Renegades: Battlegrounds.-Chapter 35: The Girl In The Park

The moment Ren crossed into Hanami Park, the atmosphere shifted. Downtown’s harsh noise faded, swallowed by distance and the soft hush of trees. The aggressive energy vanished, replaced by something gentler.

The park was large easily over thirty acres. Winding paths lined with cherry blossom trees in full bloom. Open lawns where people spread picnic blankets. A central fountain surrounded by benches and a small pond with ducks

Ren slowed just inside the entrance, breathing in the clean air that smelled like grass and flowers instead of exhaust fumes and cigarette smoke.

"So this is what neutral territory is. " He thought. "Shiin said no gang fights were allowed here. "

Hanami Park was one of the few places in Yugen City where that rule was strictly enforced and he understood why immediately.

This wasn’t gang territory. This was civilian territory. A place for families, couples, children. The one space where normal people could exist without worrying about being caught in crossfire.

All the gangs Sakuratei, Crimson Dragons, even the minor crews respected that boundary because if they didn’t, the yakuza would intervene and nobody wanted that.

Ren wandered deeper beneath the blooming canopies. Couples walked hand-in-hand. An old couple sat on a bench, feeding bread crumbs to pigeons. A young mother pushed a stroller, cooing softly to her baby.

"This... this is what Kaito wanted to protect. " Ren thought, sitting on a bench near the fountain. "Not turf. Not power. Just normal people living normal lives without fear. "

The fountain splashed softly. Kids laughed. Birds chirped and Ren closed his eyes and let the soft sounds of the park loosen something tight in his chest.

Watching the protection racket, seeing the fear in that shop owner’s eyes and walking through Downtown’s oppressive atmosphere.

It was draining.

For the first time since arriving in Yugen City, he felt like he could breathe.

But as he would soon come to learn nothing was ever that easy in this city.

Ren wasn’t sure how long he’d been sitting there maybe ten minutes, maybe twenty when raised voices shattered the peace.

Male voices. Aggressive. Amused.

Ren’s eyes snapped open.

Across the park, near the fountain’s far side, three men in leather jackets surrounded a young woman.

Kotekai Biker Gang. Ren recognized the emblem on their jackets.... a skull with motorcycle wheels for eyes.

Minor gang. Not one of the big three. But dangerous in their own way. Thugs who ran protection rackets on businesses too small for Crimson Dragons to bother with. Drug dealers. Loan sharks.

The kind of criminals even other gangs looked down on.

The woman they’d cornered was young—maybe eighteen or nineteen. University student, based on her casual but put-together outfit. Shoulder-length black hair. Carrying shopping bags from a grocery store.

She was trying to leave. They kept blocking her path.

"Come on, sweetheart. Just one ride. We’ll show you a good time." The leader grinned, his smile turning uglier.

"No thank you. I really need to get home." The woman replied politely.

Another biker stepped infront of her blocking her off. "Don’t be like that. We’re just being friendly. "

"Please. I’m not interested. Let me pass."

"Now that’s just rude. We go out of our way to be nice, and you... "

The biker leader reached for her hand and Ren was on his feet before he had consciously decided to move.

Ren crossed the park in long strides, fists already clenched.

"She said no. " Ren called out loud and clear.

The three bikers turned, surprised.

The woman did too, eyes wide.

The leader who was in his mid-twenties with a shaved head and multiple piercings looked Ren up and down.

"This your boyfriend? Little young for you, isn’t he, sweetheart?" He mocked Ren. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"I don’t know him.. " the woman answered, confused.

Ren stepped between them and the woman, blocking their access to her.

"Let her go. Now," he said steadily.

"Or what, kid?" the leader sneered.

The leader leaned in closer, studying Ren’s face.

"Looks like someone already kicked your ass this week. Those bruises are fresh." He grinned. "Want another fresh round of beating?"

Behind him, Ren could feel the woman’s presence. She was scared, feeling trapped.

Ren put on a brave act. "Try it. "

The leader’s smile dropped instantly.

"Wrong answer kid. " He said coldly.

The leader swung wildly.

The punch was too telegraphed. Too sloppy. Thrown with too much overconfidence that Ren saw it coming a mile away.

He shifted his weight, letting the punch pass inches from his face and countered with a straight jab to the leader’s jaw.

The leader stumbled back, shocked. His hands to his face. "What the.. "

The two other bikers rushed him simultaneously but Ren had learned from the Yuto fight to use his opponents momentum well.

The second biker came in low, trying to tackle but Ren sidestepped and landed a palm strike straight to the bridge of his nose. The hit landed squarely and the biker gasped before doubling over.

The leader recovered, face red with rage and embarrassment."Okay, now I’m pissed."

He reached into his jacket, pulled out a metal chain.

"Shit." Ren muttered internally.

The leader swung the chain in a wide arc and Ren barely dodged it, feeling it whistle past his ear

The chain wrapped around a tree branch, lodging itself stuck. The leader yanked at it trying to free it but Ren didn’t give him the chance as he rushed in and kicked him hard in the ribs.

The leader went down, releasing the chain, gasping. Within seconds, all three bikers were on the ground, groaning.

Ren looked up to see a small crowd had gathered around them.

"Leave. Now." Ren warned.

The leader struggled to his feet, face twisted with humiliation and rage. "This isn’t over, you little piece of shit. "

As the crowd murmured and someone yelled about calling the police. The three bikers heard that, and exchanged glances.

"Boss, we should go... " The two bikers said nervously to their leader.

"We’ll remember your face."

They limped away quickly, disappearing toward the park exit.

The crowd dispersed slowly nobody wanted to get involved further. It was just another incident in Yugen City. Entertainment to be forgotten soon.

Ren stood there, adrenaline crashing, breathing hard. His knuckles were bleeding again, his old wounds reopened.

"I keep getting into fights. Is this who I’m becoming?"

A voice behind him whispered, "That was... incredible."

Ren turned.

The woman stood there, clutching her shopping bags, eyes wide with a mix of fear and awe.