Oedo Fire Slayer -The Legend of Phoenix- (火喰鳥 羽州ぼろ鳶組)

SHINJOU EDO MANSION — GENGO'S NEW HOME

You kept it?

I thought it would come in handy some day.

I don't need it anymore.

It wouldn't feel right to wear it.

I see.

OEDO FIRE SLAYER THE LEGEND OF THE PHOENIX

First, we'll need to find a wrecker, a flag bearer, and a wind-reader.

Um, I actually don't know what those three roles do exactly.

What kind of people are we looking for?

You don't even know that?

The "wrecker" will probably be the easiest role to fill.

A wrecker's job is to bring down buildings with tools,

so we'll want someone muscle-bound.

Right. Muscle-bound.

After that, it's the flag bearer.

The flag bearer's job is to run along the roofs and point out where the fire is.

We need somebody agile and unafraid of fire.

I see.

And the wind-reader is a must-have, too.

The winds of Edo change direction frequently.

The wind-reader tells us what they'll do next.

You could call them the strategists when fighting a fire.

I know someone who will fit that role, so we can leave that for now.

So we'll start with the wrecker, yeah?

Yeah.

Let's split up and search.

Right.

Well, I guess it was never going to be easy.

It's Dategaseki!

Dategaseki!

Wow!

Incredible!

A sumo wrestler? Never seen him before.

No? Dategaseki Moriemon's the wrestler closest to earning the title of ozeki.

I've seen that guy somewhere before.

I've got a match in Shibajinguu tomorrow. Come see me.

Hey.

I saw your first match with one of our wrestlers yesterday.

Sorry. I went a little too hard on him.

Are you fine with always winning with the same palm strike like an idiot?

What?

Stop this.

You can work it out in tomorrow's match.

Koujinyama saves your ass again.

You...

Okay, that's enough.

All eyes...

are on you right now.

This guy...

He's so intense.

Look forward to tomorrow's match, everyone!

You should probably knock it off now.

I recall now.

Koujinyama Torajirou.

Wouldn't a sumo wrestler make the perfect wrecker, sir?

I figured you'd say that.

No sumo would ever become a firefighter.

Their salary is on a completely different level.

So there's no point in going to Shibajinguu tomorrow, huh?

No, you can go if you want.

Huh? Surprising.

Ah, you wanna go watch Dategaseki's match, too, right?

No.

I'm more interested in Koujinyama.

Koujinyama? The guy who stopped the fight?

I've seen him fight before.

He seemed like a totally different person.

Still, that was eight years ago.

I suppose a lot can change.

I was a firefighter.

Um, why did you quit?

I'd say the reason I quit is less important than the reason you started.

Guess so.

All right. I've got something I must attend to. I'll be going now.

I see.

Don't go to any weird places.

I would never!

It's better you don't see.

Father...

How could this happen?

Because of my father's fate, I never wanted to be a firefighter.

So why do I want to become one now?

Here comes Koujinyama!

Huh? His opponent's pretty small.

His left knee...

Is he hurt?

But Koujinyama still has the advantage in this fight.

He's higher-ranked, too.

Set. Engage!

Go! Go!

The match is concluded!

No way!

Why would you charge a smaller wrestler?

When you're down on your luck, everything seems to go wrong.

There's Dategaseki!

They're rivals, huh?

Inotani's strong, but not as strong as Dategaseki.

He's famous for his incredibly powerful palm strikes.

He'd be the perfect wrecker for our team.

You're thinking of recruiting Dategaseki?

I sure am.

Set.

Engage!

Go! Go! Go!

Go! Go!

The right was a feint.

He struck with his left.

That was a violent match.

His violent nature is what makes him popular.

He's the kind of sumo wrestler who was born to be a firefighter.

Now, let's go!

Go where?

What the hell was that?

What if Inotani got hurt?

He provoked me yesterday.

So I got a little heated.

I won't tell you not to use those palm strikes.

But this is a critical time for you.

It's better for you and everyone if you don't make enemies—

That goes for you, too!

You're at risk of getting demoted. You need to do better!

You're right.

I have no right to lecture you.

Who might you be?

I saw you yesterday.

I'm Torigoe Shinnosuke, vice-captain of the Shinjou Province Firefighters.

And I'm the captain, Matsunaga Gengo.

Firefighters? What can I do for you?

Well, I know you're busy, but I was hoping I might get a handprint from Dategaseki.

That's usually done after the matches.

Of course, but you see—

It's fine. Let them in.

Thank you so much!

So Dategaseki...

I wanted to ask you a favor.

And so, we were hoping you'd become a firefighter.

I refuse.

Of course you refuse.

There's no reason a sumo wrestler would become a firefighter.

Why are you a firefighter?

There are other uses you could put your talents to.

You mean my gift of the gab?

No.

Never mind.

Oh, Koujinyama might quit being a sumo wrestler.

Because he's weak?

Wanna give that handprint back?

He's not weak.

He used to be as strong as an ogre. Far stronger than me.

I still think of him as a real sumo wrestler.

So why?