Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens Volume 8 Chapter 2

Top of the Seventh Inning Banba was still in surgery. There was no sign of the operation ending anytime soon.
Xianming Lin sat silently on the bench set out in front of the operating room as he listened to s.h.i.+gematsu. He told him of the night thirteen years ago when Banba was gravely injured and his father was killed. The details were the same as the newspaper article Enokida had shown him earlier.
“I remember it all clear as day even now.” s.h.i.+gematsu explained the series of events with a low voice. “It was brutal. There were permanent scars from the violence Banba and his father received. Banba had been struck with a metallic bat numerous times. He was in a terrible state from head to toe.”
The confiscated weapon belonged to Banba. Having just returned home from his baseball club practice, Banba had taken out the metal bat to make a stand against the man attacking his father. However, the culprit had taken the bat from him and used it to hurt Banba.
That made Lin recall something.
‘A bat ain't somethin' to hit people with! It's for givin' hopes and dreams to people!'
Banba had said that to him long ago.
Lin had thought Banba spouted nonsense at the time, but now he realized there was weight to his words back then. Banba was a hitman, but he never used a bat to hurt people. However, the reason why was not just because he treated baseball equipment as sacred relics. He must have mental scars after getting hit repeatedly by a metal bat as an ordinary high school kid.
“By the time the ambulance and police arrived, his father was unconscious. He suffered severe hemorrhage. Banba yelled at everyone to save his dad over him, but he was in just as bad of a state too. He was bleeding from his head, and he had a few broken bones penetrating his organs. The two were immediately brought into the operating room, almost like how it is right now.”
s.h.i.+gematsu glanced over to the doors leading to the operating room.
“And Banba came out alive while his father did not?”
“Correct.” s.h.i.+gematsu nodded. “Banba lost his sole relative. A neighbor said the two got along extremely well. They said they saw them playing catch in the park together frequently.”
s.h.i.+gematsu's expression contained a hint of sadness as he spoke.
“Banba acts all fine and well now, but he was really in a bad spot back then. It looked like he had seen h.e.l.l. ...I guess that's to be expected after experiencing that. I went to visit him in the hospital countless times to check up on him, as well as to ask him questions of what happened. He was utterly lifeless. It felt like I was talking to an emotionless doll.”
Lin frowned, having trouble picturing Banba in that state from the way he acted now.
The baseball-loving, high school boy's peaceful life had spiraled into madness after that night.
“Banba was released from hospital after his wounds fully healed a year after the incident, and afterwards he dropped out of high school. He even quit playing baseball and started to work part time at a cabaret bar in Nakasu to get by.”
Banba's coach in the baseball club had apparently felt Banba wasted his talent. He had told even if his name did not make the draft list, if Banba kept going and spent a couple years in a corporate sponsored team or independent league his dream of getting into the professional field was possible. If that incident did not happen, perhaps Lin would see the player Zenji Banba in a Hawks uniform by now. It was an indescribable feeling, imagining what he would look like in the batter's box on television.
“After some time pa.s.sed, I went to Banba's house. I was curious how he was doing and went to check up on him. He was in the middle of packing.”
When s.h.i.+gematsu had asked him where he was going, Banba had answered, ‘I'm moving.' And that he could not stay there anymore.
“I could see where he was coming from. Staying there would cause him to remember that event twenty-four-seven. So moving was the wisest decision. He could get a restart in a new place. And I agreed. I wanted him to forget that whole incident and find happiness.”
However, Banba had asked a strange question to s.h.i.+gematsu that day.
“...He asked me about Eitarou Bessho. ‘Does he have any family?'”
“What did you tell him?”
“I told him the truth. He didn't have any parents, but he did have a younger brother. That was the first time Banba had any interest in anything about Bessho as a person. I had a bad feeling about it, so I questioned him why he wanted to know.”
When s.h.i.+gematsu had asked what he had planned on doing with this knowledge, Banba had evaded the question with, ‘nothing really.' Banba did not elaborate further on the matter.
However, s.h.i.+gematsu mentioned he could not help but feel there was something more behind his question. Lin felt the same way. He did not believe Banba at the time would ask about his a.s.sailant just out of curiosity.
“So was that when Banba started plotting his revenge against Bessho?”
“I imagine so.”
The reason Banba had asked about his family was either to know if there was someone who would mourn for Bessho or had intended to kill Bessho's family in revenge. Either way, it was apparent that Banba was planning a way to avenge his father.
