Chapter 263

"Be strong is the third chapter of the 30th volume and the 263rd chapter overall of the Tokyo卍Revengers manga series, written and illustrated by Ken Wakui.

Summary
Mikey has a flashback. He remembers his only memory with his father when he was young, who had bought him an action figure as a souvenir. After some time, he died in a car crash when Mikey was only three years old.

Fast forward, an older Mikey kicked a boy his age who claimed to be the strongest third grader in Shibuya. He had taken him out with one kick and claimed that he hated weak people. Later at a local hospital, Mikey sat by his mother's bed and proudly told her about how he had successfully beaten up the elementary kid from earlier. She called him strong like his father.

Mikey looked forward to visiting his mother every week while he fought other kids frequently. Once at the hospital again, he boasted about how his opponents would cry whenever they lost against him. His mother remarked that children cry easily, and Mikey asked if his father cried the same way. She wondered if he ever even cried in public and concluded that he was a hopeless man. At the same time, Mikey observed that she only ever talked about his father whenever they were together, although her smile would always be slightly different.

One day in the winter, Shinichiro interrupted dinner to inform that the hospital called about their mother in critical condition. When they arrived, they were told that it will most likely be their final encounter with her. Mikey boasted about his victories as usual, and stated that weak guys did not cry so he will not cry as well. He also promised to protect her. However, his mother told him that, just because he did not cry did not mean that he was strong, and revealed that he used to be a crybaby when he was younger. Mikey was furious while she laughed away.

Three days later, she died. Shinichiro, Mikey, Emma, and their grandfather visited her but Mikey went away to secretly cry by himself.

A slightly older Mikey was getting picked on by a group of delinquents for beating up his cousin. They remarked that Mikey was small and continued to tease him, until Mikey beat them up badly. Mikey continues his narrative that he has always hated weak people and that the weak cry easily. He then remembers the time when Haruchiyo scarred the corners of his mouth and Mikey commanded him to laugh as he cried. Next, he remembers when he took out three high schoolers with ease in fifth grade. Baji and Haruchiyo praised him, then told him about a delinquent their age who allegedly saved a fifth grader from being blackmailed by high schoolers. Mikey was impressed, and learned that the boy's name was Draken.

At some point in the future, Mikey met Draken on the street and had recognized the dragon tattoo on his temple. As he struck a conversation with him, he concluded that he loved strong guys.