Restaurant Ketsunoi
Welcome.
Your room is this way.
You're late, Gintoki!
If this were back during the Joi War,
our troops might've been left in disarray
and suffered massive losses because of you.
Don't be a stick in the mud!
You know Kintoki isn't the kind of man who'd let military rules bind him.
Joi Rebels Reunion
Did you forget how uncooperative he was, always going off on his own,
running wild and launching surprise attacks and whatnot?
Joi Rebels Reunion
I couldn't forget, even if I wanted to.
We were the ones who always had to clean up after his messes, after all.
That's right.
Takes you back, doesn't it?
Yeah, those were the days.
Thinking back, it was ten years ago...
Arriving Late to a Reunion Makes it Hard to Enter
Wait a second!
Why not take a trip down memory lane?
Don't you get it?
The three of us don't get together very often!
It's a rare case!
It's a reunion!
Shouldn't you be overcome with joy?
Like hell I'd feel any of that.
I've had enough of seeing your mugs in the openings and endings.
You show up every episode, even though you're irrelevant.
I'm sick of it.
Nobody needs any more merch of you morons.
You didn't have to say it like that!
I may show up in the OPs/EDs,
but I don't get any actual screen time at all!
I'm getting the "Hoshi Ittetsu flips the table" treatment,
which only happens a handful of times in the actual episodes!
I only came here 'cause you said there was something important to discuss.
I don't have time to waste on you two goofs.
Chill out, Kintoki.
Drink up.
I'm not Kintoki, damn it.
There is but one reason I called all us former comrades here.
The anime has successfully resumed a second time,
and it's been released on Blu-ray.
There couldn't be a more perfect time.
For what?
Isn't it high time
we started a flashback arc?
Is this a scenario meeting?!
Don't you think we need fresh developments now, more than ever?
Who are you to be worrying about that?!
You must know this, too.
Using flashback arcs to give Jump anime second winds is almost standard procedure.
Countless series in the past
have used flashback arcs as a trigger
to move on to even greater heights of popularity.
And when do we want that second wind?
W...
Was there a mosquito flying around just now?
Not "we want it now"?!
Also, that's old!
Who'd want to watch such an obviously calculated flashback arc?
First of all,
nobody cares about the past or future of you idiots.
You've always been idiots, and you always will be.
Besides, I hate looking back on the past.
Even in reunions...
And dude,
I'd always finish my lunch in the morning self-study period.
Oh, man, I remember that!
And then, during lunch break, we'd rob everyone of their side dishes!
We did the stupidest things back then!
The guys who didn't amount to much in life
are always the ones making the most noise reminiscing about the past.
Especially the delinquents!
Are you calling me loud?
Can you blame me?!
The past is the only time I ever get to appear!
Stop that, you two.
Gintoki, it's because you're always like that
that nothing about our past has been revealed yet.
Even if you don't care,
and even if the gorilla mangaka hasn't thought of anything,
we will enter a flashback arc today.
No, we have to.
"It's been a while.
Are you doing well?
Actually, I'm in Edo right now.
If you'd like, why don't we get the gang back together
for a drink or two?"
To tell you the truth, we weren't the ones
who arranged this mini-reunion of Joi rebels.
Our former comrade, the one who sent that letter, is the organizer.
Who is this?
I don't remember.
So you don't remember him, either.
In the Joi war,
an era when every man fought for his country,
when every man was a hero,
the ones who survived through sheer devil's luck
and left their names in the history books were...
The White Yaksha, Sakata Gintoki.
The White Yaksha
Sakata Gintoki
The Rampaging Noble, Katsura Kotaro.
The Rampaging Noble
Katsura Kotaro
The Kiheitai Commander, Takasugi Shinsuke.
The Kiheitai Commander
Takasugi Shinsuke
The Loud Fellow, Sakamoto Tatsuma.
The Loud Fellow
Sakamoto Tatsuma
That's weird!
One of those is not like the others!
