Original subtitles

They got Serizawa?

I can't believe it.

They say assassins snuck in.

Serizawa-sensei!

All of this while I was away in Osaka.

Taro, say your farewells.

Sensei. I never got to repay all I owed you.

Sincerity

Today is a sad day.

We must bid farewell to our beloved Serizawa-sensei.

As our first supreme commander,

he devoted himself to establishing the Miburo.

All of us loved him for his greatness, and he always led from the front.

Think of all he did for the people of Kyoto,

and how secure he made them feel.

I never dreamed he would fall to an assassin's blade.

Nice work, Yamanami-san.

No, he isn't reading the speech I prepared for him.

Kondo-san must be speaking from the heart.

Those of us left behind shall carry on Serizawa-sensei's will,

and redouble our efforts in pursuit of our mission

to defend Kyoto as loyal and patriotic samurai.

If you're not feeling well, go rest out back.

There's only the burial left.

Taro-kun.

The Miburo aren't what you want us to be anymore.

I know you see that.

Blue Miburo

It appears the rainstorm has washed away the summer.

I made our report to the magistrate. And I've explained things to Aizu.

It's all going to plan.

Kondo-san.

Yes?

Here's Serizawa's coat. Put it on.

I can't wear that.

I'll shoulder the burden of the Miburo without it.

Did you finish him off?

We need to talk about that.

Hajime?

Tell me, too.

What happened that night?

Kondo-san.

So that's how it happened.

I see. That explains a lot.

Okay. I'm done here.

Hajime.

How is Taro?

The way Serizawa died... It has to bother him.

What if he thinks of following his master?

We're not kids anymore. He's not that fragile.

Is that so?

I bet he holds a grudge against me.

You're used to playing the bad guy.

Toshi.

Nio might decide to leave us.

If he does—

Kondo-san.

I drew him into the Miburo.

I'll look after him to the end. Whatever it takes.

Serizawa Kamo simply loomed too large.

After that, the Miburo changed.

First, we cut down a Choshu spy hiding in our ranks.

Then, we cut down a few more.

To put our enemies off guard,

we even stooped to cruel tricks.

Hijikata-san.

The way we're doing things isn't right.

Have the Miburo turned their backs on the banner of sincerity?

Sincerity is about our attitude, not our methods.

If this is how it's going to be, we should have kept Serizawa-san around.

If we show weakness, our organization will weaken.

We need to root out their kind, whatever it takes.

Nio, it seems I've been a little too soft on you.

I won't treat you like a child anymore.

I'll put you to any use I can.

I won't let you control me.

Are you certain?

It's fine by me.

That's awful!

You said losing's nothing to be ashamed of, Nagakura-sensei,

but that Serizawa guy died, and the Miburo still changed, right?

That's just the worst!

Yes, you may be right about that.

But you know...

Some people were able to change because of a man who lost.

Hajime-kun.

How'd your job go?

I don't feel sorry for you.

That's just how it is.

If this is enough to keep you down, you weren't worth much anyway.

If you can't take it, sleep it off.

What are you moping for? Stand proud!

Enough gloom and doom! Laugh! Smile!

Serizawa-san.

Taro-kun.

Nio, I heard.

You finished off Serizawa-sensei, didn't you?

I'm so—

Don't apologize.

I bet he asked you to do it, right?

I didn't even manage to make it to him.

I didn't have the strength.

Anyway, he was too big.

I could never wrap my head around him.

Serizawa Kamo died.

He's gone now.

I've accepted that and made my peace with it.

Even so, it's hard to live with sometimes.

But I realized I can't keep crying forever.

I decided I'd smile tomorrow.

And today's the "tomorrow" I meant.

You smile, too, Nio.

Why?

Why are you treating me the same as always?

It can't be that easy to accept.

It's not easy.

It wasn't easy.

But...

But what?

Forget it. We have work to do.

Hurry up and get ready. Meet at the Gojo embankment.

Nio, do you have a moment?

Nagakura-san?

Nio!

Over here!

Taro-kun!

Look. Right here.

Oh, right. Because of the rainstorm.

Hey!

Yeah. They're shorthanded.

Get a move on!

Carry those sandbags!

We need more people!

Damn. This is heavy.

Oh, it's Hajime! So he did show up!

Hajime-kun did that?

Yes.

I heard about what transpired with Serizawa as well.

Hajime told Taro the truth,

and pleaded with him on your behalf.

Ugh. We're gonna get filthy doing this.

Taro tried hard to drive him off, but he persisted.

And he's just come from dispatching Mikura, another spy.

That may have been his first kill.

Perhaps he couldn't stand to let you bear the burden alone.

One never knows what's making a person bleed on the inside.

You're different from sworn brothers who drink from the same cup.

Hey! You guys!

Yikes. He spotted us.

What are you standing around for? Come pitch in!

Come on, Nio.

Right.

I suppose being able to shed blood for someone outside your family...

is proof of a true friendship.

Th-This sure is heavy.

Okay, I'll handle filling the cracks in with dirt.

Hey! Don't give yourself the easy job!

