Facing the intensely emotional gaze sent by Chiba Jutaro, Aoto grinned.
"So... Mr. Jutaro, do you plan to rely on you, me, Miss Sanako, and Chiba Tamon Shiro-kun, a total of four people, to support a swordsmanship performance? Is the number of people too small?"
"Four people are enough."
Chiba Jutaro shook his head and smiled bitterly.
"The reason why I plan to hold swordsmanship performances with just such a small number of people... One of the reasons is that the space we can use to perform swordsmanship is too small."
"The stalls at the fireworks display can basically be described as every inch of land costs a lot."
Chiba Jutaro raised two fingers.
"Even I only managed to grab a 2 square meter stall."
"Such a big stall can only accommodate 3 or 4 people to perform sword skills."
"If there were more people, we wouldn't even have a place to sit and rest."
After listening to Chiba Jutaro's explanation, Aoto nodded slightly: "Is 2 square meters big... Then it is true that only 3 or 4 performers are enough..."
Qingden had heard a little bit about how difficult it was to apply for roadside stalls at the fireworks display.
For a grand event of this level, you can make a lot of money by just setting up a food stall or tea stall on site.
Therefore, in the eyes of Edo merchants, the fireworks display was a piece of delicious meat, waiting to be pounced on for a feast.
However, there are more monks than porridge... There is only so much space for people to watch fireworks, and there are only so many places suitable for setting up stalls.
Therefore, if you don’t have some skills and connections, you won’t be able to set up a stall at the fireworks display.
Therefore, from another perspective, it is really rare for Chiba Jutaro, who is not a professional businessman, to be able to get a 2 square meter stall space on August 24.
As for what Chiba Jutaro said about "relying on performing martial arts to attract people to practice martial arts enthusiastically", Aonto was not interested at all. He did not have such lofty ideals.
But Qingdeng was quite interested in "Martial Arts" itself.
Since time traveling, he has never held or participated in any form of swordsmanship performance.
Performing chopping bamboo mats and demonstrating swordsmanship movements on the roadside to the onlookers... Qingdeng thought this seemed quite new and interesting.
Chiba Jutaro is his good friend, and Qingto is always willing to help his friends with small favors that are not particularly troublesome.
And I am quite interested in this activity.
Anyway, I didn't have much activities that night, so I was very free. So Qingdeng only thought for a moment and then nodded gently:
"I understand. In that case, please let me do my best."
"Hahahaha!" Chiba Jutaro, who laughed happily, slapped his thigh hard again, and the corners of his raised mouth almost reached his ears, "I'm so grateful! Then let's say it! Then on August 24th, Let’s meet at the ‘Towards Ryogoku’ area of Ryogoku Bridge!”
Where the fireworks display is held: Ryogoku Bridge is a large east-west bridge spanning the Sumida River.
The east bridgehead is called "Xiangryo Ryogoku" and the west bridgehead is called "Nihonbashi Ryogoku". The streets connected to the Nishi-kyotou area are the most famous entertainment streets in Edo: Ryogoku Hirokoji.
When Chiba Jutaro said "meeting at Ryogoku", he meant meeting at the east end of Ryogoku Bridge.
Where to meet was just a trivial matter. Qingden silently remembered the meeting place told by Chiba Jutaro, and then nodded to show that he remembered it.
Chiba Jutaro, who was crossing his hands and digging into his sleeves, had a smile on his face that had not dissipated since just now... No, not only had it not dissipated, but it was actually expanding.
His eyes, which were almost squinting when he smiled, were shining with a subtle light of happiness and cunning.
Aintō didn't know... that Chiba Jutaro, who was the "eldest son of the Chiba family", could definitely get a stall space that was much larger than 2 square meters.
Aoto didn't even know - if he was free on August 23, then the swordsmanship performance mentioned by Chiba Jutaro would be held on August 23; if he was free on August 25, it would be on August 23 It will be held on the 25th of the month; if there is no time on any day, then Chiba Jutaro will ask Qingto to think of a way to come out on one day to participate in his swordsmanship performance...
…
…
The next day——
The first year of Wanyan (1860), August 16——
A troubled night in which the world view of "good brothers" turned into "good sisters" was greatly impacted, but finally passed safely.
Even if the world has changed and changed, the sun will still rise as usual.
I don’t know whether it was Souji’s body’s strong recovery power or the pot of “special medicine” that Abi boiled for her. In short, after a night’s rest, Souji regained his former energy and vitality.
When Qingdeng and others saw this, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
Although Souji seemed to have recovered, in order to ensure that her body had completely recovered, at the unanimous request of Aomori and others, Souji was issued a "grounding order".
Except for the room and the toilet, you are not allowed to go anywhere today. Just curl up in bed and sleep. Don't worry about how to eat. We will bring you food when it's time for dinner - this is The exact words Qingto and the others said to the General Secretary now.
The general manager who had been "grounded" argued hard and said impassionedly that he had recovered and no longer needed to stay in his room to recuperate.
"I want to practice swordsmanship in the dojo! Look! I'm in such good spirits!" Souji shouted loudly while jumping in place like a puppy trying to please its owner, with the slender ponytail on the back of his head. Flying up and down.
But apparently no one paid any attention to her claims.
Early this morning, Qingden, who has always been self-disciplined, was honing his sword skills in the dojo as usual.
