Akane-banashi #4

Volume 4 of Yuki Suenaga and Takamasa Moue's *Akane-banashi* delivers another striking cover that captures the series' charged atmosphere perfectly — a young girl in a school uniform clutches what appears to be a wooden tool, her wide eyes steady despite the two imposing, sharp-featured older men looming large behind her against a vivid red backdrop. The contrast between her quiet determination and the calculating expressions of the figures towering over her says everything about the kind of high-stakes world this manga inhabits. If you've been following this passionate rakugo drama from Viz's 2024 lineup, this volume's cover alone makes a compelling case to keep turning pages.