Episode Title:
Unnecessary Deliberation.
Episode Description:
In Matsushima, Yojiro and Kakunojo stay at a temple owned by Kazunao Sainen. Enomoto has locked himself inside a room in the Kaiyō Maru. On September 1, fourth year of Keiō, Hijikata attends a council of war at Aoba Castle in Sendai with representatives of the alliance provinces, who are on the verge of dissolution due to the attacks by the New Government Army. Sotetsu is impressed when Hijikata scolds the other representatives for surrendering so easily. Yojiro remembers when Enomoto was first possessed by the soul of Lord Awa after the clay pot was destroyed, but Kakunojo finds him, saying that the scenery outside is beautiful. Although Yojiro believes that Kakunojo should not share his path, Kakunojo believes that they have already been on the same path since their first encounter. A desperate Kakunojo retrieves her sword from the temple and challenges Yojiro to a duel in hopes of reaching an understanding. Meanwhile, the elite British soldiers sneak abroad the Kaiyō Maru, but Enomoto scares them away with cannons. Hijikata confronts Sotetsu during this time when Sotetsu states that Tokugawa will fall, but Hijikata agrees to join the fleet after hearing the cannons in the distance.