“...That day, the look in Banba's eyes were firm.” s.h.i.+gematsu hung his head. He continued with a heavy tone. “I should have realized it back then. That he was straying from the right path…”
After that, Banba had become an apprentice under a hitman in order to take his revenge against the man who killed his father. And the man who took him under his wing was the legendary Niwaka Samurai.
“He chose to toss aside his normal life and live for revenge. He had inherited the Niwaka Samurai's legacy by the next time we met. He had become a magnificent hitman by then.”
“...That's how it all went down.”
Lin muttered and looked back through his memories. He had heard about Banba talk about his dream of becoming a professional baseball player before. Why had a baseball kid end up becoming a hitman? Lin had tried to ask him out of pure curiosity, but Banba had sidestepped the question. ‘Yeah, I wonder why.'
Banba was just a high schooler when that event happened. It was only natural a mentally immature boy would become desperate after witnessing a sudden tragedy like that. No one could accept the reality of what happened, and he would have questioned why this happened to him or why his father had to die. Lin could relate to the helpless feeling. There was too much that was taken from him, and a younger Banba could have considered revenge against the man responsible as he would feel the a.s.sailant needed to lose just as much as he did.
However, a high schooler should know it was not the right thing to do. A child he may have been, but he was at an age to make that distinction. Banba had chosen that path on his own accord. The responsibility of his actions were solely on him.
“He wouldn't have been swayed from his decision. Even if you tried to stop him, he wouldn't listen. He's a stubborn bull after all.”
So there was nothing for s.h.i.+gematsu to feel bad about. Lin patted his back lightly in rea.s.surance.
s.h.i.+gematsu nodded feebly. “...Yeah. I know. That's why I also caved in. I decided to help him achieve his revenge, regardless of being a teammate and police detective.”
It was easy to fall into the darkness. And yet it was hard to pull yourself out from there. Lin knew firsthand that to be true.
Given the chance, anyone could stray from the right path. Even more so if they have a reason to not return to said path. For Banba, his father's death was the trigger as well as his reason for taking this path. And so he had continued to live while killing people as a hitman in order to one day avenge his father.
And after thirteen years had pa.s.sed since that night, that day had finally arrived.
“Today he went to avenge his father after the culprit was released from prison.”
Banba had apparently requested s.h.i.+gematsu to bring him the weapon the a.s.sailant used at the time. Banba wanted to kill Bessho with the knife he had used to kill his father. And the weapon s.h.i.+gematsu had given him greatly resembled the knife plunged into Banba's stomach.
“...In other words, are you saying that he beat Banba?”
“He must have. Banba might have faltered.”
Banba attempted to kill Bessho with the knife. However, he made a mistake and ended up getting hurt instead. s.h.i.+gematsu was under that impression.
However, Lin could not believe that could happen. Banba would not mess up. Lin could not believe he would lose. He knew how strong that man was. He even had fought him once. It did not matter that Bessho used to work for Murder Inc; the gap of time the man spent from then and his time in prison should make it impossible for him to be on par with Banba.
“He wouldn't ever lose. There's no way he messed up.” Lin raised his voice.
“Normally he wouldn't anyway. ...But his opponent this time is different than anyone else. Banba wouldn't have been in his usual state of mind.”
Lin frowned. “What's different?”
“You know exactly what I'm implying. He had been terribly beaten by Bessho once before. He received such grave injuries he had to spend several months in the hospital. As a child, Banba would have developed a great fear towards Bessho.”
“Hold on.” Lin snorted. “Are you saying Banba's past trauma came back and that's how he lost?”
Lin found the chance impossible, but s.h.i.+gematsu thought differently.
“Do you know what they say about circus elephants?”
Lin had never heard about them. He shook his head. “What is it?”
“People put chains on the elephants' feet and pin them to the ground with a stake. A young elephant doesn't have the strength to pull out the stake from the ground or run away, so they end up believing they are not stronger than the stake. Even when they become fully grown adults and gain enough strength to pull out the stake with ease, the elephants don't attempt to run away. They believe they are not stronger than the stake because of their memories of being pinned down by it at a young age.”
Lin c.o.c.ked his head. “What are you getting at with this?”
“This applies to Banba as well.” s.h.i.+gematsu stated. “He could have the same thought towards him subconsciously. That he can't win against Eitarou Bessho or that he's weaker than him.”
