Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens

Lin headed over to Tenjin. He walked over directly to the cafe from Nakasu. Sayuri was there just as Enokida"s information indicated. She was reading a book as she sipped her hot coffee at a seat in the corner. And the information that she was shopping had been accurate as well. She had bags with famous brand logos next to her.
“Would you mind if I sat here?”
Lin spoke to Sayuri after he ordered a drink at the register.
“Oh?” Sayuri looked up from her book, slightly surprised. “You"re the person from Zenji"s place.”
“It"s been a while.”
Lin sat down across from her without waiting for her consent.
“I actually came to you for something.”
Sayuri chuckled. “You"re quite knowledgeable to know I was here.”
“I asked an informant to find where you were and figured it out through your cell phone.” Lin told her and then apologized. “Sorry to have done that.”
“You didn"t have to go through all the trouble. You could"ve just asked Zenji.”
Enokida had told him the same. Lin had go with the difficult route because he could not contact Banba. “There was a lot of factors preventing me to.” Lin muttered.
Sayuri put a bookmark in her book and placed it down on the table.
“So what did you need from me?”
Sayuri asked again.
Lin looked her right in the eye and stated. “I need your help.”
“My help?”
“I need you to sneak into a party. Of course, I"ll pay you for it.”
Lin then explained her all the details.
“I got a job from women who were victims of drugging-robberies. I"m chasing the culprit. What I know right now was there were three victims. All of them attended similar matchmaking parties, and after meeting a man they were robbed.”
“What was stolen?”
“Cash on hand. Their branded items and wallets were stolen. And then anything that could be sold for money like wrist watches and diamond necklaces.”
“Were there any casualties the women received?”
“Nothing in particular. They were brought to a hotel, but there was no s.e.xual a.s.sault.”
“In other words, the objective was solely focused on getting money.”
Lin nodded and added.
“I was going to sneak into the matchmaking party myself and act as bait, but partic.i.p.ants have to be men and women in their thirties.”
He was not qualified to go. He needed someone that looked like they were in their thirties, and, as Jiro put it, someone who had the allure of an attractive adult. Lin thought of her.
After hearing Lin"s explanation Sayuri consented. “Alright. Let"s do it.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I am. We can"t have a man who works by intoxicating women and stealing from them on the loose, right? We have to put him in his place.” She nodded and smiled teasingly. “Besides, I was just considering of going to a matchmaking party.”
“You don"t need to go to one.” Lin smiled at her lovely joke. “A beauty like you would have a ton of guys flock to you.”
“Haha, why thank you.”
Lin took out the data Jiro gave him from his bag. He spread the doc.u.ments out on the table and shared the information with Sayuri.
“These are the cases we"re aware of and the details on the victims.”
“And these photos?” Sayuri pointed to them. “They look like images from security cameras.”
“Yeah, they were taken on the day of the robberies. This man is likely the culprit.”
Sayuri muttered, examining the photos. “It"s not clear, but he must be a handsome man.”
“That or just a really smooth talker.”
“Maybe even both.”
Lin nodded in agreement.
“So I just have to go to this party and fall for the man"s invitation?”
“Yeah. And I"ll be on standby while you are undercover. We"ll be able to converse regularly over a communicator. So if anything happens, I"ll come for you.”
Sayuri slightly smiled. “How rea.s.suring.”
She immediately went to sign up to attend the party on the internet. The next event was in another three days at a restaurant in Daimyo.
“So see you in three days.”
“Alright.”
After they exchanged numbers, Lin gave his goodbyes and left.

Night came quickly as he spent his time huddled up in an internet cafe working on his laptop per usual. He was starving. Enokida walked out of the Gates Building, deciding he should go out and have dinner. He headed towards the Naga River to eat at the food stall he frequented.
As he approached the street lined with stalls, the thick scent of tonkotsu wafted over to him. There were other stalls that offered selections besides ramen including oden, gyoza and yakitori.