These four men would later
come to be known as the "Generation of Miracles."
I don't remember ever being called that!
However, it was only by luck that our names were recorded in history.
In truth,
there was another hero.
In our shadows was a man who fought to keep the battle in our favor,
a key figure who assisted us from behind the scenes.
A nameless hero unbeknownst to all.
And indeed, the organizer of this reunion:
Kurokono Tasuke
The Phantom Fifth Man
The Phantom Fifth Man, Kurokono Tasuke.
Kurokono Tasuke
Hold it right there!
I've never heard of that guy!
Actually, I have, but in another anime!
I see.
Kurokono Tasuke is a man of legendary status.
It wouldn't surprise me if someone made an anime ripping him off.
Kurokono Tasuke
We're the ones doing the ripping off!
Actually, I'm the same as you. I can't even remember his face.
After all, he was a man who worked exclusively behind the scenes.
I retain no impression of the kind of man he was
or the kind of stuff he did.
What a guy.
What part of that makes him a hero?!
If anything, his lack of presence is what's heroic!
But considering he called us to a reunion,
we'd better remember something about him or things will get awkward.
As such,
let's plunge into a flashback arc before he shows up and see if we recall anything.
Joi Rebels Reunion
We're entering a flashback just so we have something to talk about at this reunion?!
What kind of setup is that?!
Did this guy even exist in the first place?!
He did.
Kurokono certainly did stand on the same battlefield as we did.
He was a master of assists.
Given the way he worked,
if we think back to incidents where we got help at the perfect time,
we should be able to remember.
Oh?
Something's coming to me!
I'm starting to remember...
Really, Zura?
I believe that was...
Right, it was at the height of the Joi War.
During a match with the powerhouse Joi High, with the Inter-High victory at stake.
No way that's right!
Why were you playing basketball?!
I wasn't.
Back then, I'd ignored the coach's repeated orders to cut my long hair,
and had been benched as punishment.
That wasn't my point!
I'm asking you when you had the time to play basketball!
Long-haired and powerless, all I could do was
cheer my teammates on from the sidelines.
Just cut your damn hair!
Actually, go fight in the war!
I was so powerless, I chilled my Pokari to the point that it froze,
leaving me unable to even quench my thirst.
For a benchwarmer, why were you so enthusiastic about chilling your Pokari?!
Thought you were on a picnic?!
With my throat parched and my body and soul worn out,
I thought I was done for.
But that's when...
Want some?
The man who, by a misdirection,
to assist me with a Pokari perfectly chilled to a sherbet state...
was Kurokono Tasuke.
You call that an assist?!
I'm willing to overlook the basketball,
but at least make him assist you on the court!
That Pokari tasted especially divine.
All you did was drink Pokari on the bench!
You call that a flashback arc?!
No, it wasn't just the Pokari.
Like I said, he was a master of assists.
I remember him being louder than others while cheering, too.
Louder?
Rebound!
Nice shot!
Zura, that was me.
Huh? Is that so?
Why were you in the basketball game, too?!
Oh, that wasn't during the Joi War.
The war had ended and people were feeling down,
so we decided to play basketball for a change of pace.
You guys were doing stupid crap like that when everything was in tatters?!
That aside, I'm pretty sure Kurokono...
Did you remember something?
Right.
It was at the height of the Joi War.
In Use
Back then, I was desperately trying to remove the aliens from the interior ministry.
What kind of Joi War is that?!
I was young and stupid.
I hadn't realized
that starting wars was easy, but cleaning up the mess was much harder.
Hey!
Why are you making such a big deal over the lack of toilet paper?!
I'd mouthed off about rebuilding the country, but I lacked the means to do so.
My foolishness had left me in despair, but that's when...
I saw it.
It felt like everything had been washed anew.
Pokari again?!
You've been talking about nothing but Pokari the entire time!
Don't tell me you used that to wash!
You used Pokari?!
Oh, that's right.
