Suzu.While Tetsu goes shopping with Tatsu at a marketplace, Tetsu slips away to a sword shop, where he witnesses a customer purchasing a sword. When Tetsu comes across a short sword, a white-haired boy, later recognized as Suzu Kitamura, tries to grab for it as well. The two stir up commotion from outside, and the customer becomes irritated. Reluctantly, Tatsu subdues both Tetsu and Suzu, repeatedly begging the customer for forgiveness of their behavior. After the customer leaves the shop, Suzu departs shortly thereafter. Though Hijikata is upset that the martial arts competition took place during his leave, Kondō recalls to him of how and when the Shinsengumi was first established. Suzu, serving as a page under Yoshida, is told that he would be distracted in combat if he ponders who he will truly become. Tetsu is desperate to have his own sword, but Hijikata declines the request. However, when Okita talks with Hijikata, it is implied that the former had received his sword at nine years old, seemingly as a regretful mistake. Susumu comes across three female ronin, evading them by jumping into a riverbank from a bridge.