January 1866 - Kamakiri Daisaku secretly continues to kill Choshu samurai every night to protect Kyujuro. Meanwhile, the Shinsengumi executives are worried about when they will be able to march out to the second Choshu expedition. Ito Kashitaro implicates the presence of a Choshu spy within the ranks as the reason for the delay. It is revealed that he was set free by Katsura Kogoro, who had handed him a "charm" to help his cause. Kyujuro and Mikasaburo-dono have an unpleasant exchange of words after Kyujuro is unable to stand his disdain towards the lower members. The Satsuma domain formed an alliance with Katsura Kogoro in spite of their differences with the help of Sakamoto Ryoma, who was an old friend of his. Ryoma continues to teach Kyujuro about human nature and the world, encouraging him to go as far as his heart wishes to go. Daisaku and Kyujuro receive a letter from Shinnojo, who informs that he was doing well together with Namunosuke. Kyujuro tells Daisaku that he has been thinking about their future together for a long time, expressing his wish to watch the Gion Matsuri fireworks with him. Katsura Kogoro, who was well aware of Daisaku's next move, tells a Choshu samurai that he had set plans for him, pitying that it was a waste of talent and wonders if the "charm" he had handed to Ito-dono will be put to use. Daisaku, who has forsaken everything else except for his sole wish to walk the path together with Kyujuro, asks him to wait for him at the fireworks festival, promising that he'll be there. He gets ready to set out to assassinate Katsura Kogoro but is held back by Souji, who has discovered his identity as the masked killer. He asks him to not die, and Daisaku replies that his sincerity would never waver. Mikasaburo-dono handed over an English book he had taken from Kyujuro's room to Hijikata while he and Saito were discussing the information they had gathered. He further reveals that he had followed Kyujuro and informs about his connection to Sakamoto Ryoma of Tosa, who was an important intermediary for the anti-shogunate forces. Kyujuro is immediately captured and imprisoned; a shocked Daisaku and Souji learn about this from Sanosuke. (Source: Japanese = TVer Japan || Translation = MyDramaList)