Chapter 118: Strength

Baffled that a weakling like Kobayashi has not been finished off, Sakamoto hears from Akao that the very air is toxic. Kobayashi lunges and buries his blade in Sakamoto several times, yet Sakamoto refuses to fall, clamps a hand around the man's throat, and strangles him despite the wounds. The ease of the kill leaves the others stunned. Kindaka doses the mother and his allies with the antidote, keeping himself and Uzuki for last, while Nagumo finds a bounty listing that has put a hefty price on their heads.

When Akao probes whether Sakamoto fears dying, he says he only cares about ending fights fast, and she decides he treasures their lives more than he admits. She even hopes he keeps finding people to love, since attachment sharpens him. Uzuki raises the dilemma of choosing between loved ones and strangers, and Akao answers that she would kill anyone to keep Akira safe. Kindaka then warns there may not be enough antidote for both him and Uzuki.

Uzuki goes to ask the poison specialist for more, only to get a call from Asaki, who is torturing Gaku and pressing him to kill Kindaka at once. Caught between conscience and threat, Uzuki fumbles the antidote, but Kindaka snatches it before it breaks. Certain he will be killed for what he knows, Uzuki instead watches Kindaka press the cure into his hand and drop, seemingly lifeless. The stunned Uzuki can only stare while Akao looks on in horror from above.

Sakamoto strangles Kobayashi despite being stabbed repeatedly. A public bounty on the group is uncovered. Asaki tortures Gaku to force Uzuki's hand. With the antidote running short, Kindaka gives his dose to Uzuki and collapses, apparently sacrificing himself.

Bearing the title Tsuyosa, this nineteen-page chapter sits in Volume 14 as part of Taro Sakamoto's Past Arc. Its cover gathers Nagumo, Kindaka, Akao, Sakamoto, and Kobayashi. The chapter first ran in the twenty-fourth 2023 issue.