"-- Soft Bank --"
"Hijack the You-Know-What!"
Enough--!
Tell me somethin' I don't know, why don'tcha!
Hey! Don't look at my email!
Even husbands and wives shouldn't --
You're not married.
You two are just as close as ever, aren't you, Seikichi and O-Riku?
You're about the last person I wanna hear that from.
Oh! I've got it! I think I've got it!
--What--?! --What is it?
You said it yourself! Don't you remember?
You asked why O-Riku would ever build something like that.
Oh, the rocket.
And not just any old rocket, neither-- she built a damn cannon.
That's what I mean!
"Big Fish" That's what I mean!
"Big Fish" She did it because she was jealous!
"Big Fish" Jellies? I had some of those on New Year's !
You heard it wrong. This is what "jealous" is.
That's not it, either.
Who're you callin' jealous, anyway?!
Why should I be jealous just 'cuz Seikichi and Sora are all close and stuff, huh?
There, there--
Brat! What's with the " Say no more, I completely understand" attitude, huh?!
He just got himself a girlfriend, and he's been actin' all full of himself ever since.
Yeah, I know guys like that.
Once they get their first girlfriend
they completely forget they've been nerds all their lives,
and turn into uber-dorks actin' too big for their britches!
In other words--!
O-Riku hoped that by building her own rocket
she could send Sora off home to the moon right away. Isn't that it?
Where do you get this stuff--?
But there's no way-- I couldn't get back to the moon in that.
Not to mention, the person who actually ordered it built was Torii, right?
He only wants it so he can shoot away foreign ships.
Yeah. And that's why I don't get it.
That thing ain't no firework-- but it ain't no rocket neither.
So why'd you do it, then? Why'd you agree to build it?
I bet she was threatened into doin' it.
Eh?
Is that what happened?
Isn't it obvious? I did it to prove that the Kagiyas are the best fireworks makers in Edo!
It's something even you couldn't do, but I can and will!
So you plan on hiding out up there till morning, huh?
Well aren't you the determined one.
Sleep tight-- your little secret's safe with me.
Neither you nor I can help who we are, now can we?
Come take me far away
"Oh! Edo Rocket"
Artificial shooting stars made with tricks
Asia is all the rage these days
Take me away anytime
Take me far away
The Yokocho, the sushi stands, the Kaminari
The great international city of Edo
Take me all the way there
Take me far away
Up in the sky just after the rain
Way way up high
The Holy Sun smiles down upon us
Take me someplace far
Take me far away
I looked up from the roof of the castle
And the full moon was shining so pretty
At times like those
The tears come dripping out
Just kidding, it's all lies
Take me far away
You say people have gathered from all around the area--?
To the ignorant masses this appears to be nothing more than a firework.
A rumor went around that there would be a launch today, so all these people came to watch.
I shall disperse them immediately.
No, no-- this can be good for us.
Hm?
This is a firework!
This is Tadakuni Mizuno's rocket, a declaration of power--
that says I can target foreign countries or anyplace else I feel like targeting with it!
So let's implant that vision firmly within the eyes of the masses, shall we?
Yes, sire!
But that's not all it's good for!
Lately some are saying the reforms go too far, that they can't go along with them anymore--
and those same men are now plotting to drive me from office.
They even dare defy the Land Requisition Act that I worked so hard on--!
Doi-- Abe--!
Who knows, I might just get it into my head to shoot this thing right down into your castles!
Sire--
You're in the way!
Sorry 'bout that.
Ears.
Ever since last night, you've been acting kind of strange.
It's nothing.
They're finally startin' the damn thing.
All right, then. Now we'll finally get to see what O-Riku's made of.
"Ka"
The time has come-- we will now initiate the launch sequence.
"Ka" Hm?
Wha--!
What's the problem, Torii?
N-N-N-Nothing!
Very well, you may begin!
Dash!
"Be Thrifty"
He must be one of those guys who gets diarrhea whenever he's nervous.
"Ignition"
Come out and show yourself!
I thought it might be you, Bellybutton.
I really wish you wouldn't use fireworks for this kinda thing, Commissioner Torii.
