Nine Years Ago
Konro, I like the moon more than the sun.
Huh? Benimaru, you're not making an excuse for not being able to use Nichirin, are you?
No, I'm not.
Keep saying stuff like that and the boss'll yell at you again.
I told you, it's not like that.
But I do like that Akatsuki you use more than I like Nichirin.
The moon will wane quickly, though, depending on the sun's light.
Akatsuki is a double-edged sword.
It can't be used without a trustworthy sun. It's a completely reckless technique.
Benimaru, you can shine on your own,
so you'd better listen to the boss and make Nichirin your own.
I know.
Come on, let's get going, knucklehead!
Yes, boss!
Asakusa Hikeshi
Previous Chief
Shinmon
Hibachi
Fire Force
Chapter 3
Episode 14 "With the Sun at His Back"
Please don't... lay me to... rest.
Please don't kill me.
Látom.
No Infernal since Miyamoto has been able to converse using words,
but now, it's suddenly happening frequently.
It's gotta be the effects of the Great Cataclysm, right?
An earthquake?
The Tama riverfront and Sumida riverfront got two pillars simultaneously?
The sixth pillar, as is standard, is under attack by Haijima and the Imperial Army.
But it's likely that they're shorthanded when it comes to the seventh pillar.
The seventh one is at the Sumida riverfront. That's close to Asakusa.
This time, the 8th should move out!
Don't forget that we in the 8th are traitors.
This is no time to be saying stuff like that!
Is Mr. Strongest staying out of this one, too?
This is the Empire's fight.
It's not mine.
We just got some breaking news.
TAMA RIVERFRONT
Near the sixth pillar, as is now the norm,
the presence of a giant Infernal has been confirmed.
Meanwhile, at the seventh pillar, unlike previous events,
SUMIDA RIVERFRONT
the presence of a giant Infernal has not been confirmed.
However, a human-sized Infernal has been spotted floating in the air nearby.
Beni.
Yeah.
That's the previous boss.
Are we being tricked by a kitsune or something?
I'll go and give the seventh pillar a welcome.
Captain Shinmon, you're going yourself?
What's come over you all of a sudden?
No one else interfere.
This is my fight.
The sixth pillar.
We're all pretty used to this by now, aren't we, Kurono-kun?
I hate strong types.
Can't we leave this to the 2nd?
A seventh pillar has appeared,
and the 7th is deploying, so apparently, they're not considered necessary.
Finish this quickly and reduce the overall overtime pay.
Still, to think we'd get used to seeing stuff like this.
What is this world coming to?
Asakusa, Sumida Riverfront
Asakusa, Sumida Riverfront.
The skies above the seventh pillar.
The Skies Above the Seventh Pillar
The Pillar's Colossal Giant
The Pillar's colossal giant, the demon Shinmon Hibachi.
Demon Shinmon Hibachi
In the skies
In the skies to the west...
to the west
Asakusa Special Fire Force Company 7's captain, Shinmon Benimaru.
Asakusa Special Fire Force Company 7 Captain
Shinmon Benimaru
Over the waters of the Sumida riverfront
Over the waters of the Sumida riverfront, they manage to face off.
they manage to face off
Why'd you come back, you damned geezer?
As soon as they meet, the situation is explosive.
As soon as they meet, the situation is explosive
Destroy!
Destroy! Destroy!
With no restraint... Destroy!
With no restraint
Destroy
Destroy the Tokyo Empire!
Destroy the Tokyo Empire
Kagetsu
Hibana, this way! Hurry up!
I'm wearing heels!
You guys come this way, too!
There's no mistake. That's our previous chief.
A doppelganger?
You mean that demon Infernal?
That is a man who loved Asakusa more than anyone else.
Asakusa Hikeshi's previous chief...
Shinmon Hibachi.
You haven't changed a bit... knucklehead!
Given the state you're in, I bet you still can't fire off a decent Nichirin.
It's because you're like that that I had to come back from hell.
I, Hibachi, have returned to show you what you've nearly forgotten: a real Nichirin!
When you watched me, what did you see?
Did you forget your fate?
My being an Asakusa Hikeshi encompasses all of that.
You're the one who's hung up about his fate.
And what do we call guys like you?
You're the one who used to say it all the time.
You knucklehead!
What d'you think you're doing, you damned geezer? I was just brawling!
The problem is the kind of fight it was, you knucklehead!
Ow.
You say not to fight, but what about you, huh?
Looks like you got another harsh scolding from the boss.