Enokida pulled back the curtains to the food stall he usually went to and greeted the owner. “h.e.l.lo, Gen-san.”
“Oh, Enokida, it"s you.” The owner Genzo was in the middle of listening to the baseball session live over the radio.
“Welcome.”
There were no other customers. Enokida sat down in the center of the table and ordered a bowl of tonkotsu ramen with firm noodles.
After a couple of minutes, Genzo brought the bowl over and placed it in front of him.
“Here ya go.”
“Thank you.”
Enokida clasped his hands together, and as he picked up the ramen with his chopsticks he asked teasingly. “How"s it been going lately? Business going well?” As fas as he could tell, Genzo had not been making much business.
“Doing well since you came in.” Genzo replied back sarcastically.
“It doesn"t look like you"re motivated enough, Gen-san.”
“Cut it out.”
As they had their usual childish exchange, Enokida suddenly changed the topic.
“By the way.”
“Hm?”
“I heard from Lin-chan that Banbsan has not returned to the office.”
“Really now?”
Genzo did not seem that surprised.
Enokida frowned. “Your reaction is a bit lacking.”
“It ain"t a big deal that he didn"t come home. He ain"t a kid after all.” Genzo laughed. “He did not go home much when he was younger either.”
“Lin said he left home with luggage and that he was going to do some individual training.”
“Oh? Personal trainin"...”
Genzo muttered with a knowing look. Enokida stared at him, suspicious. “...Gen-san, you know something, don"t you?”
“A little bit,” Genzo nodded honestly.
His response fueled Enokida"s intrigue more. Enokida set his chopsticks down and leaned forward. “Tell me.”
“Not sure if I should.”
“There"s nothing you need to keep from me.”
“If I tell you, everyone will know.”
“Hey, I"m very tight-lipped.”
Genzo reluctantly caved into Enokida"s persistence. After reiterating that he could not tell anyone, he stated. “I know there"s only one place I can think of where he"d take luggage to go somewhere and train.”
“Where? Tell me where.”
“Genkai Island.”
“...Genkai Island?”
From Enokida"s knowledge, it was a small island located in the west ward of f.u.kuoka City. It was a thirty minute ferry ride from Hakata pier. The island thrived on the fishing industry and was a popular spot to fish for sport, but Enokida did not believe Banba to have an interest in fishing.
“Why"s he at Genkai Island?”
Enokida c.o.c.ked his head in curiosity.
Genzo answered. “Banba"s teacher lives there.”
According to him, Banba had lived there for a couple of years, undergoing intense training to become a full-fledged hitman. But Banba has already become one.
Enokida tilted his head as he slurped his noodles. “What"s he there for?”
“He said for trainin", right?” Genzo stated. “So he went to get stronger.”
“Even though he already is?”
“It"s gonna be his final game soon.” Genzo murmured in a low voice. “He probably wants to make it big, so he"s improving his condition.”
“...His final game?”
Enokida frowned deeply in confusion.
“Banba"s final game before retirement.” Genzo nodded. “He said his next kill will be his last.”
“Eh?” Enokida stilled his hand and looked up from his bowl of ramen. “Banbsan is going to quit being a hitman?”
“So I hear.”
Enokida was shocked. That was the first time he heard it. He could not believe Banba was going to retire from the a.s.sa.s.sination industry.
“But he can still keep going. He"s young.”
“It ain"t about ability. It"s an issue of motivation.”
Genzo had told him, but Enokida did not understand. He was not a hitman in the first place, so he could not comprehend how they functioned.
“If he"s gonna quit bein" a hitman, then he may have went to see his teacher.” Genzo muttered quietly.
Whatever the purpose Banba"s trip was, it seemed it was true that he was going to cut his ties from this industry.
“Banbsan of all people…”
Regardless, this was huge news. The Niwaka Samurai will no longer exist in this city. If that happened, the struggle for a successor would worsen.
“What"s Banbsan going to do after quitting?”
