E331 - A Bowl of Ramen Source: Crunchyroll Translator: Editor: Timer: QC: (Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.) [00:05] (Flashback) H     Here's your ramen! [00:07] I     Late on New Year's Eve, [00:09] I     that scruffy-looking man ordered not     New Year's soba, but a bowl of ramen. [00:16] I     "I can't eat this much." [00:19] I     Saying that, the man took two extra cups,     divided his ramen into three portions, [00:23] I     and shared them with my husband and me. [00:26] I     And after devouring his     portion in an instant, [00:30] I     he left, walking down the wintry     streets with his stomach rumbling. [00:38] I     The next year, and the year after that... SIGN    Hokuto Shinken [00:41] I     Every New Year's Eve, that man would visit. [00:44] I     He would always use     what little money he had [00:48] I     to order a bowl of ramen     and share it with us. [00:53] I     Each time, my husband would     divide it into three portions, [00:56] I     load one of them up with pork topping,     and serve it to the man. [01:01] I     Meanwhile, he would slurp on     ramen that was nothing but soup. [01:05] (Flashback) H     Ikumatsu. [01:07] (Flashback) H     This is our restaurant's     year-end tradition now. [01:12] (Flashback) H     Should anything happen to me,     make sure you keep it going. [01:17] I     That would turn out to be the last     bowl of ramen my husband ever made. [01:22] I     It would also mark the end of the little     year-end tradition the three of us shared. SIGN    Gintama SIGN    Slip Arc SIGN    A Bowl of Ramen SIGN    Hokuto Shinken SIGN    Watch the Slip Arc in a bright room     and at a safe distance from your TV! [03:07] I     He didn't come last New Year's Eve, either. SIGN    Ramen [03:11] I     Ever since my husband passed away,     he hasn't shown up at all. [03:15] I     He was a strange one. [03:17] I     He clearly had no money to spare,     but he'd share his ramen with us [03:21] I     and then leave, still hungry. [03:23] I     He must've been really lonely. [03:26] I     Maybe he was coming here     for company, not ramen. [03:31] I     Who knows where he is     and what he's doing now? [03:34] I     Meanwhile, here I am,     upholding my husband's last wish [03:36] I     and waiting for him with a bowl     loaded up with pork topping. [03:40] I     Here's your ramen— [03:42] Shin     Don't try to hog the pork! [03:45] Gin     Shut it! I'm the one who won big at pachinko! [03:47] Gin     You sit there and sip on the soup! [03:49] Kag     The egg! Let me just have the egg! [03:50] I     Jeez, you three. [03:52] I     Why not drink a soup of the dirt in that     old man's nails while you're at it? [03:56] I     I hope he's doing just as     well as you seem to be. [04:00] I     I can't help but be worried. [04:02] Kat     Ikumatsu-dono, I would say     your concern is unnecessary. [04:06] Kat     If that poor, lonely man was coming here     seeking company at the end of the year, [04:12] Kat     it's actually a good thing     that he stopped showing up. [04:16] Kat     He must've settled down in life [04:17] Kat     and found someone he can eat traditional     New Year's food with instead of ramen. [04:21] Kat     Or maybe the ramen here got     worse once you took over— [04:25] I     Here's your soba! [04:27] Shin     Y-You know that's not right, Katsura-san! [04:29] Shin     Ikumatsu-san's ramen is the best in Edo!     No, the best in the universe! [04:33] Shin     There's no doubt that man is just     dying to have it one more time, too! [04:36] Shin     Right, Ikumatsu-san? [04:37] Kag     He's got some nerve to not show any     gratitude after all that pork he ate. [04:40] Kag     If he's got money now, he should come     back and share some ramen with us. [04:44] Shin     What do you have to do with anything? [04:46] I     This is a task my husband left to me     after worrying about it until the end. [04:51] I     Taking over the restaurant was all well     and good, but this lingers with me. [04:55] I     And I haven't