All I did was fight.
So, I heard that you sent Kantaro flying in the shopping district.
Yeah. He pissed me off.
Was that your fight, Beni?
My fight? What's that supposed to mean?
He's the one who brought the fight to me.
He was brawling in the middle of the street, so I told him he was in my way.
Benimaru, you're incredibly strong.
You'll grow much stronger than me in no time.
I'm just a knucklehead.
Those who have not will never gain anything.
Those worthy of possessing much will gain greatly.
Just having the power means that you'll get extras along with it.
Fame, people's trust...
and because of that, even fear.
It's not fair, but that's just reality.
You know, the boss
is telling you not to use your power, and all that comes with it, the wrong way.
He wants you to know how to use the spotlight.
Was that fight today really your fight, Beni?
I won't make this any more complicated.
Just grow up to be a smart, thoughtful man.
Smart and thoughtful? I understand even less now!
You'll just have to figure it out for yourself.
Konro!
You told Benimaru more than you needed to again, didn't you?
Not at all. You just don't say enough, boss.
Beni still thinks you don't have any hopes for him.
Don't coddle the boy!
If he doesn't get it after a solid hit, then that's all he amounts to.
Even if it means that Beni grows into a monster?
He may grow into an even bigger idiot than the knucklehead he is.
But, you know, Konro...
Asakusa's Hikeshi aren't like those Holy Sol fire soldiers
with their divine protection.
Managing Asakusa here
can only be done by massive idiots.
The Holy Sol fire soldiers work under the sun's divine protection
and take the lives of the Infernals.
Which means that a god takes the responsibility for them.
But we Hikeshi take those lives with our own hands.
The responsibility lies with no one else but us.
Those stolen lives, those deaths... We're the ones who shoulder them.
Only a complete moron could do something like that, right?
Beni is...
Yeah. He understands, in his own way.
He knows the weight of taking on that kind of resolve.
And that's why, if Benimaru doesn't have that resolve...
He can't fire off Nichirin.
Don't ever tell him any of this.
When he does use Nichirin, I'll be the one to tell him.
Yes, sir.
Fire! Fire!
It's an Infernal!
It's Secchan who caught fire.
Understood. Now, stand back.
No! Please wait! My mom didn't do anything wrong!
Please don't kill her!
Are you Setsuko's son?
Please just let my mom go!
Sorry, but I can't do that.
I'm begging you!
My mom raised me all on her own!
When I grow up, I'll finally be able to repay her!
Please, just let her go!
It's dangerous here! Get back!
I'm begging you! Please don't do this!
Let go of me, Benimaru! I know you understand!
There's no other choice.
9,568 people.
Do you know what that number is, Benimaru?
Yes, sir.
It's the number of Infernals that Asakusa's Hikeshi have laid to rest over the years.
We've killed 9,568 people.
And today, I killed number 9,569.
I carry the responsibility for taking 278 lives,
and I will continue to kill.
Asakusa is my town,
but I can't continue forever.
Benimaru, how long are you gonna keep running?
Find your resolve! The resolve to carry the weight of people's deaths!
That's what it means to be an Asakusa Hikeshi.
Get out, Benimaru.
And don't come back until you find the resolve
to shoulder Nichirin.
Fire Force
Chapter 3
Fire Force
Chapter 3
Carrying the weight of the dead...
A single man shouldering Nichirin, the sun...
For a single man to imitate a god...
Nothing could be more arrogantly foolish.
There are no gods in Asakusa.
The living and the dead all entrust their lives to the head of the Hikeshi.
Iai Chop, Form Seven...
Nichirin.
As long as I am the head of the Asakusa Hikeshi, Asakusa is my town!
Shouldering the sun,
and the stolen lives' grief, rage, resentment—
all those emotions that change just as the sun's form changes.
That burden's too heavy for a doddering geezer to carry forever.
Who's running, you damned geezer?
I have the resolve.
Ever since the Asakusa Hikeshi took me in,
Asakusa is my town.
Looks like he finally found his resolve.
That knucklehead.
I didn't do anything wrong.
I just did the same thing you did.
Yes, that's right.
Those who kill... can be killed, too.
The grown-ups all adore you,
but I don't understand it.
What authority do you have to go around taking lives?
It's just as you say, son. I don't understand it, either.
That's why...
the head of Asakusa's Hikeshi... can never be someone sensible.
It has to be an unrepentant, indisputable knucklehead.
Who gave you permission to die that easily?
Quit getting hung up on how I died!