“Dunno.” Genzo pondered to himself. “Maybe he"ll live on a remote island like his teacher.”
“At such a young age?”
“He"s got traits of an old soul.”
Genzo laughed, conveniently ignoring his own shortcomings. Enokida could see where he was coming from.
“...So that begs the question.” Enokida instantly worried. “What will happen to the Ramens?”
“Hmm…” Genzo folded his arms and groaned in thought. “He was the one to start the team originally.”
Even working in the underworld ensured stress. The gra.s.slot baseball team, the Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens, was created for people in the underground could have a little bit of a breather. Banba was the one to approach everyone and start it all.
If Banba was going to return to a modest life, then would he be quitting the Ramens as well?
“What are we going to do without a captain?” Enokida pouted as he slurped his ramen.
Banba was always in the center of the ring. Enokida could not imagine him being absent. Everyone got together because of Banba. He was the manager and an emotional pillar for support. If they lost him, the team could not hold together.
“In the worst case scenario, we may have to break up.”
Genzo"s sad tone echoed in his eardrums painfully.

Bottom of the Third Inning It was the third day since Banba had arrived at Genkai Island. Training on this desolate island surrounded by nature had dispelled his unnecessary idle thoughts, and he was making greater progress than he had antic.i.p.ated.
Banba got up early in the morning as usual, and after he changed into his training gear he left Masataka"s house. It was still dark out. The fishermen were busy getting ready to set out into the ocean at the port down at the end of the hill road.
Banba already had a routine for his training he went through everyday. After starting off with warm-ups, he would run around the island for two hours. One lap around the island was four kilometers long, but there were many spots with a mix of unsteady and leveled ground on the trail. The route made the running course at Ohori Park seem easy. The ground was muddy here and there and the sandy beach terrain helped strengthen his legs.
Banba continued to run ceaselessly as the sea breeze from the Genkai waves brushed against him. When he had first become Masataka"s apprentice and trained under him, he was forced to run this course everyday. Masataka had told him running was not just to train his body - it was to train his mental fort.i.tude as well. Banba understood what he had meant fully well now. He would feel like he was reaching his limit after running continuously. His body would start to get heavy, and the thought to stop and rest would begin to sound appealing in his mind. He was able to get a glimpse at his weak self.
If he conquered himself and not take the easy way out by forcing himself to keep running, he would feel lighter soon enough. His concentration would amplify, allowing him to hear the rush of the waves. Banba ran without thought, and before he knew it two hours had pa.s.sed.
Once he had warmed up enough or was covered in sweat, he would move onto the next activity. He headed to a small shrine on the island. The Kodaka Shrine was built to commemorate Yurikawa"s Midori-maru. It was located far from the port, and to get there you had to climb more than a hundred stone steps. It was a steep slope, and the flight of stone steps were narrow, making it easy to lose your footing.
Banba rushed up the stone steps on the tips of his feet. Once he arrived at the shrine, he would then descend. And then he would ascend the slope again and repeat. The training was simple, but it was a rough workout on his feet.
After completing the fifth set, Banba sat down on the ground listlessly and sighed. “...Geez, it burns.”
It had been a long time since he had worked his muscles this hard. His knees shook after the intense work out the first day, but by the third day Banba had gotten used to it.
Banba thought back to when he first became Masataka"s apprentice. He thought this training would kill him at the time. He was confident he could pull through the training because of his daily practices in the baseball club at school, but Masataka had crushed his self-confidence. There were numerous instances where he collapsed in the middle of training.
But he got into the shape he was in now thanks to the severe training back then. His goal in coming to this island this time was not just to retrain his body. He wanted to return to the basics to sort out his feelings and rebuild his mental fort.i.tude.
He could not blunder his next kill. I still haven"t pushed myself far enough, Banba reflected. He then did another five sets of running up and down the stone steps.
By the time he had finished his outside training, it was already past noon. When Banba came back to the harbor, he spotted a man dressed in casual clothes on the breakwater. He was sitting quietly, fishing pole in hand.