returned that scarf, either. [04:57] I     But you're right. [04:59] I     He must be leading such a happy life that     he forgot all about this dingy ramen shop. [05:05] I     I'll just assume that's what happened. [05:06] I     Either way, there's nothing I can do     but stay here and keep making ramen. [05:14] Gin     Hey, Zura. [05:16] Gin     Unlike you, I'm a busy man. [05:19] Kat     I'm not Zura. I'm Katsura. [05:20] Gin     I'm in luck today. [05:22] Gin     The dice and the cards     are all waiting for me. [05:25] Kat     What's that saying? A fool with a big     mouth and his money are soon parted? [05:29] Kat     I said what I did earlier out of     consideration for Ikumatsu-dono. [05:32] Kat     But Gintoki, what do you think     happened to that man, honestly? [05:37] Gin     He had no home or family,     and he was old to boot, right? [05:41] Gin     Probably died on the streets, at best. [05:43] Kat     Probably. [05:45] Kat     But that's only if the     man was truly homeless. [05:48] Kat     This scarf he forgot at the restaurant... [05:51] Kat     It's worn out from use,     but it's a high-quality item. [05:55] Kat     It would also have stuck out like a sore     thumb if a homeless man was wearing it. [05:59] Kat     We might be able to find him. [06:01] Kat     If he's still alive, that is. [06:04] Kat     But if you truly are in luck today, [06:07] Kat     I might be able to clear     my tab at Hokuto Shinken. [06:10] Gin     Not happening. Anyway,     what I want to know is... [06:13] Gin     Zura, did you get all the way     to **** base with Ikumatsu? [06:19] Kat     O-Of all the disgusting     accusations! Have some shame! [06:22] Gin     I mean, you're always on     her side for some reason, [06:24] Gin     and I keep running into you every     time I go there for ramen lately. [06:28] Gin     So you haven't sealed the deal yet, huh? [06:29] Gin     And here I thought you'd already sucked     on something else besides ramen. [06:32] Kat     Don't be stupid! [06:34] Kat     As if Ikumatsu-dono and I would     ever have , get **** and , [06:37] Kat     or worse, **** like *******! [06:40] Gin     Uh, I never said anything that vulgar. [06:43] Gin     Yeah, you have always been the passive sort. [06:47] Gin     So you wanna pound the pavement here and     then pound Ikumatsu while you're at it, huh? [06:52] Gin     If that's how it was,     you shoulda said so sooner. [06:54] Gin     I can give you a discount     on the cupid service. [06:57] Kat     I didn't ask for that! [06:58] Gin     Don't play dumb! I know     your tastes inside and out! [07:01] Gin     You've always been into married women. [07:01] Shin     That's one weakness I didn't expect. [07:03] Gin     Come to think of it, your first love     as a kid was a neighborhood widow— [07:07] Kat     You dare insult a samurai?! Keep it up     and I won't hesitate to cut even you down! [07:11] Kat     I'm not into married women! [07:14] Kat     I'm into cuckoldry! [07:16] Shin     You just exposed a fetish that's     totally unbefitting a samurai! [07:18] Kat     And it's not Ikumatsu-dono     that I'm in love with! [07:21] Kat     It's the taste of her soba! [07:23] Kat     She inherited that from her husband, [07:25] Kat     and I just want to make that     man eat it one more time. [07:28] Kat     Eat that bowl of ramen she     promised her husband to serve. [07:31] Gin     How admirable. [07:33] Gin     You wanna pound the pavement to help her     fulfill her promise with your love rival? [07:38] Kat     Unfortunately, we're not rivals in love. [07:41] Kat     It's not something I will ever be. [07:44] Kat     Because Ikumatsu-dono only     has eyes for one man. [07:51] Bum     Hey, what's all that about? [07:53] Bum     That's one young newcomer. [07:56] Kat     Pleased to meet you. [07:58] Kat     I grew sick of being a samurai,     quit sticking swords in people, [08:02] Kat     and chose to stick myself in a cardboard box. [08:04] Kat     My name is Katsura Kuzutaro. [08:06] Kat     I hope to get along with all of you.     