Halt! Tenma's on the Case - 5: If I Had Been Faster

Hiori Jidaigeki Studio Park

1

Tsukasa

Luka and Emu have been gone for quite a while now. What do you think they're doing...?

2

Nene

No idea...

Sound Effect: Play

3

Tsukasa

A call...? It's Emu!

4

Emu's Voice

<Hello?! Can you guys hear me?>

5

Luka's Voice

<Can you all guess where we are right now?>

6

Tsukasa

Where?
How do you expect us to...?

7

Emu's Voice

<Look, you guys! Up here!>

8

Nene

Oh, there!

9

Rui

...!
Ah, the fire tower!

10

Emu

Hehe. I asked the operations staff and got special permission to climb up! This should make it a lot easier to find our ninja thief!

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

11

Tsukasa's Voice

<Right! Being able to see from up high should make things much easier... What a great idea!>

12

Nene's Voice

<And you're the best person for this since your vision's so good.>

13

Luka

<Oh, I think I already see someone fitting the description you gave me.>

14

Luka

<Can you see him, Emu?
The ninja standing out in front of that soba shop.>

15

Emu

Yeah!
Oh, I see a couple more outside the archery range and trick house!

16

Emu

Can you guys go take a look?!

17

Luka

<Let's all work together to catch this ninja thief♪>

18

Tsukasa

Yes, we'll go take a look!

19

Rui

We can even ask everyone in Mikazukigumi for their help with this plan.

20

Rui

Let's contact Mr. Kijima and start looking together.

21

Tsukasa & Nene

Okay!
Yeah!

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

Sound Effect: Play

22

Nene

(In front of the soba shop...
Oh, that must be him!)

23

Nene

E-Excuse me!
Would you mind if I asked you a couple questions?

24

Ninja A

Huh? Uh, sure.
How can I help you?

25

Children in Ninja Outfits

Eat my shuriken!!!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

26

Nene

Huh?! Wh-Wh-What's going on?!

27

Ninja A

H-Hey, stop that!
Didn't I tell you not to throw those at anyone?! You almost hit this young lady!

28

Children in Ninja Outfits

We're sorry.
But you should practice throwing these with us, Dad!

29

Ninja A

Okay, okay! In a little bit!
Sorry, you wanted to ask me something...?

30

Nene

Oh, um... So...

31

Nene

(I really doubt a busy dad like him is our thief...)

32

Rui

(Okay, I'm outside the archery range...
But I'm not seeing anyone dressed as a ninja...)

33

Ninja B

Heh heh heh...

34

Rui

...?!
That person's snickering very suspiciously...!

35

Ninja B

Trespasser! Do not think that you will be able to leave the ninja village alive! Take this!

Sound Effect: Play

36

Rui

A smoke bomb...?!
No, it's only meant to look like one...!

37

Ninja B

I am the shadow that protects this village!
And I shall fell all those who dare intrude!

Sound Effect: Play

38

Guests

Whoa! This is so cool!

39

Rui

Hmm...
I'm not seeing any scars on his right hand, so he must just be a regular cast member.

40

Rui

But his acting was superb!
He even produced that smoke at just the right time... I should stay and ask him more about his performance...!

Sound Effect: Play

Sound Effect: Play

41

Tsukasa

Alright, I'm at the trick house...!

42

Tsukasa

Now, where is he...?
If he went inside, that's going to complicate things...

Sound Effect: Play

43

Tsukasa

(Hm?!
Perfect! That one's walking right towards me!)

44

Tsukasa

(Okay, I need to hear what he sounds like...)

45

Ninja C

...!!!

46

Tsukasa

Hm?

47

Tsukasa

(He's suddenly antsy after taking one look at me...)

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

48

Tsukasa

Sorry!!! Excuse me!!!

49

Ninja C

Y-Yes...?!

50

Ninja C

C-Can I help you...?!

51

Tsukasa

(He seems incredibly nervous...
On top of his voice becoming squeaky, he's begun sweating quite a bit.)

52

Tsukasa

(He isn't carrying that pot with him, but I'm inclined to think...)

53

Tsukasa

This may sound like a strange question...

54

Tsukasa

But would you mind showing me your right hand?

55

Ninja C

...

56

Tsukasa

...

Sound Effect: Play

57

Tsukasa

What?! He's running!

58

Tsukasa

I finally found you, thief!!!!
Stop!!!

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

59

Tsukasa

Oh, I should let Mr. Kijima and the others know... Alright, the chase is on!!!

Sound Effect: Play

Sound Effect: Play

Sound Effect: Play

60

Tsukasa

(Darn it...!
I should've grabbed his wrist or something first!)

61

Tsukasa

(But compared to last time, the gap between us is smaller!)

62

Tsukasa

(And it's walled off up ahead!
That means I should be able to catch him!!!)

63

Tsukasa

Stop right theeere!!!!

64

Guests

Wow, cool.
It's like a real police chase.

65

Guests

They're both so fast.

66

Children

You can do it!!!

67

Tsukasa

(Alright, just a little bit more to go...!
I'll chase him into that corner and...)

Sound Effect: Play

68

Shady Man in Ninja Outfit

Hup...!

Sound Effect: Play

69

Tsukasa

Huh...?!

70

Tsukasa

(He's launching himself higher by kicking the wall...! This technique...!)

71

Tsukasa

He's wall jumping...!!!

Sound Effect: Play

Sound Effect: Play

72

Tsukasa

(That sound...
He must've landed on the other side of this wall and ran off...)

73

Tsukasa

...

74

Tsukasa

Blast it...! I let him go again...!!!

75

Tsukasa

(I was so close...!)

76

Tsukasa

(But I still wasn't able to catch him...
He was right in front of me, but I let him escape once more.)

77

Tsukasa

(If only I could run a little faster...)

78

Tsukasa

(If only I'd been able to perfect my wall jumping technique... Then I might've been able to catch him!)

79

Tsukasa

Honestly, I'm such a...

80

???

Tenma!!!

81

Tsukasa

Huh? That sounded like...

Sound Effect: Play

82

Tsukasa

Mr. Kijima! You're here already?!

83

Kijima

I saw you chasing after that ninja just now. I decided to run after the two of you...

84

Kijima

But I guess I was too late. I'm sorry...

85

Tsukasa

No, I should be the one apologizing...
I let him escape again...

86

Kijima

Don't apologize!
I'm impressed that you got as close as you did.

87

Kijima

Also, some of the troupe members should be searching on the other side of that wall. I'll let them know to keep me posted about any suspicious-looking ninjas.

88

Tsukasa

Okay...

89

Kijima

...
Is everything okay, Tenma? Are you hurt at all?

90

Tsukasa

Oh, no, I'm not hurt. It's just...

91

Tsukasa

I feel so worthless right now...

92

Tsukasa

I let him escape not just once, but twice. I had him in my sights.

93

Tsukasa

After doing all that training to become as agile as Heihachi too... Honestly, I'm such a...

94

Kijima

...

95

Kijima

Alright, I understand.

96

Tsukasa

Huh?
Understand what...?

97

Kijima

Tenma!!!

98

Kijima

You're coming with me! Right now!

99

Tsukasa

What...?!

Next Chapter: Up Against a Wall