“Masataksaaan!”
Masataka turned around when Banba called his name. He raised a hand in greeting. Banba also got onto the breakwater, walking towards Masataka.
The sea was calm today, but it was cloudy. And the weather forecast estimated rainfall happening in the afternoon. The poor weather persisted into today as well.
“I see you"ve been working hard,” Masataka turned to face Banba as he approached and smirked. “How do you feel?”
“I feel great.”
“That"s good to hear.”
Banba asked Masataka in turn as he sat cross-legged and dropped the fishing line into the sea. “And how has it been going for you, Masataksan? Did you catch anything?”
“Yeah, I did. Got a big one.”
Masataka smiled proudly.
“Here, take a look.”
He boasted and took off the lid to the cooler.
Curious, Banba peeked inside. And as Masataka indicated, there were some fish in the cooler. But when he examined them closer, he noticed the fish were not from this area.
“...You got these from a fisherman you know.”
“Tch, you already figured it out?”
Politely speaking, Banba could not say Masataka"s fishing ability was great. He always had been poor at it. He often spent his time sitting in front of the sh.o.r.e the whole day without catching anything. Regardless, fishing was his hobby. Banba had commented one time: ‘it ain"t fun unless you catch somethin"." Masataka had retorted back with: ‘I"m not fishing for any prize." The time he spent facing the ocean in silence was what he treasured.
“Masataksan. How about we head back soon? It looks like it"s going to rain, and you won"t catch anything.”
“Shut your trap. Don"t tell me what to do. I can catch something if I put my mind to it.”
“Sure you will.”
“Watch. I"ll catch a big one.”
“But you don"t fish for a prize, right?”
“My pride"s at stake here. As if I"d let myself be made fun of by my apprentice.”
The sky had turned fully dark by now. Banba sighed at his master"s stubbornness and turned on his heel. “I"ll go back ahead of you.”
Banba left Masataka to do his fishing and headed to his house. Once he got back he took off his sweat-drenched shirt and resumed his training.
Next was muscle workout. He started with push-ups and then moved onto sit-ups and squats. The same routine he did back then. If the furniture on the porch was moved out of the way, Banba could see a well-kept garden.
The rain started to come down after thirty minutes pa.s.sed while he was doing pull-ups off the frame of the door. The weather forecast had been accurate. After a couple of minutes, Banba heard footsteps approaching. Masataka must have given up and returned home. He stepped into the garden and chuckled, “you"re still doing this?”
“Welcome back.”
Banba greeted Masataka as he did another pull-up. He let go and jumped down onto the ground, wiping the sweat off him.
“There"s been a lot of rain lately.”
“Yeah,” Masataka nodded. “It"s so depressing.”
Masata took off his geta before stepping up onto the open veranda. He then disappeared into the house. He probably intended to take an afternoon nap. Having an isolated life was easy-going.
Whether it would be rain or snow, Banba still had to train. Banba stepped out into the garden half naked, j.a.panese sword in hand, and began swinging. He kept swinging over and over as he was pelted by the rain.
A memory flickered through his mind. It was the day he first help the j.a.panese sword.

He was only seventeen at the time.
“Here. You"ll be training with this today.”
Masataka had handed Banba an elongated item when he brought him out to the garden. Its scabbard was black, and the guard was decorated in a gold trim. It was a j.a.panese style sword. He felt the weight of the weapon sink into his palm.
“...Is this real?”
“Of course it is.” Masataka replied in exasperation.
“You"ll be using this when you go out on a.s.sa.s.sination missions. You"re going to become my successor, so you"ll have to learn how to use it.”
“Alright.”
“Good. Unsheathe it.”
Banba fearfully pulled the blade out from its scabbard.
The blade had been sharpened, making it glisten. Its sharpness gave the impression Banba could easily cut someone"s head off with it, and he gulped, unconsciously shuddering at the thought.
“Try and take a stance with it.”
