Overall, in Mitsuba's view, this was a movie with a rather templated "dominant female protagonist" style plot, completely devoid of highlights throughout.
Not only that, it was also mixed with many similarly templated character portrayals.
For example, the younger sister who was the protagonist had to be completely righteous and wise, while the two older brothers who were villains had to be completely evil and dissolute.
The final twist in the story was also the younger sister relying on an extremely righteous speech, along with that "kingly aura" that came from who-knows-where.
Making those retainers who had originally stood on the two older brothers' side instantly burst into tears, repent and reform, then one after another betrayed the two older brothers and stood on the younger sister's side.
Finally, together with the younger sister, they defeated the two older brothers and collectively pushed the family to new heights.
Congratulations, truly congratulations… my foot!!
This damned script was clearly written by someone who had never even been a daimyo, right?!
Why did the protagonist have to be so righteous and great?!
Why did the villains have to have evil faces as if they were born bad?!
And why could just one righteous speech make all those retainers betray their original positions and defect to the female protagonist's side, hey! What kind of fairy tale was this?!
How come she didn't remember managing the Tsugikuni family back then relying on justice and morality?
Among the great figures who could sit in that position, who still cared whether you were righteous or moral? These were all performances put on for the people below to see, understand?
What could truly influence and determine the behavior of these upper-echelon people had always been the distribution of respective interests!
Before these shrewd individuals, righteous speeches had no meaning whatsoever. If the female protagonist wanted to win over these retainers, she had to bring out greater benefits to exchange, understand?!
Couldn't bring them out?
If you couldn't bring them out, then what was there to say! The game of politics always required capital. Without capital, you could only leave the table!
Damn Douma, what kind of mess was he writing!
Mitsuba nearly couldn't resist running to America on the spot to beat this guy up.
However, although in Mitsuba's eyes, this movie's story was particularly clichéd, everyone else seemed to feel it was quite good?
Especially the segment that Mitsuba found most speechless—where the female protagonist in the movie convinced all those retainers to defect with just one righteous speech—actually received much praise.
Indeed, no matter how much time passed, stories of justice defeating evil and good people overthrowing bad people would always be what the general populace loved most…
"This is perhaps because, within the entire social structure, the vast ordinary masses have been at the bottommost layer most easily overlooked and sacrificed since ancient times.
Thus, they always instinctively hope that their leader can be a righteous, kind, and capable person who can bring them a better life.
And not a schemer with cruel methods who only has eyes for profit…
Although in the vast majority of cases, the true face of the world is always the opposite."
On the night street, after the movie ended, the eight people left the cinema together with the crowd.
The brother and sister pair, walking side by side for the first time in many years, heard Mitsuba's complaints and Michikatsu explained.
"Overall, this movie may seem quite childish in our eyes.
But for those vast ordinary masses, it is the beautiful fairy tale their hearts most desire."
"Eh~ I never thought Brother would say such words…"
Hearing Michikatsu's explanation, Mitsuba curiously turned her head to look at him, asking with a smile:
"Then in your view, Douma's movie is actually perfect?"
"If we're speaking of flaws, personally, I feel there may still be one…"
Lowering his head and carefully thinking for a moment, Michikatsu similarly turned to look at Mitsuba beside him, seriously saying:
"That is, regarding the two older brothers in the movie—in my view, Douma's portrayal of them was still not deep enough.
In real history, these two older brothers actually did even more excessive things to their sister back then."
Hearing this and stunned for a moment, Mitsuba stared blankly at Michikatsu who had spoken these words.
She naturally understood what Michikatsu truly wanted to express with these words.
Just as Mitsuba could tell at a glance that the female protagonist in the movie referred to her.
Michikatsu could naturally also tell that the two villain brothers in the film referred to him and Yoriichi.
Her brother was apologizing to her.
Deliberately using this opportunity to apologize to her for those past events in the Tsugikuni family.
"I see…"
Her eye sockets suddenly somewhat moist, Mitsuba took a deep breath and turned her head to the other side, softly saying:
"I actually feel that it wasn't really that excessive…"
Hearing this, a trace of a smile subconsciously appeared on Michikatsu's rigid face.
"Thank you, Mitsuba."
"We were discussing the movie, so properly discuss the movie. Why suddenly thank me, completely inexplicable…"
"Indeed, I digressed."
Seeing his shy younger sister, Michikatsu tactfully did not continue this topic.
He turned his head to look at the six people behind him who had deliberately lagged behind at some point, intentionally maintaining some distance from the brother-sister pair, and asked with a smile:
"Everyone, are you returning home separately next, or going somewhere else to play?"
"What about you, Mr. Michikatsu?"
Supported by Koyuki, Shinobu asked.
At some point, her address for Michikatsu had changed from "Congressman" to "Mr."
"We're fine either way."
The one who answered Shinobu was Amei. She glanced at Mitsuba beside Michikatsu and smiled:
"My husband rarely comes out with Mitsuba-sister, so tonight we don't plan to return so early."
"In that case, how about coming to my family's izakaya?"
Koyuki raised her hand and tentatively said:
"My family's izakaya should still be open at this time…"
"…"
"Everyone listen up! Tonight's consumption is all on this lord!!"
"Great! Little brother is generous! I'll drink first!"
"Hey! Inosuke, don't suddenly stand on the chair! Be careful of falling!"
"Kanao, don't just sit there dazed, hurry and come help pull this kid down!"
"This child is completely drunk…"
"Koyuki, don't busy yourself for now, hurry and come eat together…"
"Coming right away!"
"Speaking of which, Mitsuba, how many cups do you need to drink to get drunk?"
"Unfortunately, I won't get drunk no matter how many cups I drink. But you, little butterfly, if you drink two more cups you'll definitely get drunk."
Late at night, the izakaya named "Soryu" was quite lively.
Following Koyuki's proposal, everyone came together to this izakaya for late-night snacks. Eight people occupied two tables altogether.
Among them, Inosuke had completely gotten drunk. Having gone to drink with customers at the neighboring table, he was supported by Kanao and staggered back to his seat.
Akaza had voluntarily run into the kitchen to help Koyuki and Keizo.
Who would have thought that a dignified doctor would also have such good knife skills? It seemed this child, while diligently studying all these years, had not neglected his martial arts either…
Mitsuba looked at Shinobu beside her—who was already somewhat dizzy—and helplessly sighed. Michikatsu and Amei sat quietly in their seats, smiling as they watched this scene.
Just as everyone was enjoying themselves in harmony, two figures suddenly ran in from the street outside.
"Good evening~ my dear friends~ after so many years apart, have you missed me~"
This slightly frivolous, smiling voice was so familiar to demons that Michikatsu, Mitsuba, Amei, and even Akaza in the kitchen were simultaneously stunned.
"Douma?!"
The first to react was Akaza.
Still holding a plate of freshly cut potatoes in his hand, he practically rushed out of the kitchen instantly. When he saw the tall man with the rainbow-colored pupils, even his eyes widened!
"When did you return?!"
Behind Douma, Kotoha poked her head out. She greeted Akaza with a smile, using a tone extremely similar to Douma's, and replied:
"Of course we took a plane~ Mr. Hakuji~"