Episode 28

## "Family bonds"

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**"Family bonds"** is the fourth episode of the second season and the 28th episode overall of the *Tokyo卍Revengers* anime series, produced by Liden Films.

## Synopsis

In exchange for helping Takemichi, Hakkai promises Taiju that he will quit Toman and join the Black Dragon. However, Captain Takashi Mitsuya of the Second Division, who has known Hakkai since he was a child, does not approve of Vice Captain Hakkai quitting and says he will go to see Taiju. Knowing that Hakkai's joining the Black Dragon would lead to the worst possible future in which Toman would become a great evil, Takemichi accompanied Mitsuya with his partner Chifuyu, but...

## Summary

Hakkai recalls how me met Takashi. When he was young, he was beating some boy, but Takashi, who was also babysitting his siblings, came and stopped him, telling him that he needs to use his strength to protect others. Takashi wants to speak with Taiju, but Hakkai doesn't believe that Takashi can say something that will change Taiju's mind and doesn't think things will end well. Takashi however wonders why Takemichi and Chifuyu are also coming. Takemichi states he is coming because he is the one that got beat, and Chifuyu states its because he is keeping an eye on Takemichi, who is a moron.

Takashi meets up with Taiju and states he will let Hakkai join Black Dragon and will never get involved with him again, on the condition Taiju releases Yuzuha. Takashi guesses that Taiju wants Yuzuha to do something and explains that Hakkai has been protecting his sister from his abuse. Taiju states this is some kind of a joke. Takashi then states that Hakkai isn't leaving Toman because he is afraid of Taiju, but to protect his sister. Taiju gets angry an attempts to punch Takashi, but he blocks his attack. Takashi states that if Taiju accepts the condition, there won't be a war, but otherwise Toman and Black Dragon will fight. Taiju accepts the truce, although he explains he didn't abuse Yuzuha and won't hit her again. Takamichi realizes that Hakkai will kill Taiju to protect Yuzuha.

After they leave, Hakkai thanks Takashi, who tells him to use his strength to protect others. Hearing that, Hakkai then recalls a time when they were kids and he visited Takashi, who prepared food for his siblings. Hakkai wondered about their parents and Takashi explained that he only has his mother, who is working late each day and he is looking after his siblings during the day. Hakkai guesses his life must be hard, but Takashi tells Hakkai to not curse the life he was born into. At present, Takashi tells Hakkai the same thing again.

Takemichi considers going back in the future, explaining that Hakkai must had killed Taiju to protect Yuzuha, but as they now agreed to release her, the future may have changed. Chifuyu states that nothing may have changed as he assumes the reason on why Hakkai killed Taiju. Additionally, Takemichi is arrested in the future and if he is in jail, he may not be able to travel back. Also it was Takashi who released Yuzuha and Takemichi himself haven't changed anything. Takemichi guesses he may be right and compliments Chifuyu on how smart he is. Hakkai then comes and wants to speak with Takemichi.

Hakkai explains that his family is messed up. They don't have a mother and their father is almost never home, so it was Taiju, as the eldest, who ran the family. He was good at making others like him and was good at fighting and was always seriously beating his opponents. Taiju was treating his family the same way and Hakkai grew up thinking that love was supposed to be painful. However, Takashi turned his world upside down, and instead of playing, he was looking after his siblings. Takashi had told him to use his strength to protect others and Hakkai decided to protect his family. As a result, Taiju decided that Hakkai will also be getting Yuzuha's beatings. However, Taiju broke his promise and also beat up Yuzuha, so the promise he made to Takashi won't mean anything and he will never release Yuzuha. Hakkai explains that he always trembles in the presence of Taiju and is unable to do anything. However, he made up his mind and to not bring bad reputation for Toman, he decided to leave Toman. Hakkai intends to protect his family and kill Taiju. As he will likely be arrested, its better for Takemichi to not get associated with him. Hakkai then leaves, and tells Takemichi that he had fun for the short time they knew each other. Takemichi then decides that he will crush Black Dragon.