Banba was uncertain when he was ordered to do so. He had never held a j.a.panese sword before, not even a fencing stick or a wooden sword. He had no idea how he should wield a sword.
He decided to stretch his back and hold the tip of the blade out towards Masataka.
“...Is this right?”
He was unconfident. He looked at his master"s face to judge if he was holding it right.
Masataka shrugged.
“You do know we aren"t doing kendo or iai. We fight to kill. Don"t worry about the form. There"s no need to be all nice and proper. You can hold it however you like.”
He then grinned.
“Wield it how you like, and swing it how you prefer.”
Swing, how you prefer - Banba moved into position naturally when he heard those words. He turned sideways and gripped the weapon with both hands. He then lifted up one leg and rotated his waist as he stepped back down. Banba swung the j.a.panese sword in the same fundamental movements as batting in baseball.
The blade swished through the air, cutting the wind.
Masataka smirked upon seeing Banba"s swing, “now that"s something.”

“Now that"s something.”
Banba returned to the present when he heard an abrupt voice.
When he looked over to the direction he heard it, he saw Masataka. He had been watching Banba train, reclining against the side of the house.
He"s been there the whole time? Banba"s eyes were wide. He did not even notice someone was watching him. He must have erased his presence somehow and sneaked up on him. No matter how many months and days have pa.s.sed since his retirement, he still had this habit of sneaking up on him.
“Your swings were lacking until now because you were so stiff. You"ve greatly improved in just three days.”
“Thank you.”
Banba smiled, having been unexpectedly praised by his master.
When he looked closer, he saw Masataka also held a long object in his hand. It was his favorite j.a.panese sword with a white scabbard.
Banba had a bad feeling about this scenario. He grimaced, praying that the man did not suggest anything unreasonable.
But as he antic.i.p.ated, his sixth sense had been spot on.
“How about we spar? It"s been a while.”
“...Cut me some slack.” Banba sighed when his master grinned at him. “I can"t fight someone with terminal cancer.”
“Don"t underestimate me.”
Masataka was eager to fight. Once he put on his geta sandals, he walked into the yard from the veranda as he flexed his shoulders and wrists. At this point, Masataka would not listen no matter what Banba told him.
“Don"t step in there.” Masataka pointed to his vegetable garden located in the corner of the yard. “I have radishes growing there.”
This isn"t the time to worry about your radishes. Banba frowned. “...You really want to do this?”
“Don"t hold back.”
Banba could not help but worry despite Masataka"s insistence. He could not go all out against an ill person.
Masataka withdrew his sword, paying no mind to Banba"s internal struggle; the sharpened blade revealed itself from its white scabbard. Masataka took his stance in fluid, eloquent motion. The air about him transitioned into something else as he did so.
Banba winced when he sensed an overpowering menacing pressure seeping off Masataka. This man was a ‘legend" through-and-through, regardless of how many years have pa.s.sed since his retirement. Banba was in awe, as though there had not been a lapse in time.
What am I thinking? I have to go all out, Banba scoffed at himself. If I don"t, I could get killed.
Banba pushed aside his hesitance and held up his katana.
They never started the match with a signal, as there were no hitmen who would attack once a signal was given. There were numerous times Banba had been taken off guard expecting one.
Masataka immediately made his move. He made a sharp thrust with his blade, having managed to close the distance between them in mere seconds. Banba did not have the time to dodge, so he blocked the blade head on. Their j.a.panese swords clashed.
Masataka"s fighting style was not straightforward. Banba knew his true strength after clashing swords with him so many times in the past. Masataka did not rely solely on his weapon. If Banba focused too much on his j.a.panese sword, it would be his downfall.
And as he expected, Masataka made a powerful kick to Banba"s side. Banba grabbed his leg with his right hand and blocked the attack. I caught that, he smirked. But in that exact moment, there was a blow to his left cheek. Masataka"s fist had sunk into his face.
“Ow!” Banba cried out as he stumbled back.
