Chapter 6: "New Kid, New Storm" (Shinji's Arrival)

I woke up to the dull, grey skies of Kota Kinabalu, the sea stretching out before me like a prison sentence. I was supposed to be in Tokyo, surrounded by friends and the thrill of the city. But my dad, Akira Hu, had dragged me here, to this backwater town, claiming it was a chance to "rebuild my life". I called it bullshit.

My name is Shinji Hu, a name that reflected my complicated heritage. My mom was Japanese, my dad Chinese, with a past he kept hidden. But I knew the truth - he was a former Yakuza, and his tattoos told stories I wasn't supposed to know.

"Dad, this school is lame," I said, taking a drag on my cigarette as I gazed out the window at BORNEO-SIGMA College.

"Hey, no smoking in here, Shinji!" Akira barked, his eyes flashing with a hint of his old life. "And show some respect. This is a new start for us.”

I knew why we'd really left Tokyo. The Yakuza had given him an ultimatum: leave Japan, or face the consequences. I'd had an awesome life before this, with girls fawning over me and boys cowering in fear, paying me protection money. No one dared challenge me.

But that was all gone now. Replaced by this dull town, and a school that seemed as exciting as a sedative. I was Shinji Hu, son of a Yakuza, and I would not be silenced.

"English, have you learned it? And Bahasa, I've briefed you, haven't I?" Dad asked, his tone deceptively calm, like a predator sizing up its prey.

I scowled, resentment simmering. "Whatever, Dad... all this for nothing..." My voice trailed off, anger and frustration boiling over.

Dad's transformation was jarring. Gone was the intimidating Yakuza enforcer who commanded fear; in his place, a shadow of his former self. But in that moment, his eyes flashed with a hint of the old fire.

I flipped him the bird, and for a heartbeat, our gazes locked. Then, he smiled - a cold, calculated smile that sent shivers down my spine.

"Listen, kid... your mom... she fucked up, and you fucked up... all this, I'm doing for you... don't you feel sorry for her sacrifices?" His voice was low, menacing, the words dripping with venom.

I refused to meet his gaze, my heart racing with a mix of fear and defiance.

Mom was the true Yakuza descendant, a samurai noble's blood running through her veins. Her family's legacy had been reduced to ashes, forced underground during the Meiji period's tumultuous end. She was the fierce one, the one I idolized, but she'd chosen not to join us, believing I needed a change of scenery.

Dad, once a formidable Hong Kong triad member, had won Mom's heart with his charm and brutality. But now, his eyes, like two worn-out knives, hinted at a past glory, a reminder that even the most shattered souls can still unleash hell.

I glared at him, my voice a low, venomous hiss. "Fine, I'll go... but mark my words, I'll reign supreme over that school. I'll make them all bow to my name." My eyes blazed with a fierce determination, a declaration of war against this new life.

In that moment, the air was heavy with tension, the silence a ticking time bomb waiting to unleash a maelstrom of chaos. Dad's gaze, a mixture of sadness and warning, seemed to say: "Don't unleash the devil within, Shinji." But I was beyond reason, driven by a hunger for power and a thirst for revenge against this new world that dared to try and tame me.

Dad's expression remained stern, his voice laced with disappointment. "Still don't understand... still the same, huh, Shinji? When will you change?”

Suddenly, he uttered a phrase that made my blood boil:

"Samurai no michi wa, Shogun ni mienu, Kokoro no tsuyosa, Bushido no kizuna”

"The way of the samurai is not just about being a shogun, the strength of the heart is the bond of Bushido.”

I sneered, my fists clenched. "That's just a lame excuse for being weak! I had strength and power before this, and no one dared challenge me! What's the point of being strong if you're just going to hide behind words?”

My voice crashed through the room like a challenge, shattering the fragile peace. The air was heavy with tension, the silence that followed a warning sign of the tempest raging within me.

Dad's face twisted in a snarl as he seized me, dragging me to the bathroom with a fierce grip. "Get ready, you stink! I doubt you've bathed in the last two days!”

I seethed, my anger boiling over. "Fuck you, Dad!”

The shower was a brief respite from the turmoil, but even the scalding water couldn't wash away my resentment. I changed into my uniform, the strange style a constant reminder of my exile.

As I stepped out into the sweltering heat, the humidity hit me like a slap. "It's fucking hot here, and humid like the summer on Okinawa... what the fuck?!”

The words spilled out, a venomous protest against this suffocating life, against Dad's suffocating rules, against everything. The scorching sun beat down on me, a relentless reminder of my captivity in this godforsaken place, forced to conform to a life I despised.

We took a taxi, Dad bowing deeply at the driver. "Thank you, sir!”

