Now that I am awake, what is this world?!
Monochrome and vague
There's nothing I can do, so what should I do now
Monochrome coloring
I have no intention of turning back or stopping (Oh)
Now that I have become this one, no one can stand against me (Oh, yeah)
What's this? A passion broken free
What's this? Give your all and transcend
My scream is nearly a war song
What's this? Accept the challenge
What's this? Prepare to engage
Go wild and feel the explosive sound as you jump up and down (Oh, yeah)
The Freedom
The Freedom!
Ultra Souls and the Freedom Jam Session
Ultra Souls and the Freedom Jam Session!
This has been a performance by the Ultra Souls and the Freedom!
That was tons of fun. Thanks, guys.
No, thank you.
I was moved to be able to play with the Ultra Souls who opened the door to rock.
Um, Takasugi-san, your passionate performance was captivating.
Can I shake your hand?
Sure.
Solo Debut! We Can't Play Together Anymore!
Closed
They were pretty good guys.
Yeah.
You really warmed up to them once they complimented you.
You can be pretty cute, after all.
Shut up!
But it's great that rock has permeated far enough for us to play with other rockers.
You're right.
I've heard there are rockers appearing not just in Kyoto, but across the country, as well.
Rock is beginning to take over.
Yeah. Let's keep this up and make everyone happy through rock.
But there's no way Ii will sit still and watch.
He'll definitely try to do something to eliminate rock.
If rock makes everyone happy, the government will have to change their minds.
This isn't the time to be complacent.
When Shoin-sensei went on a journey to find the next generation of rockers,
the government targeted him, and he lost his life.
It'll just be Shoin-sensei all over again.
Ryo-san, it's an emergency! Look at this!
Across Osaka, Owari, Edo, and Tosa, at the government's command,
a bunch of rockers have been arrested at once?
That's not all!
Stop!
Their instruments and sheet music were confiscated,
Live Music Club
and even those who supported rockers had their homes demolished.
Instruments
I knew it! I told you so!
They're starting from the outside.
But there's no way they arrested all the rockers in Japan.
Why don't we meet up with the survivors and hold a major event?
Then we'll completely eliminate Heaven's Song and overthrow Ii.
Weak.
If it comes to it, we should...
A pistol?
Violence is bad, Cindy.
Using force would make you just like the government.
As long as Ii's around, the purge will continue!
We have to remove the source!
I understand how you feel, Shinsaku.
But we need more time.
He's right. If we act impatiently, we will fail.
I agree with Hijikata-san and the others.
Cindy, I promise everyone will accept rock.
Everything starts there.
How is it coming along?
It will be arriving in Yokohama shortly.
Edo sent you a message telling you not to worry.
I see.
With this, Tokugawa's influence will be solid once again.
As per your instructions, we will crack down even harder on the capital tomorrow.
Wait.
If you're too strict on them, people will think even more poorly of you.
I will shoulder the poor reputation of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
You don't need to worry.
I will show the people that Heaven's Song deserves to stand at the top
and that rock is crude and powerless.
I will slaughter Sakamoto and his friends.
But I want to see the Ultra Souls.
Sir...
You say it's for the Tokugawa Shogunate,
but you only want to demonstrate your own power.
You don't understand me, at all.
Ryo-chan, I heard you shouting.
Is everything okay?
Yeah. We were just talking about rock together.
That's fine, then.
Anyway, I know you're busy with the concert...
...but I can't lift anything heavier than a chopstick.
Thank you.
Roger that.
Ryoma-kun, we're coming in.
He's still asleep.
He's holding his guitar in his sleep.
He really is obsessed with rock.
Wake up. It's time.
I finished chopping all the firewood, Otose-yan!
I'm late!
We're going on ahead.
Make sure you wash your face before you come.
It's my fault for going back to sleep after Sochin woke me!
Are you okay, kid?
I see. When you're feeling down, this hits the spot.
Are you a rocker?
Yeah, I'm a rocker.
Do you like rock, kid?
No.
Huh?
The officials took my dad away
'cause he performed a rock concert in a bath house.
A rock concert in a bath house?
I hate rock!
Hey, wait...
Ryoma.
Hey.
Ryoma...
Wh-What's wrong?
Eri-chan's engagement was called off.
They found out she went to see a rock concert.
And Eri-chan's family supports the government, so she's not allowed out anymore.
Okei-chan!
Sincerity
Shinsengumi
You're cleaning again? You're a curious one.
No one cares about Heaven's Song anymore.
It's all about rock now.
Maybe so, but I really do love Heaven's Song.
You're late!
What have you been... doing...
Ryoma-kun?
I came to the city to make a name for myself as a rocker because I enjoyed singing.