You may casually call me Kuzura. [08:10] Bum     For someone who grew sick of his life,     you're awfully lively, Kuzura-san. [08:14] Kat     I'm not Kuzura! I'm Katsura! [08:16] Kat     And this here is my partner, Kuzuta— [08:20] Gin     Hey, how did things end up this way? [08:22] Bum     The other guy's got the same     look in his eyes as us. [08:25] Bum     Welcome, Kuzuta-san. [08:27] Bum     Hey, nice to meetcha. [08:27] Gin     As if! Don't lump me in with you lot! [08:29] Kat     The best people to ask about a     homeless man are the homeless. [08:33] Kat     I came up with this cover to     make them less wary of us... [08:36] Kat     But I'm amazed you blended in     instantly. That's my Kuzuta. [08:40] Gin     That doesn't make me happy! [08:42] Gin     I really should've gone looking for the     scarf store with Shinpachi and Kagura. [08:46] Kat     Sorry, but who among you     knows a lot about this stuff? [08:49] Kat     I have a lot of questions     regarding the cardboard life. [08:52] Bum     Oh, then you should go meet the Lawd.     You can introduce yourself, too. [08:56] Kat     The Lord? [08:57] Bum     Yeah. The chief of cardboard boxes     and leader of all the homeless here. SIGN    Lawd [09:02] Bum     We call him Lawd, for     Leader At the Waste Dump. [09:04] Bum     The Lawd knows all, and he can     solve most problems you might face. [09:08] Musashi     What's going on? It's awfully noisy. [09:11] Bum     It's the Lawd! The Lawd has     graced us with his presence! [09:19] Gin     Hey, what are you doing, Hasega— [09:23] Mu     Men, throw these two out of Eden at once. [09:27] Gin     Uh, what are you talking about?     What the hell is "Eden"? [09:30] Gin     Hey, stop talking through an interpreter. [09:32] Gin     You're totally made in Japan. [09:35] Mu     These two bring disaster wherever they go. [09:38] Gin     Uh, I don't wanna hear that     from a walking disaster. [09:42] Gin     I'm willing to ask as many times as it takes. [09:43] Gin     What are you doing? Why are you     here at your age, Hasega— [09:47] Mu     Quit chanting the Hasegawa death spell! [09:50] Gin     It's your damn name! And use     your own mouth to speak! [09:52] Gin     You're pissing me off! [09:54] Mu     The lower realm's mores don't apply here. [09:57] Mu     This is Eden. [09:58] Mu     A different world where those who have     been liberated from everything gather. [10:02] Gin     That so? [10:03] Gin     I don't care if you're Hasegawa-san     or the Lawd anymore. [10:05] Gin     Just trash either way. [10:06] Mu     Who're you calling trash?! [10:07] Gin     Say, did you ever see anyone     wearing this scarf— [10:10] Mu     Can't answer that. [10:12] Mu     Everyone here is truly free. [10:15] Mu     Nobody is allowed to pry into     or bring up their past lives! [10:18] Mu     And we have no information     to share with outsiders. [10:22] Mu     If you wish to become one of us so badly, [10:25] Mu     offer me 30 bags of empty cans and [10:28] Mu     60 discarded convenience     store lunch boxes as tribute. [10:31] Mad     Got that, uh... Kuzuta-san, was it? [10:34] Mad     Only the people who were at rock bottom in     the lower world can make it to the top here. [10:40] Gin     If you're gonna laugh, do it yourself! [10:44] Bum     Lawd! [10:48] West     Pick up empty cans? [10:50] West     Save yer sleeptalkin' for when yer asleep. [10:52] West     I thought we made it clear this was our yard. [10:56] West     All the empty cans and discarded     convenience store lunch boxes are ours! [10:59] West     You louts hurry up and get     outta this park already! [11:01] Gin     Who the heck are those guys? [11:02] Bum     The Westside Gang! [11:03] Bum     The armed cardboard gang who control     the west side of this park! [11:07] Gin     What the hell is an armed cardboard gang? [11:09] Bum     They're upstarts that use violent oppression     to expand their rule on cardboard! [11:14] Gin     Wait, what? Did we enter the Warring     Cardboard Era while I wasn't paying attention? [11:20] Mu     Get outta here! [11:22] Mu     This is a free utopia! [11:24] Mu     We won't hand it over, no     matter how many times you try. [11:26] Gin     You're stepping on the Lawd!     