The driver, oblivious to my inner turmoil, pointed out the school. "That's the place! Good luck with your work, and you, kid, have fun in school!”

Dad pulled me down, and we bowed together, a humiliating display of subservience. "Thank you so much!”

As the taxi drove away, I seethed with resentment. I didn't want Dad by my side; he was no longer the feared Yakuza enforcer I once admired. I was determined to show him how I'd handle this school, without his help.

"Hey, wait, Shinji!" Dad calls out, but I ignore him, my focus fixed on the annoying girl.

A ear-piercing shriek cuts through the air, making me wince. "WELCOME!!! WELCOME!!! WELCOME!!!!!! FIRST DAY BACK, AND ALREADY IT'S GOING TO BE AN AMAZING SEMESTER!!!!!!”

My eyes narrow at the girl's obnoxious grin. Who does she think she is, shouting like a maniac this early in the morning?

I glare at her, my voice a menacing whisper. "You're noisy as hell. Shut up, will ya?"

But she just smiles sweetly, unfazed, and places a hand on my shoulder like we're old friends. "WELCOME!!!!! FIND A SEAT, WILL YA!!!!”

My eardrums throb in protest as she brings the megaphone closer, her voice like a drill to my brain. That's it, I've had enough!!

"Fucking bitch!!" My fist flies towards her, but suddenly my vision goes black.

When I come to, I'm in a principal's office, Dad bowing deeply to an old man and a girl. I'm sitting on a sofa, waiting for him, but my mind is still reeling from the sudden blackout.

I don't care, I think, taking out a cigarette. But Dad suddenly appears, pulling the cigarette from my lips and crushing it. "This is a public office!!”

He takes my cigarette case and lighter, and I'm about to explode. "Hey, what the fuck, old man!!”

Dad's fist connects with my head, and I go down, but I'm still conscious.

"This boy of yours will be a good fit in this school…." the old man says, oblivious to my seething anger.

"Sorry about it….I really do…." Dad apologizes again, and I'm fed up with his groveling. Fucking old man, why is he always apologizing for me?!

I overhear their conversation, my curiosity piqued.

"Anyway, Mr. Akira, we're glad to have you on board. Your experience and skills make you an ideal candidate, despite your past," Mr. Rahman says, his voice dripping with sincerity.

Melissa chimes in, "Yes, we believe you'll be a valuable asset to our institution.”

Dad's eyes light up with gratitude. "Thank you, Mr. Rahman and Ms. Melissa. I'm impressed by your achievements at such a young age. Building this system from scratch is no easy feat.”

Melissa smiles, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Well, it's all thanks to a certain someone... a hooligan, really. He's the one who convinced me to take the leap.”

Dad's interest is piqued. "Is that so? I'd love to meet this individual.”

Mr. Rahman nods, a knowing glint in his eye. "Yes, he's quite the character. His past is... complicated, but he's been chosen as the representative for the international student exchange program at MCKK.”

Dad's eyes widen in surprise. "MCKK? That's an elite school, isn't it? I'm impressed, Mr. Rahman.”

As they shake hands, I sense a power play at work. Who is this mysterious individual, and what's his connection to Melissa and Mr. Rahman?

Mr. Rahman's eyes narrowed as he spoke, "About your son... his latest academic report shows impressive scores. I think he'd be a great fit for the Patriots, our top class.”

But Dad's expression remained skeptical, his voice laced with doubt. "Uh, maybe the lowest tier would be better suited for him... the Buccaneers, perhaps?”

Melissa's smile grew wider, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh no, I think Shinji would thrive in the Patriots. The Buccaneers... aren't exactly the best fit for him. They're a bit too... rough.”

My mind raced with secrets, my previous school life a web of deceit. I'd forced a classmate to do my homework, coerced him into finding answers for every exam. My grades were a lie, but Dad seemed oblivious.

Mr. Rahman's voice cut through my thoughts, "Trust me, Mr. Akira, Shinji's profile suggests he'd excel in the Patriots. The Buccaneers... wouldn't be a good match. He wouldn't survive.”

My interest piqued, I sensed an opportunity. A class of hooligans, ripe for conquest. I'd show them all what I was capable of.

Laughter echoes through the room as Dad introduces us, his eyes still fixed on me with a mix of hope and trepidation. Little does he know, I'm about to turn this place upside down.

The classroom is simple, but it's a battleground. Nerds and misfits dot the room, but I spot a few who seem like kindred spirits. Potential recruits.

Dad's introduction is met with awkward silence. I seize the moment, my voice booming through the room.

"Morning everyone, I'm Shinji. And I have one rule: don't fuck with me!!”

