The memory that Sugimoto holds onto is interesting. It very much gives us why he is looking out for what Asirpa wants. Her father told her to go to school, more than likely because that would lead her to the Ainu. However, her point, which is Sugimoto’s main argument, is that she doesn’t need to bloody her hands.
Hijikata’s main group has their sights on Waichiro Sekiya another one of the tattooed convicts. Luck is more so the main theme. Kadokura essentially has bad luck to his name for better or for worse. Sekiya lost his daughter because of thunder and is more of a believer in luck. Though the other question is, God, why did he die instead of his innocent daughter? Of course Hijikata plays it how you expect him to. Essentially he says his luck depends on his courage and experience. It is a more practical sense because it can be viewed as you can play the odds in your favor. Of course there is some uncertainty, but what Hijikata means is you can limit that. Of course, regarding God, it is better not to focus on that and this world. Which is sound because it is better to see what is in front of her rather than what may or may not be real.
Kiroranke’s story of when he was with Sofia & Asirpa’s father was a good one. As it showed the difference that separated them and Sofia. As she was a higher member of Russia, while the two men were Ainu. Essentially they both had a common enemy they wanted to assassinate. While the two of them were learning Japanese from Hasegawa, Sofia didn’t. She wasn’t fully committed to leaving her old life behind despite loving Wilk. There was also the guilt of seeing innocents like Hasegawa’s wife and child killed. She continued to fight her battles while Wilk & Kiroranke found a new home.
Though the fact that Hasegawa was Tsurumi is definitely something I did not see coming. Though when you consider how well he is at gathering information, it shouldn’t be a huge surprise. But it makes sense now why he knew to play the odds in alerting the Russians. As he knows what Kiroranke has done.