Original subtitles

The cavalry's here!

Don't kill them! Don't draw your swords!

Easier said than done. They're not backing down.

Taro! Where are you? Say something!

S-Stop.

They'll kill us all.

Sir Kondo!

Kindly stop this...

Serizawa-san.

This way.

Nio.

Are you trying to get in my way, Kondo?!

You want a piece of me?!

All of you, stay your weapons!

It's over.

You think we'll just leave? We've lost a bunch of guys here!

Yes. I am sorry to see that.

You...

You're gonna be more than sorry!

Is there a leader among you?

Anyone will do! Who ranks highest in your stable?

No such luck? I see.

I will take responsibility for bringing this matter to the magistrate's office.

I would like you to bring your leader as well.

We will settle this there.

If that does not satisfy you and you desire a duel,

I, Kondo Isami, will be your opponent.

Blue Miburo

Thank you.

Start by treating the wounded!

Friend and foe alike.

If you can help, do so!

He spoiled the mood.

What would've happened if they'd kept going?

The only one who can stop Serizawa when he loses control...

is that man, Kondo Isami.

The last thing we want is infighting.

Four dead, I see.

No, five, if you count the first man he cut down.

We will deliver the bodies respectfully.

I would like someone to tell me how this happened.

Basically, it kind of went like this...

I see.

So the first fight was over who would give way on the street.

What?

I have the broad strokes.

Nio, we're going to the magistrate's office.

Yamazaki-kun, lead the way.

Yes, sir.

I will do my best, but prepare to face the consequences, Serizawa-san.

Fine by me.

What do you think will happen to Serizawa-san?

He won't get off easy, that's for sure.

Nio.

I realize you want to side with the weak and downtrodden,

but I will tell the truth.

The authorities will decide what follows.

Listen...

Hey!

W-Wait! Wait a sec!

Taro-kun?

It wasn't like that.

What wasn't?

H-He didn't kill him just for being rude.

S-Sorry. I wasn't looking.

Who's this smelly brat?

He stinks like a gutter.

I'm sayin' you stink.

Serizawa-sensei.

Oh, is this kid with you?

He's gotta be some beggar boy, right?

What's he doin' wearin' a sword and actin' like a samurai?

I've got a good nose. Clothes don't fool me.

This 'ere ain't a person. It's a trash heap.

A worthless waste of space.

Serizawa-sensei protected me.

He saved my pride.

So please, Kondo-san, save Serizawa-sensei!

I couldn't say it in front of him, but I'm saying it now.

So that's what happened.

Very well.

Thank you for telling us. Go back now and wait.

Let's go.

Indeed.

We can't change what happened.

We'll just have to do what we can.

But who knows if the verdict will be fair?

What do you mean?

I tried to tell you earlier.

The examiner is Uchiyama Hikojiro.

The man who sent debt collectors after your father?

No one who profits off controlling guys like them

wants outsiders running roughshod over his turf.

He might pass a harsh sentence on the Mibu Roshigumi.

Nio.

How well can one man know another's heart?

I don't know. Not for sure.

But I don't think we can ever know anyone unless we make an effort.

I see.

What's your problem? Nothing to call your own?

I'll give you a name, then.

Taro! Tanaka Taro.

Call yourself that from now on.

Don't look so nervous, Onogawa.

You run a sumo stable, don't you?

Y-Yes, sir.

I may be 67 years old, but I still run the magistrate's office.

I'm the hero who arrested the infamous rebel, Oshio Heihachiro.

But only to the public.

What I really like doing is trampling over the weak and tormenting the poor.

Well, that and...

taking samurai bumpkins down a peg.

Kondo Isami of the Mibu Roshigumi.

Uchiyama, I presume?

In the flesh.

I'm Uchiyama Hikojiro, the toughest yoriki around.

I'll judge your case.

Kondo, tell me exactly what happened.

One of his wrestlers showed us disrespect, so we cut him down.

The brawl that ensued...

began when they surrounded our inn and left us with no other choice.

We are in no way at fault.

That is all.

That tells me nothing!

I asked for details!

It is you who misunderstands me.

We only came here to deliver the bodies.

If you insist we are at fault and demand we take responsibility,

then I shall slit my belly here and now.

Wh-Who are these guys?

Or should I slay the two of you and blame it on some outlaw?

I have things I must protect.

To safeguard them, I would become a demon.

Criminals! To arms, men!

Don't move!

You want me dead? Very well.

However...

If you kill me, my comrades will come.

They will attack this magistrate's office and burn it down in short order.

I assume you won't mind.

W-We are...

terribly sorry about this business.

Ah, enough. The Mibu Roshigumi win this round.

That's fine with you, isn't it, Onogawa?

Yes, sir.

I'll consider this settled. Go.

By your leave.

Boy, was I ever tense.

Are you okay?

I'm fine, but not without regrets.

I didn't hold true to the word on my back.

You may have an unexpected gift for acting.

Don't remind me.

I don't have Toshi's wits, nor Yamanami's eloquence.

All I could do was keep pushing.

It was an unseemly approach, and I'm ashamed of it.

Let's look for a chance to make our apologies and reparations to the sumo stable.

Yes. We have done a regrettable thing. I hope we can.

Forgive me, Yamazaki-kun.

You have only just joined the Miburo, and we've cast ourselves as villains.

