Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens Volume 2 Chapter 4

Top of Fourth Inning

After escaping from the Kakyuu members, Lin was unsure what to do with his spare time without having to interact with clients in particular. He reclined back onto the sofa in the waiting room and yawned. As the new hostess Rinko he did not have any designated clients to work for, and it was not like they were so short on staff that anyone needed help. He figured he should do some progress in investigating and to kill some time, so he wondered if he should ask the employees nearby, "do you know of a guest named Tadafumi Izuku?" But troublesome enough their client k.u.miko did not want her husband to find out she hired a detective into the issue, so he could not do that. The most Lin could do right now was occasionally pretend to head to the restrooms and see if k.u.miko's husband had arrived or not.

Since he was bored, he was just about to read someone's fas.h.i.+on magazine when the manager arrived and called out to Lin. "Rinko-chan. You can go now."

I can go? So I get to go home? Lin felt let-down. He looked at the clock on the wall. It was still not even twelve o'clock.

"Is that alright?"

"It is a weekday, so there are not many guests."

According to the hostess Kaori earlier, the night club often got up and going early. So they did not have to pay hourly wages meaninglessly, they sent employees without any work home early. Lin and two other women that seemed to have time off were told to clock out.

"Also," the manager said apologetically. "I'm sorry, but can everyone take a taxi home today?"

"Ehh." The hostesses raised their voice in alarm. "Why?"

"I can't get a hold of Tadafumi-san."

Tadafumi – he startled at the name.

Lin immediately approached the manager and asked him. "And Tadafumi-san is?"

"He's our driver."

"Tadafumi Izuku-san is?"

"That's him but," the manager was a bit surprised. "Why do you know him?"

"When you say driver do you mean he's an employee of this facility?"

"Well he is more like a part-time worker dropping off the girls back to their home……"

What, so he was just their driver.

Now he could connect the dots. k.u.miko's husband did not go to the club for leisure he worked there. That was why he had so many of the hostesses contact information. It was vexing, but Banba's train of thought was right.

Discovering her husband's innocence that was one case closed. He had no more business at this club. He probably did not need to come back again. Lin began to make arrangements to go home. So no one saw him he stealthily change clothes in a room. He changed into a T-s.h.i.+rt and shorts and stated his thanks before leaving.

Shortly after he received his pay for the day and left the club he checked his cell phone. He had one missed call. It was from Genzo.
"Welcome."

When he lifted up the curtain to the food stall Genchan, he was greeted pleasantly by the owner who had a mix of white hair.

"……'Sup."

"Oh? What it's just you, Lin? I thought you was a nice looker from somewhere." His makeup and hair style were different than normal, so even though they were acquaintances naturally he would not have recognized him right away. "What's up with that getup?"

"It's for an investigation into an affair. ……So then, did you want something from me?"

"I got an urgent job that needs to be taken care of right away, but can you take it?"

He did not have any particular reason to turn it down. "……Well, I'm off anyway. I don't really mind."

"I need you to go here right away."

On the paper he handed him was the scribbled name of a hotel nearby. Lin immediately took notice of what was written below: 'Room 501, Yasukuni s.h.i.+ndou.'

"So I just have to kill this s.h.i.+ndou guy right?"

"Hold up a sec!" Genzo's expression turned fierce. He quickly grabbed Lin's arm and turned him around. "You must not kill him!"

Enokida left the internet cafe he was staying at and headed to the designated rendezvous point. It was at a s.h.i.+o ramen shop in a narrow, dirty alleyway next to the Gates Building. When Enokida arrived to the shop, the man was already eating ramen. He was sitting at the center counter. After Enokida purchased a meal ticket and only ordering ramen he went up to the man's side.

The man was an Asian named Nguyen he came to know when he first met the client. He was probably Vietnamese, though he spoke fluent j.a.panese and had no accent. Nguyen seemed to be a scout for some organization and was going around the whole country. Scouts pounced on the killers who exchange business with mediators in the area and called out to them. They inquire as to if they were unsatisfied with their current circ.u.mstances and pressed them if they want to earn more wages. And they pulled in the killers who had an interest in their conversation into their organization. That was how those scouts work.

"I want to know the whereabouts of this person."

Nguyen said. He placed a photograph in front of Enokida.

