At night, a police car chases a motorcycle gang.

Police: "You bikers!! Stop fleeing at once!! Stop right now!!"

{sound f/x uon: police siren}

([bikers' jackets] Basaraki)

Riding on the back of a motorcycle is a younger Kashima Toranosuke.

Kashima: Here they come~~~~ the coppers!

Man: Tora! Barracuda! Don't fall off!

Kashima: Right! Go for it, Seiji-san!!

::page::

{sound f/x bara: rattling}

{sound f/x papapan: firecrackers going off}

Policeman #1: Uwa~

Policeman #2: Dammit~ Firecrackers~

Kashima: See ya later-~ The place where only I could be. The only one who could protect our boss's, Seiji-san's, back was me, that's what I believed...

::page::

Seiji: Tora, as of today, you're out.

Kashima: Wh... what'd you say...!? We're battling with the Osaka guys, this is an important time!! [Kashima was brought up in Kobe, a city located in the Kansai region of Japan and not too far from the big city of Osaka.]

Seiji: It's not just you. Miho and Keiko are out, too.

Kashima: Seiji-san! I'm not a girl. I'm a man that can fight with you!!

Seiji: Go home right now, Tora! This is my last order as your boss.

Kashima: N... no way... My home is right here!

::page::

Kashima: My home is wherever Seiji-san is!! Let me be with you!! Take me with you!! Seiji-san!!

Kashima's Mother: Wait right here, okay? Mommy has something important to talk about with that man. Be a good boy.

Young Kashima: I'll wait. I'll be a good boy and wait. Come back for me, Mommy.

Kashima: No...!

Young Kashima: I'll be a good boy and wait...

Kashima: I'm sick of being left behind!!

::page::

Kashima: Left behind... Thrown away...

Voice: Tora, what're you doing. C'mon, let's go home.

Kashima: Who is it...?

Voice: Hurry up, let's go. Why're you just sitting there. You don't hurry up, I'll leave you behind.

Kashima: Ah... Wait...!

Voice: "HIROKAWA! HIROKAWA TADASHI!!"

::page::

Voice: "HIROKAWA TADASHI THANKS YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!"

Kashima: ...... ...a dream... I saw a really old dream...

Voice: "HIROKAWA! THANK YOU VERY MUCH! HIROKAWA TADASHI!!"

Kashima: ...... SHUT THE HELL UP, CAN'T A PERSON SLEEP AROUND HERE-~!!

Woman in Van: "THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!"

[Japanese political campaigns are so incredibly annoying. The main method of campaigning for a candidate consists of driving around in vans, blaring incredibly loud music and a woman's voice shouting the candidate's name through giant speakers. They go up and down the streets, through the neighborhoods, and at most any time of day (or even night). I honestly don't know why Japanese people put up with this sort of campaign.]

::page::

Kashima: THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO WAY THAT I'LL VOTE FOR YOU-~!!

{sound f/x buro: van zooming off}

Woman in Van: "THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!"

Kashima: No matter what you say, she'll respond, "Thank you~!", the moron~!!

{sound f/x pishan: noise of the curtains being opened}

Kashima: Ah, dammit, I'm up... ...huh...? What time is it...?

Police Headquarters - Hiyodori Police Station

Kashima: Good morning~!! I'm sorry I'm late~!!

::page::

{sound f/x karan: empty}

Kashima: Huh? Oh I see, everyone's late--

Chief: YOU MORON!! THAT'S NOT WHAT IT MEANS----~!! HURRY YOUR BUTT OVER TO THE CRIME SCENE RIGHT NOW----~!!

The crime scene.

Policeman: Okay, step back, step back!

{sound f/x zawa: crowd buzzing}

::page::

Kashima: Ah... Hirokawa Tadashi...

Mahori: Oh, you're here, sleepy head.

Kashima: Ah, Dai-san, good morning.

{sound f/x gochi: light thwack}

Mahori: It's not morning. You've got something on your face.

Kashima: Eh~ really!?

{sound f/x goku: scrubbing}

Mahori: Not on your mouth. Your eyes. You've got tear stains.

::page::

Mahori: Did you have a scary dream? There there.

{sound f/x suri: nuzzle}

Kashima: L... like I would~

Kawai: While it's kinda fun to watch the two of you, can you save the lovey-dovey stuff until after work? Is it okay to come inside~~~~?