Masataka laughed. “Are you an idiot?”
“...d.a.m.n.”
Banba tutted before regaining his posture.
His opponent was a veteran - the first generation Niwaka Samurai. Banba expected Masataka would see through his attacks, but Banba still received an attack head on. He swung his sword continuously at him, as to avoid giving the other the chance to take offence.
Masataka dodged his attacks with the bare minimum of movements. He did not block any of them, he just let them pa.s.s him. He was able to easily evade every attack Banba made despite his efforts.
There was no resistance. It was like he was cutting water.
When Banba took distance to regulate his ragged breathing for a moment, he heard Masataka"s teasing voice mixed in with the sound of rainfall. “What"s wrong? Are you already done? You aren"t that strong. So those muscles you"re so proud of are just for show.”
Don"t fall for his bait, Banba told himself. He took in breaths, calming himself. He could not fall for his opponent"s pace.
Look what is around you more. Widen your field of vision. You must not get completely absorbed in just your opponent.
Masataka had always told him.
Banba regained his composure and broadened his field of vision. He focused on his very surroundings and not just on Masataka.
Right now it was raining heavily. There were puddles of still water and the ground was moist, with even mud beginning to form in certain spots. There was a small puddle at Masataka"s left. Their foothold was poor today.
Masataka had taught Banba to use everything to his advantage. He told him to use everything around the area as a weapon to kill and not solely rely on his weapon. And this even included the fight"s stage.
The wet ground was a good resource for him to use. Banba turned to face Masataka and swung his j.a.panese sword from the right. As he had wanted, Masataka stepped back to dodge Banba"s blade. The puddle was not far away.
After Banba kept slashing at him, Masataka"s foot finally sunk into the puddle.
“Ah?” Masataka reeled when his foot got stuck in the mud. “Who”
Banba took his stance while Masataka was distracted. He lifted his leg and took a deep step forward, making a full, powerful swing. Masataka was unable to dodge Banba"s powerful attack. He blocked the blow head on with his j.a.panese sword. However, he was pushed back by the force and veered back. Unable to stop himself, Masataka took a few steps back. And in that moment, there was the sound of something squishing.
Masataka had stepped into the vegetable garden.
“Ah!”
Masataka gripped his head upon noticing the squashed radish leaf underneath his right foot.
“My precious vegetables…” He pointed a finger at Banba and yelled. “Zenji! It"s your fault!”
“It"s yours, isn"t it!?”
Banba countered back. Masataka had been the one to suggest they spar in the first place. Banba sighed in exasperation.
Masataka put the j.a.panese sword back in its scabbard as he clicked his tongue. “Dammit, can"t believe I got bested by Zenji of all people.”
Even as he complained, there was a hint of enjoyment in his voice.
Their spar was over. Banba also sheathed his sword.
“You had to go and get so strong. You were just a lanky greenhorn not too long ago.”
“And when was that?” Banba smiled bitterly.
Masataka was praising him, but the feelings Banba was experiencing were complex. He certainly had gotten strong. He had grown up. But that was not all. Masataka had gotten weaker.
It was impressive that he was able to fight as much as he did despite having terminal cancer as a handicap and being out of practice for so long. If Banba had fought the Masataka from long ago, he would have easily blocked Banba"s last attack. The fact that he had been knocked back from the blow meant his legs had gotten weaker. Even if he looked fine outwardly, the illness was eating away at his body for certain.
“We should have lunch soon. I"ll get the fish.” Masataka headed back into the house. “Get changed. Or else you"ll catch a cold.”
Actually, both of them were soaking wet from the rain.
You too. Banba had to bite back from replying.
Translation Notes: In the tale of Yurikawa he had a hawk named Midori-maru. The hawk couriers a letter to his wife when Yurikawa is marooned on an island, allowing his wife to know of her husband"s survival. The hawk is enshrined in Kodaka Shrine on Genkai Island.
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Translation: Kaede726
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Editor: Voissane
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