So Banba did not use his full strength like usual, and he lost to Bessho. Even though Bessho was someone he should have beaten, he lost.
Lin was able to understand s.h.i.+gematsu's train of thought. But he did not want to believe it.
“...He isn't that weak.”
Lin did not want to admit Banba could be weak. He was strong. The Niwaka Samurai was the strongest hitman in f.u.kuoka. There was no way Banba could lose to a lesser hitman like Bessho.
There's no way he'd kick the bucket with those injuries.
Lin told himself internally. He cast his gaze downward at his feet and balled his hands into fists.
“There should be some other reason for this - something else to have made him slip up.”
Lin did not know him for that long, but he was a friend living with him. He made attempts in getting to know him. Banba was not mentally weak where he would suffer from past trauma.
It was then. The operation room's red lamp flickered off. The pair raised their heads simultaneously.
After a few minutes, a doctor in a green surgical outfit came out from inside. Lin and s.h.i.+gematsu stood up from their seats at the same time.
“Doctor, how's Banba!?”
“How did the surgery go!?”
They rushed over to the doctor.
“He's alright.” The doctor smiled slightly. “His vitals are stabilized. That said, we will still be on the watch.”
s.h.i.+gematsu asked with a relieved expression. “...So that means he's in the clear?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you, sir.” s.h.i.+gematsu rejoiced, taking hold of the doctor's hand. “Thank you so much.”
Fortunately, the operation was a success.
Thank G.o.d. I'm so glad he made it. Lin let out a large sigh. Immediately following the relief, all the strength in his body fled him, and he collapsed onto his knees.
Bottom of the Seventh Inning There was some problems that arose to carry out the company's orders of capturing Eitarou Bessho and killing him after making him talk. Nguyen, a company employee for Murder Inc, had awaited in front of the prison for his target and had attacked the man once he was released, but there was an unexpected development. He was unable to capture his target, and in the end his target had stolen his gun and ran away. It was a huge failure on his part. Nguyen had taken him too lately, believing he was just an old man out of practice for the past decade.
However, he was not in a position to reflect on his mistakes right now. He had an informant look into Bessho's whereabouts and learned of where he would be heading to. Nguyen rushed over to the site in his rental car, plowing through the drones of rain.
He arrived at an old-looking, mediocre apartment building. It had two stories which seemed to hold no more than ten rooms, and yet it seemed there were no inhabitants here. Why would Bessho come to a place like this? Nguyen did not have the slightest close why. But then again, he could make Bessho tell him later.
Nguyen heard sounds coming from one of the rooms in the corner on the first floor. The gas meter was turned off, so he knew it was a vacant apartment, and yet he could hear someone talking inside. Someone was here, and it could very well be Bessho.
Nguyen held his breath and silently stepped into the run. Just as he had predicted, Bessho was there. The information Enokida provided him had been accurate. However, Bessho was not alone. There was another man present. Nguyen had not expected this.
The two men were fighting. Bessho was attacking the man. He had climbed up on top of him and swung a knife down towards the man's chest, but thanks to the man's struggles the blade missed and sliced into his stomach instead. Regardless, it was a deep wound, causing blood to gush out of him.
Bessho did not cease his attacks. He gripped the knife once more and went to stab the weakened man.
Nguyen had no idea what was going on right now. He was unsure why a man who had just been released from prison was trying to kill someone and wondered what Bessho's connection was with the man. But this was a perfect opportunity. Bessho was completely open right now. He was focused solely on his target and had not yet noticed Nguyen's presence.
Nguyen took action. He sneaked up behind him silently. “Hey.” When Bessho spun around Nguyen had delivered a punch straight into his face. Bessho stumbled back from the sudden attack. Nguyen went onto his next move. He kicked into his side and then punched Bessho's face, alternating between his left and right fists. He was able to stack multiple attacks quickly, not allowing any moment for Bessho to resist. He finished it off with a single punch to his solar plexus. Bessho lost consciousness and collapsed.
The man Bessho had attacked disappeared by the time Nguyen had knocked him out. Blood stains trailed out of the room. The man must have fled during Nguyen's scuffle. But with those injuries, the man probably will not have long to live.
So who was that man? And why did Bessho attack him? Nguyen c.o.c.ked his head in wonder. Whatever. I can just make him tell me. I'll know soon enough.
