Chapter 265

## Keyhole

* Volume
* Magazine

**Keyhole** (鍵穴, *Kagiana*) is the 265th chapter of the *Golden Kamuy* manga.

## Synopsis

Tsukishima and Koito takes note of the soldiers that were with them during the getaway and that the three men men on horseback who split off should have arrived at the rendezvous point a long time ago. Kikuta suggests that they split up and look for them while warning them to look out for the Russians and Tsukishima asks Koito to stay in the vicinity of the church as the three men may show up. Elsewhere in town, Ariko and Kantarou shows concern for Hijikata as Hijikata declares that they will get Asirpa back and to look for the 7th Division. Meanwhile, Sofia’s men prepares to find Sofia’s whereabouts.

As Koito stands guard, he thinks back to the look on Tsurumi’s face when he saw Sofia’s picture and wonders what Tsurumi will talk to her about. He sneaks into a side entrance of the church and spots Tsukishima attempting to peek through a keyhole. The two of them argues about believing in Tsurumi before Tsukishima coldy asks Koito why was it that he was able to speak normally to Tsurumi earlier and that perhaps he had stopped being able to trust him. Just then, they hear Tsurumi ordering Nikaidou to stand by outside and keep watch on the church so that no one can enter.

Koito and Tsukishima hear Tsurumi approaching the door and barely manages to hide under a desk as Tsurumi checks the perimeter to make sure that no one else is inside the church before returning to the room with Asirpa and Sofia. A flashback occurs to the day that the Russian revolutionaries fought against the secret police and Sofia notices that the picture of her, Wilk, and Kiroranke had been damaged before picking it up. Sofia wakes up, noticing that she had been tied up before seeing Asirpa by her side who can only grunt through her mouth gag.

Tsurumi gets up and takes Asirpa’s mouth gag off, asking her not to shout before taking notice of her headband, commenting that it suits her and that he is glad that they could meet again since they didn’t have nearly enough time to talk back in Karafuto. He then speaks to Sofia, saying that he always thought that they would get another chance to meet again but Sofia just shouts, asking who he is. Tsurumi sits back down, saying that since they both had changed in the past eighteen years, it is no surprise that she does not remember him.

Tsurumi pulls out Sofia’s picture, asking if she really does not remember him while addressing her by the name of “Miss Zoya”. He continues, wondering if she had also forgotten about his family as well and that since all of his photographs had been burned up, the only proof of the existence of his family are the finger bones belonging to his daughter Olga and his wife Fina. Sofia is shocked and cries out the name that Tsurumi had used as a spy, and Tsurumi thanks her for remembering as his brain fluid begins to leak out once more.

Asirpa asks about Sofia’s picture in Tsurumi’s hand and from outside of the room, Koito is surprised to hear that Tsurumi had a wife and a daughter, however Tsukishima is clearly upset about the revelation. Tsurumi states that after Kiroranke had died, he was able to obtain some letters from his personal belongings, including letters from Sofia during her time in Akou Prison. He then suggests that with what he knows and the letters Sofia received from Kiroranke, they should tell Asirpa everything, including who killed the Ainu, and why her father had to die so that they can take her “pain” away.

## Character Appearances

* Tokushirou Tsurumi
* Fina *(Flashback)* *(Mentioned)*
* Olga *(Flashback)* *(Mentioned)*
* Hajime Tsukishima
* Otonoshin Koito
* Mokutarou Kikuta
* Toshizou Hijikata
* Rikimatsu Ariko
* Kantarou Okuyama
* Sofia
* Kiroranke *(Cameo)* *(Mentioned)*
* Wilk *(Cameo)* *(Mentioned)*
* Kouhei Nikaidou
* Asirpa