While I was in the bathroom,
I passed by a man.
That must've been...
It's just Zura from before!
Oh, so that Pokari really was yours?
Yeah.
I'd drunk too much chilled Pokari and upset my stomach.
Ah. That's one mystery solved.
What happened to Kurokono?!
Forget about basketball and Pokari!
Don't you have any memories of being saved on the battlefield?!
On the battlefield?
Oh, there was that one time!
Don't you remember it, too?
The rearguard battle on Mt. Eiroku!
As our forces numbering less than 300 took on the Bakufu army a thousand strong,
we received information that 3,000 Amanto were marching toward our rear.
We were left with no option but to retreat,
and the unit Gintoki and I were in
was chosen as the rearguard to let the rest of us escape.
When we took up that responsibility, we were prepared to die.
I don't remember what happened after that very clearly.
I just cut down the enemies in front of me as I ran and ran.
Next thing I knew, I lay collapsed in the middle of the forest.
Having a parched throat felt strange.
Knowing I was breathing felt strange.
Shedding tears from my eyes felt strange.
But now I understand.
I was simply happy.
Happy that I'd managed to survive with my friend.
And that
Pokari was being sold there.
Where did the Pokari come from?!
Why is there a Pokari vending machine on the battlefield?!
Did that really happen?!
Chilled
"Damn, what a ripoff,"
muttered Gintoki.
Muttered, my ass!
"I only have 4,000 yen,"
muttered Gintoki.
This is no time to be buying Pokari!
Run away!
"I have 10,000. I'll get two bottles, so gimme that 4,000.
You can pay me back the 500 yen later,"
I muttered.
"But I paid for Yakulk the other day.
So 4,000 yen should be enough,"
muttered Gintoki.
"But Yakulk is 540 yen for a five-pack, and I only got one of those.
540 divided by 5 is 108 yen, and 4,500 minus 108 is 4,392 yen, right?"
I muttered.
"Does that include tax?"
muttered Gintoki.
Enough already! This is taking too long!
We decided that I'd pay there and Gintoki would pay me 4,300 yen once we got back,
but my condition took a turn for the worse once we got back to camp.
You're still going?!
How long is this story?!
With my consciousness gradually fading, I saw the faces of the men I'd protected.
Oh, so he'll show up now, right?
Kurokono Tasuke's finally gonna show up, right?!
I searched for the words to say to them,
but all I could manage was...
Gintoki made me pay him 108 yen for a Yakulk the other day.
Did he make you guys pay, too? It wouldn't be fair if I was the only one who had to pay.
Enough about that already!
What?
He took 540 yen from me. Did I only owe 108 yen?
What the hell are you talking about in the middle of a war?!
What's going on?!
You were ripped off, Sakamoto!
Damn Gintoki.
He said he was treating us, but he intended to rip us off all along!
I have no idea what you're talking about!
I don't remember that at all!
You...
Oh, I see.
So the one who cleared my good name was Kurokono...
As if he'd ever do something like that.
I was the one who treated you to Yakulk.
He didn't pay for anything.
It was you?!
There you have it.
Gimme back my 4,500 yen.
Gimme back my 540 yen.
This is the ending you arrived at?!
What about Kurokono?!
Just pay us back already!
Screw you!
I told you, I don't remember this!
As if he would treat anyone to Yakulk, anyway!
I'm done with this shitty reunion!
Excuse me, sirs.
Your friend has arrived.
H-He's here!
We haven't remembered a thing,
but Kurokono showed up at the reunion already!
I-I just remembered I had something to do.
I'll be back later.
Where do you think you're going, Kintoki?
We're not letting you get away!
The Pokari money...
The Yakulk money...
Gimme back my 4,500 yen!
Gimme back my 540 yen!
That's what you're worried about?!
Who cares about that right now?!
Kurokono's almost here!
A really awkward reunion's about to begin!
We're not falling for that.
This has gone on for ten years. We're settling the score right now.
