OVERVIEW (SPOILERS)Kyoichiro takes Taiyo on a seafaring training day, and later, to face Makoto Kiwashita directly, where it’s revealed he has given a subordinate a way to replicate Yozakura blood.OUR TAKENew ED this week! It has puppets! Kinda expected a new OP too by this point but I guess that’s still possible. But until we have any confirmation on that either way, let’s focus on the story, and as we’ve introduced Tanpopo and its leader Makoto Kiwashita, the plot has now shifted towards dealing with that group as a growing threat. The first half of the episode is actually a sort of lull in that plot as Kyoichiro gives Taiyo a crash course in fighting off a bunch of goons while on a boat, which is kinda dull on its own, but more interesting when you consider that this is probably the first proper bonding time these two have gotten since Taiyo joined the family. It’s clear that Kyoichiro definitely still does not care for Taiyo (even if it’s for dumb and gross reasons), but he’s also not blind to Taiyo’s progression in his abilities and training (ironic because Kyoichiro always seems to have his eyes closed) and so is further testing him in what will likely to be an ongoing battle with increasing difficulty and lethality. So yeah, good on Taiyo for kinda sorta not really gaining his brother-in-law’s approval!And now that we’re officially halfway through the series at this point, then there’s the other half of the episode that more directly progresses the arc concerning Makoto Kiwashita, who is now revealed to be seeking a way to replicate the Yozakura blood in order to sell to people or create his own army of deadly talented spies. We see that first hand as Taiyo infiltrates Makoto’s hotel (in a giant cat costume but still, points for originality) and has to face off against Nohmen, a goon of Makato’s, who then injects himself with Hazakura, the drug that will give its user something akin to the YOZAkuras have in terms of strength and abilities. And these powers are no joke, as Nohmen beats Taiyo within an inch of his life and is only stopped by the arrival of Shinzo, the sibling he carries around a giant trash can like he’s about to get caught for something. Ultimately, this showcases Taiyo’s improvements, but also where he still has a long way to go, both in terms of training and being well adjusted as a person. Maybe we’ll get some more progress next time? Or not.