He was trying to say something! [11:28] Mu     We won't give in to violence! [11:30] Mu     We only fall to our knees     in our cardboard boxes! [11:33] Gin     But the Lawd's totally giving     in to violence beneath you! [11:35] Gin     And this interpreter's just     running his mouth now, isn't he? [11:38] Bum     Interpreter? What are you saying, Kuzuta-san? [11:41] Bum     This is the Lawd. [11:43] Gin     What?! He was the Lawd all along?! [11:46] Gin     Then what was with the old man next     to him who was dressed all godlike? [11:49] Bum     That's the guy always mumbling     something by the Lawd's side. [11:52] Gin     In the end, you've hit rock     bottom in this world, too! [11:56] Bro     Now there's a face that takes me back. [11:58] Bro     I found an unexpected diamond     buried in the trash. [12:03] Bro     I see. [12:04] Bro     So you came here, too... [12:07] Bro     Katsura! [12:08] Kat     Y-You're... [12:14] Gin     Who are you, again? [12:15] Bro     Don't interpret for the     people watching at home! [12:17] Bro     Don't tell me you forgot... [12:20] Bro     How you got me thrown in jail for that woman [12:23] Bro     and reduced me to being homeless! [12:29] Gin     I see. [12:30] Gin     After crossing swords with     you at the Land of Korin, [12:32] Gin     I never expected you to return as a cyborg. [12:35] Bro     That's Mercenary Tao! [12:37] Bro     Just look at the quality     difference in our comebacks! [12:39] Kat     I remember now! You're Ikumatsu-dono's     brother from back then... [12:43] Kat     Fancy running into you here. [12:46] Bro     I'd rather you didn't sum it up so easily. [12:49] Bro     I mean, ever since then, I've lived my     life thinking of nothing but you guys. [12:54] Bro     You two ruined my life, [12:55] Bro     so I was chomping at the bit for a     chance to get my revenge on you two! [13:00] Kat     Oh? By becoming king of     this cardboard mountain? [13:04] Kat     Talk about a roundabout revenge. [13:06] Bro     Look, I know that you're     here to look for that man. [13:12] Kat     What are you talking about? [13:14] Bro     Don't play dumb. [13:16] Bro     I know all about it. [13:18] Bro     How my brother desperately looked for     him here while he was still alive. [13:23] Kat     Ikumatsu-dono's husband did what?! [13:25] Bro     How that man visited that     filthy ramen place every year, [13:30] Bro     and just who he is, too. [13:37] W     Um, if I may ask, where did you get this? [13:42] Shin     Oh, we're looking for its owner, too. [13:46] W     This crest on the lining     certainly is Nishikiya's. [13:50] Kag     Really? Does it ring any bells? [13:53] Kag     Did some filthy old man come here to buy it? [13:56] W     This isn't one of our products.     It belonged to the master of Nishikiya. [14:00] Kag     Master? Like the boss of this place? [14:04] W     Yes. I remember him wearing it     with style whenever he went out. [14:10] Shin     Where is he? Where is he now? [14:13] W     He passed away around 20 years ago. [14:18] W     Why would this thing show     up after all this time? [14:20] Shin     Um, was it given away to     someone after he died? [14:24] Shin     Are there any family members who might know? [14:27] W     Just the young miss. [14:29] W     But she was very young when her father died. [14:34] W     She probably doesn't remember anything. [14:36] W     Nishikiya is a textile store that the     master and mistress built themselves. [14:42] W     Right when they'd overcome hard times     and put up shop, the master passed away. [14:47] W     After that, the mistress made the     store grow this big all by herself. [14:51] W     But she died six years ago, too. [14:54] W     On top of that, the young     miss lost her husband. [14:59] W     So even if she doesn't     remember anything anymore, [15:01] W     