The idea for this came directly from Lord Mizuno himself.
Once this firework is ready to be fired directly upon foreign ships
the power of the shogunate will be that much stronger!
That guy scares the hell outta me.
But that ain't the real reason.
He's doin' it because his reforms are runnin' out of steam.
And 'cuz he's startin' to lose favor with the shogun.
So he's tryin' to keep his job a while longer by pullin' out a trick to make everyone go wow.
That's basically it, ain't it?
Nonsense.
Step aside, Ginjiro!
Now is not the time for me to stand here playing these silly games with you.
I knew all along that my words'd be fallin' on deaf ears as far as you were concerned.
So you intend to fight here, do you?
I can't let you guys go launchin' somethin' like this.
If we start firin' down on foreign ships, it'll mean slammin' our nation's door shut again!
You have the temerity to suggest that you are the key to that door--?
Insolent Man in Black piss-ant!
It's true that as a Man in Black I may not amount to a hill of beans...
...but as a locksmith, I think you'll find me tougher than you thought!
Crap--!
You held out longer than I expected, but this is it for you.
Listen up, Torii-- I can open up any lock I set my mind to!
And the lock that was clamped down on this nation by the Divine Lord leyasu himself--
ain't no exception!
You arrogant little snot!
And once that door is opened, what do you think will come in?!
You stand here claiming that you are some kind of key. Just a single key!
But in making that foolish claim, all you do is hoist yourself outside the flow of the world...
...and bask in your own... smug satisfaction!
Hm?!
So excited--!
--Shit! --Hey--! Stop that!
The ice wasn't able to withstand the pressure--?!
Grab hold of me!
That Torii--! Flappin' that big fat mouth of his--!
Now they're gonna be backbitin' me at the castle again, sayin' I wasted all that money--!
Lord Mizuno.
Oh-- you were there watching?
Yes.
You're the only one left now. You must succeed.
I'm counting on you, Toyama!
Huh?
Investigator Toyama!
Hi!
So, um... As Senior Investigator, I will be taking custody of the prisoners now.
Uh, is that right, sir--?
But Commissioner Torii said--
That's our Kin!
We can always count on you!
So what happens now, then?
Well-- I ain't lettin' myself get beat out by O-Riku! I'll bust ass on the rocket.
Um, Seikichi--
Huh?
I'm sorry it didn't work out, O-Riku.
--But still-- --I'm sorry, Seikichi.
Wha--? Whaddaya apologizin' for?
I was just hoping that-- that you guys especially--
wouldn't have to worry about anything but fireworks.
Besides, Kagiya just does "gentleman" fireworks anyway.
I'm just really sorry!
Whoa-- hey!
What's she goin' off about--?!
Did you know about this, sir?
That Torii was commissioning the Kagiyas to build that crazy thing--?
About that, I have a little something to tell you two.
Care to pop over to my place for a bit?
Eyes. So it's really you, is it, Eyes?
Yeah.
If you managed to stay alive, then how?
And why were you standing by Lord Mizuno?
Outta my way!
Bastard!
You'd never understand my feelings anywa--!
You alright there, Ears?
Fine. Worry about him instead!
Whoa, I don't believe it--!
Is that really you, Eyes--?!
We're apprehending him!
Say your prayers!
Akai--?! Is it--?!
You made it out alive too--?
Stay back. You approach, I'll kill you.
What the hell's going on here?!
Mister Akai was the one behind the bloodletting killings!
If he's still alive, then--
But even so--!
Ears, what do we do?!
Strange twist of fate, ain't it? Never thought I'd see the day when you save me.
Now you owe me one.
Huh?!
Oh, I get it-- you want Lord Mizuno to give you protection, is that it?
I can hardly show my face in Edo right now.
I need your help.
Oh, they're back!
Eh?
Awesome!
I can't believe it's this far along!
Yeah! Whaddaya think, Seikichi?
All according to plan. We can launch the rocket anytime!
So all that's left is packin' in the gunpowder, huh?
Hm?
Hm--?
What're these strings?
--Naughty--! --W-W-We can't right now, Sora... not in a place like this!
How come you guys're wearing those tattered scraps and rags?