Kashima: Uwa--...

Policeman: It's fine. Please watch out for glass shards. They really scattered about.

Kashima: This is pretty flashy, isn't it. Was it a robbery?

Mahori: This makes it next to impossible to confirm if something was taken. Apparently, someone threw in the bomb and ran away.

::page::

Kashima: A bomb, huh...

Kawai: Um, you're Takeshita-san from the office. Did you see the perpetrator?

Takeshita: Yes, but I just saw a man in a black helmet escaping on a motorcycle, and the numbers were too far so I couldn't see them...

Policeman: I'd understand the middle of the night, but during daylight hours...

Kashima: Hey, Kanshiki-san.

Kanshiki: Yes?

Kashima: What... does this look like?

Kanshiki: Um~~~ It looks like a fragment of bamboo. Maybe a firecracker?

Kashima: A firecracker?

Kanshiki: There's a lot of stuff like this scattered around. Instead of one big bomb, it was probably lots of fireworks gathered together. In other words, it doesn't feel like a professional bomber.

Kashima: ...It can't be...huh... No way, no way, it's just because I had that dream. You're just thinking too much!

Mahori: ?

::page::

Hirokawa: No, I'm terribly sorry I've caused you so much trouble. Nice to meet you, I'm Hirokawa.

Mahori: I'm Mahori from the Hiyodori Station. And from the same Detective Section, this is Kashima.

Hirokawa: Thank you very much for your trouble. Please, sit down.

Mahori: I imagine that you've really gone through quite a bit

Hirokawa: It really has been a lot. It will be quite difficult getting back to business.

Mahori: It appears that the bomb was just thrown inside and the office safe was untouched. Do you have any ideas?

Hirokawa: Who knows...

Kashima: Um, did you recieve any previous notes or threatening phone calls...

Hirokawa: Absolutely none. I think it's just simple harassment. Since there's an election coming up, I think that's more or less it. Well, if I'm contacted by the perpetrator, I'm prepared to record the telephone conversation. (Ha-ha-ha)

{sound f/x fuwa: light breeze}

::page::

{sound f/x kun: sniff}

Kashima: This smell...

{sound f/x katan: chair clattering}

Mahori: What, what is it?

Kashima: ...... No... Nothing... I know this smell... the smell of this cologne...

Mahori: Since Mr. Hirokawa says he doesn't have any ideas, that's the end of the line. Should we go back to the station-- huh, Tora. Tora?

::page::

Kashima: The bomber... might be someone I know...

Mahori: What?

Kashima: I don't have any proof, but he was really good with gunpowder... making firecrackers and stuff like that... And then in Mr. Hirokawa's reception room... it smelled like him...... It might just be a strange coincidence...but...~

Mahori: So then, do you know where he is?

Kashima: I don't know. Since we split when I was a kid, he hasn't told me where to reach him. ...Dai-san, what should I do... I... if Seiji-san is a criminal... I don't think I could arrest him...~ He threw me away... but even now he's like my dear big brother...!

{sound f/x kachi: clicking of the lighter}

Voice: You're very good at decieving, Hirokawa-san.

{sound f/x ki: creak of door opening}

Hirokawa: !

::page::

Hirokawa: Inoue... You...~

Seiji: How does it feel to have your hand bitten by your pet dog?

Hirokawa: What in the world are you thinking. The office is in shambles!!

{sound f/x bashi: smacking the desk}

Seiji: It's just proof of how serious I am. Let's do business, Hirokawa-san. The means of acquiring that video tape and the system's black market data... I'll take that and one hundred million. Tonight, we'll exchange where no one can see us. This disk with the obscene pictures of you...

Hirokawa: What does that video have to do with you!? It's just a pornographic video, isn't it!!

Seiji: That's right, it's a pornographic video of boys and girls and dirty old men. You perform as well... The problem is that lately, there have been cases of mysterious disappearances among those boys and girls.

::page::

Seiji: After they're abducted and made to perform in those kids porn, then what happens? Are they sold abroad?

Hirokawa: I didn't do anything! And what are you! Are you planning on becoming a detective!!

{sound f/x ban: hand slamming into desk}

Seiji: Tonight, two in the morning. If you're a minute late, you'll be top of the gossip columns tomorrow. And if you kill me, I've prepared things so that the data will immediately start flowing. Think about it hard and make a decision for yourself.