It's fine.

Still, I should stick to what I'm used to. My shoulders are stiff.

I hope I never have to do anything like that again.

He can say that again.

I'd better think of ways to prevent any more brawls.

Y-You won?!

And you got us off scot-free?!

That's how it worked out.

Indeed.

How did you turn that mess around?

You didn't knock them all out, did you?

Of course not. Kondo-san told them everything.

How did you convince them?

Quite a surprising talent.

Where is Serizawa-san?

He took his buddies out drinking.

I see. I'll go inform him.

Kondo-san.

This is the last time.

I know.

Oh, so that's how it happened.

I thought something was weird. That doesn't sound like Kondo.

I doubt he wanted to do it.

He bent his principles to grant Taro-kun's request.

I think he went after his top priority in the most practical way he knew.

Strange, isn't it?

Are all of the Miburo like him?

No.

Even among us, those two are special.

No penalty?!

How'd you pull that off?

Some mild intimidation.

That's enough! Get going!

Right.

Nio, I trust you can make it back with Taro.

What comes next is between men.

Sake

Yeah! Drink up!

Kondo!

You're still here?

Serizawa-san, would you join me for a drink?

You never drink. I thought you couldn't.

Who wants to drink with a stick-in-the-mud?

Allow me to pay.

Why not?

Sake

Huh?

Sushi

Come in, sirs. I'll make you whatever you want.

I never thought we'd find a sushi stand at this hour.

That's Osaka for you.

Sir, what do you recommend?

I've got fresh sea bream.

Keep it coming, then. For this fellow.

Sea bream costs. Do you have the money?

Well, whatever. I'll pay.

Order what you like.

Let go.

Never.

Let go!

I will not.

Let go!

No.

Fine! I get it!

I will pay for this.

How stubborn can you be? Now we can only afford small fry.

This tastes awful!

Young man, where are you from?

M-My family's in the mountains of Mikawa.

Is that so?

Well, keep at it, and maybe you'll make something of yourself.

Don't slack off.

Y-Yes, sir.

Serizawa-san has a checkered reputation with some, but he has this side to him as well.

That's what wins him friends.

So?

You didn't invite me out here for nothing. What's this about?

Sushi

You go too far.

I realize that man disrespected you. Actually, Taro told me the real reason.

But the rest was out of line.

You had no need to take four lives.

With your skill, you could have settled for knocking a couple of them out.

Drink. I won't answer unless you do.

I couldn't let it go.

I've never been able to stand abuse aimed at me and mine.

I can't help it. It's my nature.

Thank you. I humbly—

Drop the fancy talk. It's embarrassing.

I started speaking this when I first heard of the Mibu Roshigumi.

As a peasant by birth, I wished to be a samurai in spirit, if nothing else.

I'm saying that it doesn't suit you.

All right.

There are those who have doubts about you.

Drink.

Hijikata, right? I can tell.

Please stay out of trouble for a little while.

Nah.

Can a turtle survive without its shell?

Sir Kondo, no one can change how he lives.

Serizawa-san. I like you. I respect you!

H-Huh? What's this now? You're creeping me out.

No one can change the way he lives. You're right about that.

I've admired samurai and done my best to act like one.

That, Sir Kondo, is because you're not a samurai in the true sense.

Yes! So I want to go on working at being my idea of one!

Listen. A samurai is—

I know.

Every samurai has his own way of living. No one else can change or twist that.

But Serizawa-san...

Whatever else you do, please do not stray from the path of humanity.

Anyone can see where those borders lie.

I believe in you, Serizawa-san.

Sir, are you all right?!

Sir Kondo, time to move on!

We're just getting started!

Let's drink the night away!

The sake tastes extra good tonight.

Sir Kondo, we'll try another place.

I've still got more to tell you.

Listen, Sir Kondo, the future of the Miburo is...

I guess neither of them ever came back.

Huh?

They're lying outside!

Are they alive?

Um...

When the pair outside wake up, I have a serious proposal to make.

You want to recruit more men?

Yes. A great many more.

Tell us why.

I think strength in numbers is the best way to overawe the opposition.

Overwhelming force can avoid fighting entirely.

We beat the Risshidan and the Osaka sumos while outnumbered.

Yes.

The Risshidan were one thing,

but don't you think fighting the sumos was pointless?

Strength in numbers to cut down on pointless fights?

This doesn't sound like you, though.

But you know, recruiting a lot of guys at once will cause problems, too.

Of course. I'm sure it will.

It may become harder to maintain order.

We would run the risk of infighting.

We're doing well, I think.

But should we content ourselves to go on like this forever?

To keep Kyoto safe,

we should abandon comfort and march into new territory.

If all of us here set our minds to it, we can succeed.

Sure. Why not?

Let's do it.

I-Is this gonna work?

With that decided, let's make flyers.

And a sign. Who's good at writing?

Oh, fine. I'll write it for you.

No! Anybody but you!

Gather at the Mibu Temple in three days!

The Path of Humanity

Next time

Chirinu Nio here.

To defend Kyoto, the Miburo need to keep moving forward.

So we'll recruit new members.

I'm anxious and excited to see how many people show up.

But one thing bothers me.

Something seems off about Serizawa-san lately, don't you think?

Next time: "A Lone Sheep."

A Lone Sheep