What kind of pathetic lives have you guys led for the past ten years?!
Talk about a rowdy reunion.
Relax.
Kurokono's not here yet.
For this reunion to begin,
and for you to welcome the phantom fifth man,
don't you think you're one member short?
Y-You're...
It can't be!
That's right.
I'll simply destroy
this awkward reunion.
Time out! I was kidding!
It's just a reunion joke!
Spare my shins, 'kay?
We stake our lives on our jokes, too.
Are you sure?
Are you okay with that being the last joke you ever tell?
Wait.
If memory serves, you're Takasugi's...
No, just a random lolicon—
I'm not a lolicon. I'm a feminist.
Actually, no.
I'm the Kiheitai's strategist, Takechi Henpeita.
Kihentai?! Did Takasugi send you to spy on us?!
I'm not a pervert. I'm a feminist.
Please wait.
While it's true that you and Shinsuke-dono are currently enemies,
our general is not boorish enough to ruin a gathering of his
former comrades over a personal grudge.
I'm merely here to relay a message from him.
Don't tell me he got invited to the reunion, too.
Nobody would talk to him even if he came!
He'd spend all night on his phone, and that'd be that!
He deeply regrets not being able to attend.
After all,
Shinsuke-dono and Kurokono-dono were so close,
it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them best friends.
R-Really?
He had a best friend?
Knowing you all, he figured you wouldn't remember anything,
so he entrusted me with a letter.
A letter?
From him?
To us?
He hopes that it'll help jog your memories at least a little.
F-For real?
So he remembers Kurokono?
The Yakulk at this reunion's on me, too. Drink with Shirako all you want.
The Yakulk at this reunion's on me, too.
Drink with Shirako all you want.
Who the hell is Shirako?
He got his best friend's name all wrong!
Also, is he still holding a grudge over the Yakulk thing?
Did he really write this?!
Oops.
Sorry, wrong letter.
I knew it!
Takasugi would never write something like that!
If I recall correctly,
he couldn't attend the Kiheitai's New Year's bash,
so he sent this letter along with tons of Yakulk and shirako roe.
So it was Takasugi?!
Even there, he's buying people Yakulk?!
He's become a Yakulk character with that face?!
No way!
My apologies.
There's indeed no way Shinsuke-dono would write something like this.
This is the actual letter.
There's Yakulk in the fridge. Please save one for me.
There's Yakulk in the fridge.
Please save one for me.
Nothing's changed!
Forget Kurokono, he's talking about nothing but Yakulk now!
This is a joke, right?
Tell me it's all a joke, Barney!
Oops. Wrong letter.
I think this is the note he left the Kiheitai
when he had to travel for a few days recently.
Deny that Takasugi wrote this!
You okay with this? You're okay with this guy being your general?
My apologies. This one really is the actual letter.
Rest in peace, my comrade
Rest in peace, my comrade.
I shall take my leave now, then.
I-I have no idea what this is supposed to mean!
Pokari and
"rest in peace"?
What does it mean?!
All he's done is make things more complicated!
Would he give it a rest with his pretentious bullshit already?!
Wait, Kintoki.
This Pokari...
I... I see.
Whenever Zura and I tried to remember Kurokono,
we kept getting distracted by Pokari, but...
We weren't on the wrong track!
Our past with Kurokono really was linked...
...to this Pokari.
What're you talking about?
Don't tell me, you remembered everything?
Thanks to this Pokari?
You've gotta be kidding me.
How could this...
Preview
Next week, the game with Joi High finally reaches its conclusion!
Die.
Takasugi's Emperor Eye activates!
Drop dead!
Wasn't it Emperor's Sty?
Shut it!
A Reunion Also Brings to the Surface Things You Don't Want to Remember
Next Episode:
"A Reunion Also Brings to the Surface Things You Don't Want to Remember."
Next episode, the Generation of Miracles'
past is revealed, and...
Having taken his sweet time,
Kurokono Tasuke arrives!