Hiyodori Police Station

Voice: Must be tough, even detectives work late.

::page::

Seiji: Never thought that you'd become a detective.

Kashima: Ah......

Seiji: There...we go.

{sound f/x da: Tora dashing forwards}

Seiji: Tora?

Kashima: Seiji-san... Seiji-san...!

::page::

Seiji: What's this, you haven't changed at all on the inside. You're still a cry baby, Tora.

Kashima: I thought that you threw me away, Seiji-san...! When you let me go, it was like all of my pals became strangers... They said, "It doesn't have anything to do with you" and wouldn't tell me where you were! That was your orders, too...they said...! I didn't know why those things were happening to me. Why!? I...~

Seiji: Tora... ...After that, there was a war with Osaka and the gang broke up.

Kashima: !

Seiji: I didn't want to get you involved, since I didn't know what the results would be. But I did it all to protect you... I'm sorry I made things so painful for you...

Kashima: Seiji-san...

::page::

Seiji: Ah, that's right, Tora. I have something I want to leave with you.

Kashima: With me?

Seiji: I'll leave this disk with you.

Kashima: What? This...

Seiji: Hirokawa Tadashi's bombing.

Kashima: Huh...

{sound f/x doki: Kashima's heart pounding}

Seiji: That disk is full of Hirokawa's sins and disgraces, plus pictures of kiddie porn. You should do some research about the kids there. They look like the pictures of missing children that I've seen on the news.

Kashima: Se... Seiji-san! You were in Mr. Hirokasa's reception room...? And you saw me there as a detective...? And you bombed the office, too...

Seiji: ...I can't answer that right now.

::page::

Seiji: Tomorrow, I'll come and see you. Then I'll answer all of your questions. If by any chance I don't show up tomorrow, put that disk to good use.

{sound f/x do~: revving the motorcycle's engine}

Seiji: Mr. Detective.

Kashima: Seiji-san, wait...!

{sound f/x von: motorcycle speeding away}

Kashima: Seiji-san!! ...... ......

Mahori: You were right on the money. What're you going to do? Tora.

Kashima: I will... confirm the contents of this disk. Because I'm... a detective...~

::page::

Voice: Sagara-kanrikan!!

Sagara: Top secret data is being transmitted from outside? What do you mean. Explain to me.

Man: It's a list of names, but they conform to a list of abducted children. In addition, photographic data is also entering, but it seems to be part of pornographic materials...

Sagara: Pornographic?

Man: Um... adults and children...

Sagara: Wait, enlarge this image. Look, that man! Don't you recognize him...?

Man: Ah!

::page::

Man: That man, he's Hirokawa! Hirokawa Tadashi, he's running in the election for the house!

Sagara: !

Telephone: "Is the data getting through okay? Sagara-san."

Sagara: Mahori, it's you! Where in the world did you get this information...

Mahori: Ah, it wasn't an illegal investigation or anything. Every once in a while, our informants...

Kashima: Dai-san! At the end of the data, there's a message from Seiji-san...!! It says that tonight at 2 in the morning... Seiji-san and Hirokawa are doing a deal... Why did he tell me...!

Mahori: Even if he uses himself as bait, he's already exposed Hirokawa's crimes. But, since he left this trump card with you... This is bad. Your big brother might be prepared to die when he deals with Hirokawa.

Kashima: No way! Why...~

::page::

Mahori: Sagara-san. Our informant is going to do a deal with Hirokawa tonight. Can we call for emergency backup?

Kashima: ...... There's no one who would do something so dangerous without thinking about it... What in the world is he dealing with Hirokawa for!?

Mahori: Tora! There's no time to worry about things. Let's go!

Kashima: Huh...

{sound f/x gi: creak of Tora's chair}

Mahori: When your big brother might be about to add to his crimes, it's no time to sit there in shock. You're a detective. This trump card was also given to you because he wanted to stop you from running around. There's no one who can stop him but you!

Kashima: Right~! That's right... you can't stop me...

::page::

Kashima: Before Seiji-san plunges into danger... Before I can't reach him, I have to----!!

{sound f/x dosa: thud}

Hirokawa: There's one hundred million inside. Take it. Now hand over what you promised.

