Ryu ga Gotoku Online story summary: part 13

Chapter 19 dropped earlier than I was expecting it. I wondered at first if it meant they were picking up the pace, but actually I think they’re just using it to fill in time while they prepare for the big donpachi tournament in a couple of weeks.

 

Chapter 19: Bad Boy Style

Even at a time like this Kamurocho is packed, which makes it difficult for Kasuga and Kitamura to search for the others. Kitamura says they’re still a hot topic on social media, and he hopes Akiyama and the others have managed to not get caught. Kasuga says running away is all we can do now, things are getting worse and worse.

Kitamura asks Kasuga what he thinks about what Mikuni said, about Tsuji betraying them. Kasuga says it’s not really surprising. After all, if his aim is to rule Kamurocho, sticking with Kasuga and the others right now wouldn’t offer much hope of a bright future. Switching sides makes sense in that case.

Kitamura thinks Kasuga’s taking it very lightly. If Tsuji did that, they’d be in even more trouble. Kasuga points out that even Mikuni wasn’t completely certain of it, and if they start worrying over every little thing they won’t be able to do anything. Kitamura says he hopes he’s worrying over nothing but … then he gets a phone call. 

Kasuga yells at him, since he was the one who said to turn their phones off, but Kitamura says he just switched it on for a minute to check what the internet was saying about them. The call’s from Tsuji. He says hello there, wanted man. Kitamura tells him to stop messing about, and asks if he’s with the others. Tsuji says no, it’s just him, and when Kitamura says he’s with Kasuga, Tsuji calls them the wanted combo. Kitamura says there’s no time for pointless chat, they could be discovered any moment. Tsuji asks where they are, and he says in the alley off Tenkaichi Street, so Tsuji tells them to go down the manhole by Public Park Three and they’ll come out in the hotel district. There’s an abandoned building with a sign saying Moonside, it’s his safehouse. 

They do what he says, but as soon as they emerge in the hotel district, they’re ambushed by Omi Rengo guys. After being soundly beaten, one of them says the information was correct, and that freaks Kitamura out, but Kasuga thinks he’s being oversensitive, and it was probably just a random bystander that spotted them. Kitamura says we were underground the whole way, what bystanders!? Then Kasuga blames Kitamura for leaving his phone on, but he says he switched it off right after talking to Tsuji. So was it Tsuji who betrayed them?

Kitamura calls Tsuji again and tells him they can’t make it to the meeting place, so Tsuji asks where they are now, and arranges a new meeting place, on the second basement floor of a building in the alley off Park Street. Kasuga notes that he was quick to find a new place … but they go there anyway. And are ambushed by Omi again. 

The Omi guy sees they’re wondering how they knew they were coming. But they don’t need to know, since they’re going to die now! After beating the Omi guys up, Kitamura asks how they knew, and the guy says Tsuji, of course. Your friend tipped us off! 

Omi doesn’t see why they’d be surprised, after all Tsuji’s the boss of the famous hangure. They’re worse than the yakuza, they’d betray ten friends before breakfast. He says they’ve only got themselves to blame, for taking such a plague into their group. 

Kasuga punches him. Kitamura tells him to calm down, and he apologises and says his hand acted on its own. Kitamura reminds him these guys could be lying to confuse them, so he suggests calling Mikuni to see if they can get more information. Mikuni suggests meeting at a bar in the Champion District called Hotaru [firefly]. Kasuga wonders if it wouldn’t be best to talk to Tsuji himself, and Kitamura says he doesn’t want to doubt Tsuji either, but right now one wrong move could end them, so they have to be prepared for the worst. 

At the bar, Mikuni asks what they know about Tsuji, and Kasuga says he’s the leader of the hangure and has the kind of face where you never know what he’s thinking. But he’s like a naughty kid who’ll jump feet first into anything he thinks might be fun, without considering the consequences. Mikuni says he can tell Kasuga likes him, but the police’s assessment is a bit harsher. In the past, he says, Tsuji was just one member of the hangure group in Kamurocho. Kasuga says it’s hard to imagine him being pushed around by anyone, and Mikuni says well, there was a coup, and Tsuji ended up in the leader’s chair. But the group was still small and weak until Tsuji started taking on other gangs and assimilating them into the hangure. But Tsuji’s process was always to take on two groups at the same time. Kasuga asks why he would make a problem like that for himself, but Mikuni doesn’t know. What he does know is that Tsuji would always destroy one of the two enemies and assimilate the other one, thus increasing his influence. It was like he was weighing the two groups against each other and deciding which had more value. And he thinks this is a similar situation. 