Oh, right. Fujimoto-san and his friends say they're quitting the Miburo.

Well, those guys were always tagging along with Serizawa-san.

Wait, you're not thinking of leaving with them, are you?

If you try to tell me the Miburo's over without Serizawa-san or—

The Miburo isn't over yet.

We have the only true samurai under the sun. Serizawa-san said so.

Kondo, you mean?

Yup. He said the Miburo was safe with him.

Was it cool the way Serizawa-san went out?

Yeah. The coolest.

I see.

Remember how you told me people have souls that one time?

Yeah.

What happens to our souls when we die?

Do they go to live in plants?

Or fly up into the sky and turn into birds?

I'm sorry.

I know what I told you back then, but I don't know.

Still, I do believe in souls.

When they fought, I got the feeling...

that Kondo-san's and Serizawa-san's two souls touched.

Serizawa-san told me I've got it right.

I want to save people who are weak or in need.

My mind's made up.

I'm going to work in the Miburo under Kondo-san.

The one Serizawa-san left us.

Yeah?

That's a relief.

I've got something I want to say, too.

Tanaka?!

Who the hell's that? He just couldn't be assed to think up a decent name.

When I go to hell, I'm gonna make Serizawa-san drink with me again as equals.

As equals?

Listen up.

From now on, my name's Serizawa Taro.

A bit of Serizawa-san's soul might come live in me, right?

I'll have you all calling me Taro-sama one of these days.

I've got something to say, too.

You guys think you beat me, don't you?

I'll admit, I got outplayed this time.

You got me good, Taro.

And Nio, you took on the heaviest responsibility.

You both did better work than I did. There's no denying that.

But that said...

I won't stay beat!

I'll never lose to you guys! Not ever!

Definitely never to you guys.

Hajime.

Hajime-kun.

Hey! What are you laughing at?

Gimme a break.

I can't get over how goofy your bangs look.

You're the one who cut them, jackass!

Hajime-kun, calm down!

Let go! Hey! Hands off, Nio!

You lost. You've got to admit it.

Bring it, Nio.

Serizawa's soul is possessing him.

Show some respect for the dead.

Even Serizawa didn't laugh that much.

I figured you'd come to check on them, too, Nagakura-san.

Soji.

It looks like they'll get themselves sorted out before the Miburo does.

Those who form bonds with their hearts are more honest. They don't mind appearances.

Damn it, Serizawa! Get down here and possess me, too!

Seriously, cut it out!

This world is cruel.

Everyone is fighting,

each in our own place,

with our own burdens to bear.

Sometimes, cutting someone down.

Sometimes, making heartless decisions.

But we fight on amid the rush of the times.

But if we keep wandering and fighting long enough,

salvation is surely out there somewhere.

All I can do now is believe that and forge ahead.

Hirayama Goro

Serizawa Kamo

They erected a grave for Serizawa-san and Hirayama-san here at Mibu Temple.

So they're Miburo even in death?

Well, I guess that kind of fits them.

Yeah.

Still, we've lost a lot of men, even though we're still recruiting.

I wouldn't be too sure about that.

So this is where the great samurai Serizawa-dono dwelt?

I, Tanisaburo, a spear master with a thousand koku,

have led my followers to Mibu to join your fight.

I guess that's our inheritance from Serizawa.

Nio, I'm back!

You remember me. Fukurokoji!

I sure kept you all waiting, huh?

Who?

No idea.

You haven't seen the last of me!

Remember that!

Fukurokoji-san!

Look at my head.

I'll show you the might of the great Fukurokoji, reborn in body and spirit.

You can't be that great if your looks change who you are inside.

Where'd that spite come from?

What happened to "Mr. Nice Guy" Nio?

I know it's what the Lord of Aizu wants,

but I can't believe we're even changing the Mibu Roshigumi's name.

Toshi.

I will carry on the Miburo that Serizawa-san created.

Its name makes no difference.

Take it.

This white coat of Serizawa's will be the proof of your commitment.

I told you I will not wear it.

My resolve will be no less firm without that coat.

Wh-What are you doing?

You can't do it alone. You don't have his madness.

I'll wear this one sleeve.

Count on me to hold up one arm of the Miburo.

I'll do the things you can't.

Please do.

Let's go.

Who brought the defining element to that group?

Ideals and philosophy were merely decoration.

Religion, law, duty, and purpose were no more definitive.

Perhaps any leader would have sufficed.

Our guiding hand could be replaced,

and however many legs bore us, I've no doubt we'd have kept moving forward.

The likes of our strange band had not been seen before nor since.

Only its soul was one of a kind.

Its name: the Shinsengumi.

Song of Beginnings

This is a story of souls.

Souls travel in spirals.

Even if someone dear to you passes away someday, maybe...

Iori!

We're in trouble, Iori!

The kids from the next village over are invading!

Don't just kneel there spacing out, Iori.

Tsuguji.

I need your help.

But this turtle...

It can wait! Leave it!

There they are! Over there!

Look! Here they come!

Let's get 'em!

Come on!

Right.

Let's give 'em hell!

This is a story of souls that are passed down.