"Protect everything that's important to you. That's the one and only rule here."

Even if we learn that Umemiya's the top of Furin, he's first introduced in chapter 4.

    He starts his speech to all the students for the first day of school and introduces himself as the Bofurin rep. Even if everyone is solemn when they realise it's him who's talking, Umemiya speaks carefreely about youth and enjoying themselves making memories, and a meaningful school life. He even adds that he's a person who prefers the beach to the mountains, and who wants to eat shaved ice together with everyone else. His speech then becomes more serious, because he says that even if everyone can't get along together, what's important is to do their best to protect the town and what's important to them.

    He's back in chapter 6 when Hiragi tells him what happened with Sasaki and the guys from Shishitoren, revealing his hobby of growing plants. All the first years there (but Sugishita) are shocked to see what kind of person is at the top of the school. Suo manages to understand that Umemiya is the reason why Hiragi's stomach hurts. Umemiya is too proud of his plants and shows everyone everything he has grown so far (eggplants, cucumbers, okras, tomatoes, green peppers...), even though they're still speechless. Haruka thinks he's the same clown who greeted everyone on the first day of school. BUT! Look at his face, he's so adorable~ ❤

    Suddenly, Sasaki explains why he entered Shishitoren's territory (because someone was shoplifted), and that Haruka and Sugishita saved him. While he feels guilty for what he has done, Umemiya doesn't only remember his name (even if he didn't tell him) but thanks him because he only wanted to protect their town.

    He then adds to leave everything else in his brothers' hands and asks Sasaki how he was saved by Sugishita and Haruka, laughing all loud when he learns about it because he feels sorry for the Shishitoren guys who had a hard time with them. When Haruka spills the beans, Umemiya pats his head and agrees that the Shishitoren guys have been lame lately. Then, he thanks him too, because he protected their family, which leaves a strong impression on Haruka, who feels safe when he's with him.

    That is the moment when Tomiyama Choji, the leader of Shishitoren, appears outside after beating some of Furin's students. Umemiya's rage is clear - his face becomes darker and more serious - and Haruka can't understand how he can be the same smiling person he was before. Ume tells everybody to stay back and don't go with him while he approaches Choji.

    Even if Tomiyama wants to fight him, Umemiya doesn't. Since Choji has already beaten some other students, Umemiya tells him they're even. However, they don't share the same opinion, and his opponent attacks him with a kick. Ume blocks it with a hand and Choji tells him his true wish: he wants him because he seems to enjoy his time at the top of Furin while he isn't doing the same thing at the top of Shishitoren. So he wants him and his school for himself. Togame and some other students from Shishitoren appear, and the first years from Furin plus Hiragi and minus Nirei take a step ahead, aligning themselves with Umemiya. He tells them he already said to stay back, but Haruka stops him saying that since he's surrounded, that's the place they should be. The issue is getting serious because everyone inside the school is enraged, so Umemiya accepts Choji's proposal. It turns out that Sugishita, Suo and Haruka have something against three other Shishitoren guys, so Choji decides it will be a one-on-one tournament, and consequently, they'll all be able to fight. They decide that the matches will be:

• Umemiya VS Tomiyama
• Haruka VS Togame
• Sugishita VS Arima
• Suo VS Kanuma
• Hiragi VS Sako

    The night before the battle, Umemiya tells everyone to go out for a meal. When he reaches the others at Pothos, we learn he has a soft spot for Kotoha. They knew each other because they were raised in the same orphanage. In fact, he says that Kotoha is his little sister, and he cares a lot for her, up to the point that Hiragi fears he might learn what happened the first day Haruka came to the city.

    Hiragi talks about how Shishitoren was different from the past, and Tomiyama and Togame cared for their teammates. They were the symbol of strength in a very different way, and Umemiya says that probably everything changed when Tomiyama became their top. He doesn't know the details, but he adds they'll learn about it during the fight. It is because fighting is a type of communication, the only way you can understand your opponent better.

    The team reaches Shishitoren's turf and their headquarters, an abandoned theatre called Orion Stars, which they call "Ori" (cage). Umemiya tells his fellows that his match against Tomiyama is the main one, and to have fun during their fights. But no one seems interested in that because they all want to win, which makes Umemiya happy and proud of them.

