[AllTakemichi] Control

Chapter 47

After that day, Takemichi gathers the captains and vice-captains of Toman, along with Inupi and Kokonoi, to brief them about Tenjiku and his plan of action.

"So let me get this straight," Mitsuya sums up everything Takemichi just told them, his voice filled with disbelief. "Kisaki - the guy who made Kazutora fight us at the Bloody Halloween - teamed up with Izana, the leader of the so-called 'Generation of Evil,' to form a gang with the goal of taking down Mikey and stealing Toman?"

Everyone falls silent. The room is thick with tension and confusion. There's too much to process all at once.

"Damn it... Mucho betrayed us," Smiley mutters, clenched fists shaking at his sides. Of all the captains, he's the one closest to Mucho. And now he looks more than angry - he looks betrayed.

"Not exactly betrayal," Inupi speaks up, calm but firm. "Mucho's always seen Izana as his king. If anything... he's just going back to where he belongs."

He's not defending him. Not really. But in a way, Mucho's loyalty to Izana deserves a certain measure of respect.

Takemichi picks up again, listing names with the clarity of someone who's memorized them by heart. "The Generation of Evil. The Haitani brothers from Roppongi. Mochizuki Kanji, ex-leader of the Shiba Faction. Madarame Shion, the Ninth Gen Black Dragon boss. Kakuchou - you might not know much about him yet, but he's crazy strong. He's the head of Tenjiku's Four Heavenly Kings. Together, they've gathered all the worst delinquents from Kanagawa. Their numbers? Around 400."

He pauses, looking around. "Right now, it looks like Kokonoi and I are their targets. They want to turn Tenjiku into a real criminal organization, and Kokonoi's money-making skills are key to that."

His delivery is sharp and focused. Too focused, maybe. He doesn't notice everyone staring at him until he finishes speaking.

"...What?" Takemichi blinks. "Why are you all looking at me like that?"

"Takemitchy," Draken says, raising an eyebrow. "Are you sure you just joined the delinquent world recently?"

That's when Takemichi gets it - they're stunned by how much he knows.

"I mean... I am the Black Dragons' leader, aren't I? Gotta keep up with the intel, right?" he says, throwing in a casual shrug.

Chifuyu and Baji try hard not to laugh. They're secretly impressed. His lying game is getting too smooth. No more sweaty palms, no more nervous stammer. Just bold-faced bluffing with a straight face. He's becoming dangerous.

Kokonoi and Inupi, on the other hand, are screaming internally. What?! They're supposed to be the top dogs of the Black Dragons and even they didn't know half of this. Inupi hasn't even told Takemichi he used to know Izana. And Kokonoi? He's still stuck on the part where Takemichi casually mentions that he's one of Tenjiku's primary targets.

Still, no matter how stormy their thoughts get, neither of them dares to question the "commander" of both of them.

Everyone else - except for Mikey, who's still out of the loop - already heard parts of this yesterday. Chifuyu and Baji know Takemichi pulled it from his last time leap. But that doesn't make it any less jaw-dropping.

They all look at him like they're seeing someone new. And maybe... they are.

"To deal with Tenjiku, I've got a plan."

Takemichi finally speaks up, revealing the strategy he's prepared with the others. The whole group - Touman, Kokonoi, Inupi - listen intently, eyes wide as they take in every word.

"Takemichi... did you see the future or something? How the hell - how can you pull this off?" Hakkai blurts out, eyes full of disbelief.

"No kidding. This isn't something to mess with," Pachin adds, clearly impressed.