Then I started playing rock to open the eyes of citizens pacified by Heaven's Song.
But our rock is making people cry.
This is wrong. This isn't what I wanted.
This isn't like you.
What did you do with the optimistic Tosaka-kun?
Sakamoto, our rock will someday lead the people to freedom.
You can't lose your way now.
That's right.
In order to change the world, we must also endure pain.
Pain?
No way! That's not what I wanted!
Quit acting like a child!
Get yourself together!
Sorry to interrupt you, but do you have a minute?
Katsu-sensei.
Ii's finally making his move.
A giant speaker?
What is that?
It's a Western device.
I've heard it's capable of greatly amplifying music.
Apparently, the government secretly acquired one of these from a foreign country.
With one of those, Heaven's Song will take over again.
That must be Ii's goal.
And this morning, Ii secretly left Nijo Castle and headed for Edo.
He must be going to get the speaker.
That's right.
Hijikata, don't you think it's time for us to rock?
Ii's absence is the perfect opportunity to use rock to start a revolution.
Let's make our own move.
Very well.
Ryoma, what about you?
I...
Why are you stopping now?
This isn't like you!
Not like me?
What does it mean to be like me?
You're magnanimous and don't worry about the details.
But you value the smiles of the people around you.
That's what it means to be Ryoma-kun.
But those qualities seem to be backfiring on us now.
You're too nice.
Sometimes, Shoin-sensei became really mean when pursuing his own path.
But Ryoma can't do that.
I'm a member of the government.
However, I don't approve of Ii's methods.
With Sho's apprentices, I can stop the government from falling over the edge.
That's why I brought you this information.
If they've acquired a giant speaker, we'll have to muster enough passion to beat it.
Justice
In that case, why don't we hold a concert here?
New idol group, Justice's debut concert?
I heard about it from my men.
The government's pushing these kids in place of the Shinsengumi.
Right, Hijikata-san?
Their average age is fifteen.
Fifteen? They're just kids.
But they're the government's primary group, and they're good.
If we crash their concert and fire people up, we'll kick up a rocking storm.
I see.
Government's New Idol Group
Justice
It's being held in three days at the same riverbed where Shoin-sensei's concert was.
Yeah! We'll fire people up there and take out the government!
Ryoma-kun, is that okay?
Sure.
Is Takasugi-san here?
Here.
What happened?
They've begun cracking down on rockers in the capital.
The Freedom was arrested by officials, and in the end...
Give my soul to Takasugi-san!
Unforgivable...
We'll bring enough passion for you, too!
Justice! You can do it!
I really do love Heaven's Song.
Justice! Justice!
Quiet, everyone!
We are Justice!
Over mirage
Give your body and soul to this melody
We can't turn back
You who gather around the sweet, sweet nectar are already our captives
Over mirage
Let's go!
Now that I am awake, what is this world?!
Monochrome and vague
There's nothing I can do, so what should I do now
Monochrome coloring
It's rock!
That's rock?
I have no intention of turning back or stopping (Oh)
Now that I have become this one, no one can stand against me (Oh, yeah)
Rock! Rock!
You're losing to rock!
What's this? A passion broken free
No. This isn't the rock I wanted to play.
What's this? Give your all and transcend
My scream is nearly a war song
They claim they're playing rock,
but they're just oppressing people the way we were oppressed.
What's this? Accept the challenge
What's this? Prepare to engage
Go wild...
Ryoma? What are you doing?
Over mirage
Ultra Souls, you're under arrest!
Ryoma-kun!
You're under arrest!
We seem to have lost them.
Yeah.
Why did you stop playing?
You're the one who told us to fight with our music instead of our fists!
Cindy, are we really doing the right thing?
Are we doing the right thing?
What are you whining about now?
What happened to your passion for rock?
I...
I can't see my passion now, Cindy.
I don't know what rock is, anymore.
Shinsaku!
Takasugi!
Hot shot, you're out of control.
Fine.
I can't play with you any more.
If we wait, more of our friends will be purged.
I will kill Ii.
Wait.
Let's calm down and think about this.
Shinsaku!
Di Telada
I'm sure hot shot's just a little angry.
He'll be back soon.
No, Cindy's not coming back.
At the very least, not while I'm around.
Since the moment we met, Cindy always refused to play with me.
But he was serious today.
He really can't play with me.
Shaggy Master, I don't have the confidence to play this anymore.
Ryoma-kun?
Do you mean to say you're abandoning rock?
Heaven's Song! Time for the Climax!
When you leave a band, the next step is your solo debut.
In the next episode, Ryoma-kun will leap across the sky using my invention.
And the setting's historical accuracy will be as sloppy as ever.
Heaven's Song! Time for the Climax!