Seiji: It wasn't just money. The deal was that you'd also give me the black market data on the production of that porno video.

Hirokawa: I told you, I don't have that. I don't know!

Seiji: So I guess the negotiations are canceled.

{sound f/x su: Hirokawa's flunkies slowly reaching into their jackets}

Hirokawa: ...We can still come to a good settlement, if you could just adjust your attitude.

Seiji: I see... You're well prepared.

::page::

Hirokawa: I don't get it. Why would you do such a foolish thing now? Are you really that interested in getting your hands on that video?

{sound f/x pi: quick snatching motion}

Seiji: Yes, it's the only clue that I've been able to find...

Hirokawa: Clue?

Seiji: That's right.

{sound f/x guri: gun pressing into Hirokawa's face}

Hirokawa: ! You bastard!

Seiji: Don't move, or I'll change my aim and shoot.

Hirokawa: St...stop~!

Seiji: Hirokawa-san. I had a younger brother. Fifteen years ago, he went missing. At the time, he was still 10 years old.

Hirokawa: Wh~what does that have to do with me...~

::page::

Seiji: He's shown, you know, on that precious old video of yours... my little brother.

Hirokawa: !!

Seiji: Will you tell me? My little brother... Where is Ryuuta now......!?

Hirokawa: I~I don't know!! He's someone's kid somewhere, I...Ah-gah~

{sound f/x gaki: shoving the gun}

Seiji: WHERE'S RYUUTA!!

Kashima: SEIJI-SA----N~!! DO----N'T~!! DON'T SHOOT, SEIJI-SA----N!!

::page::

Boy: Seiji-niichan

Seiji: Ryuu...ta...?

Man: Bastard~!!

{sound f/x don: gunfire}

{sound f/x don}

Man: Uwa~

{sound f/x don}

{sound f/x dosha: thud}

Kashima: Dai-san... nice aim.

{sound f/x kiin: Kashima's ears ringing}

Mahori: Hiyodori Station's Jigen Daisuke. That's me. Nobody move! It's the police!!

Kashima: Seiji-san!

Hirokawa: [shrieking]

::page::

Seiji: Tora...huh... I thought you were Ryuuta...

{sound f/x yura: Seiji swaying}

Kashima: SEIJI-SAN!!

Mahori: Did he take a hit!? Tora, don't shake him. Lay him quietly on his side!!

Kashima: No, noo~ Seiji-san~ Seiji-san!!

Seiji: Don't worry... It just grazed my stomach a bit. When I saw your face, I spaced out for a bit.

Kashima: Really!? But you're bleeding so much, what should I do~

Mahori: Stop the bleeding, you idiot~!

Seiji: I was so close, huh. Just a little further and I would have killed that pervert. Why did you have to stick you nose in, huh Tora.

Kashima: You can't become a killer, Seiji-san!!

::page::

Kashima: You're someone who'd sacrifice himself to save his friends! You're a kind person! You can't become a killer!!

Seiji: Mm...thank you for stopping me.

{sound f/x piipoo: ambulance siren}

{sound f/x fan: cars coming to a halt}

{sound f/x ki: car doors opening}

Sagara: Mahori!!

Mahori: Oh, the calvary arrives.

Sagara: You didn't shoot, did you!?

Mahori: It was an emergency measure.

Sagara: You fired!? You idiot!!

Kashima: Seiji-san, I'll go with you...

Seiji: I'm fine. It's really okay, so you go home.

Kashima: ...Later on, I heard that to get back his missing little brother, and for those children that had the same things happen to them, Seiji-san wanted to blame Hirokawa...

::page::

Kashima: Seiji-san's feelings for me were his deep feelings for his lost little brother... and so he loved me more than anyone else, just like I was his real brother.

Mahori: Tora, let's go home.

Kashima: Huh? Yeah, but we have to take in the suspects...

Mahori: Headquarters can do that. But if we don't hurry up and run away...

Kashima: Run away?

Sagara: It's no use, even if you run away in the confusion, you two!

Kashima: Sagara-san.

{sound f/x giku: Mahori's shock}

Sagara: It would be better if you would understand my hardships a little bit.

Mahori: No~~~~ That's a bit...

Kashima: (Is he mad about something?)

::page::

Mahori: We'll restrain ourselves! Let's go, Tora!

Sagara: Wait~ hold on!!