You knucklehead!
Iai Chop...
Form One!
Kagetsu!
Form One
Kagetsu
Form Three...
Form Five!
Form Three
Akebono
Akebono!
Sokujitsu!
Form Five
What is going on in this fight between those two?
Did ocean waves always look like that?
Their powerful flames are bringing Adolla closer.
People's images of the ocean are affecting this world's oceans.
It's the same for our previous chief.
It's true he was a powerful man,
but even he wasn't a match for Waka as he is now.
Everyone back in Asakusa...
The image we have of the old chief...
In the end, he died hated,
but even so, it's true that he earned a lot of awe and respect.
Waka! You've got unfinished business, right?
Show him! Show the old boss!
Since that day, you've been the one to carry Asakusa!
All that's left is to shoulder the true Nichirin!
Benimaru!
You took the trouble to come all the way back to the world of the living, right, boss?
I've got something to show you.
This time, you'd better not die so easily!
Can you do it, though, Benimaru?
You came back to the living world!
I'm not gonna be so cold as to send you straight back!
You want some tea or something? Come on!
Iai Chop, Form Five...
Sokujitsu!
Akebono!
Kagetsu!
Form Two...
Gekko!
Form Two
This is...
What kind of light is this?
Below you, Benimaru.
I'll blast you to nothing!
Form Four: Sekijitsu!
Form Four
Sekijitsu
That's unreal.
The impact and heat are warping the surface of the sea.
There's nothing left in the path of the old chief's flames.
But the old chief already knows.
That guy's the child of flame, Kagutsuchi.
Any and all flames are Benimaru's allies.
How is Benimaru so strong?
Strong and weak have nothing to do with logic. That's what's so great!
The strong are strong! And Waka is strong!
So they showed up, too, huh?
Waka!
Those guys...
You're as much of a beast as ever, I see.
I am Shinmon Benimaru!
After the previous chief's death, I succeeded Konro!
A lot happened, and Asakusa's Hikeshi became Special Fire Force Company 7,
and now I serve as its boss!
I caused the previous boss a lot of hardship,
but on this occasion, I have come to fight!
Beni...
I will not shame the name of Shinmon that you gave me, boss!
Please observe my style of Hikeshi!
Are you gonna kill me?
Have I your permission?
Guys!
Yeah!
This is what you call a Hikeshi?
I'm sorry, guys!
Since I'm just a kid who still hasn't grown up,
the previous boss had to came back as a ghost!
In order for him to feel at ease and go back,
we'll have to show him our Hikeshi!
Sir!
Yeah!
Waka, take care of the old boss for us!
So, kid, what kind of mischief are you about to commit?
Sorry to keep you waiting.
This is my Nichirin.
Iai Chop,
Form Seven...
Nichirin.
Iai Chop Form Seven
Nichirin
Here it comes.
Th-This light...
This is unmistakably Nichirin!
That bold figure with Nichirin, the sun, at his back. He's like one of the Wisdom Kings!
Now that's an Asakusa Hikeshi!
Waka!
Boss!
What a ridiculous ruckus.
It's just what I'd expect from you.
So this is your resolve—your Nichirin, then?
Sorry.
But, y'know, I still like this way better.
You really are a complete moron!
Would you make the sun and the moon both yours?
Nichirin Akatsuki.
Nichirin Akatsuki
Bathed in the light of the sun, the moon grows even more crimson!
With all his body and heart...
This is Shinmon Benimaru's Hikeshi.
Thank you for everything.
Not bad.
Beni!
Beni, is the old boss...
Yeah.
I used every fiber of my being to send him off.
I see.
He treated me like a knucklehead right up to the very end.
But that was proof that the old idiot approved of me, I guess.
That Nichirin was pretty impressive, huh?
Yeah. It wasn't bad.
Moron. What're you crying for?
Well, both you and the boss are so hardheaded.
So I'm crying in your place.
I'm gonna keep counting on you, Lieutenant.
Bloom and fall. Then, having fallen, bloom.
Asakusa's crimson brawling blossoms.
This was a reading of "With the Sun at His Back,"
concerning Asakusa's Hikeshi's second leader.
And here ends the recitation.
Episode 14
With the Sun at His Back
To Be Continued
Fire Force Chapter 3
Next Time
If the culmination point of people's imaginings is what the White Clad are after...
Before the world is destroyed, I want to know about my family.
Next time, "Birth."
Episode 15
Birth
Return to the great flame of fire. Látom.