The Stars Meet, Searching the Galaxy (星迎え、雲漢の調べ Hoshi mukae, unkan no shirabe) is the third episode of Hakuōki OVA (2021) that is meant to be an extension of the main plot of Hakuōki: Shinsengumi Kitan. This episode gives more insight about the story from the Shinsengumi members' point of view rather than Chizuru's.
Plot
Sakai struggles with his bloodlust and Kaoru offers him the powder to relieve his pain, explaining that he is not Chizuru. Chizuru wakes up worried about Sakai.
The trio explain what happened in the textile shop
The Shinsengumi discuss their further actions
Next morning Hijikata scolds the trio for causing trouble in the textile shop where they apprehended the fake Shinsengumi while looking for a fabric to order a yukata for Chizuru. Hijikata emphasizes that Chizuru is meant to be considered a man but Sano insists that they all know she is a woman. Others enter the room to announce that they have questioned the caught fake Shinsengumi who informed them that the plan is to blend into the guard procession when the shōgun arrives in Kyoto and assassinate him. Hijikata and Sannan assume that the escaped Rasetsu soldiers will be used to carry out the assasination, and the trio is surprised to hear that someone escaped as they have not heard about it until now, but Okita retorts that they were out drinking that day, which is why they were not aware of the situation. The decision is made to be discreet and continue searching for the place where the escaped Rasetsu are held to make sure the crime is prevented.
While the Shinsengumi is searching for the enemy hideout, Yamazaki keeps questioning the prisoner about the location, and Hijikata sends Chizuru to make sure the prisoner does not die. When the guy wakes up, he sees Chizuru and mistakes her for Kaoru in disguise, spilling the information. The decision is made to raid the place the same night, and Chizuru decides to prepare more food for the Shinsengumi. Saitou joins seeing her sincere concern and helps her out. Chizuru uses the opportunity to ask about Sakai but Saitou does not have any definite information, he only warns her to prepare for the worst.
When Kondou learns about the situation, he rushes to join his subordinates but Hijikata insists on him staying and taking care of Itou and his men. Hijikata promises to kill all the Rasetsu as he is responsible for forcing them to take Ochimizu.
The escaped Rasetsu after killing their captors
Sakai attacking the Shinsengumi
The Shinsengumi arrive to the hideout, and Kazama watches from the shadows. The Tosa samurai enrage the Rasetsu that are being held in the compound, and they attack each other. When Hijikata and others enter the house, all the Tosa samurai are dead, and the Rasetsu blame him for turning them into monsters. A battle begins, and the Rasetsu turn out to be stronger than expected, so Hijikata orders to fight 2 vs. 1. Meanwhile, Kaoru visits Sakai who is suffering from bloodlust and offers him another vial of Ochimizu. When all the Rasetsu have been beheaded, an unexpected enemy appears in front of the Shinsengumi - Sakai. He turns into a Rasetsu, his vision is blurred, so instead of his former comrades he sees demons and starts attacking them. They attempt to stop him, but he is much stronger than them, his cut off tissues grow back together, and none of the Shinsengumi are able to defeat him. Eventually his muscles increase in size making him a huge super-human being as a side-effect of taking 2 vials of Ochimizu.
While the Shinsengumi are fighting, Kazama is watching, and Amagiri informs him that the demons from Tosa (including Kaoru) have fled from the capital, and both demons leave.
Hijikata attempts to take on Sakai by himself and ends up seriously wounded, but he does not give up and eventually pierces the monster's heart with his sword. Sakai turns back to his human form and stops hallucinating, falling in Hijikata's arms. His last words are whether Chizuru is safe, and he dies right after hearing a positive answer. The samurai return back to their headquarters and treat their wounds.
Hijikata leaves the room asking Chizuru to bring him tea, and Saitou follows him to give him the letter Sakai wrote for his parents. Next morning Hijikata asks Chizuru to send the letter to Sakai's parents in the country along with some money as a condolence gift. When Chizuru is about to leave, Hijikata adds that he has something for her as well.
Everyone looking at the sky
Later in the evening, Chizuru and Saitou join the trio at the festival, Chizuru is wearing a new yukata. Heisuke is not sure if this is actually Chizuru and asks her where she got the yukata from, and Sano gives her a compliment. Chizuru explains that it was from Hijikata, and the trio is shocked while Okita makes a joke and asks for Saitou's opinion. Saitou says that she looks lovely, and Chizuru blushes and turns away. During the festival, Chizuru admires the beauty of the surroundings and Heisuke is mesmerized by Chizuru's look which he cannot hide. Sano supports him by saying that Chizuru is the most radiant woman in the capital. Chizuru feels awkward and runs away, so Shinpachi scolds Sano for such words. The episode ends with everyone looking at the Milky Way.