    Umemiya agrees with Sugishita about starting the tournament and is sure about his strength. It turns out that Sugishita easily wins his match, using only one punch. Umemiya is super happy about this and compliments him while slapping his face in the place where Arima attacked him. I still can't understand why Ume did this, but I'm pretty sure that's something about Sugishita's past we might know in the future.

    In just one moment, Umemiya realises there's something wrong with Togame, but the only thing he does is watch him and Tomiyama. When it's Suo's turn, and Haruka asks Nirei for information about him, there's almost nothing. Umemiya says that's the same for him because he doesn't know much about his strength, but he's a kind boy based on what he saw when he met him. Anyway, after watching his fight for a bit, he adds that he's not just a kind one. When talking to Hiragi, he says that the fact that Suo became so emotional in this fight might be the case of someone drawing out that side of him. Nonetheless, he's impressed by his technique and compliments him once he's back to the others. Umemiya realises that Haruka's rubbing off on the other first years and tells Hiragi they'll be a great team.

    When it's Hiragi's time to fight, Umemiya seems delighted and when the first years suppose that Hiragi and Sako already knew each other, he adds that he's not surprised if Hiragi knows someone outside of Furin.

    During their match, Sako says Hiragi got weaker because he's surrounded by losers, implying that the "loser" is someone like Umemiya. After Haruka complains about Hiragi's fight being lame while this last one is on the ground, Umemiya tells Sako that Hiragi is one of the four kings of Bofurin and the leader of the heavenly king Tamonten. With a wry smile on his face, Ume asks Sako if he knows Tamonten's other name which is Bishamonten, the god of war.

    At the end of the match, Ume tells Hiragi that he'd never want to receive a roundhouse from him and welcomes him back. Hiragi asks him if he wants to know about him and Sako, but Umemiya replies that he'd like to listen to that story only when he feels like telling it. Remember Ume said that Hiragi doesn't like to talk about himself??? Well, he doesn't want to force him to do something he doesn't want! Aaaawwww!! I love this part of him!! ❤❤❤

    Before Haruka's match, he tells him to talk his heart out as a reminder of what he previously said about fighting as a type of communication.

    During the fight, Nirei realises the strength difference among Togame and those who fought before him. Umemiya explains that Togame is on a different level because Shishitoren's best has always been him and Tomiyama. Nonetheless, he watches the match with a serious face but still enjoys it when he realises Haruka understands how to fight better. He becomes serious again when Togame hits his teammates again despite his fight against Haruka. When Hiragi says that he didn't think that Haruka would go that far, Umemiya agrees with a proud look on his face.

    When Togame tells Haruka he gives up, Umemiya is very serious. Maybe he's like that because he's predicting something, which happens when Tomiyama hits his companion before he tells him to stop that fight. This behaviour enrages Haruka who tries to punch him but is stopped by Umemiya.

    Ume tells him that he's switching with him and that he did well because, from his actions, he could see at once that he had managed to talk with Togame. He then adds to leave the rest to him and Haruka replies he doesn't have to die. YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS PANEL JFSAHJKFSKJHSAK ❤❤❤

    Haruka manages to calm down - even if he still can't understand what's going on inside of him - and tells Ume that if he loses, he'll beat his ass. Ume is happy about it. When the fight is about to start, Umemiya asks Tomiyama if, watching the previous challenge, he could realise something. Choji can't even understand the question and Ume replies, with a serious look on his face, that's too bad. faksfhajsa OH MY GOD AJGHJKFH

    It starts raining. While Ume is angry and so is his face, Tomiyama starts talking about his point of view on him and why it always seems like Ume has so much fun. He even says that's his way to become free. Umemiya tells him that all his what-ifs won't make it harder for him and that he’s 100% sure he won't lose after hitting Tomiyama with a dodged fist.

    During the fight, Umemiya continues to get tons of fists and kicks, but he's still unfazed. The reason why, he explains, is because Tomiyama’s fists are powerless since he's fighting for nothing. An enraged Ume tries to talk with Tomiyama and punches him hard, beating his face to the ground. He asks what having fun means. Tomiyama replies that it's fighting against strong guys like him, Ume says back that for him he's not having fun at all. He feels sorry for him because he doesn't understand anything about himself that's why he talks about those what-ifs. Ume adds that his sympathy is more for the guys of his team because he's their leader, someone who makes them do faces like the ones they have, which is his failure. This makes Tomiyama insane because he can't understand his opponent's words and, in the end, he says he doesn't need Ume or anything anymore. Umemiya realises that he pushed Choji over the edge and says he's sorry because he didn't want to do something like that. He continues by saying that if he continues like that, he will suffer for the rest of his life. Even if Tomiyama hits him, and even bites him (lol lucky boy), Umemiya rubs his head and tells him that the answer is inside of him.

