Kaede726

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 Shigematsu. 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.” Shigematsu 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 somethin...

He heard the ambulance’s sirens blaring and the sound of the stretcher creaking roughly. He perceived the numerous voices coming from paramedics, doctors, and nurses in his dazed state. ‘Banba-san, are you alright? Can you understand us?’ Someone was calling for him incessantly. However, he did not have the will to respond. After peeling his eyes open, the world that came into view was a complete blur. Regardless, he was able to gain a grasp on his situation. Right now, he was in an ambulance and being transported to a hospital. He recalled this happening once before. He had been gravely injured and was sent to a hospital in an ambulance at that time too. It was very similar to back then - that very night thirteen years ago. Balancing studies and club activities at a preparatory school was quite tough. His supplementary classes began at 7:30 in the morning, but his club’s morning practice sessions began at 6. If he did not leave the house by 5:30, he would not make it in ti...

People could get mistaken, so to clarify this work does not take place in a city where 3% of the population are consisted of hitmen. The correct nuance is that the city has so many hitman it is rumored to have that percentage. There is only a slight difference in meaning, but I write this under the stance that Fukuoka is not the only dangerous place in the world - that there is generally danger in any prefecture in this country and in any country throughout the world. As such, hitmen from other prefectures or countries participate in the story, and events could happen internationally throughout the narrative. I feel I gained this world view that the world is much more dangerous than you would expect and that crime occurs anywhere and everywhere due to personal experiences and from real stories in the underworld others have told me.

Even when morning came, Banba remained absent. Lin had expected him to return soon based off the amount of clothes he took with him, but he had not heard anything from him today either. A trace of unease began to cloud over his thoughts. I hope he isn’t dying in a ditch somewhere . Lin frowned. It was not particularly uncommon for someone with their occupation to get attacked by enemies at any given time. Lin did not believe Banba would slip up, but he could not stand by idly as the days passed by without being able to contact him. I guess I should start looking for him , Lin decided and took out his cell phone. If he could not directly contact Banba, he had to resort to other methods. The moment he went to dial a number, Lin’s cell phone began to vibrate. It was an incoming call from Enokida. He took the call and pressed the device to his ear. “‘Sup.” ‘I have something to talk to you about.’ “...No greeting?” Lin smiled wryly. “Sure. I actually have something for you too.” Lin ...