Eh?!
Sh-Shhh! Wh-Whaddaya mean--?! What else're we s'posed to wear?!
It's the thrift thing. The thrift laws.
Didn'tcha hear Lord Mizuno's thrift laws're gonna get even stricter?
So we're gettin' ready for it now-- by bein' thrifty on our own!
Whose bright idea was that?
Well c'mon, just the other day down around Shimoda--
they were havin' a test for some kinda new cannon, right?
No, that wasn't --
They said the authorities turned the cannon on the people who were there watching.
And a whole buncha people wound up drowning to death.
Just ain't nothin' those authorities won't do.
They don't give a shit about us, 'cuz to them we're nothin' but vermin.
So that's why, to avoid gettin' accused of anything weird, we're bein' thriftier on our own.
I really hate to say this, but Tenho and Tenten do work for the authorities, after all.
--But-- --And that's why my haircomb's made outta lotus root!
And why my hairpin's made outta burdock root!
How does that count as thrifty?
Stop lookin' down, everyone.
'Cuz pretty soon we're gonna launch the coolest firework ever.
Huh?
"San"
Hey, Santa.
Oh, Seikichi. Take a look at this!
It's the best work I've done in my whole life!
I'll finish carvin' it by the time the rocket launches, of course.
But Santa...
...it's just, the rocket's gonna fly away for good, you know.
Besides, bein' close to the nozzles like this, it's gonna burn up till there ain't nothin' left.
You don't hafta waste your time on useless stuff like this.
The fact that it's useless is what makes it worth doing, don't you think?
The whole idea of being useful to people-- it's just an excuse.
The reason people do things is because they want to do them.
It's the same with me and math. I don't do it for other people.
I end up having so much fun I just don't know how to quit.
I just keep moving the numbers and figures back and forth, back and forth--
Then all you're doin' is just screwin' around.
Of course it's screwing around.
But isn't that what being an Edo craftsman's all about?
But why do this now?!
We've already gotten this far on the construction!
"Tomorrow!! Rocket launch finally coming!!" We've already gotten this far on the construction!
So why do we hafta stop workin' on it all of a sudden?!
Well, I'm against it!
I understand how you feel. I feel the same way, you know. But...
This is from Investigator Toyama.
He says once Sora gets back to the moon, you have to start work on this thing next.
What the hell is this--?
Plans for launching a rocket with a gunpowder warhead into the stratosphere
and dropping it on America or Russia.
An " intercontinental ballistic missile"-- maybe that's what it'd be called.
We don't care about the name!
But is that kinda thing even possible?
It's possible-- with what you've learned so far.
What's the goddamn deal here?!
Some completely different thing from what Torii was havin' O-Riku build?
Why's he doin' this?
Toyama and Torii were competing.
They each worked up separate plans, and then submitted them to Lord Mizuno.
At any rate-- it's a good thing you weren't seriously hurt.
And by the way, there's a rather unusual fellow here to see us.
Bellybutton!
So Commissioner Torii here wants fireworks to attack the black ships with.
And you want fireworks you can use to fire directly on America or Russia.
They tell me that's what each of you thought up.
Yeah-- and then we tried getting your beloved Kagiya and Tamaya to build them for us.
Stupid asshole! Why the hell would you do that?!
For the common good.
I thought you were in favor of having associations with other countries.
Of course I am!
The way things are now we can't even watch Star Trek or Prison Break in this country!
That is unacceptable!
Hey, hey--
However, if we just go and suddenly fling the door wide open--
there are nations out there with overwhelmingly superior military might.
We'd be left completely at their mercy.
Or we might, anyway.
But once they see that we have a huge firework that can reach inside their borders--
those foreign powers'll have to think twice before messing with us, right?
Some kinda game of chicken?!
The business of government.
Seikichi's gonna build it, all right.
He hates the thought of his fireworks being just " ordinary" fireworks.
He wants his to be something bigger--
something that'll really do other people some good.
But unfortunately for you he ain't that stupid.
Is that right?
I remember a guy old enough to know better who wanted his own powers to be of use to people.
So bad that he wound up kissing the ass of a monster.