"Ah," he accidentally raised his voice upon seeing it.

The one in the photo was the face of someone he knew – it was Saitou. It seemed this was taken secretly.

"What's wrong?"

"No, nothing much." Enokida avoided the topic with a composed expression. "And who is this man?"

"His name is Saitou. He ran away from our company. And I have to put an end to his life."

Then does that mean this person Nguyen is an employee of Murder Inc. as well?

"I want you to find him. Can you do it?"

"Who do you think I am? That's easy work." He already knew his phone number and his e-mail address, and they met each other every week for baseball practice. "Is there a time limit?"

"Not particularly. I'm not in a rush, so take your time. I have to go back to Tokyo when this is finished. So I want to fully enjoy nights in Nakasu."

The food in this city is so good, Nguyen said as he was slurping his ramen.

– Now then, what should I do?

Enokida shrugged his shoulders in exasperation while looking at the photo of Saitou.

"I don't recall calling for a prost.i.tute."

Yasukuni s.h.i.+ndou said in a displeased voice after looking at Lin from top to bottom. He was a member of the third division of a lower rank gang organization that was even well known in even f.u.kuoka, but he was hardly dignified with that emaciated expression.

"I said I'm a killer sent by Genzo. Don't make me say it repeatedly."

"Really? Are you really a killer?"

The room s.h.i.+ndou was staying at was a little more stylish than the modesty of a business hotel. There was a large bed and a comfortable sofa. The toilet and the bathroom had gla.s.s doors, and if the curtains were not shut there was a complete view to outside. There was even a  terrace which allows someone to have a full view of the night scenery of Ca.n.a.l City and Nakasu. It was a fairly high cla.s.s room. The interior decorations had a black and white chic design. The illumination was all indirect lighting, embellis.h.i.+ng the room in a orange glow and bringing with it a calm atmosphere.

In the midst of it s.h.i.+ndou was the farthest from calm. He was pacing back and forth before sitting down on the bed and slumping forward with an exhale. He then grasped his head with both hands.

"……I told Genzo to give me the Niwaka Samurai. I said I didn't care how much it'd be."

"Though you said that it doesn't matter. Seems the Niwaka Samurai can't let go of the other job."

"This is the worst." s.h.i.+ndou collapsed in discouragement. "Genzo said he'd send a skilled killer in his place. And how dare he send some meager looking killer I can't even tell if they are a guy or a girl."

That was inexcusable. Lin turned sullen. What a rude guy. Even though I came all this way for him. It p.i.s.sed me off. "It's not like you can see how a killer fights based on how they look."

"That's, true……" s.h.i.+ndou muttered. He stares at Lin closely as if to estimate his worth and asks. "Are you strong?"

"I'm decent." He answered bluntly, and after he took a seat and crossed his legs onto the table Lin moved onto the main topic at hand. "Listen, hurry up and explain already. The details of your request."

He was told by Genzo to hear the details from the person himself. s.h.i.+ndou began with a dark expression and tight voice.

"……A killer is coming. To kill me."

"What kind of killer?" Is it a man or a woman? Is their weapon of choice a gun or a blade? When he asked these questions in rapid succession s.h.i.+ndou shook his head from left to right.

"I don't know. But I know the one who requested it. It's Kitaguchi."

"Kitaguchi?"

"Takas.h.i.+ Kitaguchi. He's a subordinate from the same organization as me. We've been in the middle of a dispute for the head of the family since pops died."

"So it's a plot to eliminate his rival by hiring a killer to try and stand at the top……He sure seems petty."

"About that." s.h.i.+ndou's face was twisted in vexation. "For some reason or another the petty one is me."

"……What do you mean?"

"Our group decided as long as there is no legitimate reason that we must not resolve matters armed forces. It'd be a problem if the internal dispute continued and the group was annihilated. So I kept trying to talk it over with Kitaguchi numerous times to find a peaceful solution."

"Then why is Kitaguchi trying to have you killed?"

"Not too long ago Kitaguchi's office was attacked. The culprits were two men. Kitaguchi wasn't there so he was fine, but several of his men were killed. Seems the guys who made the a.s.sault asked, 'where is Kitaguchi?'"

"Whose work was that?"

