[Chapter Header]
TITLE CHAPTER:Joining the Family
AUTHOR:DIA TG
ARC:Back Attack Land
CHAPTER:2
The heavy door of the NX Cafe slammed against the wall with a deafening crash, making the dishes on the counter rattle. But instead of a hostile attack, a towering figure stepped into the light, followed by two men who kept their hands close to their belts, ready for anything.
The tall man's eyes, sharp and filled with the intensity of a veteran, immediately scanned the room. They bypassed the trembling customers and locked onto the table in the corner.
"Ronika!" the tall man shouted, his voice sounding like grinding stone. "Are you all alright?"
He strode toward them, his long coat fluttering behind him. The tension in Naoto's shoulders melted instantly, and Sora let out a breath she had been holding since they were in the alley.
"Keal!" Ronika stood up, her voice still a bit shaky. "What are you doing here?"
Keal reached the table, ignoring the empty bowls of ramen. "I got a call. Someone told me a gang had cornered you in the back sector. We got here as fast as we could."
"We're fine," Naoto added, gesturing with his thumb toward the figure sitting next to him. "But only thanks to him. If he hadn't stepped in, that threat would have crushed us. This guy, Akos, helped us."
Keal finally shifted his gaze to the young man in the black hoodie. He looked at the calm, almost bored expression on Akos's face.
"And who are you?" Keal asked, narrowing his eyes. "You've got guts, kid. Not many people would mess with gangs like that for strangers."
Akos took a slow sip of his water and then looked up. "I'm Akos. Akos Tasaku. I just moved here from the mountains."
"Tasaku?" Keal repeated the name, furrowing his brow. He felt a strange itch in the back of his mind. Tasaku... I've heard that name somewhere before. Something old. Something dangerous. But the memory refused to surface.
Ronika intervened, sensing the weight of Keal's stare. "Akos, this is Keal. He's the 'Second Hand' of ALPHA. He's the top lieutenant of Reino Shino, the leader of our organization."
She turned to Keal, her eyes shining. "The way he moved, Keal... it was like he wasn't even trying. He neutralized them in seconds."
Akos gave a simple, short nod. He didn't seem impressed. "ALPHA, organizations, gangs... they don't mean much to me," Akos said flatly. "I just wanted to eat my meal in peace."
Keal let out a short, dry laugh. "A mountain boy with attitude and a name that rings a bell. Interesting." He leaned closer, his expression becoming serious. "Listen, Akos Tasaku. You saved our people tonight. But now you've put yourself in the crosshairs of dangerous people. You're in the game now, whether you like it or not."
Akos simply stared back, his dark eyes showing no hint of fear. "Then I guess I'll just have to keep moving
"I like you, kid," Keal said with a slight nod of respect. "It's rare to find people like you. You have an immense will, and you don't bend in the face of threats."
Akos didn't respond immediately. He looked at him with an icy, cold gaze, as if Keal's recognition meant absolutely nothing to him.
"You know, I wanted to tell you that..." Keal paused.
He glanced at the two men accompanying him. On his right stood Taro Hex, and on his left was Shika Wren. Both had their eyes fixed on Akos, waiting for their leader's next move. Keal looked at them meaningfully, as if he wanted to say something important, but he was interrupted.
Suddenly, Sora jumped forward, full of excitement.
"Akos! Do you want to join our gang?" she asked, her breath hitching.
Akos remained motionless for a few seconds. His silence made everyone hold their breath. Finally, in the same cold voice, he spoke only two words:
"Fine. I'm in."
A wide smile of joy formed on Keal's face, while Taro and Shika appeared relieved, showing their satisfaction. Only Ronika remained expressionless, observing Akos with a calm, analytical gaze, as if trying to decipher what lay behind that stoic face.
A short while later, the group arrived at their destination: the school that served as their base.
The building was imposing, surrounded by thick trees and climbing plants that hugged the walls. A high stone wall and a heavy iron gate protected the privacy of the grounds. The building had two floors—old, yet well-maintained.
However, what truly caught the eye was the rooftop. There, the deep red flag of the ALPHA gang fluttered proudly. In its center, an eagle with spread wings was embroidered, clutching a skull made of pure gold in its talons.
Entering the school courtyard, the scene was full of life and tension. On the court, some gang members were playing basketball; one of them made an impressive shot and ran to hug his friend in celebration. However, just to the right, the atmosphere was different. Two guys were locked in a fierce brawl, surrounded by a cheering crowd.
"I'm the strongest one here!" one roared.
"No, I am!" the other snapped back with fury.
Akos watched them for a moment, his gaze indifferent, almost contemptuous. Keal noticed his reaction and let out an annoyed sigh.
"Ignore them, Akos. They're just two idiots. Let's go, they're waiting for us."
They entered the main building and headed toward a large room that looked like a headquarters. Inside were three people: one was calmly reading a book, another was sipping juice while looking at his phone, and a third with snow-white hair stood silently, staring out the window.
"Reino, we're here," Keal said.
Reino Shino, the leader of ALPHA, turned around and welcomed them with a confident smile.
"Ah, welcome. Akos, I've heard a lot about you. You saved my members, and I want to personally thank you for that. I am Reino Shino, the leader of this family."
"I'm Akos Tasaku. I came down from the mountains today," Akos replied with the same cold honesty.
"I have a feeling our relationship will be excellent," Reino said, but he didn't get to finish his sentence.
Suddenly, the guy with the juice stood up abruptly. With lightning speed, he lunged at Akos and threw a powerful punch at his face. But Akos didn't flinch. With a subtle move to the right, he evaded the strike as if it were in slow motion.
Reino and Keal froze.
"What are you doing, Zen Kurosu?!" they shouted almost simultaneously. Even the guy with the book looked up, startled by the newcomer's reflexes.
Zen Kurosu stood still for a moment, staring at the empty air where his fist should have landed.
"I just wanted to make sure he's truly one of us..." he said coldly. As he walked out of the room, he closed the door behind him, whispering: "...or a Tasaku."
Reino immediately apologized, but Akos remained unshaken, as if nothing had happened. The leader began telling him about ALPHA.
"We are a family here, Akos. We go through the good and the bad times together. Do you want to be part of this family? Yes or no?"
"Yes," Akos answered, his gaze still icy.
Reino handed him a red and white jacket. On the back, the eagle clutching the golden skull was embroidered. Reino smiled as Akos took the jacket in his hands.
At that moment, the door opened again. A young man walked in.
"Excuse me if I'm interrupting..."
"Jin!" Reino sounded irritated. "What on earth are those two doing out there again? Are they fighting over who's the strongest every single day?"
"You know how Oz and Bliss are, Reino," Jin Tori replied calmly.
"Tell them to quiet down immediately. And then, take the newest member of our family and show him the school."
Jin turned and looked at Akos. Their eyes met, and for a few seconds, neither of them moved. There was a strange tension between them, as if they knew each other from the past, from another life.
Jin reached out his hand.
"My name is Jin Tori."
Akos shook it loosely.
"Akos Tasaku."
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
What awaits Akos next? Who is Jin Tori, and how did he know Akos? Will Akos truly find his place in this gang, or is there something more?
Thank you so much to everyone who read this chapter! If you enjoyed the story, please don't forget to Add it to your Library to stay updated!