Asumu
Please sit in a well-lit room, at a comfortable distance, when watching.
Hibiki is... a man who transforms into an Oni and saves people.
Since meeting this strange man, something within me, Adachi Asumu, has begun to change.
Todoroki is having doubts about accompanying Hibiki for his summer taiko training.
I wasn't able to do what I hoped for in band either.
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Volume Twenty­Four
Burning Crimson
What is that?!
Stop, Todoroki. That's a Dorotabou.
But...!
Stop!
Explosive Strike Style!
Good work.
Alright. Let's contact HQ, then meet up with Hibiki and Todoroki.
Okay.
Young man.
Ah, I'm sorry!
Umm... your bill is... 620 yen.
Your change is 380 yen.
- Thank you for the meal. - Thank you very much!
Thank you very much!
Thank you for the food.
Yes, Tachibana's.
Boy!
Ah, Hibiki. Working hard?
Yeah. You working hard too, boy?
Just guessing from the sound of your voice.
Really?
Good luck with band tomorrow.
Thanks.
I'll take the call downstairs.
Umm, Hibiki.
Hm?
Is your summer warm-up going well?
Aren't you well-informed?
Well...
It's one step away from heating up, I think.
Good luck, then.
I'm switching over to Hinaka.
Okay.
Yes. Sorry, this is Hinaka.
Good work.
No, you're the one working hard.
No, no, no.
It's me. How's it going?
It was a Dorotabou.
Then is it multiplying?
Oh wait... how are you doing, Hibiki?
Sorry, boss.
The multiplication has already begun.
I didn't make it in time.
But y'know... I plan to make a quick recovery.
Okay.
I see.
I think Kasumi should be there soon.
Ibuki also just called.
I've explained the situation to him.
Oh, so he's heading this way?
Yeah.
Got it.
Umm, Hibiki!
How is Todoroki doing?
Todoroki?
Todoroki is...
...depressed.
Well, what can you do?
This is his first time fighting an enemy he isn't specialized in.
This happened in the middle of our taiko practice.
Now he's been thrown into a real battle.
After being depressed, one grows.
Umm... Sorry, but... I'm counting on you to take care of him!
Roger that.
Well, it's decided.
Just leave it to me.
Okay.
Mud
Multiply! Multiply!
Multiply more and more!
When you multiply, everyone will attack the village.
They multiplied.
They multiplied!
Kasumi!
Thanks for waiting!
Ah! I'm sorry we had you come all this way.
Don't mention it. I brought the package.
Here it is.
Thank you very much!
Where's Hibiki?
He's training by himself over there.
I think he's focusing on practice for turning crimson.
I see.
Then let's not bother him.
So, how are you doing, Todoroki?
Just thinking about what's coming up...
So I'm supposed to fight with these?
Actually, earlier...
I messed up because I was too fixated on the guitar.
Is that so?
So...
this time, I have to discard my fixation...
and make up for my mistakes.
Fixation, huh?
Hmm...
Could it be, Todoroki...
you're thinking, "Why do I have to use the taiko?"
Ah... Kasumi...
you're pretty sharp.
Sorry, sorry! Well, you see, you're a string instrument specialist,
so I think it'd be weird if you weren't fixated on the guitar.
Honestly...
that is true.
Ah, no...
It's just that...
Zanki and Hibiki told me to use my own style.
I was told "Since you're you, do it your own way."
I was able to get this far because those words encouraged me.
I'm sorry for saying all those things!
No, no, it's okay.
I was thinking about what Hinaka would say right now.
Cold!
I'm sorry!
Hey, Todoroki.
What's the reason you became a guitar Oni?
The reason I'm thinking of playing the drums?
Yeah.
Why are you asking?
For one thing, I think it's cool.
Also...
when I was a kid, my father taught me.
That makes sense!
Some guys sure have a long history behind them.
No, it's not really that long though.
But because of that, it must be rough suddenly getting stuck with the whistle.
