"4th Up to Bat" is the fourth chapter in volume 1 of the Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens manga.
Synopsis[]
Saitoh is nervous as he buys the necessary tools for his assignment and sets out to kill Jun Murase. He lets himself into Jun's empty apartment and lays in wait. Before long, the doorbell rings, and Jiro and Misaki Tanaka introduce themselves as new neighbors. Saitoh plays along as Jun, and as he accepts their gift, he is attacked and bound before he can process what is happening.
In the Kakyuu Association offices, Xianming Lin is having a disagreement with Zhang over the pay for his assignment to kill the detective Takeda. Despite his complaints, Lin is given the task of killing Zenji Banba, who has visited Club Miroir asking questions. On his way home, Lin is bumped into by Yamato, and already in a foul mood, Lin punches and threatens the host. Soon after, he realizes his wallet has been stolen.
In the meantime, Ryuuji Munakata and his group report to Mayor Harada about Detective Takeda's death and update him on his son's most recent wrongdoings, the woman's rape and murder and the attack on the foreigner. The mayor tells the group he is counting on them to protect his position. Reiko Asakura stays with the mayor and his bodyguards for the evening, and as the three men depart to pick up Yusuke's friends, Munakata tells Shinohara the story of the time he encountered the Niwaka Samurai and lost his eye.
Character Debuts[]
- Jiro Tanaka
- Misaki Tanaka
- Niwaka Samurai (flashback)