Episode 1 Sakura

In this episode, the artist introduces to us Tetsu's desperation and his desire to join the Shinsengumi. Tetsu runs around with the Shinsengumi sign yelling 'Get out of my way!!' and barrels straight into Suzu. Tetsu yells 'Watch where you're going! Don't walk in the middle of the street!' before running off, leaving Tatsunosuke, his brother, to apologize for him. After Tatsu leaves, Suzu mutters 'Where am I supposed to walk, if not in the middle of the street?!' Tetsu heads straight for the Shinsengumi, where he demands to allowed to join the Shinsengumi. The two Shinsengumi at the door block his way and provoke Tetsu, calling him 'Chibi', at which juncture things rapidly go downhill. Tetsu uses the Shinsengumi sign to smack one of the Shinsengumi soundly on his head. Before things get worse, however, the Tenth Unit, led by Sano, charges out and tramples on poor Tetsu. Obviously, they can't see him. Tatsu leaps at the chance, kowtows and apologizes, dragging Tetsu off. Tatsu proceeds to reprimand Tetsu for his recklessness and tells him that the Shinsengumi are just a bunch of hitokiri that are out for blood. In the middle of this, however, Souji comes along with Saizou and throws a bone for Saizou to catch. Saizou knocks Tetsu into the water in his haste to get the bone. Souji treats the brothers to tea as a gesture of apology. Throughout the tea, Tetsu pulls a long face. Souji guesses (correctly) that it is because he is being bullied by the Shinsengumi, and offers to introduce him to a 'friend' he has there. Both Tetsu and Tatsu are shocked when Souji asks for 'Kondou-san', the Kyoukuchou. Naturally, Tetsu gets a tryout and he asks to fight with Okita Souji, the tensai swordsman of the Shinsengumi. He gets beaten up pretty bad by Okita's Hiraseiha but refuses to give up. Okita then moves in for the kill, but Tetsu is saved by Hijikata, who took the blow for Tetsu. Kondou initially gives permission for Tetsu to join, but Hijikata refuses to allow him join, saying that 'Swords used for revenge are not taught in the Shinsengumi' (direct translation, gomen for the poor English). Tetsu still doesn't really understand why Hijikata refuses to let him join, so Souji asks him to sneak into Wachigaiya in Shimabara, which is near the red-light district. Tetsu witnesses Hijikata kill 6 men and a woman in a matter of minutes and is somewhat traumatised by what he saw. However, he refuses to give up on joining the Shinsengumi and stays out in the rain by the Shinsengumi Tonsho entrance to prove that he is really serious.