"I don't know……But Kitaguchi is suspecting it was me. I got a call immediately after the incident from him. 'You finally did it huh.' 'I hired a killer. Prepare yourself.' He said. But it wasn't me. I don't know anything about it."

So since then s.h.i.+ndou had been jumping from hotel to hotel, continuously living his life on the run. Aware of the notice for his murder, there was no way he could remain calm. He finally understood why he was so overly cautious and restless.

"Was it your underlings that are devoted to you then?"

"I don't imagine so. They should know if they lay a hand on Kitaguchi that it would put me in a bad spot."

"Then maybe that Kitaguchi had his own office attacked. To have an excuse to kill you."

s.h.i.+ndou's expression wavered. "No way. ……What does he think of his own men's lives then?"

This guy had a good heart. He thought to himself. And that was why he was set up. It was difficult for good guys to live in this industry. There were exceptions though.

s.h.i.+ndou braced his head. "Why did it turn out like this……"

He reaffirmed the details of the request. "At any rate, I just have to beat the killer who comes to kill you at their own game right?"

"That's right." s.h.i.+ndou nodded. "I will run away overseas in the morning by plane. So I just have to be protected until then."

"When is the time of the flight?"

"Eight."

Right now it was just about one am. "It's going to be a long fight."

Lin looked at s.h.i.+ndou with a side glance. The yakuza man over fifty was making a pitiful expression like a discarded dog. Perhaps due to the stress but his complexion was poor, and he had dark shadows under his eyes. He considered him with pity. "Anyway rest for a bit. You haven't slept right? If you don't build up strength you won't be able to get away."

"……I can't."

Well, I guess you couldn't sleep without a care in this sort of situation, he smiles bitterly.

"Then eat something." Actually now mentioning it, he remembered he did not eat anything since noon. He opened the provided refrigerator in the room. There were only canned beer, green tea and mineral water PET bottles inside with nothing that could satisfy his appet.i.te.

"…..Hey." s.h.i.+ndou suddenly raised his head. He moved his gaze over to the direction of the terrace on the other side of the curtain. "Was there a sound outside just now?"

Lin tilted his head in confusion. "Not really."

"The window shook."

"Isn't that just the wind?"

"Please take a look." s.h.i.+ndou said in a tearful voice.

He was too nervous. Lin was also unsurprisingly irritated for each time a strong breeze hit against the window even if his life was being hunted down. "You're such a worrier." As he stated that in exasperation he pulled back the curtain.

As he slide open the curtains the exterior scenery became unconcealed. And the gla.s.s in front of him shattered at the same time.

"Wha -"

Lin instantly jumped back and away from the window.

A silhouette leaped into Lin's field of vision. It can't be, his eyes widened.

– Someone is here.

A man was there standing on the terrace. He was holding a metal bat in his right hand. He brushed off the remaining gla.s.s on the edges of the window with his bat violently. The man entered the room as he stepped on the scattered fragments.

"Hee." s.h.i.+ndou cried from behind him. He lost his footing and fell to the floor.

"Move." The man said and hurled himself at Lin.

His body dropped and Lin landed on the bed. I got had, he thought. He was taken by surprise and his thoughts were suspended. Thanks to that lapse of time he was slow to react. His mind finally caught up to the situation. The killer Kitaguchi hired had finally arrived. He must have dropped down from a room next to or right above this one and broke the window with the bat.

"Even though your life is being targeted you bring a woman to a hotel?" The killer slowly approaches s.h.i.+ndou. "You're sure are naive."

Save me, s.h.i.+ndou cried out in plea. He backed away with his rear stuck to the floor. However, his back quickly ran into the wall. With no place to run to his body minutely shook in fear.

It's your fault. Lin resented s.h.i.+ndou in his mind. Since you are staying in a nice room with a terrace you made it easy for him to get in. He wanted to give one insult to him, but his priority right now was to kill the a.s.sa.s.sin in front of him. Although his method of going about it was different this time. Now he had to take a person's life while protecting another person's life.

What should I do? Lin thought over to himself. Fighting with a burden put him at a disadvantage. So that left one way. Lin slammed into the man's side as he raised the bat.

Unable to hold against the sudden force at his side the man lost his balance and collapsed.

He ordered s.h.i.+ndou in that moment.

