang bound by friendship. They could easily mock Takemichi's simple-minded thinking, yet instead, an unexpected wave of emotion stirs within them.

The most moved among them is Inupee. His long-held dream has been to rebuild the Black Dragons into the gang it was under its first leader, Shinichiro - a group where everyone was happy and bonded as friends. But by the 8th, 9th, and 10th generations, the Black Dragons had strayed further and further from that ideal.

Then Takemichi appeared. From the start, Inupee had noticed him, starting with the moment Takemichi confronted him and demanded he not resort to sneaky knife attacks. Those fierce blue eyes left a deep impression. Later, there was the time Takemichi fearlessly stood up for Yuzuha, then embraced Hakkai and declared that winning and losing weren't important, even while his battered body persisted in protecting others until he collapsed. And now, here he was.

Yes, from the very beginning, Takemichi had the same spirit and determination as Shinichiro, the man Inupee admired and idolized.

Could trusting Takemichi help him rebuild the Black Dragons into the gang he always dreamed of?

"You've all been silent this whole time, huh? Want to fight another round? If not, let's hear it loud!" Takemichi raises his voice.

The group suppresses their emotions, standing with their hands behind their backs.

"Yes, Boss!" they respond in unison.

That day marked the beginning of a new chapter for the Black Dragons. Everyone's eyes are on Takemichi. Though some still harbor doubts, they all feel a spark of anticipation for what the Black Dragons will become under this new leader.

The 11th-generation leader of the Black Dragons: Hanagaki Takemichi.

Takemichi accepts becoming the leader of a "violence-for-sale" Black Dragons because that is what the current members of the gang are aligned with. Kokonoi doesn't need a gang that doesn't help him make money. What Takemichi can do now is control the level of brutality within the Black Dragons and try to bring back some of the atmosphere of the gang's first generation. Takemichi doesn't want to disappoint Inupee further. This is what he can do to keep both of them by his side.

Takemichi needs strength to protect Touman. He understands that he alone isn't enough, so he decides to borrow the power of the Black Dragons. Kisaki was right - strength gives birth to darkness. If that's the case, Takemichi will take in that darkness himself.

The meeting ends, leaving only Takemichi, Kokonoi, and Inupee behind. Inupee approaches Takemichi.

"Hanagaki, you did great. It seems the Black Dragons have accepted you as their leader."

Kokonoi hesitates for a moment, then decides to ask the question that has been troubling him.

"Boss, I want to ask you something. From the beginning, you were targeting the Black Dragons, weren't you? The Christmas Night battle wasn't just about revenge or helping the Shiba family, was it...?"

Takemichi looks at Kokonoi's confused expression and laughs.

"Do you think I just randomly said I wanted the Black Dragons in front of Mikey? My intentions were pretty obvious, weren't they? Of course, I also said it to stop Mikey from taking you all out right then and there."

Takemichi continues.

"Since we're all on the same team now, Kokonoi, the person who gave you money to report to Taiju about me saving Rindou - that guy is my enemy. So from now on, stay away from him. Be careful; he's dangerous."

"Huh?" Both Kokonoi and Inupee are shocked. "How do you know?"

"Don't you think it's weird that I was sitting by the river in freezing weather?"

Wait... they start to piece things together.

Kokonoi recalls how he took money from Hakkai to keep quiet about their trap for Rindou and prevent Taiju from hearing about Touman's interference. But then, someone dangerous approached them, told them who Takemichi really was, gave them locations where he often went alone, and handed over a large sum of money to take Takemichi out.

That time, if Hakkai hadn't arrived and bargained with Taiju, Takemichi might have been seriously injured or worse. They took the money but backed off. So, when Hakkai was in Black Dragon, he kept a close watch on them. Touman also provided Takemichi with protection. Thus, they didn't intend to invade Touman's territory a second time.

Normally, such an incident would spark a gang war, but Touman stayed silent. At first, Kokonoi thought Touman avoided conflict out of respect for Hakkai. But then, a group led by Takemichi struck back - not as a gang war but as a personal vendetta.

Kokonoi suddenly realizes something and looks at Takemichi in shock.

"So... from the start to the end, from that guy approaching us to us coming after you, then Hakkai showing up, and finally the Christmas battle... you let us come after you just to find an excuse to take over the Black Dragons for yourself?"

The truth is, it was also to let Hakkai open up to Takemichi and naturally ask for his help. More importantly, it was to hide Takemichi's true intentions from Touman, so they wouldn't suspect he had personal plans while taking control of the Black Dragons. It's not entirely wrong. Takemichi doesn't deny it.

"You could say that."

Takemichi scratches his head, looking a bit awkward.

Kokonoi and Inupee are left speechless. Had they been part of Takemichi's plan all along? In the end, they practically handed the Black Dragons to him on a silver platter.

Kokonoi isn't angry - instead, he feels a thrill. Damn it, this guy is insane. You really shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Takemichi is clearly dangerous. Their eyes light up as they look at him.

"Don't look at me like that," Takemichi says, embarrassed. "I'm not smart enough to come up with all of this on my own. I just see things other people don't."

It isn't until much later that they understand what he means by "seeing what others don't."

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The 5-chapter storm of this minigame has officially ended! Did y'all have fun binge-reading? Let me know so I can stay motivated to drop more chapters, hehe. Anyway, I've cleared all my debts - no chapters left unpaid, okay?

Oh, heads up: no new chapters on the 15th because I'm feeling lazy after that storm, but don't worry, I'll still drop at least more than one by the end of the month. Pinky promise! 😜

BTW, this minigame might be over, but I just launched a new one! If y'all guess right, I'll unleash a 10-chapter storm! Gonna need this time to prep though, 'cause if y'all really nail it, I might not even have time to breathe. 😂

Big thanks for all the hype and support! Hope my story brought you some chill vibes and smiles. Love y'all tons! ❤️