The room erupts into a mix of gasps and snickers. Some cower in fear, while others seem to fawn over me like I'm a rockstar. This is perfect.

I scan the room, my eyes locking onto a few who seem like they might be worth my time. A quiet, brooding kid in the back catches my eye. A girl with piercings and a bold gaze seems like she might be a valuable ally. And then there's the class clown, always trying to make others laugh, but with a hint of desperation in his eyes.

This is going to be fun. I'll build my empire.

As I scan the room for my spot, a nerdy guy catches my eye, his gaze fixed on me with a mix of fear and fascination. Perfect.

"Hey, move aside... this is my seat," I say, my voice firm and commanding.

The nerd hesitates, “B-but..."

I raise an eyebrow, my tone dripping with menace. "Haah!? Aren't you listening to me?"

Just as I'm about to take the seat by force, Dad intervenes, his voice annoyingly calm. "Shinji, sit here…"

My eyes narrow, my anger simmering. Who does he think he is, ordering me around?

I grab the nerd and gesture to the front seat. "Hey, sit there then. At least you can listen to him more clearly.”

The nerd scurries to the front, and I take his seat, joining Rosita and another guy.

Rosita smiles, her eyes sparkling. "Nice to meet you, Shinji.”

I nod, my gaze drifting to Dad, who's still ignoring me. But then he whispers something in Japanese that makes my blood boil.

"Kore wa anata no hametsu to narudeshou" - "This will be your downfall.”

Does he think I'm going to get into trouble? No way. I'm Shinji, the future king of this school. I'll reign supreme, just like I always have.

As my dad begins to teach, I deliberately tune him out, my attention focused on Rosita and Roslan. Our hushed conversation is a subtle act of defiance, a rejection of his authority.

His eyes narrow, his gaze flicking towards me with a mixture of disappointment and warning. But I refuse to back down, my eyes locked on Rosita and Roslan as we discuss our plans for the school.

The classroom becomes a battleground, with his words hanging in the air like a challenge. But I'm not interested in his lessons, not today. Today, I'm forging my own path, one that will take me far beyond the confines of this school.

His voice rises, his words dripping with frustration. "Shinji, pay attention!" But I just smile, my eyes glinting with rebellion. This is war, and I'm ready to fight.

Rosita's eyes gleam with a mix of fascination and resentment as she explains the situation. "Ever since Alex arrived, our world has been turned upside down. The elites and commons are no longer separate, and we can't even assert our dominance. This school has become a circus, with freaks and outcasts running amok.”

My curiosity is piqued. Who is this Alex, and why does he have such power?

Rosita's voice drips with venom. "Alex, the so-called 'hero' of this school. Some say he's a legend, while others call him the 'Ogre of SIGMA.' He's infamous, a former gangster from America who's made a name for himself here.”

My mind races with possibilities. This Alex could be a threat, or a valuable ally. I need to know more.

Rosita continues, her words painting a picture of intrigue and power struggles. "The student council is filled with his friends, and there's a girl who's always by his side. She used to be Halim's girl, but something went down between Alex and Halim, leading to Halim's resignation and transfer back to Peninsular.”

I sense an opportunity. If I can exploit the weakness between Alex and Halim, I might just gain the upper hand. My eyes narrow, my mind working overtime to strategize. This is getting interesting.

"So, this girl of his... what's her name?" I ask, my curiosity piqued.

Rosita spits out the name like venom. "Sylvia. She's always attached to him, like a leech. Same slut, always playing the damsel in distress."

I nod, a plan forming in my mind. "Uh-huh... maybe we can use her as leverage to make Alex work for us.”

But Roslan raises an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "I don't know, man. Alex isn't someone who cares about anyone. He's always been a lone wolf, with this 'fuck off' aura around him.”

I grin, undeterred. "Wow, my future muscle... just what I need.”

Rosita continues, her voice dripping with disdain. "Sylvia's our senior, and she's got the whole package - brains and beauty. But she's also got a reputation for being untouchable, thanks to Alex.”

I nod, my mind racing with possibilities. "Well, that just makes things more interesting. Rosita, tell me more about your group's plans to dominate this class... and how we can use that to our advantage.”

Rosita leans in, a sly smile spreading across her face. "We've been making our mark on this class, just like the old days. But the student council's been sniffing around, trying to take us down.”

I grin, my eyes glinting with excitement. "Well, then let's make a mark on this school... one that they'll never forget."

Stuck in a boring class with my dad as the teacher, I decide to make my presence known. I throw a paper clip with a stone at the Geography teacher, a nerd who thinks he can teach me.

Lunchtime arrives, and my group gathers around me. We discuss the school's history and the infamous Amin incident.

