A Man Is

is chapter 9 of the Beelzebub manga.

Summary
In the warehouse, Tatsuya’s thugs are stunned at Tatsumi appearing out of Alaindelon. Tatsuya humorously asks Tatsumi if he’ll become a magician if he grows up. Viciously excited, Tatsumi confirms and plans to begin with his “perfect illusion”, where everyone will disappear. With the intention of unifying Ishiyama High, and as with Acid Suzuki earlier, Tatsuya asks Tatsumi how much he’ll need to pay for him to become his underling, amazed at his appearance. Tatsumi replies indifferently to Tatsuya’s reputation. Takayuki is content to his response, but Hildegarda is apathetic. Shocked, the thugs scold him for not knowing Tatsuya’s membership in the Tōhōshinki and heir to the Himekawa Zaibatsu. In response, Tatsumi kicks two of the thugs, sending them into the ceiling such that their heads and torsos are smashed in. He reclaims not knowing Tatsuya.

Fascinated at Tatsumi, Tatsuya proposes to fight him one-on-one. If Tatsuya loses, he will offer Tatsumi the hostages back, but if he wins, he will force Tatsumi to serve under him. Tatsuya confirms this by promising to keep the hostages safe while Tatsumi attacks him. He offers Tatsumi the first punch. Tatsumi punches Tatsuya hard in the abdomen. Although Tatsuya is reinforced with 8mm of ceramic tile, he is sent flying back to the end of the room. With Tatsuya now lying on the ground, Tatsumi commands him to stand up, realizing he has something hidden under his shirt. Now laughing insanely and fascinated by Tatsumi’s strength, Tatsuya pulls a baton out of the back of his pants and strikes him with it. Tatsumi blocks the baton with his arm easily. However, Tatsuya presses a button on the baton, sending an electric current to Tatsumi. Tatsuya’s thugs are relieved that Tatsumi became electrocuted. However, Tatsumi ends up completely unharmed, to everyone’s shock, as he claims Beelzebub’s crying at night hurts much more. Panicked, Tatsuya commands his thugs to take the hostages. However, his thugs are blown off by Hildegarda, whom finally reveals her strength to Tatsuya. Satisfied, Tatsumi recalls to Beelzebub what he taught him earlier about being a man. He refutes this by saying that doing nothing while his friends get in trouble doesn’t make him a man. As Tatsumi says this, the seal on his hand grows into his arm and Beelzebub becomes excited. Fully charged with energy from Beelzebub, Tatsumi lands a Zebub Blast, a heavy punch on Tatsuya’s abdomen. Tatsuya screams in pain as the ceramic tile shielding his abdomen splits in half.