O~i! Ryoma

A mix of historical and fictional elements, this series recounts the life of a prominent figure from the Bakumatsu era. On November 15, 1835, near Kōchi Castle, Otome Sakamoto, the youngest daughter of the family, sees a comet shaped like a dragon and a horse while stargazing. Her mother is in labor, and Otome prays for a strong male child. The baby is born with long hair on his back, surprising his father. Named Ryōma, meaning dragon and horse, the boy grows up timid and often bullied for his unusual appearance and behavior. Despite being expelled from school and mocked by neighborhood children, including a boy named Izo Okada, Ryōma’s kindness earns respect from some, like Zuizan Takechi. After witnessing his mother's death at the hands of the daimyo Yamanōchi, Ryōma resolves to become stronger at sixteen. The story continues in another series, where he appears alongside its main character.