Mishima Prefectural High buzzed with a strange new energy.
Genji, Blaze, and Xao Min sat together on the rooftop, the rain finally gone, leaving the city crisp and cold. The three of them munched on convenience store snacks, the earlier tension between them melted into a rough, easy friendship.
Blaze flicked a grape at Genji's forehead.
"You're seriously a monster, y'know that? I've seen you train. Those kicks? Insane."
"修行だよ (Shugyō da yo)," Genji said with a smirk. "Training never ends."
Xao Min slurped her juice box loudly. "Whatever, martial arts nerds. I'm the real prodigy here."
Blaze and Genji both laughed.
For the first time in a long time, Genji felt... light.
Normal.
He spent mornings sparring with Blaze, afternoons getting dragged into Xao Min's crazy antics, and nights refining his control over the Red Thunder burning inside him.
Everything felt like it was finally settling down.
Until he saw it.
Sector 5 — Shopping District
The crowd gathered around the massive TV screen hanging over the mall entrance.
Flashy, brutal clips of fighters demolishing each other played, accompanied by heavy bass music.
In bold, flashing letters:
"G.O.D Tournament: GOD OF DESTRUCTION"
"Winner Prize: 10,000,000 Yen!"
The camera zoomed in on the smiling face of an older man in a sharp black suit — commanding presence, silver-streaked hair, cold eyes.
"Hosted by Shin Mishima — President of G-Corporation!"
The streets exploded with chatter.
"Shin Mishima?! No way, that guy's a billionaire!"
"He owns half the city!"
"G.O.D Tournament? Sounds crazy!"
Genji stood frozen.
"Shin... Mishima...?"
Mishima High — Classroom
Blaze slammed his palm against Genji's desk.
"You serious?! You didn't know?!"
Xao Min leaned in, eyes wide.
"Shin Mishima built this school. Donated a fortune to Mishima Prefecture. G-Corp pretty much runs everything behind the scenes!"
Blaze grunted.
"And the G.O.D tournament? It's infamous. Brutal underground fighting — only now it's legal and televised."
Genji stared at the tournament poster taped to the classroom wall.
"Strongest in Japan, strongest in the world..."
"Winner gets 10 million yen."
Rules and Regulations:
Age Limit: 15 and above.
Weapons: Limited. Only martial arts weapons allowed. Guns/Explosives banned.
Medical Assistance: Provided after match.
Death Matches: Fighters must sign a waiver. Death is not encouraged... but not prohibited.
Tournaments: Single elimination. No time limit. Victory by knockout or surrender.
Special Prize: "King of Destruction" Title.
"Crazy, right?" Xao Min grinned, fists clenched. "I'm entering! I'll show them what I'm made of!"
Blaze nodded solemnly.
"If I win... Yuna can get real treatment."
They both looked at Genji expectantly.
But Genji... hesitated.
"I don't care about fame. Or money," he muttered. "Not my fight."
Blaze clapped his shoulder.
"Then find a reason. 'Cause it's not just about fists — it's about survival."
Genji gave a small smile.
But his heart remained restless.
That Night — On The Way Home
Genji walked through the misty streets alone, hands tucked in his pockets, replaying the day's madness in his mind.
He barely noticed the man stumbling toward him.
Ragged coat. Hollow eyes. Smelled of old alcohol and fear.
The man bumped into him, staggering back as if struck by lightning.
And then —
Terror.
Recognition.
"お前だ…!(Omae da...!)" the man gasped.
"You're... his son...!"
Genji's heart froze.
"What did you say?"
The man stumbled backward, waving his hands frantically. "I-I'm sorry! Please... don't kill me!"
Genji reached out.
"Wait—!"
Screech.
Crash.
A black sedan, speeding around the corner, smashed into the man with a sickening crunch.
The impact hurled him into the air, his body landing twisted and broken on the pavement.
Genji sprinted over, dropping to his knees.
"おい! (Oi!) Stay with me!"
The man coughed blood, gripping Genji's jacket weakly.
"Shin Mishima... He's your father... Tell... him..."
The light faded from his eyes.
Dead.
Just like that.
Rain began to fall again, soaking Genji's clothes, his hair, the blood pooling around him.
The world blurred.
Later That Night — Zakachi's House
Kazuya sat stiffly in the dark living room, arms crossed.
"No," he said flatly.
"Kazuya-san," Genji growled, fists trembling, "Tell me the truth."
Kazuya's jaw clenched.
Zakachi Maoshinara, their grandfather, sat silently, head bowed.
Finally... Kazuya spoke.
"Your real father... is Shin Mishima."
Silence.
"Nani...?" Genji whispered, his voice shaking.
"Your mother, Naomi Takashima, worked for G-Corp. As a lab assistant. Shin fell in love with her. But he was already married — to Keri Mishima. They had a son."
He looked away, shame burning in his face.
"When Keri found out, she ordered Naomi's death. Shin... didn't stop her."
Genji's heart cracked.
"They tried to kill your mother. She barely escaped, pregnant with you. She hid... until the day she died saving you."
Zakachi finally spoke, voice like gravel.
"Your mother loved you, Genji. She sacrificed everything. You are not Shin Mishima's weapon. You are Naomi's son."
Tears blurred Genji's vision.
Betrayal. Rage. Sorrow.
A storm inside.
Without thinking, he roared and slammed his foot into the living room table.
BOOM!
The table shattered, wood splinters flying.
Red lightning crackled around his body — his pendant burning against his chest.
"That bastard...!" Genji roared, chest heaving. "He's gonna see me. Not as some hidden mistake..."
He clenched his fists, electricity dancing in his veins.
"But as the storm he created."
The Next Day — School Rooftop
The grey sky churned with low thunder.
Blaze and Xao Min stood watching as Genji approached, a fire in his green eyes they'd never seen before.
"You're entering, aren't you?" Blaze said, grin fierce.
Genji nodded once.
"For my mother. For the life she gave me."
Xao Min grinned, tossing her melon bun aside.
"Then let's all crush G.O.D together!"
Blaze cracked his knuckles.
"Yeah. Time to show the world what Mishima High can do."
Genji stood between them, the pendant at his neck glowing faintly.
He would enter the arena.
He would face whatever monsters Shin Mishima unleashed.
And he would carve his own fate into the bones of the earth.
Not as Shin's son.
But as Genji Takashima.
To Be Continued...