I'm sure the young miss will     be delighted if she sees this. [15:07] I     I wonder about that. [15:09] I     After having the scarf     taken without permission [15:11] I     and people sniffing around     without her knowing, [15:14] I     even the gentle young miss might get angry. [15:17] I     Just kidding. [15:18] I     Delivery for you, Osono-san. [15:21] Bro     Katsura, I came here to kill that man. [15:27] Bro     "That man" being Ikumatsu's dad,     who is said to have died 20 years ago. [15:43] I     Oh, you're trying to find that     homeless man using this scarf? [15:48] I     Jeez, you could've just told me. [15:51] I     Sorry you went through all     this trouble for my sake. [15:56] I     Yes. [15:57] I     The scarf belonged to Nishiki Matsugoro,     Nishikiya's founder, who died 20 years ago. [16:03] I     And I'm Matsugoro's daughter,     Nishiki Ikumatsu. [16:08] Shin     Y-You're Nishikiya's heiress? [16:13] I     Sorry I didn't mention it.     It's just not me, you know? [16:17] I     Running a ramen restaurant     suits me much better, right? [16:20] I     Of course it does. [16:21] I     Nishikiya may be one of the     top textile showrooms now, [16:25] I     but until it was started,     we lived in abject poverty. [16:29] I     But while life was hard, we had fun. [16:32] I     Even if we had nothing to eat, the three     of us supported one another as we lived. [16:37] I     But it all came crashing down the moment     we became able to live a decent life. [16:42] I     Ironic, right? [16:43] Shin     If I may ask, how did your father pass away? [16:47] I     I was really young back     then, so I have no idea. [16:51] I     Besides, he was living elsewhere     with his mistress back then. [16:57] I     As soon as our store got on track, [17:00] I     he apparently made a move on     one of the girls working here. [17:03] I     Mom found out and threw him out. [17:06] I     Not long after that, we heard     that he'd died of illness. [17:11] I     People were saying he deserved it for     abandoning his wife and daughter, [17:16] I     but I still remember how     sad my mother looked then. [17:22] I     I don't know how the scarf found     its way to that homeless man, [17:26] I     but I'm guessing it means my dad     was living a similar life to him. [17:32] I     Thinking about it that way, I just     can't think of him as any old man. [17:36] I     Sorry I made you waste your time for me. [17:39] I     Ultimately, maybe people are best off when     they have to fight to live another day. [17:46] I     The moment we have more than we     need, our eyes start to wander. [17:51] I     I feel like we could clearly see what     was important when we were poor. [17:57] I     If it weren't for that, I'm sure his     eyes wouldn't have strayed from us. [18:04] I     And we would've been able     to forgive him, too. [18:10] Kat     Ikumatsu-dono's father is alive?! [18:13] Bro     That's right. He was barely     scraping by in this dump. [18:18] Kat     No way. You mean the homeless man who     kept visiting the restaurant was... [18:24] Bro     Wait, you really didn't know? [18:27] Bro     And Ikumatsu didn't realize     that he was her father? [18:33] Bro     That's funny. [18:35] Bro     She forgot what her own dad looked like? [18:40] Bro     Of course you'd forget about a scumbag     who left his family for another woman. [18:46] Bro     Isn't that right? [18:47] Bro     How long are you gonna stay     silent? I know you're here. [18:52] Bro     Whatever. [18:53] Bro     I'm sure the kindhearted Katsura-san     can't sit tight after learning all this. [18:57] Bro     Katsura, you bring Ikumatsu's old man to me. [19:00] Kat     What? [19:01] Bro     Don't get any funny ideas. [19:05] Bro     I control pretty much all     the homeless in this town. [19:08] Bro     I think some starving homeless even camp     out at the dump near the Hokuto Shinken. [19:13] Kat     You knave! [19:15] Bro     This is my revenge. [19:17] Bro     Bring me the head of the     father of the woman