Kyoto Bloodshed Hotel (ザ
Summary[]
As Hiruhiko ties his hair back, he questions Toto on the veracity of whether Chihiro was alive. Toto confirms it, having seen him protecting Iori. Hiruhiko stands in place and trembles for a moment, Toto wondering if he is crying, before Hiruhiko returns to preparing, now invigorated by the excitement of being able to meet his 'friend' again and preparing to defeat and question the hotel staff. Toto asks if he needs assistance but Hiruhiko refuses. Several nearby yakuza groups move to stand and draw their katana, though Sengoku's yell causes them to sit back down, wary of his presence.
Sengoku then walks out from behind his stand towards the two Hishaku members. Toto recognises that while the staff consist of a range of skill levels, the General Manager Sengoku, with over 50 disciples, would be the biggest threat. Sengoku recognises the Hishaku emblem on Toto's hand and thus acknowledges their strength. Hiruhiko asks why Sengoku still approaches alone, and Sengoku states he represents the history of the sword style passed down with the Kyoto Bloodshed Hotel; the Reigen One-Sword Style.
Sengoku leaps forward and slashes down at Hiruhiko, who blocks hastily and realises in slight panic the weight of Sengoku's swing. To the side, a watching Toto and ponders that while Hiruhiko's skill with sorcery was great, his sword technique and experience were lacking, making his current matchup against an experienced sorcerer out of his favour. Hiruhiko blocks Sengoku's next upward slash with difficulty, realising that with his current ability he wouldn't be anywhere near Chihiro's level the next time they fought.
Sengoku lunges in with blade and arm, proclaiming Hiruhiko will be subsumed by 150 years of history. Hiruhiko still has his blade held aloft in his right arm behind him, and in a split-second reaction drops the blade while moving his head to the left to dodge Sengoku's strike, grabbing the blade with his left hand and slashes it horizontally towards Sengoku's outstretched arm. Sengoku and Hiruhiko land opposite each other from the momentum as Toto nervously asks if Hiruhiko really doesn't need any help. Hiruhiko declines again, instead insisting his opposition attack him all at once. The staff are surprised by Hiruhiko's confidence, only to see the result of Hiruhiko's attack; Sengoku's severed left arm falling onto the ground.
The staff are aghast and Toto is amazed while Sengoku neutrally observes his injury, recalling Hiruhiko's tactic as an extremely unconventional move that he couldn't predict. Sengoku asks Hiruhiko who he studies under, and Hiruhiko refuses the notion entirely, instead calling himself a student of freedom. Sengoku's eyes narrow as he insists Hiruhiko will not gain another advantage.
Upstairs, Iori wakes up with Chihiro in the room, and Iori asks Chihiro for the time. Chihiro replies it is the dawn of the 14th of November, and the Masumi were on the roof preparing the final stages of the seal. Iori asks whether Chihiro had been in the room the entire night, Chihiro responding that he had traded places with the Masumi in order to train, having practised sword techniques on his own and learnt battle techniques from the Masumi. Bewildered by Chihiro's complete nonchalance with violence, Iori asks if they are the same age (to which Chihiro replies in the affirmative) and asks if Chihiro has gone to school (to which he replies in the negative).
Iori realises Chihiro has been inundated in battles during a time when her and her friends' most pressing conflicts were stealing each others' desserts and comparing test scores, noting she misses them. Having remembered much of her not-ideal past, Iori voices that she now knows she can't go back to school again if she were to choose to remember. Seeing her inner conflict, Chihiro reveals he is the son of Kunishige Rokuhira, comparing their similar circumstances of children of war veterans. He admits he had the idea that living with the truth would be better even if it were painful, but has realised his line of thinking should not have impact on her decision, emphasising it is ultimately Iori's choice.
The doorbell suddenly rings and a man enters with a knife, Chihiro quickly knocking him to the ground and interrogating him. The man reveals someone had called his room promising money if he were to attack the room, just as every door in the hallway opens and armed yakuza prepare to attack. Shutting the door and telling Iori to stay inside, Chihiro quickly makes short work of the yakuza, Iori partially witnessing the bloody scene through the peephole. Chihiro calls out to Iori that it was safe, and Iori is visually discomforted by the sight of so many corpses, asking if Chihiro was scared. Chihiro internally chides his blade work for not being at the level he expected yet and tells Iori the yakuza weren't strong, but with more on the way they should leave for the roof fast.
Iori hesitantly clarifies that she meant to ask if Chihiro was scared of killing people, and Chihiro slowly replies that he wasn't, and that's why his situation was different from hers; he only had a life of violence left to live, whereas she had a choice; live with the truth or live in peace. As he presses the elevator button to go up, Chihiro is adamant that there is no 'wrong' decision, only what Iori wants. After nervously considering, Iori states she wants to return to her peaceful life. The elevator door then opens to reveal Hiruhiko standing with Sengoku's severed head in his hand. Hiruhiko grins and states he's ready to fight Chihiro while Chihiro reassures a terrified Iori that he will ensure that Iori can go back to her life.
Quick References[]
Chapter Notes[]
- Hiruhiko fights Sengoku and realises the importance of blade technique.
- After initially being overwhelmed by Sengoku's attacks, Hiruhiko develops his own technique on the spot, using hard-to-predict movements to sever Sengoku's left arm.
- At dawn on the 14th of November, Iori wakes up.
- Chihiro tells her of his lineage as the son of Kunishige Rokuhira and Iori discovers Chihiro has lived a life of violence for some time.
- Yakuza from the hallway attack the room and Chihiro kills them before escorting Iori to the elevator to head to the roof.
- Along the way, Iori decides that she wants to return to her civilian life and forget the truth.
- Hiruhiko is within the elevator and is holding the severed head of Sengoku; he claims he is ready to fight Chihiro.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Author's Comment[]
| Author Comment | |
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Takeru Hokazono |
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