Chapter Sixty-Nine: Please Take My Little Finger

Aoki Tsukasa stared at his phone, where Maeda Tora’s grinning face stood out glaringly in the local news. With trembling fingers, he tapped open the interview video.

“Oh, you’re asking about my boss!” In the video, Maeda Tora showed no sign of fear despite being surrounded by a crowd of reporters. He pounded his chest with excitement and declared loudly, “You’ve come to the right person. I’m my boss’s number one follower, Maeda Tora. Just look at my shaved head—you should know that much!”

“So you mean Aoki Tsukasa is a delinquent?” The reporter’s eyes sparkled green as she hurriedly jotted down Maeda Tora’s words, shoving the microphone even closer.

Maeda Tora cleared his throat, his face glowing with admiration. “That’s right, we’re all delinquents! And my boss, Aoki Tsukasa, is the strongest in our school—there’s no doubt about it!”

“Can you elaborate?” The reporter looked at Maeda Tora as if she had stumbled upon a major scoop.

“I used to be just an immature kid,” Maeda Tora said with a profound expression, gazing skyward at a forty-five-degree angle. If only he had a cigarette, he could better convey his wistfulness. “On the first day our boss transferred in, I took a disliking to him and wanted to drag him up to the rooftop for a fight.”

“But I never expected that when I called my brothers—there were more than ten of us—our boss crushed us all effortlessly.” Seeing the disbelief on the reporters’ faces, Maeda Tora insisted, “It’s true. We couldn’t even get close enough to touch the hem of his jacket before he laid us all out.”

“After that, I was completely won over by our boss’s overwhelming charisma, and I willingly acknowledged him as my leader.” Maeda Tora spoke, his eyes seeming to glisten with tears.

The reporter’s mouth twitched. He couldn’t help but feel something was off with this guy—getting beaten up and instead of seeking revenge, he pledges allegiance to the victor... Maybe that wasn’t quite the right expression, but at the moment, he couldn’t think of anything better.

“I’ll never forget that morning—the sun was shining, and our boss’s figure seemed so tall and imposing. Just watching him from behind filled me with boundless respect. He was the one who showed me what a true delinquent should be.” Maeda Tora clenched his fists.

“To till the darkness, and serve the light!” Maeda Tora suddenly raised his hand, face flushed with excitement. “We merely go against what people see as normal, but that doesn’t mean we’re wrong! Even though we’re seen as delinquents, we can’t forget our duty! Though the world may misunderstand us, we must never forget who we are!”

“From then on, I followed our boss’s example—attending class on time, listening carefully, never bullying the weak, and whenever I encountered injustice, I stepped up to help. In the name of the humble, I stood for justice!” Maeda Tora became more animated, even grabbing a microphone and shouting hoarsely, “Though people misunderstand us, though our boss’s appearance may inspire fear, this is who we are—this is my boss, Aoki Tsukasa!”

As he finished, Maeda Tora’s expression grew tearful. “I don’t know why you want to interview our boss, but I think he definitely doesn’t want to be disturbed!”

“All he wants is to be himself!” Maeda Tora lifted his head again, fighting back tears. “If you have any questions, just ask me! I’m willing to sacrifice myself—no matter if it’s a special interview, or a TV program, I’ll put myself on the line!”

The reporters exchanged glances, and for a rare moment, the crowd fell silent.

“Ahem, ahem, I mean... Maeda Tora, are you sure he’s a delinquent? Isn’t the Aoki Tsukasa you describe a little too perfect?” The reporter recounted the story, then asked, “Aren’t you exaggerating his virtues? And if you call yourselves delinquents, how can you always be on the side of justice? At the very least, Aoki Tsukasa slapping that girl in the mall is questionable, isn’t it?”

“Hmph! Whatever our boss does is just. He helps the weak, punishes evil, and never tolerates injustice or the underworld—what’s wrong with that?” Maeda Tora puffed out his chest, looking at the reporter with scornful eyes. “Our boss is right! You just don’t understand because your mind is too narrow.”

The reporter stared at Maeda Tora speechless, feeling like the Aoki Tsukasa he was looking for was not some high school student at all, but some sort of cult leader.

Suddenly, Maeda Tora panicked. “Oh no, let me through! I’m already late for class—our boss will scold me for being late!”

The reporters watched as Maeda Tora bolted towards the school, glancing at each other in amazement. After a brief stunned silence, they hurriedly grabbed their mics and cameras and rushed back to the office—what a sensational story! Time to blow it up!

The video ended.

Aoki Tsukasa took a deep breath, dark lines forming on his face as he looked at the self-satisfied Maeda Tora beside him, at a loss for words.

Judging from that proud look, Maeda Tora actually seemed to think his interview would make his boss praise him!

Aoki Tsukasa swallowed hard. “Tora.”

“Yes, boss!” Maeda Tora beamed.

“Next time... just don’t say these things to people. Just remember for yourself what I told you. And don’t just let people come looking for me.” Aoki Tsukasa glanced at the thick stack of pledges on his desk, his face full of despair. “Also, I hate being famous, so stop giving interviews, especially when they’re about me.”

If those newcomers all ended up like Maeda Tora...

Aoki Tsukasa felt he’d never have another peaceful day.

Maeda Tora paused, sinking into deep thought: What did boss really mean by that... I get it! I get it now!

Maeda Tora snapped his head up. “I understand, boss!”

Of course! If just anyone heard these words and came to join, expecting the boss to solve all their problems, how could the boss manage? He’s so kind-hearted, he’d never refuse anyone, and there’d never be a moment of peace! The things boss told him were only for like-minded companions!

No, this won’t do. He had to tell Matsuzaka Daibu and the others about this—they couldn’t just let anyone in. They must strictly vet new members and lighten the boss’s burden. Only those with the right ideals and abilities were worthy to follow their boss!

The more he thought about how he had blurted out all of his boss’s precious wisdom to those reporters, possibly bringing endless trouble to the boss, the more Maeda Tora felt regret. He shouted at the top of his lungs in the classroom, “Boss, I was wrong! I accept the most severe punishment—please take my pinky! From now on, I’ll think before I act and never be reckless again!”

“Huh?” Aoki Tsukasa’s eyes widened in shock, and he looked around to see his classmates’ fearful gazes turn into sheer terror.

[Hidden Mission: Renowned and Notorious Completed.]

[Renowned and Notorious: Attain a certain degree of influence citywide. Completion: Ordinary. Mission Reward: Skill Deduction Scroll.]

[Skill Deduction Scroll: Allows an incomplete skill to be deduced to perfection.]