"I'll buy time. Use it and run." Lin grabbed s.h.i.+ndou's arm. He roughly pulled him up and made him stand. "Do you have a car?"

s.h.i.+ndou answered, chattering. "I-in th-the garage under -"

"Hurry up and go then!"

s.h.i.+ndou rushed off after Lin's yell. He bursted his way out of the room in haste.

"What is this now?" The killer stood back up and fixed his grip on the bat. "You are his bodyguard?"

Lin took a moment to a.n.a.lyze his opponent. He had one metallic bat for a weapon. That's unique, he marveled to himself. Blunt weapons were unpopular in this industry. Killers usually preferred lethal weapons or high ma.s.s killing weapons to kill someone in one blow with absolute certainty. Rather than a strong, buff man with a build like a bodybuilder the man in front of him was a young man with a medium build. By chance what is the reason to use a blunt weapon? Does he enjoy beating someone's head or face until he can see bone? Is this person really a killer? He could not sell him short, but he appeared so amateurish. He could only think of him as a hoodlum walking around and showing off his brutality.

Lin stealthily took out his weapon of choice. It was his preferred Chinese knife-pistol. As the name suggested at a glance it looked like a normal knife, but there were bullets inside the small handle with a trigger on its guard to fire off the rounds. The number of charges was three shots. It was to be used for a crucial moment when in trouble.

The killer swung down the bat towards Lin. He rolled to and avoided the attack. The bat hit and broke the wooden table in two in Lin's place. The bat then swung to the side. It was easy to dodge it. It was not that impressive of a swing. It was slow and unrefined.

"I know someone who swings far faster than you." Lin grinned at him. "Like our fourth batter."

Antic.i.p.ating the enemy's attack he approached the bed while continuously dodging. He grabbed the edges of the sheets and dragged them overhead. The white sheet fell through the air and dropped on top of the killer.

"You know, a bat -" Once he blocked his movements with the sheets, Lin pierced the tip of the knife into the struggling man's neck. " – It isn't something to hit people with!"

Blood spurted out. The pure white sheets immediately were dyed red. After a few moments the killer's movements stopped all together. He then dropped to the floor unceremoniously.

While kicking the tip of his mule shoes into the dead body of the killer he thought to himself. Wasn't he too simple minded? He was weak. He was only at the level of a delinquent kid with a bat. He feels embarra.s.sment that a guy like this would call himself a killer just like him. If s.h.i.+ndou, who was crazed with his life in danger, could prepare to hire protection, then the other should have prepared a more proper killer. I guess that Kitaguchi guy wasn't that bright, he considers.

Disposing of the killer's body, Lin left the room and went after s.h.i.+ndou. He called him as he got onto the elevator. He received his number from Genzo earlier.

The call immediately connected. "Where are you right now?"

[……On the emergency staircase. I'm heading to the parking garage.] s.h.i.+ndou's breath comes in short gasps; he appears to have been running this whole time.

"I'm heading over there now too."

Lin pressed the b.u.t.ton for first floor. The elevator began to descend.

"Once you get there get in the car. Keep your head low and hide." After he gave him those orders he felt an unsettling premonition.

The previous killer knew where s.h.i.+ndou's room was. Then perhaps he also knew about s.h.i.+ndou's car. There could be a possibility of a second plan in effect if the first should fail. He did not seem to be that smart, but it was a thought to consider. Lin corrected himself. " – Wait, don't get in the car. It could be a trick."

There could be an explosion the moment the car door was opened. And s.h.i.+ndou's flesh would be turned into smithereens. He could imagine such a scenario.

[Y-yeah. I got it.]

"Once you get there just wait patiently."

The elevator was pa.s.sing by the third floor.

[……Even so why was my whereabouts discovered?]

"Was there anyone else who knew you were staying at this hotel?"

[Only a few of my subordinates. I only told guys I have known for a long time and can trust.]

"One of those guys you could trust must have talked. You weren't betrayed, were you?"

[I can't think of that.] s.h.i.+ndou a.s.serted to him. He certainly did seem to care for his beloved subordinates.

"Then they were forced to. It can't be put against them if they were tortured for it."

[That can't be -]

s.h.i.+ndou's words cut off.

It was immediately after that.

[Hee]

He heard his yelp.

"What's wrong?" He had a bad feeling about this.