Kashima: Ah... wait, Dai-san! Huh? This feeling.

Mahori: Tora~ hurry up!

Kashima: I feel like I was doing the same thing this morning... Ahh, that's right, it's the same as my dream...

Mahori: If they catch us, they'll make us do work at headquarters until morning! C'mon~

Kashima: The shadow that waited for me.

Mahori: Hurry up, let's go!

Kashima: The hand that reached out for me... was right here.

::page::

The next day----

Kashima & Mahori: p... PAY CUT------~!?

Chief: Well, it's a natural punishment. (Hmph!) Today, I recieved the orders for reassignment from the personnel office. Get your things together.

Kashima: Hold on just a minute! The only one who shot was Dai-san!?

Mahori: Ah~ Tora~ you bastard, you planning on running away from responsibility by yourself!?

Kawai: Chief~~~~ I arrested some young men running an illegal street booth.

Chief: Ah-- good work.

Kawai: Kashima-kun, if you've got some free time, help me out. There's too many of them, so the paperwork's a pain. Okay, I'll give you this guy.

Kashima: I'm in the middle of an important conversation! "Give me"... Maki-san!!

Young Man #1: AH------~!!

Kashima: !?

::page::

Kashima: H...uh? I recognize you... You're definitely from the South Osaka gang...

Young Man #1: ...ro...~ ROKKOU NO TORA!!

[Rokkou is a mountain that overlooks Kashima's hometown of Kobe. One of the famous baseball teams in the Kansai region of Japan are the Hanshin Tigers (in Japanese, Tiger means tora). The Tiger's fight song is popularly called Rokkou Oroshi. Basically, this nickname translates as "The Rokkou Tiger", but it also refers to baseball, as well.]

Kawai: Rokkou no...

Mahori: Tora...?

Young Man #2: What, you know this guy?

Young Man #1: YOU MORON----~! HE'S THE LEGENDARY SPECIAL FORCE FROM BASARAKI, "ROKKOU NO TORA"!!

Young Man #2: HUH~!? THAT WILD GUY WHO SINGLE HANDEDLY ANNIHILATED THE SOUTH OSAKA GANG!?

Young Man #1: THAT'S RIGHT! THEY SAY THAT EVEN WEEDS WON'T GROW WHEN HE'S DONE RAMPAGING, THAT LEGENDARY MAN!!

Mahori: Annihilated... the gang...

Kawai: Legendary man...

::page::

Young Man #1: WHAT IS HE DOING HERE--~ SCARY--~ LET'S GO HOME~ LEMME GO HOME----~ [shrieking]

Kashima: Ah... Ah... Um... That's wrong, that I did it... When I goofed up and was caught by them, Seiji-san really blew up...

Seiji: (TORA--~ TORA--~ WHERE ARE YOU--~ IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO TORA, I'LL KILL ALL OF YOU!!)

Kashima: He kept calling out, "Tora".

Seiji: (Tora, you're okay now, don't be scared.)

{sound f/x hishi: giant hug}

Basaraki Member: (Boss, all by yourself...)

Kashima: And so I guess this weird rumor spread all over...

Mahori: And so...

Kawai: Rokkou no Tora...

Kashima: I really didn't do anything.

{sound f/x bufu buha: loud laughing}

Kashima: Huh...

::page::

Kawai: RO...ROKKOU NO TORA THEY SAY!! BUT THERE'S NOTHING EVEN CLOSE TO ROKKOU ABOUT YOU----~ THAT'S HORRIBLE----~ IT'S THE BEST~!! (GYAHAHAHA Oh stop--~ It's painful--~)

Kashima: It...~

Mahori: [wheezing] Tora~ It's too much like you! The gang's mascot boy!!

Kashima: IT'S NOT THAT FUNNY~!!

Chief: He-y, the notice came in. Detective Mahori and Officer Kashima have been transfered to the traffic department~~~~

Mahori: Uh...~ Nooo~~~~ way...

Just like it's difficult to do the right thing

Kashima: "Stop your illegal parking----~ You'd better not ride there----~"

Mahori: "Hiyodori no Tora", now isn't that kinda cute? We'll make you really popular.

{sound f/x buroro: roar of the police car}

The road to becoming a prominent detective is long and steep.

Kashima: "I don't want to be popular for that----~!! Uwa----n you bully----~!!"

Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4