English Dub Review: The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting “Fireworks and Promises”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
Kirishima tries to find the yakuza who dragged Yaeka into a yakuza quarrel and mercilessly tries to punish them. But then, Sakuragi appears, and Kirishima returns to his senses. Kirishima returns to being Yaeka’s babysitter, and peaceful days return, but…

Suddenly, Sugihara gets a message from Kirishima asking him to take care of the little lady, and…

Our Take:
While the show tends to deliver heartwarming scenes throughout most of its episodes, it also isn’t afraid to get a little dark sometimes. It is a series about the yakuza, after all. This theory was proven in its previous episode, where Kirishima went on a rampage to kill the men responsible for giving Yaeka a concussion. This episode continues where it left off, with Kirishima on the verge of bashing the yakuza member’s head. Thankfully, Kazuhiko arrives just in time to stop him from making the biggest mistake of his life. After returning to his senses, Kirishima returns to the hospital to visit Yaeka, who’s recovering from her injury. What follows is another heartfelt moment between the two that’s sure to bring a tear to people’s eyes.
This is another episode where Kirishima’s struggle plays a crucial role, which has been my favorite part of the series. The reason is that the former Sakuragi Demon has left the yakuza, fearing that his violent past will bring more trouble for Yaeka and her family. I don’t blame him for making that decision since he almost murdered a yakuza member instead of staying by Yaeka’s side. However, I also don’t blame him for being upset over them sending Yaeka to the hospital in the first place.
This is one episode that doesn’t hold back on its depressing elements, especially after a heartwarming scenario like a fireworks display. For starters, Kirishima is overshadowed by the guilt of letting his emotions get the better of him. He even came close to killing Mashiro after learning that the unstable sociopath orchestrated the attack. That right there is another reason Mashiro deserves to be punched in the face a thousand times.
It’s also another episode that proves Sugihara is more than just the show’s comic relief. Aside from his cowardliness, Sugihara has been known for holding his ground and supporting Kirishima despite being tormented by Kirishima. The ending is no exception, with Sugihara confronting Kirishima over the latter’s selflessness and telling him to move on from his mistakes. It successfully reflects Kirishima’s closing arc involving him learning from his mistakes so he can be strong enough to protect his family.
The private fireworks display served as a suitable break from all the drama, but it also serves a role in displaying Kirishima’s troubling state because of his actions. It also doesn’t slow down on the emotional core of its themes, which is enough to break my heart and rebuild it to its original state. It has been a roller coaster of emotions, thanks to its penultimate episode, and I hope its season one finale can end things off on a fulfilling note.