NOVEL WEB Chapter 32: 32 The Second Generation
"You've worked hard! Boss!"
The shout of over two hundred people was loud enough for Hojou Kyousuke to clearly understand.
As he walked through the parting crowd, everyone present bent down in a 90-degree bow and shouted.
Even without anyone instructing him, Kyousuke knew exactly how to respond.
With a calm smile, he walked steadily through the parting rows of people and climbed the stairs to the plaza at the top of the shrine.
Throughout the whole process, all the members of the Rampaging Angels Kendo Club stayed in their bowing positions, not making a sound.
Even the three girls who were watching the scene were affected by the atmosphere, tightly keeping their mouths shut.
Only Sakura, with her phone in hand, was recording.
She knew it was a bit odd, but after she had casually mentioned to Hojou Mikiko that she should record it, Hojou Mikiko had insisted, saying that if she didn't, she wouldn't be allowed to keep the Hojou surname.
Sakura understood the awkwardness, but had no choice.
Aunt Mikiko had said if she didn't do it, she'd be out of the family.
Standing at the edge of the plaza, Kyousuke turned around.
As his coat swayed in the breeze, he looked down at the gathered members.
His smile faded as he surveyed the crowd.
The members lifted their eyes to meet his, gazing at him with intense focus.
Makki Hojou, who had silently followed behind, stepped forward.
"I've called you all here today to announce something important," he said, his voice firm.
"I've decided to pass on the Rampaging Angels Kendo Club to Kyousuke. He will be the second-generation leader of the Rampaging Angels!"
After speaking, Makki fell silent, and Kyousuke carefully watched the reactions of the crowd.
Strangely, he had expected resistance, like the situation yesterday in the Kendo Club.
But instead of protest, the crowd remained silent, not in objection, but in calm acceptance.
It turns out, he had overestimated things.
The members who had opposed him yesterday had simply not yet been defeated.
After he had taken out some of the higher-ups and those who were too loyal to the first-generation leader, the word spread.
By now, everyone in the Rampaging Angels had accepted him as the second-generation leader.
In this world of the strong, the powerful are always respected.
Furthermore, the first-generation leader was still around, and with the stronger second-generation coming in, it was seen as a positive change.
Some rebellious members were even starting to chant slogans about dominating Tokyo.
"Good," Kyousuke said, a serious tone in his voice. "Since no one objects, then, Onizuka, raise the Rampaging Angels flag!"
Eikichi Onizuka, who had been standing at the far edge of the group, immediately took the white flag emblazoned with the Rampaging Angels symbol and climbed the stairs.
Makki Hojou received the flag, and with a solemn expression, passed it over to Kyousuke with both hands.
Taking the flag with both hands, Kyousuke could feel the intensity behind Makki's calm demeanor.
He, too, felt the weight of what he was holding.
With one hand, Kyousuke raised the four-meter flag high and waved it several times, shouting, "I, Kyousuke, am the new master of the Rampaging Angels!"
He could clearly see the change in the eyes of the members below.
It was an odd sensation—something like recognition, something like entrustment.
This made him feel a bit heavy.
It seemed that these subordinates were no longer just there to run errands for him.
"Kaiju Division, step forward!" Makki Hojou called out.
The first group stepped out of formation, marching up to the foot of the steps. The two men in front bowed deeply before shouting in unison:
"Kaiju Division Leader, Satoshi Katagiri! I pledge my loyalty to you, Second Boss!"
The towering man with jet-black hair radiated sheer power.
"Kaiju Division Vice Leader, Sagara Takeshi! I pledge my loyalty to you, Second Boss!"
The second, with his golden pompadour and easy grin, stepped back to stand respectfully to the side.
"Roppongi Division, step forward!"
Two more figures strode forward.
"Roppongi Division Leader, Haitani Ran! I pledge my loyalty to you, Second Boss!"
"Roppongi Division Vice Leader, Haitani Rindou! I pledge my loyalty to you, Second Boss!"
Kyousuke studied the two carefully. The older one, Haitani Ran, had wheat-colored braids. His younger brother, Haitani Rindou, wore gold-rimmed glasses and had striking yellow-and-blue-streaked hair.
As more names were called, the ceremony continued. Makki Hojou himself stepped down, bowed, and declared:
"Headquarters Vice Boss, Makki Hojou! I pledge my loyalty to you, Second Boss!"
One by one, the elite of the gang followed suit.
"Eikichi Onizuka! I pledge my loyalty!"
"Tanjima Ryuji! I pledge my loyalty!"
"Kanahara Takao! I pledge my loyalty!"
Then came Kyousuke's first official decree as leader.
"Kisaki Tetta will be joining the Bosozoku Angels as our strategist."
At his words, Kisaki Tetta's head snapped up in shock. Then, realization dawned, and he practically sprinted forward before bowing deeply.
"Headquarters Strategist, Kisaki Tetta! I pledge my loyalty, Second Boss!"
"Now, the Second Boss will address you all!" Makki Hojou announced.
A sea of expectant eyes turned toward Kyousuke. He took the flag and planted it firmly into the ground. Then, undoing his coat buttons one by one, he sat down casually on the steps.
"This is my first time as Boss, so I might make some mistakes."
There was a moment of stunned silence. Then, a few chuckles broke out.
"It's fine, if you want to laugh, go ahead," Kyousuke waved his hand dismissively.
"What I can promise you is this— as long as I'm here, the Rampaging Angels Kendo Club will always be the strongest in Tokyo!"
Kyousuke's voice wasn't loud, and his posture didn't have any display of dominance.
Yet, as they looked at the figure sitting on the steps, the members seemed to see the Rampaging Angels ruling over Tokyo under the leadership of this second-generation Boss.
"The Demon with No Hands!"
"The Strongest!"
"Long Live the Second Generation!"
"Conquer Tokyo!"
"The Rampaging Angels are the Strongest!"
...
With a leader like this, nothing could stop the Rampaging Angels anymore!
Under the guidance of the Demon with No Hands, we'll become the strongest subordinates in all of Tokyo!
The members shouted in unison, swept up in the joy of welcoming such a monstrous new leader.
Kyousuke looked at the excited crowd and smiled.
"Now, let's go for a ride!"
He stood up, picked up the flag once more, and waved it forcefully.
With his words, the crowd erupted into cheers again.
They rushed out of the shrine gates, leaving only a few of the staff behind.
[TL Note]
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