The story begins the same way as in canon, with Akiyama being introduced as lazy, careless, and very charming in his conversation with Hana. He goes around Kamurocho to go collect debts.

He goes to visit one of his clients, a yakuza named Hiroaki Arai, who is accompanied by his loyal righthand man Takeshi Kido. Akiyama and Arai talk, revealing that Akiyama has just helped Arai to fund his own family, which currently consists of ten men. Akiyama believes that Arai has what it takes to get to the top, which Arai tries to laugh off and says that he’s not sure he’s suited to be a bigshot yakuza, but he doesn’t want to let Akiyama down. They just get some time to be friends.

Akiyama talks to Kido, who says that they’re dealing with a problem with a club they own. Two goons from the Ueno Seiwa Clan, a small clan that was once a rival to the Tojo, are causing a ruckus. Akiyama goes to deal with it but the situation gets out of hand when one of them pulls a gun. Kido shoots one of them, killing him. The situation is dire as Akiyama realizes that if word gets out, the Arai Family will likely be finished as cops are cracking down on yakuza lately.

Kido flees and Akiyama is approached by detectives Masayoshi Tanimura and Junji Sugiuchi, and is taken into custody.

Akiyama testifies to Sugiuchi that he went into his own club to throw out the Ueno Seiwa goons, but that a yakuza goon had interfered and shot one of them dead before fleeing. Sugiuchi doesn’t believe that Akiyama doesn’t know who it is, but Akiyama remains true to his story. Ultimately, they let him go.

After a chat with Hana, Akiyama goes to see Arai, who is naturally concerned that Kido is now on the run. Arai says that the Ueno Seiwa clan, while much smaller than the Tojo, is high-profile enough that incidents involving it will attract the attention of the police.

They are interrupted by the arrival of Kazuo Shibata, who has come to see Arai. It is revealed that Arai was once a member of the Shibata Family and has only recently started his own. Shibata tells both of them that Kido has been identified as the prime suspect in the murder case, and that Arai is to be summoned to speak with the Ueno Seiwa. Arai is hesitant but ultimately agrees to it, telling Akiyama to try to stay out of it. Akiyama refuses.

Akiyama returns to Sky Finance to find some Tojo Clan goons crawling around. They try to question him about the shooting but Akiyama kicks their asses. He learns that they are members of the Hakuho Clan (Mine's family), and kicks them out. He takes a nap.

We open on the face of Yoshitaka Mine standing alone in the Tojo meeting room. He is approached by Daigo, who takes the time to reassure him that they’re going to be fine. Mine is remorseful for his actions in 3, and wants to do anything to make it up to Daigo. Daigo says to take it one step at a time.

Daigo and Mine turn to greet the family lieutenants in the room. Shibata is the most prominent member there. Arai sits near the end, visibly nervous as he exchanges a look with Shibata.

The doors open, and Isao Katsuragi, leader of the Ueno Seiwa, enters. The scene plays out much like in canon except that Katsuragi more directly talks to Arai, who is ready to take a finger if he needs to. Katsuragi turns that idea down, saying that he’d rather have monetary compensation in the form of Majima’s Kamurocho Hills project, or the life of Kido. Daigo and Arai are at odds, as Arai clearly doesn’t want Kido dead, but Daigo and Mine don’t want to give up Kamurocho Hills.

Katsuragi leaves with his ultimatum, along with Shibata and the other officers. Arai remains for a moment to talk with Daigo and Mine, saying that he really thinks they should consider giving up the project. Mine adamantly refuses this idea, saying that they cannot bend to a clan that much. The Ueno Seiwa cannot simply be disregarded either; they are small but highly trained killers. Provoking them will only lead to more bloodshed. Kido’s life must be forfeit. Daigo understands Arai’s misgivings, but ultimately believes that Kido is more expendable for the betterment of the Tojo Clan. Daigo places out an order for Kido’s death. Mine nods in turn.

Detective Sugiuchi visits Akiyama at Sky Finance, cracking down on him now that he knows a member of the Arai Family is responsible. Sugiuchi attempts to question Akiyama on his relationship with Arai, but Akiyama tries to avoid it. Sugiuchi leaves.

Akiyama investigates on his own, trying to track down Kido by asking around. He ultimately manages to find Kido hiding out.