Knowing how you acted, you really think you can give him advice about this?
This is all contingent upon the success of tomorrow's launch.
Once we have seen whether Seikichi and the others can be of use.
And then we'll be making sure that you bow out.
Leaving things up to Lord Mizuno and myself.
Mon-ster.
I feel so bad about this-- seems I just wasn't able to see this one comin'.
I guess the shogunate wasn't just a bunch of shit-for-brains after all.
I'm a fireworks maker!
And when it comes to makin' scary-ass killin' devices like this, you can count me out!
Unfortunately, if the rocket launch succeeds tomorrow,
you can't very well just go back and tell them it's not possible to make another one.
And worst case, if they have the plans, they can always find someone else to make it instead.
Shit--!
Messin' with-- my fireworks--
Seikichi, I'm sorry. This is all my fault!
Run away.
It's just as you said-- Seikichi Tamaya is a fireworks maker.
As long as there's a sky overhead, you can always launch more fireworks.
There's no reason to insist on doin' it in this country.
But what about the Shoryu?!
Cancelled.
I can't do that!
Seikichi...
Big brother!
Seikichi!
Seikichi, wait!
"Roku" Seikichi, wait!
"Roku" --Seikichi! --Seikichi!
"Roku"
Goddamnit all--!
Toyama said it himself.
If you do this, then Tamaya fireworks'll serve the common good and be of use to people.
You can help defend our land from foreign invaders, and forge peace among nations.
They can serve that purpose.
Be of use... to people...
Seikichi... it's all right.
This way...
I can be together with you.
I just can't do it, Sora.
This firework here-- it ain't never been just about you!
It's about everyone who's lookin' down!
It's about gettin' 'em to look back up again!
The fireworks I make-- they ain't just some game.
They're about helpin' everyone-- with somethin' grand...
I see now.
You were right!
Seikichi?
Big brother?
Everyone, we're launchin' this thing tomorrow!
Eh?!
Tomorrow we launch the rocket!
I'm Seikichi Tamaya and this is where I draw the line!
Everyone, I'm gonna need your help just one more time!
All right!
Let's do it!
What are you doing there, sire?
This is a potion I got from some old guy I know, but I just can't bring myself to drink it.
It scares me so I'm pouring it out.
Tomorrow's the big day-- Tamaya's launch.
And then we begin development on a weapon for attacking foreign nations.
All thanks to the knowledge you were kind enough to share with us.
Don't mention it, sire.
The power to attack foreign lands with fireworks!
Once they learn that I have that kind of power at my disposal
the shogunal cabinet will have no choice but to obey my wishes!
I've been hearing rumors.
There's talk that tomorrow I'll be dismissed from my position on the Elder Council.
But I'm not gonna let that happen!
If they try and do that, then I'll shoot a firework right down into the Chiyoda castle itself.
That's for a job well done.
The poor lord's gonna catch cold if you just leave him there like that.
I thought you went to bed a long time ago.
I've been biding my time. Just waiting for you to make the first move.
Bastard--!
So that whole bit about wantin' to serve under Mizuno was just a lie?!
It's been about a month now... since I saw you on Ishikawa Island.
You made it out alive by disguising yourself as Eyes of the Men in Black.
Or rather, by hijacking his body.
And now here you are.
Blue beast--!
You're under arrest!
"When a Master's Work Cries for the Moon..."
Shabara pappara Shabara pappara
I'm lovesick
Inside my head
All the things I'm not supposed to do
Just rattling around
Aa, what a seductive profile
I'm already used to seeing your poker face
But you know what I want, and still it's another da capo
Our happy ending is still a long ways off right now
But I want to do more ad-lib loving first
I got rhythm
Lalalala lalalala
Lalalala lalalalalaaaa
"Next time"
Uh, um-- I'm Ankles of the Men in Black.
Next time we're finally at the last episode--
and if you're wondering why I of all people got picked to do this preview, well--
I just hope-- it's not 'cuz they forgot me or anything. That's not it, is it, Mister Aikawa?
Now for the Oh! Edo Rocket coup de grace--!
"Somehow or Other, Liftoff" Toma--!