First and foremost, he had a job to do. Nguyen slung Bessho's limp body over his shoulder and carried him out to the car. Once he bound his prey's limbs to make sure he could not escape, he tossed Bessho into the trunk of the rental car before driving away.

Afterwards, Nguyen pulled into a parking deck and parked the car in a s.p.a.ce out of view of the security cameras. After a few hours of waiting pa.s.sed, there was a sudden jolt throughout the vehicle. Bessho must have awoken and began to move around inside the trunk.
Nguyen got out of the driver's seat and walked towards the back of the car.
“You finally awake?”
He addressed Bessho as he opened up the trunk.
Bessho looked up at Nguyen's face and tutted, “you again?” Bessho's face was swollen due to the punches he received, and blood was caught on the side of his mouth.
“You came here under the company's orders, right?” Bessho smirked. “What's wrong? You aren't going to kill me?”
“Oh, I will.”
Nguyen confirmed. He was just allowing him to live for the time being.
“But first, I have a few questions for you.”
The company wanted Nguyen to interrogate him as well. Nguyen looked down at the bound Bessho and began the interrogation.
“Why did you leave the company?”
“This is what it's about?” Bessho snorted.
“It isn't exactly that rare for people to up and quit that company. I just got fed up with the company and left.”
Nguyen could tell he was lying.
It was true that the rate of people quitting Murder Inc was high. However, it was unlikely that a man like Bessho with a good track record would quit the company for solely that reason.
Nguyen moved onto the next question. “You were arrested for robbery and murder thirteen years ago. Why did you do them?”
“I wanted money.” Bessho replied with a calm expression.
This eyes and tone of voice were both steady. It looked like he was really telling the truth this time. But he could also just be good at lying.
So what's the point of it? Nguyen tilted his head in confusion. If he just wanted money, why would he quit the company? He would be able to earn more than enough money without working too much. There was no point in quitting the hitmen industry if he was just going to commit crimes for money anyway. Bessho's reasons were contradicting each other.
It looked like Nguyen would have to press more.
“Then what did you go to that apartment for?”
“I was out looking for places. I've got no place to stay since I just got out of prison. It was a nice room, right?” Bessho smiled. He's rather calm despite being held captive, Nguyen admired.
He moved onto the next question. “And who was that man?”
“Which man?”
“The man you tried to kill.”
“I don't know. Maybe he was the landlord.” Bessho replied indifferently. He seemed to enjoy teasing him.
“Why did you try to kill that man?”
“He was yelling at me to get out.”
“He's someone you know, right?”
“I don't know him.”
“Is that man related to the reason you left the company.”
“Not really.”
Bessho did not elaborate.
“Tell me the truth.”
Even when Nguyen raised his voice, Bessho's smile did not waver. “And what would you do if I told you? You're already suspicious of me. If you're already not going to believe a word I say, then there's no point in answering.”
Nguyen felt frustration seeing the man's composed expression.
This b.a.s.t.a.r.d. He's looking down on me.
His eyebrows furrowed, and he glared at Bessho. “Enough. Tell me the truth.”
“No thank you. I don't want to talk to you.”
“Do you want to get killed?”
“You still will even if I talk.”
“If you will, I'll make you go peacefully.”
“Then I really don't want to talk now.” Bessho grinned. “If I tell you everything, my utility is over. I'll be killed.”
It was exactly as this man said. The company requested for Bessho to be eliminated. It would not be beneficial to him to comply and answer Nguyen.
“I don't want to die. If running my mouth is going to shorten my lifespan, then I choose the painful way to go.”
Nguyen admired his guts, even if he was an enemy.
“...Alright then. So you want a protracted war?” Nguyen took out a knife and smirked in return. “Fine by me. I have plenty of time. I'll make you tell me what I want a little at a time.”

Misaki left her home by herself when she got an invitation for a tea party. Her guardian Jiro was overjoyed every single time she told him she was going to hang out with a friend. He was extremely happy that she made a close friend. He watched her leave with a wide smile even as he said, ‘don't stay out too late.'
Misaki felt slightly tormented every time she saw him smile like that. She felt the guilt of hiding a secret from her family. She absolutely could not tell Jiro who she was seeing.
She went to the usual meeting spot, located at a coin parking lot in Tenjin where a red RV was waiting for her. When she knocked on the door, the host of the tea party showed his face.
“Misaki, welcome.”
