"That level...I'd better wait and challenge that guy..." Saitoichi said to himself lazily.
"What's wrong? Boy Saito, are you giving up now?" Hijikata looked at Saito with a smile.
"I just don't want to ask for trouble. Look at him." Saito pointed at Zuomura who was talking to Kondo Shusuke, "Obviously he looks so harmless, but who knew he could jump so high all of a sudden? If you jump up, how can you cut it?"
"That's the truth..." Isamu Shimazaki touched his unshaven chin and pondered, "But have you ever thought that if Zuo Cun jumped up, it would mean that he has become a living target? After all, he can’t move in the air.”
Hijikata Toshizo rolled his eyes: "I can't move, but you can jump up and chop him?"
"No." Shimazaki Isamu admitted in a bachelor's manner.
"So, if you still can't cut it, you will definitely lose. I am too lazy to participate in such a duel." Saito ran away as soon as he said this.
"What a casual guy..." Shimazaki Isamu and Hijikata Toizo looked at each other and smiled in unison.
...
"I want to find sweet potatoes in this weather..."
There was no market today, and it was not a crowded time in the evening. There were not many residents on the streets of Edo.
When he was in Kurokawa Shimomura, Zuo Cun once lost a bet to Okita, and the price was that Zuo Cun had to make a chestnut dumpling for Okita.
But after walking around Zuocun for several times, I still couldn't find anyone selling sweet potatoes.
Not even chestnuts...
Sighing, Zuo Cun had no choice but to buy a few more jars of wine, then a chicken, and went back.
Okita was wielding his sword in the trial defense hall.
Zuocun shook off the snow that fell on his body and walked into the training hall.
"Ah, Samura-kun, you are back." Miss Okita looked at Samura in surprise, "How are you doing? Did you buy sweet potatoes and chestnuts?"
"Uh, I didn't buy it..." Zuo Cun looked a little embarrassed, "But I bought a chicken."
Miss Okita's smile instantly froze on her face.
He pursed his lips and said, "It's really difficult to buy sweet potatoes today..."
"Don't worry, I will definitely cook something for you in the future." Zuo Cun handed the chicken to the servant of the trial guard hall, and then lightly nodded Okita's head.
"Mr. Zuo Cun, please don't break your promise." Okita shouted at Zuo Cun's back.
...
The New Year is approaching.
Several people sat on the steps at the entrance of the Trial Guard Hall, looking in the direction of Edo Castle.
"There should be fireworks in Edo Castle today." Shimazaki held a small plate of wine in his hand.
"There should be some..." Saitoichi looked at the wine in Shimazaki's hand.
"Everyone should go to Sensoji Temple tomorrow." Shusuke Kondo put his hands in his sleeves and walked out of the house, looking at the group of young people gathered at the door.
"I must go. After all, we need to pray for blessings during the New Year." Miss Okita sat next to Zuo Cun, holding a meal in her hand.
Boom...
The buzzing sound of bells came from afar.
"Ah, it's begun." Toshizo Hijikata looked into the distance, "The bell-ringing ceremony of the Great Dark Sun at Sensoji Temple."
Boom...
Several people said nothing.
This bell is to eliminate pollution and welcome the new year.
If you listen to these one hundred and eight bells, you will be happy in the new year.
Boom...
The cold winter wind blew slightly on several people's cheeks, and the three drunken teenagers became a little more awake.
The monks of Sensoji Temple rang the bell one hundred and eight times.
A white bird landed on Zuo Cun's shoulder, as if it was also listening to the bell.
"Okay, okay, now that the bells are over, let's all go back and have a rest." Kondo Shusuke began to chase people, "Samura Hijikata Shimazaki! Put down the wine, don't greet the New Year with that drunken look. !”
Everyone was driven back to their rooms.
Kondo Shusuke looked in the direction of Sensoji Temple and smiled slightly.
He couldn't help but think of his most proud disciple.
...and Zuomura.
In fact, not only Kondo Shusuke, Shimazaki Isamu, Hijikata Toshizo, but even the somewhat casual Saito Ichi.
Everyone could see that there seemed to be something wrong with the relationship between Zuo Cun and Okita.
However, it doesn't look like the relationship between a man and a woman.
Okita is very active, very active with everyone, but only when facing Zuomura, he has a very gentle feeling, and he can't help but shrink a little.
As for Zuocun...
This person holds his knife all day long, but occasionally he still interacts with Miss Okita.
Samura's attitude towards Okita is also very ambiguous.
The two of them seemed to have some ideas, but neither moved forward.
Kondo Shusuke sat on the steps and looked at his courtyard.
No matter if he doesn't move forward, Okita is still in a period of rapid growth in strength, and he is too young to become a mother.
However, if these two children finally get together...it seems good, right?
...
Today is the New Year's Day, so everyone put on thick yukata to keep warm, and headed towards Sensoji Temple on the mountain in the distance.
Kondo Shusuke is wearing a black yukata, which is in line with his temperament - hidden and unobtrusive.
The brothers Shimazaki Isamu and Hijikata Toshizo were wearing blue yukata and were chatting.
Saitoichi is wearing a brown yukata and is looking around on the street. Although he is not a member of the trial academy, he has already integrated into this big family.
In the same situation, Zuocun was wearing a cyan yukata, which made him look a little thin. His long black hair was tied into a braid and swayed in the wind behind him.
Samura did not choose to wear the mainstream samurai hairstyle. In his opinion, shaving off a piece of hair and tying it into a knot looked stupid.
Miss Okita likes the color of cherry very much, and her yukata is also cherry color. After putting on the yukata, Miss Okita is still full of energy, her clogs make a clicking sound on the stone road, and she looks very happy.
"Samura, the trees in Sensoji Temple are so big!" She pointed to a strong branch sticking out of Sensoji Temple in the distance and said happily.
There are many people coming to worship during the New Year, but the road leading to Sensoji Temple is very wide, so it doesn't feel crowded.
The group entered the temple, paid New Year's greetings, and made their wishes for the new year.
After making their wishes, several people came to the place where the lots were drawn.
This is a tradition. If you draw an unlucky lot, you will hang it on the tree at Sensoji Temple to pray to the gods to eliminate the bad luck. If you draw a lucky lot, everyone will be happy and welcome the new year happily.
Everyone got the lucky draw and everyone was happy.
"Mr. Samura?" Miss Okita took one of Samura's hands.
"Huh?" Zuo Cun grabbed his lucky draw and looked at Miss Okita who was smiling coquettishly.
"Happy New Year." Miss Okita smiled like a cherry blossom.
The splendor is unlike anything in the world.
