#i'll make a tag for people to blacklist eventually but for now you're along on this ride with me

[cagesings]

so  ever-loving  emotional  over  these  audios  guys

[banqanas]

BATTLE OF TOKYO snippet translation

Volume 4, Chapter 1, Page 31-33

...

Nine people were dead in the park last night; Astro9's Grandmaster and the eight people who kidnapped him. Despite the latter being criminals, it is undeniable that a large number of people died and yet the park continued to operate as if nothing had happened.

It was clear that the top brass of the park's management were trying to cover up the incident.

"I'm sure the Director was the one behind Grandmaster's kidnapping. So now I'm gonna crash to this asshole's place and find out why."

"'Do you think he'll just tell us if we nicely ask him, why did you sell out the Grandmaster to Blue Shield?" Kane retorted.

"I'll make him talk. No matter what," Kagura whispered the last part and Kane felt shivers ran up his spine.

"Kagura... You can't seriously be thinking of interrogating the Director by force. Do you know what will happen if you do?"

"Whether I get him to talk or not, I'll get fired either way. So," the man laughed darkly.

Astro9 might be the park's biggest star, but going against the management is taboo for everyone. Defying or committing violence against the bosses would not only get them fired, but they will also be blacklisted in the entertainment business everywhere else. You would have no more future in the show industry.

Looking at his partner's increasingly worried face, Kagura continued, "Don't worry. I'm not gonna get you or the team involved. I'll go alone. If I'm the only one gone, you guys can still go on without me."

"What about you? Can you go on without the team?"

"Of course I can't. Astro9 is my everything."

Kagura tried to play it cool but his words came out in a loud voice. He couldn't suppress his emotions as the past five years he spent with Astro9 flashed through his mind.

After losing his parents to the storm and becoming an orphan, it was the Grandmaster who took him in. He was introduced to the others and together they underwent grueling days of training their body and honing their abilities.

He, who lost everything was given a new life of a showman and troubleshooter by Astro9. He wouldn't wish for anything else other than to be together forever with this team he came to love.

"But Kane... Would you be able to accept pops* death just like that? Could you still go on stage and smile knowing that you're working for the bastard that's in cahoots with the Blue Shield? I would rather die than letting myself, or you guys, continue working for him."

Any other adult would probably be able do it. But "wanting to" and "being able to" are two separate things. If you keep doing things you don't want to, your heart will eventually shrivel and rot. And a performance without any heart will feel hallow even on the brightest stage.

Kagura wouldn't be able to bear seeing his friends becoming the park's lifeless puppets. The Astro9 he loves is one that's always shining with life and he'll make sure that they stay on that bright path always.

"And this isn't just a simple case of the Director backstabbing pops. There's a possibility that the whole park's management division has turned sides to Blue Shield. If that's the case then we need to act now before they put the team in danger," Kagura said with his fist clenched in determination. As if reaffirming his resolve, he whispered to himself, "someone has to take the job... And I rather it be me."

Kane fell silent at Kagura's conviction.

Eventually he took a deep breath. "That's very much like you, Kagura. I understand."

"Then, I'll come along with you."

"What?" Kagura snapped his head to look at Kane. "Have you even listened to anything I said? I won't look cool if you're tagging along stealing my thunder! Besides, if we both get fired at the same time, it'll just make them angry at us for ruining the routine!"

"I'm coming along to make sure you don't get fired even if you resort to violence on the top brass. I'll handle it somehow."

"And if you can't?"

"Then we'll both gracefully excuse ourselves out of the park and hide in a some town while being street performers maybe," Kane explained with a smile spreading across his face.

The wind user has a gentle disposition but he was not someone who put his heart on his sleeves. Seeing Kane smiling sincerely for once brought some comfort to Kagura's heavy heart.

"You're a weirdo, you know that," Kagura sighed.

The speedster offered his hand and his partner shook it just as quickly.

"Well, then. Let's go give that asshole Director a visit, Kane."

"To avenge the Grandmaster."

The two skill users stood up at the same time and made their way towards the City, the park's center of wealth and conspiracy.

...

TL note:

*The kanji was written as the usual Dancho (grandmaster) but the subtext was written as Oyaji (father, old man)