"Remember Amin? My brother told me he was washed away with sewage water!" Rosita says, disgust etched on her face.

"That's what happens to common students," I say, intrigued by the concept of control.

But I'm bored, so I do the unthinkable - I walk out on my dad's class, giving him the middle finger. The others applaud my defiance.

Now, I'm interested in Sylvia, and I want to use her as leverage against Alex. I hang out in the hallway, feeling bored, when I spot a beautiful girl with short bob hair - Sylvia.

She calls out to me, "Hey Shinji, what are you doing here?" How does she know me?

I try my usual charm, "You look cute... want to date me?" But her expression is unexpected, so I turn aggressive, holding her cheeks.

"Maybe come to my house, I could use some help..." But she kicks me in the balls!

"You bitch! That hurt! You know who I am?!" I roar, but she pulls my hair and glares at me.

She's like a gangster, just like my parents! What's going on?

"Our vice president is kind compared to me... so let me get you straight... be a good student, or else..." Her voice is terrifying.

I crumple, clutching my groin in pain. I need to leave this school!

But she pulls my shirt and says, "Don't forget to head to your class, or if you want me to send you there…"

Everything goes blank.

my vision is still a bit blurry but I could see that I'm in my class, and my dad is bowing to Sylvia. What's going on? Why is my dad apologizing to her?

"Sorry about my son..." my dad says.

"It's okay, he needs to learn responsibility," Sylvia replies. What is she, and why does my dad respect her so much?

Sylvia's gaze sweeps across the class, her eyes blazing with intensity. "May I brief your class for a while?" she asks my dad, who nods in agreement. Who is this girl, and why does my dad respect her so much?

As my vision clears, I see Sylvia standing before me, her eyes flashing with anger. "Ugh... what the hell happened? That bitch!!" I exclaim, still reeling from her kick.

Her eyes narrow, and she orders me to sit down. But my ego refuses to back down.

That's when I realize I've fucked up. Rosita's info was way off. Sylvia's not just a smart girl; she's a super girl!

I'm thrown into a chair, and my heart races with fear and anger.

Sylvia addresses the class, "We're here to learn, right?" Fuck you! You want to see me in action?

I stand up, ready to take her on, but she kicks me again with an axe kick. This bitch is not ordinary!

My friends stand up, forming an alliance, but Rosita's knife is no match for Sylvia's skills. Rosita's kicked to the face, and Sylvia declares, "I'm not like the vice president or disciplinary student... I'm just like you, and I want to say: BE A STUDENT, NOT AN ASSHOLE!!”

I feel a mix of fear and admiration for Sylvia. Rosita wakes up, and my friends surrender to Sylvia, betraying me.

"What the fuck is going on?" I exclaim, as my friends turn against each other.

One of them pleads, "Please, let us enjoy school!" But I'm left stunned, wondering what's happening to my crew.

Sylvia's gaze pierces through us, her voice firm. "You all need to take responsibility... and apologize to the teacher and your friends." The class erupts in a chorus of bows and apologies, but I'm stunned - what's behind this sudden change? They're turning against me!

That's it, I've had enough! I don't want to be in this school anymore! My dad's grin infuriates me, and his whisper cuts deep: "Kore ga anata no hametsu ni narudarou to ittadeshou" (I told you, This will be your downfall).

Sylvia's glare intensifies, her eyes blazing with anger. "Apologize..." I remain silent, but she slams her foot into my chest, her strength unbelievable!

She warns me again, "Apologize... or else." Her foot presses harder, making it hard to breathe. Fear creeps in, and for the first time, I feel intimidated by a girl.

"Apologize now..." She presses even harder, and I feel my chest about to break.

FUCK! FINE!

"I'M SORRY!!!!!!! I WONT DO IT AGAIN!!!!!" The embarrassment burns, and I vow not to forgive Sylvia.

Sylvia lifts her foot, and I can breathe again. She bows to my dad, "Thank you all... sorry about this, Mr. Akira.”

My dad's response fuels my anger: "No... I thank you... I see students, not just troublemakers, now…"

The class applauds, except for my former crew, who betrayed me. I hear their whispers:

"Rosita, seems you've forgotten... your sister didn't mention who’s Alex and Sylvia really are?”

"She's Alex's mistress! Got it? The gathering you're so proud of ended with a picnic, Alex-style! Got it?”

Rosita remains silent, but I'm seething with anger. I'll conquer this school, starting with Sylvia, then Alex!

My dad carries me to a chair, his words echoing in my mind: "Now you understand why your mother asked you to leave... Japan lost the war not because of greatness but because they underestimated them once they thought they'd won the battle…"

My entrance has been embarrassing, but mark my words - I will rise again!