Saburō Miki (鈴木三樹三郎 Suzuki Mikisaburou) is an antagonist in Kyoto Winds and Edo Blossoms. He is Itou Kashitaro's younger brother and the Captain of the Ninth Division.
His character only appears in games, not in the anime, and is historically based on Suzuki Mikisaburō.
Personality
Unlike his brother, Miki is not only arrogant, but outspoken, direct, and abrasive. He is very straightforward in hurling insults to the other Shinsengumi members without hiding his intention to pick a fight with them, particularly towards those who are on Kondo's side. Regardless of his delinquent-like qualities, he is close with his older brother whom he genuinely admired and loved. He can't go against his brother and would obey to whatever Itou told him without question. His insults towards the other Shinsengumi captains usually was to flaunt his brother's superiority. He is also perceptive, able to correctly guess Chizuru's real gender.
After Itou's death, Miki became vengeful. His dislike immediately grew into full-blown hatred towards the Shinsengumi. However, Miki isn't so small-minded to resent the Shinsengumi in its entirety, only directing his vendetta against the captains whom he deemed responsible for his brother's death. For this reason, he didn't hold a grudge against Souma and Chizuru even though they're with the Shinsengumi who supported Kondo's faction, and only fought them because they're standing on his way to get revenge.
In Hakuōki: Kyoto Winds
Chapter 2
Miki followed his brother to Kyoto to join the Shinsengumi after Heisuke invited them while visiting Edo. Miki was appointed to be the Captain of the Ninth Division. Like his brother, Miki soon earned the dislike of everyone from Shieikan, especially because Miki didn't make any attempt to hide the fact he's looking down on them while openly mocking Kondo and the others. Together with his brother, they approached several warriors to coax them into joining their faction.
Chapter 3
Miki suspected that Chizuru was a woman, so he confronted her when she was about to take a bath alone. He made his suspicion clear by pointing out unusual facts that made her different from other men. When Chizuru denied his accusation, Miki tried to forcefully undress her, but was stopped by Souma and Nomura who vehemently defended that Chizuru is a guy. They were interrupted by Okita, Heisuke, and Shinpachi who heard the commotion. Miki decided to give up for the time being and left.
In Ginsei no Shou, it's revealed that sometimes after the incident, Itou and Miki approached Souma to win him over to their side, and so Miki apologized for the incident last time. Despite Souma accepting his apology, Miki didn't believe that Souma being sincere, but was shut down by Itou. Both tried to dissuade him from following Kondou by pointing out the flaws in his leadership. Miki spoke of Chizuru's presence in the Shinsengumi as an example of Kondou's flaw for allowing a powerless person to join. However, Souma defended Chizuru, much to Miki's displeasure who thought that Souma was wasting his potential by picking the wrong side.
Chapter 4
Itou discovered the Shinsengumi's secret and finally decided to leave it for good by forming the Guardians of the Imperial Tomb. Miki and the others from Itou's faction along with Heisuke and Saitou, followed Itou as well. At the day of their departure, Chizuru bid them farewell while giving her appreciation for everything they did. When Souma and Nomura came, Miki belittled them again by saying the fact that Saitou and Heisuke chose to join the Guardians of Imperial Tomb proved them making the right choice, annoying Souma and Nomura. Before leaving, he told Chizuru his little regret for not able to find out about her secret.
Months later, Itou schemed to assassinate Kondou, which led to him being killed instead. Miki and the other Guardians of the Imperial Tomb found Itou's body and then ambushed by both the Shinsengumi and Satsuma-Chōshū alliance. Miki and a few of his comrades managed to escape from Aburanokōji before the worst could happen. In Souma's route, not long after the attack, the enraged Miki went to the Shinsengumi compound, swearing revenge against Kondou, Hijikata, and the other Captains for murdering his brother. Souma, who was on guard, fought Miki briefly. Miki was forced to retreat when Chizuru was about to call the others, but not before telling Chizuru to convey his message that he will have his vengeance.
Chapter 5 (Souma)
Miki joined the Satsuma-Chōshū alliance as his way to take revenge on the Shinsengumi. He and his troop found Souma and Chizuru and captured them. He found a bottle of Water of Life from Chizuru's bag, so Chizuru lied by saying it's a deadly poison to prevent him from knowing the truth. Miki forced Souma to drink the supposed poison as he refused to give him a warrior's death. After Souma seemed to have died, Miki attempted to make Chizuru drink the water as well. Before Chizuru could swallow the water, Souma awakened as a Fury and proceeded to kill the entire troop. Miki tried to fight back, but was easily defeated by Souma. He was spared, however, as Souma hesitated at the last second due to his sympathy for Miki's motivation. Miki retreated while telling Souma he won't think that he owe him for this.
In Hakuōki: Edo Blossoms
Miki appears exclusively on Souma's route.
Gallery
With Kanryuusai Takeda
With Kanryuusai Takeda and Sanosuke Harada
With Kashitarou Itou and Keisuke Sannan
Trivia
- Miki is mentioned as "Suzuki", Itou's younger brother and soon-to-be Captain of the Ninth Division, in an unlockable Ephemera scene in Shinsengumi Kitan. According to Harada, he can barely hold a sword.