Yusa Family Grave
Shizune...
So, you're still alive...
Shizune...
Why are you on this train?
Surely, you're not the...
Xinjing
Excuse me...
Did you happen to see a group of military personnel disembark here a moment ago?
No, I haven't.
Is someone important supposed to be arriving or something?
Oh, no. It's nothing like that.
Where is she?
Didn't she get off at this station?
Hey!
What are you doing here?!
I-I'm so sorry.
My handkerchief got blown over here by the wind.
Now that you have it, move along!
This area is off limits!
Sorry...
What's down there?
This passageway connects Shinkyou station to the soon-to-be-built Kwantung Army Headquarters,
the State Council, and the reception hall where we'll be relaxing tonight.
An underground passage...
Fengtian
That girl is having a hard time.
I wonder if she'll be all right...
Are you all right?
I'm completely fine.
I'm just so hungry that I can't even move.
Are you all right?
Hey! Keep it together!
Fengtian Restaurant
You don't have to eat so fast.
That's where you're wrong!
People should eat when they can because you never know when your next meal will come.
Take it where you can get it!
I-I see...
Why didn't you eat any of the rice cakes or sweets that you were selling?
You're such an amateur!
As a businessman, it's a sign of failure to touch your own products.
I-Is that so? I'm sorry, I didn't know.
As long as you understand now, it's okay.
As a thank-you for teaching you something, you can buy me another two komochis.
You're still hungry?
You're from Shanghai?
People 'round here don't understand my delicate and metropolitan cuisine.
It's a real struggle.
Why did you come here then?
After the attack, I made my way here.
My precious shop completely went up in flames.
January, Showa 7.
The Japanese and Chinese forces battled each other in Shanghai.
After two months of fighting, the death toll stood at over 7,000 people, including civilians.
This became known as the First Shanghai Incident.
It was rumored that this incident was arranged by the Japanese military
to draw away the eyes of the world from Manchuria's newly declared independence.
I was so scared.
The Japanese battleships were firing at the city.
Bombs were falling from the sky and the whole city was on fire.
The Japanese are the worst!
However, those who buy me food are good people regardless of nationality.
So, you don't like Japanese people?
I-It's not a matter of like or dislike.
As long as they pay, Japanese people are valuable customers.
I used to be friends with a few Japanese back in Shanghai.
But, before I knew it, they disappeared.
There's been fighting in Manchuria and Shanghai now.
Will there be more?
I don't know.
I hate this.
No one wants to lose loved ones.
Even without war,
there are places where people die because of a few weeks of continued sunshine.
If these things can be prevented by Japan becoming almighty and powerful,
then I will gladly take up arms.
Please sign here.
Of course.
Suzumura, the alias used by Ichinose, appears in the register at approximately one month intervals.
When did he stay here last?
About three weeks ago.
This might be quite a long stake out.
Let's take turns keeping watch.
I'll position myself somewhere where I can survey the entire hotel.
I can't relax in such a large room.
That's because it was originally booked for you and Aoi.
If Mr. Sakurai contacts you, don't mention Aoi.
I understand.
Sorry, sir.
I'm gonna have to take another detour.
That's okay.
I see that pretty much everywhere seems to be under construction.
It's because this is the new capital.
It's gonna be a fine city.
Constructing a whole new capital, eh?
That's one huge project.
The majority of the construction work is being carried out by Japanese firms.
If this rejuvenates Japan's economy, I'll be overjoyed.
Ah, here it is.
The Kwantung Army's new headquarters.
Are they trying to build a palace or something?
Excuse me.
I was told to take this to where they're building the underground passage...
You must be new.
It's round the corner and down the ladder to the right.
Thanks.
I heard that they had plans to build a large underground network in the new capital from Mr. Sakurai, but...
Are you lost?
Is this your cat?
Nope.
Do you want to pet it?
Yes!
Here you go.
Wow, how cute!
It's really cute. I wish I had one.
Excuse me,
would you mind if I joined you?
B-Brother!
I can't believe the underground passage is so far along in the construction already.
This is pretty easy to figure out.
Shizune must've been taken through there.
Two coffees please.
Actually, make one of those a milk tea.
No, two coffees will be fine.
Very well.