[S-stop, please, gya- agh -]

"Hey, s.h.i.+ndou! What the h.e.l.l is going on!"

The elevator made it to the first floor and the doors slide open. Lin pressed through the gap between the doors and rushed over to the parking garage from the side entrance.

There were several cars parked at the outdoor parking s.p.a.ce the hotel established. Against one of the black, high cla.s.s cars among them was s.h.i.+ndou, stood upright.

But something was off.

"……s.h.i.+ndou?"

He called his name, but there was no response. s.h.i.+ndou's eyes were wide open and his limbs were shaking. A silver gleam of something long was jutting out of his stomach.

"Ah, gha"

s.h.i.+ndou gasped. His cell phone slipped from his right hand. A puddle was forming at his feet. It was a dark colored liquid – blood. A blade was thrust through his heart from behind. More blood trickled down.

There was a person's presence behind s.h.i.+ndou.

The blade supporting his body was pulled out, and s.h.i.+ndou fell to the ground unceremoniously. He remained unmoving.

The form of the man hiding behind s.h.i.+ndou was exposed under the fluorescent lighting, leaving him out in the open to see.

He was a tall man in a pure black suit.

The man slowly turned towards him. The man's face was half covered by a mask. It had its eyes and eyebrows slanted – the foolish expression of the Hakata Niwaka mask.

Out of everything, who knew this man would appear.

"……It's you? (the Niwaka Samurai)"

I got tricked. So that small fry with the metal bat was a trap? So I was the one who made time for him. Lin's molars grind against each other, and he takes his stance.

The Niwaka Samurai moved his wrist and swung the katana. After wiping away s.h.i.+ndou's blood stuck to the blade he then placed the sword back into its scabbard. Although he is aware of Lin's presence he does not show any intention to fight him. Lin did not like his att.i.tude.

"I'll kill you." He closed the distance and brandished the knife over his head.

The Niwaka Samurai leaned to the side and dodged the attack. He made some distance between them. He was chagrined by that as well. "You b.a.s.t.a.r.d!"

He vigorously took a step forward when it happened.

"Oh, wah."

Feeling the sensation of something suddenly pulling at his leg, Lin gave a small yelp.

He looked down at his feet. The heel of his right shoe was caught in the grid patterned trench grating. He had unknowingly stepped in the grating at some point.

He lurched forward. Lin attempted to regain his balance, but he could not stop the momentum and fell. His face collided with the ground, and he made a pitiful cry as he did so. "Bu-heh."

"Ow……" His left hand brushed over his face as he groaned.

"You alright there?"

The Niwaka Samurai, Zenji Banba, finally spoke, his gentle Hakata dialect flowed out from above him. He reached out his right hand towards Lin. "That's why I always tell you, right? You gotta have a grasp on your surroundings."

Look what's around you more. Widen your field of vision. You must not get completely absorbed in just your opponent. Just like your error during defense that game. Banba continues on with his lecture.

Completely losing the will to fight, Lin whispered quietly. "……Shut up."

He batted away Banba's outstretched hand and stood up with his own strength. Once he spotted s.h.i.+ndou's corpse fallen on the ground he was a.s.saulted by a disconsolate feeling. I shouldn't have let him go alone, he regretted a little bit. He apologized to him in his heart. Sorry. I couldn't protect you.

"Now then." Banba suggested in a carefree tone. "How 'bout we get some ramen and head on home?"

Bottom of Fourth Inning

Saruwatari when he was employed at Murder Inc. did not have a specialized weapon of choice in particular.

He did lean more towards fighting in close combat, but if he only specialized in that he would have had to approach the issue concerning his personality even more. To avoid that he chose to change weapons everyday; something suitable for the job at hand each time. There were times he used blades and times he used guns. Rifles, throwing knives, and even ice picks. He preferred using a weapon anyone could obtain easily. For places he could not bring in lethal weapons like that he used poisons and even fought bare handed before. Fundamentally he regarded his client's idea over his own preference.

He felt there was more of an advantage to use the weapons he was used to, but there was also the disadvantage of discovering who committed the crime if he killed the target in the same method each time. Furthermore, he was taught at the company's training program that being able to use any weapon was part of a killer's status. Saruwatari surprisingly agreed with this perspective as well.