you love. [19:26] Bum     Lawd, what should we do? [19:29] Bum     The Lawd was right. [19:31] Bum     Those guys really brought about a disaster. [19:34] Bum     We should've thrown them out right away. [19:36] Bum     Who's Ikumatsu's old man, anyway? I've     never even heard of someone like that. [19:40] Mu     No need to worry. [19:42] Mu     We already found Ikumatsu's father. [19:47] Mu     Hurry up and take this man     in shades to that punk. [19:51] Mad     What're you pulling the Lawd's strings for?! [19:54] Mad     Who're you calling Ikumatsu's old man?! [19:56] Kat     You must endure this, Hasegawa-dono. [19:58] Kat     Ikumatsu-dono has practically     been taken hostage. [20:01] Kat     We can't do anything unless we shut     up that knock-off Mercenary Tao. [20:04] Mad     Before that, do something about     this knock-off Commander Ikari! [20:08] Mu     Listen up. Use Shades as a     decoy to distract the enemy. [20:13] Mu     In the meantime, I'll guide these men     outside the park via this secret passage. [20:18] Mad     Why's the Lawd getting into it, too? [20:21] Kat     Lawd... [20:23] Mu     Instead of looking for her father, [20:27] Mu     you must first ensure the daughter's safety. [20:31] Mu     Don't lose sight of your cause. [20:33] Mu     And my cause is... No matter whose     father or how big a scumbag they are, [20:38] Mu     I will protect everyone here! [20:40] Mad     But you're not protecting me at all! [20:43] Mu     We should work together. [20:44] Bum     What are you talking about, Lawd? [20:46] Bum     You're half-senile, fool.     Can you really show them the way? [20:49] Mu     Who're you calling a fool?! [20:51] Mu     I plunged into the straight man     routine the moment I was born! [20:53] Mu     This way! Follow me! [20:55] Bum     Where are you taking a plunge now?! [20:58] Bum     Hey, we'll handle things here,     so take care of the Lawd. [21:03] Mad     In the end, I get to lead     this band of idiots? [21:06] Mad     I'm done with this crap. I'm gonna     leave this place and find a proper job. [21:09] Kat     I still can't believe that homeless     man was Ikumatsu-dono's father. [21:14] Kat     He was going to see her     unbeknownst to all, huh? [21:17] Kat     And he hid who he was due to the     guilt over abandoning his family? [21:21] Kat     In that case, why did he     suddenly stop showing up? [21:25] Kat     Because he'd seen that his daughter     was blessed with happiness? [21:28] Gin     She lost her husband, and now a weird     guy with long hair is stalking her. [21:32] Gin     Nobody would consider her blessed. [21:33] Kat     I never stalked her! [21:35] Gin     Keep it down. What if they hear you? [21:37] Gin     You're not used to straight man     work. Don't push yourself. [21:39] Mu     Yeah! Let me plunge into the     straight man routine instead! [21:41] Mad     Seriously, where do you think     you're taking a plunge?! [21:44] Mad     The Lawd's getting swept away! [21:45] Gin     You've got it wrong, Hasegawa-san. [21:47] Gin     This straight man really wants to     plunge into Ikumatsu's pus— [21:50] Mad     Hey, knock it off! [21:51] Mad     I can't handle these three stooges! [21:54] Gin     H-Help! [21:55] Gin     I... I can't swim! [21:55] Kat     Screw you! [21:57] Kat     When did I say I wanted to plunge into     Ikumatsu-dono's , , or *******? [21:59] Mad     Look, we don't have time for that!     Help me rescue him! [22:03] Mu     I'll take the plunge instead! [22:05] Mad**     Why?! [22:06] Mad     I can't deal with this! SIGN    To Be Continued SIGN    Preview [23:41] Mad     Once this chaos blows over,     I'm going to seriously look for a job. [23:45] Mad     I mean it. This isn't a death     flag or anything, okay? [23:48] Mad     I'm serious, by the way. SIGN    A Family [23:50] Gin     Next time: "A Family." SIGN    A series of surprising reveals SIGN    from a complex web of relationships. SIGN    The next episode features so many twists and turns, SIGN    you'll stop worrying about who would ever hire Madao.