Nishi Ichibangai Shady Job (西一番街ブラックバイト, Nishī Ichibangai Burakku Baito) is the 2nd episode to the IWGP Anime.
Summary[]
A new gang known as the Red Angels have made their way into Ikebukuro, lead by the charismatic Kyōichi Ozaki. Although they're perceived as another gang in the city, they have unscrupulous ties to a shady restaurant chain.
Plot[]
Kyōichi Ozaki puts on a shirtless ballet performance in front of a live audience, where Makoto was also in attendance. The performance put on by Kyōichi captivates the audience and would act as a wedge that would divert the G-Boys influence in Ikebukuro.
At a back alley behind the restaurant chain known as Ok Curry; a man named Mitsuki Fujimoto is chastised by his employers for his incompetence. Inside the restaurant, Takashi and Makoto are on a reconnaissance mission. Apparently, the restaurant has dark secrets including working their employees to the bone on paltry paid and their connection with the Red Angels. It's then that a young man by the name of Masaru approaches Makoto and Takashi's table.
Later at the Global Ring, Masaru discloses to, Makoto, Takashi, and Hiroto about Mitsuki being reprimanded by the MP. The MP is known as the Military Police who go from store to store disciplining insubordinate employees. Why Mitsuki was being punished is because he was 5 minutes late to work. Detailed by Takashi, 20 of the employees working at OK including Masaru are in the G-Boys. When employees talk about fighting back with fighting force, the MP doesn't handle it, but another group of "violent punks" appear and issue threats. It's suspected that Kyōichi and his group are the alternative muscle behind the OK Curry enforcement team. Although Takashi is ok with the gang appearing in Ikebukuro, he's not ok with them being involved with a "sweatshop" and harms his G-Boys members. Therefore, Takashi assigns Makoto to find incriminating evidence against the group.
With Takashi and Hiroto out of the picture, Masaru recounts to Makoto about when a co-worker of his was beaten in an alleyway. At that time, he was walking home with the person who threatened to sue OK Curry for being overworked and underpaid. Right after they go their separate ways, Masaru hears some noise coming from the alleyway his co-worker went down and goes to check it out. From there he sees four metal baseball bat-wielding assailants, one of whom wore a skull ring. After this incident, the co-worker quit and never filed a law-suit. With no concrete evidence that connects the company to the attack, it was ruled as an unrelated random attack. Eventually, Masaru and Makoto go for a walk to check out the Red Angels and are confronted by a large number of members associated with the group. A man stops the group from going wild and informs them that their leader Kyōichi isn't there. In light of this, Makoto and Masaru leave the area.
Afterward, Makoto and Masaru hear that an employee of OK Curry is going to jump off a building. On the scene is Yoshioka along with two fellow police officer who tries to negotiate with the jumper, who is Mitsuki. Denouncing his life as a whole because he's not fit for society or his company, Makoto has Masaru try and reason with him. However, upon seeing the MP from OK Curry, Mitsuki still jumps off the building, but is rescued at the nick of time. After Mitsuki is taken away by an ambulance, Masaru details his resolve to make OK Curry their crimes.
Eventually, Makoto learns that Masaru was attacked by five assailants, and he along with Takashi and Hiroto visits him and Mitsuki at the hospital. Mitsuki confines his insecurities to the group, how working at OK Curry made him realizes his major flaws making him feel inadequate for society. Just as Masaru suggests that Mitsuki join the group, Kyōichi, and his group enters the room. Although it looks like the start of an altercation between the two parties, Tomomi once again stops them. Makoto recognizes and Tomomi details to Kyōichi that Makoto tried to visit him the other day. Amused, Kyōichi by Tomomi's statement, Kyōichi then turns his attention to Takashi who then reveals that Mitsuki is a member of his gang.
At Nao Ramen, Makoto and Takashi discuss business with Kyōichi and Tomomi. Both sides believed the other was responsible for the incidents involving OK Curry, however, this was false. It's speculated that OK Curry deliberately did this so the company could take advantage of their employees.
Sometime later, Makoto and Masaru attend a press conference held by OK Curry's president Ohki. During it, Masaru and Makoto call out the president for their labor abuse. That night Masaru is confronted by five assailants who are sequentially surrounded by members of the G-Boys and Red Angels. The assailants' names are revealed they're taken out by Takashi, Hiroto, Kyōichi, and a team effort of Mitsuki and Masaru.
Time passes by and the MPs of OK Curry were arrested and the president was hospitalized for an illness and has a big lawsuit on his hands. Tomomi also introduces himself to Makoto and Takashi; he also gives Makoto a trinket that'll allow him access to any Red Angel meeting. Although there's still a bit of tension between the two gangs, they decided to coexist in Ikeburo.