He talked about that the same day he met Nitta. But Nitta shook his head in disagreement.

"No, no. You have to use the same weapon. Every time."

Nitta's train of thought was the complete opposite of Saruwatari's. There were numerous times they did not see eye to eye, but this time Saruwatari was surprised.

"That also leaves a strong impact. It lets anyone know your methods."

This was the second time he met up with Nitta since signing the consultant contract. He was told the rendezvous point and was brought to the darts bar Lady Madonna in Konya City.

When he entered the bar there was the female owner from last time. She turned her gaze towards Saruwatari and gestured for him to head to the center of the shop with the point of her thumb. Ahead of him was a st.u.r.dy, metal door. There was an 'authorized personnel only' poster on the door, but Saruwatari opened it regardless. He proceeded down the staircase heading to the bas.e.m.e.nt.

The bas.e.m.e.nt floor had the same layout as the first floor. There were several stools at the counter and booths. The big difference was the three human dummies in place of the darts machines. There were a few men throwing knives at the models or shooting them with suppressor guns. This appeared to be the floor for killers to use.

"Sarucchi! Over here, over here!" Nitta was waving at him from one of the center booths.

He sat down on the other side of him and ordered his drink. He had a lower alcohol tolerance, so he ordered a cola instead. Nitta was drinking a watered down c.o.c.ktail with a cherry mixed in. In the booth next to them there were men in the middle of exchanging guns.

After Saruwatari's cola was brought to the table he went straight to the topic at hand.

"I prepared the perfect weapon for you to use today." Nitta told him as he took out a long item from inside his black luggage bag and put it on the table.

Saruwatari had grown used to every possible weapon since long ago. No matter what weapon Nitta had prepared for him he had the confidence he already mastered it. So he thought.

But his confidence wavered slightly. The weapon was beyond his expectations.

"Ah?"

He stared at the long weapon set on the table dumbfounded. It looked like a j.a.panese sword. But for a j.a.panese blade the length was a little short, and it was rectilinear. Yet the blade was long for a short sword.

"……What is this?"

"Can't you tell by looking at it?" Nitta answered him. "It's a ninja sword."

"Haa?"

What did he say just now? A ninja sword? He examined Nitta's expression, doubting his ears. Ignoring Saruwatari's bewilderment, Nitta said excitingly, "isn't it cool?"

Is this a pistol disguised as a ninja sword or something? He considered and pulled out the blade. Just by seeing the glinting silver steel of the blade he could confirm it was indeed a ninja sword.

"I have some other weapons too." Saruwatari was further taken aback upon seeing the objects Nitta took out of his bag and laid out onto the table.

"I got a lot of ninja-like weapons for you. I had them specially made. I got shuriken, kunai -"

"Are you f.u.c.king with me right now?" Is he seriously telling him to change occupations from a killer to a ninja?

"Well there's a killer in f.u.kuoka under the name of a samurai, so a ninja killer is possible as well, right? It'd leave an impact and you'd be remembered by people. And besides, isn't a ninja's weapons suitable for a.s.sa.s.sination in the first place? So isn't this killing two birds with one stone?"

What the h.e.l.l is this man thinking? He could not tell if he was joking or being serious. As he was trying to wrap his head around this with great confusion, "Ah, that's right," Nitta had said before taking out a black cloth and handing it over to him. "Wrap this around your head."

"What is this?"

"It's a kerchief. These are worn often by ninjas right? Like this you can hide your face and show off that ninja-likeness. And how about, 'I'll be taking your life!' as your signature phrase? Wouldn't that be cool?"

And what historical play is that from? "……You're totally f.u.c.king with me, aintcha?"

He suddenly felt both irritated and absurd.

"Dontcha have none other modern stuff?"

"I prepared some transmitters and listening devices that could help you out on the job, but for weapons I just have these."

He definitely appeared to be fixated on ninjas.

"We can have you practice throwing the shurikens. It wouldn't look cool if you missed with them. Try throwing them over there as a trail run." Nitta said and pointed to the human dummies. "Choose whichever you like. I got three sided shuriken, four sided shuriken……six sided, eight sided, and even cross shuriken."

"Absolutely not." Why do I have to use something so stupid? He reb.u.t.tals, but Nitta's insistence was strong.