Kasuga thinks if Tsuji’s weighing his group up against Omi and the police, then there’s no way they can possibly compete, they weigh about as much as a pigeon feather right now. Kitamura agrees, their friends are scattered and they’re wanted by the authorities. If Tsuji wants to control Kamurocho, it’s obvious he’d switch sides to Omi! 

Mikuni lays out the facts: the way those guys bragged about Tsuji’s betrayal … then the fact those guys could only have learned where they were from Tsuji … when you put it all together it seems the only logical conclusion. 

Kitamura asks Kasuga what he wants to do, but he doesn’t know. Mikuni asks if they’ve managed to contact any of the others yet, and of course they haven’t, so he says while they’ve got not only Omi and the police but the general public after them, whatever they do they’re going to end up in trouble, aren’t they? And all Mikuni can do to help is find places like this, where they can take a breather for a bit. He asks whether X can help, but Kitamura says he has no way of contacting X at the moment. The approach always comes from X first. Mikuni agrees that makes sense, since X has to hide their identity. So it seems all they can do for now is hide and wait. And Kitamura agrees with his analysis. 

Kasuga’s thinking … 

And then he decides: he’s going to meet Tsuji. The cops are both stunned, and Kitamura asks if he was even listening. He says he was. And he thanks Mikuni for helping him get his thoughts in order. His conclusion is this: “In these circumstances, Tsuji would definitely betray us. But I really don’t think he will. Talking on the phone won’t work. I need to be face to face with him.”

Kitamura says that’s too much of a gamble, it’s too dangerous. But we know Kasuga likes to gamble. He says that’s the only way he’ll know if he can trust Tsuji or not. Mikuni says he sees now why Omi has such a hard time dealing with Kasuga. He asks if Kitamura’s going with him, and he says of course. He’s the chief babysitter. Mikuni tells them not to die. 

So they go back to the alleyway by the park, and are ambushed again, by police this time. After the fight, Kasuga says right, now let’s look for Tsuji. And a voice says, “No need.” It is, of course, Tsuji.

He says damn, you guys took your time. Does Kasuga not have a watch? Kasuga says don’t talk crap. There’s a nationwide search on for us, you know. Tsuji says he saw the news, they’re famous. And laughs about how young Kasuga looked in the photo they showed. Kasuga says I’m still young, you little shit. Then he asks if Tsuji’s seen any of the others, and he says no, Kasuga’s the only one he’s managed to get hold of. 

Then Tsuji says, “Oh yeah, by the way, Kasuga-san. I’m with Omi now.”

Kasuga and Kitamura are shocked at him confirming it so baldly. Tsuji says it was all good until they took on Kagami. But now the police are seriously involved. He wants to keep playing. So he sold them out so he could change sides. 

Kitamura’s furious, and asks if he’s serious. Tsuji says he’s not really the joking type. Kasuga tells him he’s shocked, and Tsuji says he doesn’t look it. Kasuga says he’s used to betrayals, he’s been on both sides of them all his life, so part of him does just think, “again?” But that’s why he had to meet him face to face. And he doesn’t think Tsuji wants to do it.

Kitamura can’t believe he’s saying that even now, and Tsuji agrees, saying as usual he’s too trusting. Kasuga says it doesn’t matter. He still thinks of Tsuji as one of them. Tsuji says well, he’s fine with that. But it’s not going to stop him doing what he does. Kasuga says yeah, let’s both just do what we do. 

Some of Tsuji’s men turn up to fight. Kasuga apologises to Kitamura for getting them in trouble again, and Kitamura says it’s happened so many times he’s lost count. 

After the fight, Tsuji compliments them on their strength. Kasuga says Tsuji was basically just watching again, and Tsuji says, “I told you. I’m bad at fighting. But these guys seem to love it.” This time they have to fight Tsuji’s underlings, Omi and the riot police all at once. And that mean detective is there too. 