A man dressed like a clown greeted Misaki inside. As she stepped in, she saw the fairy-tale-like scenery within the room with diamond-patterned wallpaper. It was like an entirely different world inside the RV.
Misaki had come to hang out in this room often ever since she became friends with him. She had well gotten used to the creepy clown wearing makeup and the venomous black and purple color scheme in the room.
“So here's the thing. Jiro-chan isn't letting me do anything.”
Misaki began to complain as she usually did as she slumped into the Gothic style chair. It was not unusual as she talked to him about everything.
“I want to take an avenging job of my own, but he just has me stay by his side. Don't you think that's utterly pointless?”
“...You don't like being by his side?” The man tilted his head as he played with a strand of his pink hair.
The owner of this room was a little strange. Actually, he was more than a little strange; he was quite strange. He looked like a young male around twenty years old, but mentally he was a child around the same age as her. Due to the abuse he received as a child, another person lived within him.
His name was Méqué. He was just a personality. He was an insubstantial being. Furthermore, he was a serial killer. Despite this, he was a precious friend Misaki could connect with and mutually share their pain with.
“I hate it. A dog could do the same thing.”
“Dogs are amazing. They can do the same thing you can.”
…...But sometimes they did not see eye to eye.
Misaki was terrified of him when they first met, but once she got to know him as a person and his backstory she was able to understand him. He was definitely a murderer, but his interactions with others were scarce, and he was ignorant of the ways of the world. Children were able to do cruel things without a care partially due to their purity. Méqué was pure as well and was a good person in heart. Without those aspects to him, Misaki would not have become friends with him.
She had also grew up in an abusive home. And now she had a hand in crime. They had a similar lifestyle, and having a friend in the same age group as her - albeit he was only mentally her age - was very meaningful to her.
“Jiro-chan is overprotective.”
Misaki knew he cared for her, but she thought he could at least let her handle some of the work. She was fed up with it.
“Over-protective?” Méqué c.o.c.ked his head. He did not seem to understand the meaning of the word.
“Hmm...Being overprotective means you really care for a person's well-being.”
“Then, Méqué is overprotective too.” He nodded. “Méqué really cares for Misaki's well-being.”
Misaki smiled wryly. “Well, that's a bit different...Actually, it's fine. Thank you, Méqué.”
Méqué had apparently worked with a traveling circus ever since he was young. Street performance was his forte, and he would sometimes perform. He had been doing juggling performances on the f.u.kuhaku Deai Bridge in Nakasu a couple times over the past few weeks recently.
“Misaki, here's your tea.”
Méqué set down a tea cup for her.
“Thank you.”
Misaki took it and sipped a little. Today she had milk tea. Méqué always provided his guests with delicious tea and treats.
“Misaki, is it good?”
“Yeah, it's great.”
There were star-shaped cookies laid out on the round, claw foot table. There were two colors: the white was b.u.t.ter flavored and the black was cocoa flavored.
Misaki had a white one. The fine sweetness spread throughout her palette. “This cookie is really good.”
“Méqué made them.”
He stated proudly.
“You did? Really?”
Misaki was stunned. When she looked at the cookies with wide eyes, she noticed each one were slightly different in size and shape. He was being honest; he had made them himself.
“Wow, that's amazing. I didn't know you could make your own cookies.”
Misaki commented before a thought struck her. She glanced around the room.
“...But you don't have an oven in here, right?”
“Méqué made them with a frying pan.”
“You're kidding. That's incredible.”
She was surprised once more. She did not know that was even possible. She got extremely intrigued where he learned how to make them that way.
“Méqué, you're really talented.”
Perhaps it was because he was a street performer. But imagining a clown cooking cookies in a frying pan would only make her laugh a little.
“Do you want to try making them?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Then how about we bake tomorrow?”
“Sure.”
Misaki had never made cookies before. It seemed fun. She began to think of making cookies with Jiro after learning how to do it from Méqué.
“You have a lot of things you want to do.” Méqué smiled pleasantly at her. “Méqué will help.”
Things I want to do, huh.
It was odd. Misaki felt like she could do anything with him.
Translation Notes: So Méqué has changed a bit since we last saw him in volume 5. In his debut, all his lines were written solely in kana, creating a really eerie vibe for him as well as showing his mental state. Starting as of this volume, some of his lines have kanji now. This really indicates how much he is growing/recovering socially, emotionally, and mentally ever since he became friends with Misaki.
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Translation: Kaede726
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Editor: Voissane
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