"It's fine, go ahead. Come on now, quickly."

Pressured, Saruwatari grudgingly stood up. He positioned himself twenty meters away from the dummies with four sided shurikens in hand.

He had been a killer for a long time at this point, but he had never thrown a shuriken before. This was his first time even touching one. How should I throw it? He considered as he focused on his target. For the meantime, he decided to throw them with the snap of his wrist like with darts. There was a thunk noise; the shuriken struck into the wall of the bar.

"Your control with your first pitch is as bad as always."

Being teased by his right-hand man in the past, Saruwatari clicked his tongue in annoyance. "……Shut the h.e.l.l up."

"How about you try and throw it from below?" Nitta suggested. "I mean you were always an underhanded pitcher."

It was true. Saruwatari was an underthrow player in high school. The batters were always at the mercy of his pitches thrown five centimeters above the ground. Even so what he was holding right now was not a hard ball but a shuriken.

He held up the four sided shuriken again. Saruwatari set himself in motion to throw it, recalling the sensation of his pitches from those times. He kicked up his left leg, then dropped straight down and took one step forward. At the same time his body bent over and he lowered his posture. He swung his right hand marginally close to the ground. His whole arm snapped like a whip and threw the shuriken.

Saruwatari's pitch plunged straight into his target. This time it hit the dummy and not the wall. But the shuriken hit the right thigh of it instead.

"Ohh, that's good." Nitta clapped. "That's a nice course to the outside corner."

"What nice course? I missed his vital spots."

This is ridiculous. Saruwatari shrugged his shoulders. I shouldn't have signed a contract with him, he regretted. Can I really be messing around doing stuff like this? When he expressed his concerns and doubts honestly, Nitta boasted. "It's alright. As long as you do exactly as I say, you'll definitely become famous."

Saruwatari grimaced, imagining himself wearing a kerchief and fighting as a killer while throwing shuriken. No matter what he picture came to mind he only thought he would be a laughing stock. I'll be famous as the idiotic killer. He was completely unsatisfied.

Abe was at a complete loss as to what he should do while they stuff the body into the backseat of their van. He supposed they could dispose of the body by sinking it into Hakata bay. If the body was not found it would not become a case. And even if it was to be found, as long as they cover up how he was killed by violent means like cutting off his fingers or gouging out his eyes it should be treated as a crime related to the mafia.

The problem was with their client. The a.s.signment in killing a killer they received from Genzo. They had planned to follow him and then kill him, but with the help of his partner's slip up they lost their target.

And now it would be difficult for them to find the target with just their ability. So that means it was essential for them to get a.s.sistance from Genzo. They had to lure the target out by having him say "I have consolation money for you" or "I'll give you a job again."

Once he explained that idea to Yamamoto, he frivolously nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that's a good plan." He got irritated again at that tone, as though he did not understand the gravity of the task.

"Anyway, I'll go talk with the owner."

Just as he put a hand on the car door, Yamamoto stopped him.

"No, I'll go. It was my fault anyway."

d.a.m.n right it is, he thought to himself. It is your fault. You're terrible at everything. And yet why do I have to clean up your mess? It peeved him that he had to apologize for his mistakes in losing the target.

"Alright then. You go." He sent off Yamamoto with a cold voice.

Yamamoto immediately headed to Genzo's place.
Several minutes later Yamamoto came back to the car. He had a desperate look.

"How'd it go?"

When he was asked that, he slumped his shoulders and answered him.

"He wouldn't do it. When I told him we killed the wrong guy, he got super mad."

Abe was speechless at Yamamoto's statement. "……Ha?"

"He said, 'I ain't givin' you anymore jobs.' And 'dontcha come knockin' by again.' ……This sucks."

"Are you an idiot?!"

He struck Yamamoto on the head.

"Why are you such an idiot!"

"Eh?"

No one said anything about telling him that much. He should not have mentioned they lost the target.

Genzo particularly despised getting unrelated persons caught in the crossfire. Naturally he was furious. How dare he tell him an unnecessary detail. Abe grasped his head and leaned onto the wheel.

"……Why did it get like this?"

He turned pale like earlier. Why did he not go to Genzo himself? Why did he leave it up to Yamamoto? Even as he regretted it, it no longer mattered.