Chapter 243

## The Superior Privates

**The Superior Privates**, or **Superior Privates** (上等兵たち, *Jōtō-hei-tachi*) is the 243rd chapter of the *Golden Kamuy* manga.

## Synopsis

Kikuta warns Usami not to masturbate too much, but Usami claims that his investigation method is the only technique that has produced results and that, since Kikuta let the criminal get away, he should just shut up. Kikuta laments that the Superior Privates in the 7th Division are all weird, including Ogata, but Usami gets annoyed that Kikuta would lump him together with Ogata.

Kikuta says that there was no one better at sniping than Ogata and that Tsurumi even paid special attention to him, however Usami becomes even more upset and brings up Hanazawa Yuusaku's death on 203 Hill. Usami recounts that while Ogata was in a state of delirium, he had uttered the name of his deceased brother, inadvertently revealing to Kikuta that Ogata was the one who killed Hanazawa.

Kikuta is puzzled by Ogata's motives, noting that the two brothers seemed to get along well with each other. Usami goes on to reveal that he had egged on Ogata into killing Hanazawa and gloats that Ogata never got the love he desired from his father even after killing his half-brother, so he and ended up feeling miserable and upset about the fratricide.

As Usami climaxes, he recalls speaking with Ogata about having riled up the group of traitors behind the scene and wonders what it is about Tsurumi that has left him dissatisfied. However, Usami quickly guesses that Hanazawa Koujirou's death was the motive and thinks back to the time when Ogata killed his father, becoming visibly angry when Tsurumi praises Ogata.

Once Tsurumi had left the carriage, Usami wonders if Ogata's goal was to become the leader of the 7th Division and that's why he accepted the task of killing Hanazawa. Ogata denies it, saying that he had some things he had wanted to ask his father before killing him. Usami becomes upset, asking if Ogata was hoping that Tsurumi would show him some more love if he gains more power in the 7th Division. Once again, Ogata shoots down Usami's words, and so Usami tells him to look into "Mantetsu" and that his father was simply in the way of Tsurumi's plans.

Back in the hospital, Usami provokes Ogata about not receiving any love from anyone and accuses him of blaming his own faults on Tsurumi, calling him a piece in Tsurumi's plan. Ogata hits back, calling Usami the cheapest piece on the board, leading to Usami taking his bayonet out to stab him. However, Ogata quickly smashes Usami in the face with a bedpan before running away. A 7th Division officer enters the room, asking Usami if he is alright before revealing that Mishima is pursuing Ogata at the moment and that he will eventually meet up with the other rebels. Usami asks the officer if he heard what Ogata had called him, but the officer denies hearing any of their conversation. Usami is visibly upset and irritated about being called a piece.

In the present time, Usami continues to masturbate in a fury, cursing out Ogata. He believes that Ogata will catch wind of the serial killings and come to Sapporo to cause trouble for Tsurumi once again. Elsewhere, Ogata is out hunting ducks. He manages to return with one, saying that he has finally gotten used to shooting left-handed. Hijikata wonders if it means that their sniper has recovered, but Ogata refutes it, saying that a person can only be called a sniper when they shoot people.

## Character Appearances

* Tokishige Usami
* Hyakunosuke Ogata
* Tokushirou Tsurumi *(Flashback)*
* Kikuta
* Yuusaku Hanazawa *(Flashback)*
* Koujirou Hanazawa *(Flashback)*
* Toshizou Hijikata
* Tatsuma Ushiyama