I didn't think you liked coffee.
I'm not always going to be the same little sister you remember.
I see... I guess you're right.
Did you leak the information in order to lure us here?
What are you thinking?
What are you planning to do?
That's what I came here to tell you.
Are you the only one in the Sakurai Organization that can read minds?
What do you mean by that?
Are you suggesting that it's not enough?
Explain yourself.
What are you trying to achieve?
You really have become quite bold.
I bet your troubles must have increased proportionally, Kichizou.
It's been a long time, young Master.
I want to thank you for supporting my sister.
I'm ready to bare my soul to you.
The rest is up to you.
In a perfect world, I wouldn't want you to know these thoughts of mine.
So, I want you to prepare yourself for them,
or you might be left with emotional scars.
I won't force you to do this either.
My lady.
My lady!
Take care of my sister.
Wait, Master!
Master?!
Where's the woman who was brought here earlier?
A woman?
Don't pretend that you don't know.
D-Do you mean the prophet?
Yeah, apparently that's who she is.
That must be it.
Shizune...
Kazura!
What are you up to?
You're the last person I wanted to run into here.
Don't be so selfish. Just shut up and leave.
Get out of here before someone realizes you're here.
Overlook this.
You know that's something I'm not even going to discuss.
Have you lost your mind?
A prophet?
I don't know whether she's a prophet or not, but she's definitely my-
I don't care what the circumstances are, I can't let you pass.
Don't make me use force.
Don't you understand that what you're doing could hurt our national interest,
never mind Mr. Sakurai's position?
"National interest"?
What's standing right in front of me now matters far more than something abstract like that.
Aoi!
Don't do something so stupid over one woman.
There are some things you just can't be rational over.
Surely, you must've felt like that before?
Intruder!
Someone's broken in!
Sorry.
Hey! What do you think you're doing?!
I'm sorry, sir.
What do you think you're doing, abandoning your post like that?!
I heard a sound over there, sir.
What?
A soldier was found tied up inside.
There's no doubt that there's an intruder somewhere.
Don't let your guard down.
Yes, sir!
Open up! Open up!
Hey! I said open up!
Open up!
Here's the spare key.
Find her!
Smoke will surely give us away, so unfortunately you'll have to make do without a fire.
Once things have settled down, I'll arrange for a car or horse.
This country is so large it's annoying. There should be plenty of places we can escape to.
I can't run away.
Why?! Aren't you happy to see me again?
Of course I'm happy, but...
Do you really want to live life as a prohet?
Do you really want to exist in a crazy world like that?
It's not a question of what I, as an individual, want.
Those that have the power to receive the words of the generations have inherited this destiny.
When I realized that I had this power...
Please try to understand, it felt as if the truth had to be a lie.
Don't talk as though you're a character in some sort of tragic play.
You don't have to be tied down by tradition in this day and age.
It's not a tradition. It's part of a greater system.
"System"?
When politicians are in doubt,
I am part of the system that guides them.
I'm trapped within that system.
The old me no longer exists,
so please forget about me.
I just wanted to explain this to you.
Even if I run away, people will come after me.
I don't want to burden you.
So...
That's a storage room.
How are you different from before?
You haven't changed at all.
I...
You haven't changed.
Get in.
Mr. Sakurai.
Aoi, you say?
Yes.
Don't tell anyone about this.
I thought he had better judgment than this.
All because of a woman..
Did you know about Aoi and the prophet?
Don't ask unnecessary questions.
How did he do this right under your nose anyway?
I let them go.
Are you saying you let them get away on purpose?
I'm sorry.
I'm disappointed in you.
Since when did this organization become a social club?
You need to understand your own situation before your indulgence costs you your life.
I'll be right back with a horse.
I'll trust your judgment, Shizune.
My lady, please lie down.
I'm fine.
I saw something terrible.
Natsume, there's no way I can quit now.
Shizune...
Episode 09
A New Capital
People can only view the world from their own position within the era they live in.
That's why everyone finds the words of those who can predict the future so alluring.
People continue to look for answers to questions that can only be answered with the passing of time,
as they meander through the border between illusion and reality.
What will the two men discuss as they meet face-to-face?
Next time: East is East.
Next Episode
"East is East"