Takashi tells Yuzuha that he talked with Taiju. Yuzuha knows and explains that Taiju has connections with the rich, who hire Black Dragon to solve some of their problems. One of Yuzuha's jobs is to collect those payments, but yesterday, she was released from doing that forever, and its all thanks to Takashi. Takashi states it was all Hakkai's hard work. Yuzuha states that Takashi put him up to it and wonders why Hakkai did it. Takashi believes that Hakkai is stronger than she thinks, but Yuzuha tells him that hopes like that cause suffering. As Yuzuha leaves, Takashi guesses she is hiding something and that it was too easy to make the truce. Takashi and Manjiro head back, but Manjiro changes the direction and asks Takashi to follow him. They go to a Christmas tree, where Manjiro states they are now half of the founding members. He tells Takashi to forget about Black Dragon and promise that he will never leave them.

Takemichi tells the other officers that Hakkai intends to kill Taiju and wants to fight Black Dragon, however the officers don't accept the reason as something they should fight for. Ken also rejects it, stating that it will be disrespectful to Takashi to break the truce he made. After the rest leave, Takemichi and Chifuyu guess they have to do it alone. Tetta returns and wants to join and help them. Chifuyu refuses to work with Tetta, but Tetta asks him what he intends to do, because as long there is a truce made by Takashi, none of Toman will go fight Black Dragon. Tetta states that Manjiro is weak now and since Black Dragon had gotten stronger, he wants to crush them. Chifuyu breaks a glass and points a sharp piece at Tetta, telling him to not talk about Manjiro and that Tetta isn't something more than them. Shuji then points a knife at Takemichi, reminding them that infighting is forbidden. Chifuyu lowers the glass and asks about the merit working with them and Tetta explains that he has an informant in Black Dragon, and asks them to come with him.

The four of them go meet with Tetta's informant, where Tetta wants to know all about Taiju and what he is doing each day. The informant is Taiju's gopher, so he knows a lot about it, but before he is able to say anything, Hajime Kokonoi shows up. Hajime states things didn't go well for the last rat and tells the other Black Dragon members to take the informant. Tetta tells Hajime that they don't intends to fight him. Seeing the money on the table, Hajime states he will tell them what they want for 100,000 yen. Tetta hands him the money and asks when will Taiju be alone. Hajime explains that Taiju is never alone and there are always five people with him, except on one day, December 25th. Taiju is Christian and each Christmas night, he goes alone at night to church to worship. As Tetta has no other questions, Hajime decides to leave, but states that Taiju isn't weak and doubts the four of them can take him out. Takemichi wonders why is Hajime betraying Taiju and Hajime explains that he likes the strong, but if he wants to know more, they should bring him another 100,000 yen. After Hajime leaves, Tetta tells Takemichi that he didn't want to know when Taiju will be alone just to attack him. As Hakkai intends to kill him, he will also be waiting for such a moment. Takemichi wonders why is Tetta doing this, and Tetta explains he wants to help his teammates. Tetta then states that the four of them will stop Hakkai and destroy Taiju, in their secret battle on Christmas night.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

1. Takashi Mitsuya
2. Hakkai Shiba
3. Takemichi Hanagaki
4. Mana Mitsuya (flashback)
5. Luna Mitsuya (flashback)
6. Chifuyu Matsuno
7. Taiju Shiba
8. Seishu Inui
9. Hajime Kokonoi
10. Yuzuha Shiba
11. Manjiro Sano
12. Ken Ryuguji
13. Yasuhiro Muto
14. Nahoya Kawata
15. Tetta Kisaki
16. Shuji Hanma

## References

 "ON AIR | TVアニメ『東京リベンジャーズ』公式サイト". *tokyo-revengers-anime.com (in Japanese)*. Retrieved on October 11, 2023.
 "STORY | TVアニメ『東京リベンジャーズ』公式サイト". *tokyo-revengers-anime.com (in Japanese)*. Retrieved on October 11, 2023.