Episode Title:
The Pirate Girl.
Episode Description:
On a clear bright morning, the people of Yamato gather to watch a parade while the kvetching Haku is tasked to clean gutters with a cheerful Kuon helping beside him. Haku’s attention is turned to the sudden appearance of a masked individual, armed with a bow, on a hot pursuit. As Haku questions what he just witnessed, Ukon greets and invites him to his place along with Kuon. They later enjoy their baths and it is revealed Ukon invited the duo earlier in order to bestow them the honour of protecting the capital in his stead. Whilst the inexperienced and laid back Haku wasn’t keen on the proposal, Kuon appeared to be rather level-headed and enthusiastic about the whole ordeal, especially when Ukon pulled out a huge pile of cash in an attempt to encourage the duo. Back at the inn, Haku and Kuon go over their first mission which appears to be ordinary tasks involving carpentry, manning stalls and handling cargos. Haku asserts, instead of having to work, they can live off from the cash Ukon had offered to them earlier. However to his dismay, Kuon reveals that it has all been used up in order to establish a base of their operation at the inn. Nekone joins the conversation and supports Kuon’s decision by adding that staying at an inn like Hakuroukaku guarantees confidentiality and security but in reality, Haku discovers they are there just for the inn’s famous baths. Haku is then given heaps of book in order to learn to read and write and the days pass with him working on his ‘missions’ by day and studying till late at night. He eventually manages to finish all the study materials and Kuon finally allows him to take a day off. The next day, Kuon is approached by Ukon to discuss an urgent matter meanwhile Haku’s day off is interrupted by a mysterious girl who suddenly bumps into him whilst running away from a masked pursuer. Unintentionally, Haku also becomes the target of the pursuer when the girl blatantly affirms her affiliation with Haku who is forced to run away with her as a result. They arrive at an alley and it appears the girl is actually running away from home to live in freedom and that the pursuer was actually sent to retrieve her by her dad. But more importantly, the girl reveals that she is looking to fall in love and forces Haku to assist her. On the other hand, Kuon and Nekone begin to search for a specific person with Rurutie remaining on stand-by at the inn while Haku and the girl begin visiting best spots in the capital for couples. With the sun about to set, Haku and the girl are confronted again by their pursuer but the situation take a turn for the better when Haku jokingly questions the authenticity of the pursuer who refuses to take off his mask and reveal his true intentions for his action. Just then, Kuon and Nekone arrive at the scene which forces the pursuer to take off his mask and reveal his identity as Kiuru, thanks to Nekone’s presence. The group return to the inn and Kiuru reveals that he was tasked to find and retrieve the girl, named Atui, who is actually the princess of Shahhoro, by Oshutoru. Later at night, Haku has a drink with Ukon and discuss the character of ‘The Righteous Man’. The episode ends with Kiuru and Atui moving in at the inn to help Haku with his ‘missions’.