The two talk, with Kido being extremely freaked out because of what happened. He says that he can’t even go outside without fear of his life being ruined forever. Akiyama tries to talk him into leaving Kamurocho entirely, but Kido’s convinced that something else is going on. The Ueno Seiwa were smart from years of being subservient to the Tojo and knew better than to attack a yakuza in their own club. Kido thinks that the goons were ordered to cause a commotion in the hopes of creating an incident.

The two’s talk is interrupted by the arrival of Yoshitaka Mine and his men. Akiyama has no idea who he is, but Mine says that he researched the Arai Family and managed to keep tabs on Akiyama, tailing him as he hunted for Kido.

Mine intends to kill Kido in order to dispose of the Ueno Seiwa problem as quietly as possible. He will make up for his past misdeeds against Chairman Dojima. Akiyama berates him for betraying his own.

Akiyama and Kido fight off Mine’s men, and Akiyama holds Mine himself off while Kido runs. Akiyama vs. Mine goes down, with both men being relatively evenly matched. It ultimately ends with a narrow Akiyama victory.

Mine breathes heavily and collapses to his knees. Akiyama tells Mine that there’s more going on and runs, leaving Mine to his own devices and yet another failure.

Akiyama makes it back to Sky Finance, completely exhausted from his fight with Mine. Hana takes care of him as he updates her on the situation. She asks about his history with Arai, realizing that clearly there were things she didn’t know. Akiyama relays his backstory, parts of which Hana knew already. Akiyama was homeless until money came raining down from the sky. Homeless hunters nearly took it all from him until Arai beat them up, the two becoming friends. When Arai became a yakuza, Akiyama decided that he would help him reach the top. Hana finds it admirable.

The next day, Akiyama hears a commotion about the other remaining Ueno Seiwa goon. He does some investigating and manages to track down the goon. After a brief fight, the goon admits that he and his friend had been sent to cause trouble and create a volatile situation between the Tojo and Ueno Seiwa. Akiyama asks who gave the order. Before he can get an answer, the goon is shot to death by an unseen assailant. Akiyama attempts to pursue but finds nothing.

Akiyama decides to report in to Arai, who looks more disheveled than normal. Akiyama updates Arai on the status of Kido and the Ueno Seiwa hit. Arai says that he will do anything to ensure that Kido stays alive. He asks Akiyama to give him another loan unlike anything Akiyama has ever given before. 10 billion yen– the rough estimate of the price of Kamurocho Hills.

Akiyama is uncomfortable as Arai tries to explain his reasoning. He claims to want to give that money to the Ueno Seiwa in place of Kamurocho Hills or Kido’s life. Akiyama for once doesn’t buy it, saying that the Arai he knew wouldn’t ask that much of him, even if that amount still is chump change to him. Arai brings up the circumstances that led to Akiyama being kicked out of his job– the loss of 10 billion yen. Shouldn’t he have a chance to use his money to save someone?

Ultimately, Akiyama turns down the offer. After a pause, he asks why Arai's gun is on the table. Arai struggles to respond, but Akiyama ultimately figures out that Arai was the assailant he was just chasing. After a fight with members of the Arai Family, Arai manages to shoot Akiyama in the arm before Akiyama escapes into Kamurocho.

Akiyama gets patched up back at Sky Finance as he tries to figure out who to talk to about everything that is happening to him. He doesn’t understand what Arai’s goal is or why he betrayed him, and almost starts to break down because of it. He receives word that there’s a yakuza group causing trouble at his club.

Akiyama goes to his club to find members of the Majima Family hanging around, led by Daisaku Minami. Akiyama asks what they’re doing there, and Minami says that they’ve been sent because word has got out about Akiyama’s efforts in dealing with the Ueno Seiwa situation. Minami is there to scout him out and see if he’s worth the effort.

Akiyama fights Minami and wins, as in canon. Once it’s done, Majima arrives on the scene, serious as hell as he looks down at the exhausted Akiyama. Majima is glad to know he’s a fighter. Akiyama asks what the hell is going on.

Majima says that the Arai Family has entirely disappeared after Akiyama managed to escape from Arai’s clutches. Majima wants to track them down, as he suspects that they have a hand in something much larger going on. Akiyama asks if Majima wants to kill Kido too, but Majima turns it down, saying that he doesn’t agree with Daigo and Mine and wants to do things his own way. He offers to tell Akiyama everything if he comes with him. Akiyama accepts.