Episode 9

**The Hero's Melancholy** (ヒーローの憂鬱, *Hiirou no Yuu-utsu*) is the 9th episode of *Odd Taxi* anime series.

## Synopsis

* Odokawa and Koshiro discuss the recording of Dobu, however Koshiro is still in denial of Kenshiro's involvement in Dobu's plan. Odokawa does not blame him, and reveals that Kakihana was abducted and is being held captive. Though Koshiro wants to help, Odokawa is not ready to bring in the police. He wants to wait to bring down Yano and Dobu in one fell swoop.
* While waiting for Dobu, Odokawa sends a message to Kabasawa saying that Dobu will be at Shibaura Wharf in one hour, urging him to be a hero.
* After sleeping with Kabasawa, Reina begins to list all his faults, including not uploading any videos lately, refusing to actually catch Dobu, sleeping with his female followers, and his followers starting to realize that he is using his crusade to get money. Now angry, Kabasawa tells her that it is society's fault for thinking he is a hero in the first place. After she leaves, he receives Odokawa's message about Dobu, and resolves to follow this lead.
* Odokawa begins driving, and reveals to Dobu that the girl dating Kakihana is part of Yano's gang, and that he is being held captive in Shibaura Wharf. Dobu refuses to interfere with Yano directly, due to the fact that, while both hate each other, they made a pact to never mess with each other's business, as both make money for their boss. Suddenly, Skull Mask (Tanaka) pulls alongside them and begins shooting at Odokawa and ramming his taxi with a van, but Odokawa ends the pursuit when he swerves to avoid hitting a cat, and does a 180, causing Skull Mask to swerve in turn, and crash his van. Dobu wants to take the opportunity to retrieve his gun, but Odokawa refuses to stop, and quickly drives away.
* Odokawa and Dobu find the warehouse that Yano is using, and Dobu fights Sekiguchi to buy Odokawa time to rescue Kakihana and leave in his taxi. Dobu defeats Sekiguchi, but as he leaves, someone shoots him, and another person appears behind him.
* While driving, Odokawa recalls a memory about Kakihana's Yosegi Puzzle Box, and how his mother smashed it after she tried to get the family stamp out of it. When Odokawa reveals that the reason he is remembering is just to call Kakihana pathetic, they both laugh.
* Kabasawa is revealed to have caught Dobu, and is about to post about it, only for Dobu to overpower him. Kabasawa surrenders, and admits that he hates his current lifestyle, due to the stress of trying to prove he is not a coward. Dobu spares him, and advises him to find a mentor he respects, but still demands compensation. Kabasawa offers his new apartment, car, and what was left of the money he made from his crusade.
* Odokawa takes Kakihana to Gouriki's clinic, where Gouriki asks Odokawa why he is trying to stop Dobu and everyone in his organization. He reasons that it is because of Shirakawa, and while he admits she is a victim, it does not excuse what she did. Odokawa objects, bringing up Stockholm syndrome, and says that the only defense against Dobu she had was to concede to him.
* Kabasawa releases a new video, where he announces that he will delete all of his social media, and that he is calling off the hunt for Dobu. Odokawa is impressed as Dobu has finally gotten Kabasawa off his back.
* Dobu throws Kabasawa's phone into the sea, sparing him, but forcing him to walk home, as he takes Kabasawa's car.
* Kakihana, finally accepting that he was just a pawn, throws his engagement ring into the river, however he regrets this immediately and goes into the water to retrieve it.
* Gouriki goes to Odokawa's home where he meets the landlord, who reveals that Odokawa is moving to avoid bringing her trouble. Gouriki asks how long she has known him, and she reveals that she is his legal guardian. When she took him in, Odokawa used the money the NGO gave him to pay for his living expenses, but ever since he became a taxi driver, he has asked to send the money to the NGO. Odokawa has been living there since fifth grade. Gouriki asks where Odokawa used to live, and she reveals that he lived in Shiroku in Chichibu. Gouriki asks about Odokawa's parents, and she reveals an awful truth: they are dead, much to Gouriki's shock, considering Odokawa had seemingly believed that they were still alive.

## Characters

* Koshiro Daimon (voice only)
* Hiroshi Odokawa
* Kenshiro Daimon (mentioned)
* Dobu
* Reina
* Taichi Kabasawa
* Shiho Ichimura (mentioned)
* Fuyuki Yamamoto (mentioned)
* Yano (mentioned)
* Hajime Tanaka
* Eiji Kakihana
* Sekiguchi
* Ayumu Gouriki
* Miho Shirakawa (mentioned)

## Trivia

* Yosegi is a type of traditional Japanese marquetry developed in Edo period Japan, in the town of Hakone. It resembles a type of mosaic, and is commonly found on the outside of traditional Japanese secret boxes or puzzle boxes. See also The History Of Japanese Puzzle Boxes.
* A family stamp (or seal) is used instead of a signature on many documents in Japan, ranging from simple delivery slips to official forms such as bank applications and marriage registrations. Small, circular or square seals are dipped in red ink. See also “Hanko” and “Inkan”: Japanese Stamps and Personal Seals