    Choji isn't interested and doesn't completely understand what Ume is saying but he's shocked by his words. Umemiya adds that even during their first year Bofurin and Shishitoren fought because of a misunderstanding. Despite this, they had fun.

    Choji freaks out but Umemiya tells him to remember what he did and what he was back in those days, that's the only way he can be at the top again. He then headbutts him and that's the end of their fight.

    Finally, Choji realises what is wrong with him and gives his jacket to Ume, telling him to take care of Shishitoren from now on. Ume tells him at once that he's not interested in something like that and that he wasn't betting on his team, he wants to be friends instead.

    Then, Umemiya says that they can consider that match as an event to get to know each other, and tells everyone from Shishitoren to go home because they're done. He then announces they'll have an after-party, so they eat together outside, even if it rained heavily. While they eat, Haruka can't understand why Umemiya can eat together with someone who was against him just some minutes before. Also, after Togame says it's his fault for what happened, Umemiya tells Haruka to choose what he wants to reply to him. After he tells him to be cooler and never do the same thing again, Ume says everything is finally over and to continue eating. Choji reflects and then asks him how he can be so happy being at the top of Furin.

    Ume replies that he likes eating and, more than that, watching everyone having fun and being together while doing that. He's always excited to spend time with everyone. Choji says he can't understand how come he didn't realise the way he was happy with his friends. Ume replies that you can't even understand how precious the air you breathe is because it's something "normal" that's always near you. The air was like Togame, the person who was always by his side.

    Umemiya is relieved that Choji realised it before he'd lose it. Tomiyama then asks why he became the top and Ume replies that in that way he can keep enjoying those meals together with everyone. He realised that being the top could grant that wish. He didn't want to be something like that, but there was something he wanted to do as the top. He adds that, if there had been some other way to fulfil that wish, he'd probably try it but that way he'd never got to eat with everyone. He continues by saying he was given the status of leader because you can't do something like that if you're alone.

    That's why he thought his dream didn't belong to him alone, but to everyone else who lifted him as a leader. It's because of this that no matter how difficult, how irrational or how illogical it gets, he'll never lose.

   After giving Choji a squished anpan from Cactus (Ume's favourite), Umemiya leaves with the others, telling him and Togame to eat together at their place next time. So, they return to Cafè Pothos, where Sasaki is waiting for them. Umemiya pats his head and tells him that everything is over.

    Despite being ignored by Kotoha, Umemiya wants to celebrate with everyone and stops Haruka from leaving. The latter says there's nothing to celebrate, but Ume replies that's not true because it's his "first fist conversation anniversary", and wants to converse with him about his talk with Togame. Haruka replies that he didn't talk with him because he didn't hear any voice from his fists, which causes a resounding laugh from everyone since it wasn't what Ume meant. He wants to convey that fighting is a way to become more empathic with your enemy; in that way, you can express more basic things, such as whether you like that person or not. At this point, Haruka spits his coffee in Ume's eyes. While cleaning Sakura's mess, Umemiya explains better what he wanted to say: Haruka grew to like Togame, and it was because, while fighting with him, he had that dialogue. If it had been the other way around, he wouldn't have reacted by trying to attack Choji.

(HE'S SO HANSDOME DAHGDAJGSJAHD)

    Ume wanted to celebrate what happened because it made him happy. He didn't know what kind of boy Sakura would be, but now he was sure he was a good guy. Hiragi tells him that he could have better called that "a welcome party" instead, and Ume agrees. After this, he tells Haruka that the requirements you need to meet to talk to someone with your fists are to face the person and have the desire to know more about them. That's because if you want to accept someone, you have to be honest and face each other. Since he's pretty positive that Haruka did it, he supposes he still hasn't given up on others. If he doesn't do it, he can even become the top.

    An embarrassed Haruka tells Ume that it would mean he would lose, and he replies that he'll worry about it when the time comes.

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