The Spear that Slices the Sky (第三章 空裂く槍, Daisanshō sora saku yari) is the third episode of Hakuōki: Sekkaroku that is meant to be an extension of the main plot of Hakuōki: Shinsengumi Kitan. This episode is focused on Sanosuke Harada.
Plot
Sano, Shinpachi and a geisha
The story begins in December 1866 with Shinpachi and Sano drinking in Shimabara. Shinpachi is upset with the fact that Sano is very popular with ladies, and Sano denies his charm. When a geisha comes in and claims that she heard Sano's voice and decided to take a peek, Shinpachi gets reassured in his friend's luck with women. Frustrated, Shinpachi screams that they are both members of the Shinsengumi but quickly realizes that it might blow their cover as they are watching over Chizuru who is spying on other guests. Sano calms him down by saying that since Heisuke is with Chizuru nothing is bound to happen, when Heisuke rushes in looking for the girl.
Sano fixes Chizuru's shoe
After all the events with saving Chizuru from drunk rogue samurai, Sano takes her on patrol and she thanks him for taking care of her, but he jokes that he has only taken her with him because she is better at picking vegetables and fish. On the way back Sano compliments Chizuru for her cooking abilities and says that she will be a great wife. Her shoe strap gets torn, and Sano comes up with a temporary fix while telling Chizuru to hold onto him.
Going further, Chizuru tells Sano that he is very kind, and he jokes that he likes it more when someone compliments him rather than insults him. Approaching a checkpoint, they witness the police going through someone's luggage very thoroughly, damaging the presents for the person's wife. Having found a document, they kick the man and arrest him, and Sano explains to Chizuru that at the moment there are multiple people trying to carry secret messages outside of Kyoto. Seeing that Chizuru feels uneasy about the methods, Sano claims that is it difficult for justice to prevail in this day and age.
Kazama attempts to attack Senhime
Senhime and Kimigiku encounter Amagiri and Kazama on their way to the village of Yase. Kazama claims that they intended to see what the life was like in Yase. Amagiri asks whether something has happened in the palace that the security has been tightened, and Kazama assumes that Emperor Komei's health is far from desirable. He intends to make Senhime speak with force if needed, but Amagiri stops the potential fight between Kazama and Kimigiku. Senhime asks whether Kazama is planning to spread the rumors and ignite a conflict, to which Kazama responds negatively due to being sure about the inevitable forthcoming of the age of unrest.
Upon coming back to the headquarters, Chizuru and Sano are met by Inoue and Heisuke, with the latter complaining about Sano not bringing him along. They all notice that Chizuru is feeling down.
Later, Kondou announces that the Shinsengumi need to start working in the checkpoints. Sano remembers the situation he witnessed along with Chizuru, and Chizuru remembers what he said that day.
When Sano is on patrol, he inspects a man who claims his goods are presents for his 8 sons and daughters. As soon as he lets the man go, other policemen arrive and order to inspect the man more thoroughly claiming that one cannot be trusted only because he has not forged his documents. Sano defends the man and attempts to stop the other officers, but his subordinates remind him that it might cause trouble for the Aizu. Sano is forced to look at how the officers cut through a doll trying to find something suspicious.
Sano attacks officers to stop them from chasing his subordinate
Shiranui beats up the documents thief
When Chizuru shares her thoughts with Heisuke, he explains that it is hard for Sano to keep things from getting personal. She decides to bring lunch for Sano's squad and notices that he feels down. When they hear an order to arrest someone that is coming from the checkpoint, they rush to see what is happening and find one of Sano's subordinates protecting a man who is trying to leave Kyoto without his documents who is attacked by other officers. The man claims that he had the documents but lost them, and the Shinsengumi member confirms that this is a friend of his who definitely did have the papers. Sano interferes and takes his subordinate's side insisting on letting the man go and search for his documents. When the officers intend to pursue the man, Sano starts a fight and protects him. He calls for the policemen's feelings and sanity asking them to understand the man's wish to go home and spend New Year with his family Then he promises to cut his stomach open if the man does not come back. Shiranui observes the situation from a rooftop.
Chizuru runs after the suspected man and his friend from the Shinsengumi asking if they have found who stole the man's documents and informing them about Sano's promise. When they finally find the man and start chasing him, he hides in a narrow street running away from Chizuru. Having almost escaped, the thief bumps into Shiranui, who beats him up and forces to return the documents. When Chizuru attempts to thank him, Shiranui brushes her off by claiming that he only beat up the guy because he did not apologize after ramming into him. However, Chizuru bows to the demon anyway.
The time is almost up, and Sano is about to be forced to do as he promised, but Chizuru and others arrive just in time to provide the documents. The officials check them thoroughly and let the man leave threatening to report Sano's actions to the Aizu.
Sano is getting scolded
Itou and Hijikata scold Sano for his recklessness later that day, but Sano does not try to justify his actions even when Shinpachi and Heisuke interfere. Kondou is positive about the incident and decides not to punish Sano for what happened, but Hijikata insists on giving him a cut in the next month's pay along with all his subordinates. Sano protests and takes the full blame, which prompts Hijikata to give him a cut for half a year. Sano accepts and apologizes.
When Chizuru asks why Sano decided not to reveal his reasoning, Sano explains that men should not look for excuses. Shinpachi invites him to have a drink, and Sano jokes that due to his punishment his friend will have to pay.