Well, if the first one you saw was Zanki's Slashing Sound,
then of course you'd want to use the guitar, right?
Ah. That's true.
Ah, but it's not just that.
When I was a policeman—
Kendo was one of my specialties.
Speaking of, Todoroki...
By the way, Asumu...
In the past, Hibiki...
Slaying Sound Trumpet!
And... Slaying Sound...
Guitar!
...also practiced those. Have you heard about that?
Eh, no... this is the first I've heard of it.
That's the first time I've heard that.
It's because Hibiki and Zanki aren't the types to talk about themselves.
That's true.
Kasumi, who did you hear that from?
From my dad.
I see.
By the way, the one who taught Hibiki the guitar...
was Zanki's master, the previous Zanki.
For real?!
Back then, Hibiki was like you are now—
he was pouring his heart into the taiko...
and practicing the guitar was difficult for him.
Seems he rebelled against the previous Zanki.
But after that passed, Hibiki realized...
that things you don't want to do can be surprisingly useful sometimes.
Perhaps this detour might be useful too.
Because of that, this time Hibiki is acting as a mentor for Todoroki.
I see...
But...
Todoroki is so serious about the guitar...
I don't think it will be easy for him to fight with a drum.
Then, I'm going to do my best on the taiko!
Excuse me!
Good work.
Hello.
Oh, welcome.
Have a seat.
Hey, did the club captain come?
Yeah, earlier.
Sorry about that.
He said he had something to talk to you about, Adachi.
It was nothing.
So what did he tell you?
Oh, welcome!
Hello!
Asumu, the phone.
For me?
Amami Akira
Yes, Adachi here.
This is Amami.
Oh, hello.
We've met up with Hibiki, but...
there's a chance he won't make it to your performance tomorrow.
Oh, really?
So that's why you called.
Okay, thank you.
Mochida happens to be here.
I'll tell her.
Okay, bye.
Who was that from?
Ah, it was from Akira — I mean, Amami.
I see.
Looks like they won't be able to come tomorrow.
Amami...
Does she call here frequently because she's a regular customer?
Well, more or less.
But it's not just to talk to me.
I see, I see.
Welcome.
- Please come this way. - Okay.
Training
A hit.
Ah, Hibiki.
Good work.
Everyone's here.
I guess the summer guys are already appearing.
Seems like it.
For your hard work.
I wanted to practice, but we'll be battling instead.
Sorry about that.
No problem.
I was thinking it'd be nice to have a taiko festival anyway.
Taiko festival?
I see.
Todoroki!
Yes!
Did you learn how to do this?
I'll do my best!
- I'm counting on you. - Okay.
Alright!
This'll be Crimson's debut battle.
It's decided.
It's amazing, so don't chicken out.
- Alright! - Alright!
We'll call it...
a taiko festival.
Yes!
Alright.
Be careful.
Mul-ti-plied!
MULTIPLIED!
Hey!
Let us join in.
You an Oni?
Alright.
Let's go wild!
It's not the rhythm!
You're not putting your back into it!
Hibiki!
Hibiki Crimson.
Crimson
Hibiki
Crimson
Heh. So that's the parent?
Scorching Deep Crimson Style!
Scorching
Deep Crimson
Scorching
Deep Crimson
Hibiki!
Good work.
We did it!
Of course.
That's why you should listen to your seniors.
Okay!
Burning Crimson
It is as if you are wholly transparent
As if everything is passing through you
Is that not how it feels?
Boy! If you are going to journey...
Then you must have clear skies in your heart!
Hit the beat! Keep your beat!
Seek out the places that move your heart!
Hit the beat! Keep your beat!
Find what no one else can do!
That is your resonance!
Today, I'll train my hardest here too!
I got a call that Sabaki was defeated by a kappa.
I wonder if Hibiki can fight without getting hit by "that attack".
I'll show you the results of my training.
Volume Twenty­Five
Racing Azure
Volume Twenty-Five: Racing Azure.