As A Comrade (同志として Dōshi to shite) is the fifth episode of Hakuouki: Sweet School Life (Live Action). It aired on October 22, 2015. The story of Sweet School Life is set in the modern-day Japan with all the Hakuouki characters re-imagined accordingly. Instead of being samurai and fighting for their ideals, all the characters are now school teachers or students, and their day-to-day life is filled with more trivial matters, such as exams and school events. The Live Action version is meant to be a comedy with character personality enhancement, multiple references to the original story and light-hearted vibes overall.
Plot
- 1864
Memory of Chizuru getting killed
Chizuru's chest is pierced with an enemy blade, and Hijikata is frozen in shock. Chizuru wonders what would happen if they all were in a different time and whether their fates would turn out different. Hijikata recollects the events that led to this moment: they arrived at the inn in order to save Chizuru, Heisuke considered taking Ochimizu but the others talked him out of it. Having entered the inn and engaged in a battle, the Shinsengumi fought various enemies letting the vice-commander find Chizuru and bring her down safely. He succeeded in finding her but got stopped by an enemy samurai, and both Heisuke and Okita told Chizuru to go down alone. While everyone was pre-occupied with the battle, Chizuru got attacked with a sword in the heart. When the black&white memory reaches the current point, the story continues in color with furious Shinsengumi captains killing their enemies while Chizuru falls down on her knees suffocating. Saitou protects her and asks whether she is alright, revealing his love towards her.
Boss of the delinquents challenges Saitou
- 2015
The story returns to the scene where Kosuzu found unconscious Ibuki after Chizuru had been taken by a group of delinquents. He wakes up, and Saitou finds them while Sen brings Harada-sensei who calls Hijikata-sensei to join the operation to save Chizuru. Saitou catches up with the delinquents right when they are harassing Chizuru and demands to let her go, however, their leader challenges him one-on-one while his comrades take Chizuru away. Saitou removes the cover from his bamboo sword and quickly defeats the opponent, right when Harada-sensei runs to the scene.
Okita is looking through Chizuru's pictures on his phone when Heisuke finds him on the roof. As Souji notices the change in his friend's behavior, Heisuke declares that he cannot change who he is so he will like and dislike whoever he wants. Souji silently supports him and gets a call from Saitou alerting them about the situation with Chizuru. Meanwhile, Kazama is trying to guess Chizuru's thoughts by looking at her portraits on the wall when Shiranui rushes into the room to inform him about the predicament.
Everyone gathers to save Chizuru
As Harada and Saitou approach the area where Chizuru is being held, Hijikata catches up with them, and shortly after they are joined by Heisuke and Okita who happen to bring more bamboo swords for everyone. They discuss Shinpachi's absence who is most likely busy with watching the horse races.
Running towards the target building, the five repeat the story from 1864: Heisuke, scared for Chizuru, takes out a vial of Ochimizu hoping that Sannan's research could help him, and Okita notices that it looks like something which could shorten his life. Hijikata insists that it is a bad idea, and Heisuke quickly gives up and puts the vial back into his pocket. Saitou volunteers to lead the attack, and they split into groups as Heisuke prefers to go with him while Okita chooses to assist Hijikata and Harada covers the exit. They all take swords and Harada makes a remark that he would want Okita to bring him a spear instead. Heisuke says it feels nostalgic to see everyone with a sword again (referring to their prior-academy days but his words also hint at the events of 1864).
Shieikan members ready to attack
Chizuru being attacked with a knife
The group enters the building and starts attacking the delinquents in a similar way to how it was in the 1864 setting, however, instead of introducing themselves as "the Shinsengumi" Hijikata shouts that they are "members of the Shieikan". During the initial fighting, the group meets no resistance and easily defeats first opponents beating them with swords, which allows Hijikata and Okita enough time to run further and look for Chizuru. As they are stopped at the bottom of the stairs by a big bold man, taunting them, Hijikata reacts aggressively but Okita stops him and asks to let him deal with the man, the same way as it was previously in the 1864 setting. Hijikata silently agrees and rushes to look for Chizuru finding her tied up in a corner far away. As he tries to free her, he is attacked from behind and has to fight back. Finishing off the opponent, Hijikata takes Chizuru's hand, and they run back to the exit. Everyone keeps fighting and having the same conversations as in 1864, Heisuke calls for Chizuru to run down while Hijikata and Okita are busy with new opponents around, and she eventually descends, just as in the 1864 version of the events, and Okita protects Hijikata, admitting to hating him but realizing that Kondou relies on him.
Eventually, Chizuru attempts to run away but one of the fallen delinquents takes out a knife and approaches her. In the 1864's version her heart would get pierced through, however, would her fate in the new era, the one she kept thinking about back then, be any different?