Tsuji asks Kasuga if he still believes he wouldn’t betray them. And Kasuga says for sure, it’s hard to say that now. So he’ll say it in a different way. “I’ll scout you. How about it, Tsuji? Want to team up with us?”

The Omi executive and the detective can’t believe it. And neither can Kitamura, or Tsuji himself. Tsuji asks if he’s serious. Kasuga says he’s seriously serious. “You want to take this town for your own, right. I mean, sure, we’re in a bit of pinch right now … but if we hold out here, we have a chance of winning. And if you switch sides at the last moment, right in front of Omi and the police, that will even the odds. With you on our side, it’s not impossible. And if you’re with us, you can still pursue your ambition.”

Tsuji says that was a surprisingly honest presentation. Kasuga thanks him, and offers his final argument: “From the beginning, I never saw you as someone who just wants to control the town. So there’s really only one reason I’m inviting you. Tsuji … if you team up with us, you’ll have a lot more fun, won’t you?”

Tsuji’s flabbergasted. And so are the Omi executive and the detective. Omi says that’s the last thing he ever imagined hearing at a time like this. He makes Tsuji a counteroffer. The boss will be really grateful for Tsuji’s help in this, and he’ll offer him a place in Omi. Maybe not top level straight away, but he’ll have a lot of power. And the detective says if he doesn’t want to join the yakuza, that’s fine too, he can carry on as he is, doing whatever he wants in Kamurocho. Either way, he’ll have a glorious future.

Tsuji says “… Well then. Shall we get started?” He gives a signal to his boys … and they start attacking Omi and the police. He tells Kasuga he’d better live up to his promise. Make it fun for him. Kasuga says, “Let’s start by getting out of this mess, that’ll be great fun!”

The Omi executive is furious at Tsuji for making a joke of the situation, and Tsuji says, “Like I said. I don’t joke. You guys really are boring, you know.”

After they beat them all, Kitamura says it’s like Mikuni said: Tsuji weighs up both sides before choosing one. He chose them because they had more value for him. Kitamura doesn’t understand the logic of choosing “the more fun side”, but it seems Kasuga was more perceptive. Kasuga says “No, I was in a cold sweat. I really didn’t think he’d go for it! Tsuji, you seem smart, but really you’re a complete idiot!”

Tsuji says never mind the details, let’s just keep being honest to each other. And Kasuga says sure, go ahead and betray us any time. I’ll just come up with another convincing argument to get you back!

So after all that, now they’re back to looking for the others. Kitamura says that last fight reduced their enemies’ strength considerably, but he doesn’t think it will really make much difference. 

Tsuji’s been working on another level though. He’s had his boys spreading false information to draw their enemies off Kasuga’s trail. Since he sold out Kasuga and Kitamura twice, they trust him now. The hangure lure them to an ambush and then beat them up. Kitamura is impressed, but points out that won’t stop the general public noticing them. Tsuji has that in hand too, though. He bought a lot of inactive social media accounts from a Chinese supplier, and they’ve been using them to spread fake eyewitness reports and put out photoshopped versions of Kasuga and Kitamura’s mugshots that look nothing like them. So now no-one knows what’s real or not. Kitamura’s amazed at what he’s managed to achieve in such a short time. Kasuga cheerfully admits he doesn’t get it at all, but if it means it makes it easier for them to search for the others, he’s all for it. 

Of course, it doesn’t mean their enemies have been completely eliminated, and after they have to fight a few more groups, Tsuji decides he’s going to have to play his trump card. He didn’t really want to do it, but … he makes a call.

If you look closely, you can see Tsuji has a Kamuroppu phone case

And all hell breaks loose. Fires, riots, the lot. He reasons that if they’re trying to hide their “trouble” then it’s best if the whole town is full of “trouble”.

Kitamura’s concerned about the town’s people, but Tsuji reassures him they were warned to clear out. Besides, he likes this town. He doesn’t want to damage it too much. 

Kasuga says,  “Damn, I had no idea you were such a madman when I asked you to join us!” Tsuji says, “No refunds.” And Kasuga says, “That suits me fine.”