Also early this morning, Souji's sister Okita Hikaru and brother-in-law Okita Rintaro came to try out the defense hall again as expected.
Ever since they came to Edo to attend Kondo's upcoming wedding, Okita and his wife have been coming to the trial gym almost every day.
As a disciple, Souji has lived in the Imperial Guard Hall for seven years. Shusuke and Kondo have already regarded Souji as their half daughter and half sister.
Thanks to Souji's relationship, the Kondo family and the Okita family have always had a very good relationship. In addition, Okita Hikaru is very polite and has a good way of dealing with people, so the Kondo family very much welcomes the Okitas to visit and accompany them. They make a routine.
Okita Hikaru, who came to try out the defense hall again today, immediately found out about Souji's drunkenness at Chihiro House last night.
So, naturally - she quickly led her husband and rushed to the chief's room to visit this little sister who made her very worried.
…
…
Trial Guard Hall, Chief Secretary's room——
"She even fainted in the bathhouse... When did my little sister become so stupid?"
Okita Hikaru, who was sitting upright beside Souji's bedside, half-closed his eyes and looked at Souji, who was sitting cross-legged on the quilt, as if he was looking at a fool.
"a ha ha ha……"
Souji, who smiled dryly, reached his left hand behind her head and stroked her ponytail.
"People always have accidents..."
"So what happened to you last night? Did you accidentally fall asleep while taking a bath in the bathhouse?"
Okita Hikaru aggressively questioned the general manager.
"There is no special reason..."
Souji said vaguely.
"It's just that when I took a bath last night, I felt that it was so comfortable, and I accidentally stayed in the bath for too long. When I first came out of the bath, I didn't feel too uncomfortable, but when I returned to the bathroom, After the gym, I feel more and more dizzy...but don’t worry, sister, I have fully recovered!"
After saying that, the smiling Souji raised his arms like a gorilla.
"..." Okita Hikaru silently looked directly into Souji's eyes with a gaze as sharp as a blade.
Being stared at by his sister, whom he respected as his biological mother... Souji couldn't help but feel a little flinching in his heart.
In order to prevent Okita Hikaru from discovering her guilty conscience, Souji had to brace himself and continue to maintain the smile on his face while bravely looking at Okita Hikaru.
Although Souji looked quite arrogant last night. As soon as he woke up on Aoto's back, he quickly picked up his mood and talked freely about her past with Aoto... But this is just Souji's nature. .
Now that Tachibana-kun has discovered the daughter's true identity, there is no choice but to accept the fact and move on - Souji is a person with such a personality.
So optimistic and open-minded.
But Souji is a girl after all, and she also has the reserve and shame of a girl!
As for what happened in the bathhouse last night... Souji wouldn't be able to tell anyone even if he was killed! Including his own sister!
The naked self and the equally naked Qingnobo bathed together in the men's bath. In order to avoid Nagakura and others, he had to hide behind Qingnobo in a back-to-back position. In the end, he was dizzy and had to let Qingnobo do it. Noboru alone dragged her out of the bath, dressed her, and carried her back to the bathroom. During this process, his private parts were accidentally used as a grip by Qingnobo... Souji couldn't be ashamed to say these things!
The director-general is just optimistic and open-minded, not heartless.
So as early as last night, she and Qing Dengyu made a private agreement: everything that happened in Qianxun's house tonight was their shared secret, and they must not tell anyone!
For such an agreement... Qingdeng couldn't wish for it.
Although the embarrassing things that Souji and Souji encountered that night, such as "accidentally catching the ball" and "helping Souji change clothes", were either accidents or forced actions, what is irrefutable is that - he Indeed, he did a lot of things to the Souji that were enough to be hunted down by the Souji, whether viewed from the perspective of this era or from a modern perspective.
Qingdeng was both moved and grateful that the director could forgive Qingdeng for what he had done to her in such an open-minded and tolerant manner.
If Souji really draws his sword and chases him at all costs, then Aomori may not be able to fight alone against Souji, whose sanity has been destroyed by shame...
Even if we don't mention the serious reason of "if it is leaked, it will harm Souji's true gender and ruin his innocence", just being grateful to Souji for not chasing him with a knife is enough to make Qing Teng was obliged to work with Souji to turn everything that happened that night into a secret that could only be allowed to rot in his stomach.
By the way—Kondo and the others didn’t ask in detail how Aoto brought Souji back to the Imperial Guard Hall on his own last night.
Kondo and the others are not mentally retarded people... of course they know that when a grown man takes a naked girl alone from the Chihiro House back to the trial hall, some embarrassments will inevitably occur. s contact.
Therefore, they were very good at reading the air last night and did not talk to Qingto and Souji about the details of their return to the Imperial Guard Hall last night.
However, they did take a closer look at why Aomori and Souji bathed together in the men's bath.
Regarding this question... Qingdeng chose to be vague.
This is what the General Secretary asked Qingteng to do.
Until now, Souji still doesn't want too many people to know that she is being asked by her sister to give up swordsmanship.
Therefore, Aoto said, "Because Okita-kun has been in a bad state of mind these past two days, he thought of chasing Okita-kun when she was going to the bathhouse to ask her if she had encountered any troubles recently, so he discovered Souji's true identity in such a confused way. Gender" to fool Kondo and others in their cross-examination.
After deceiving Kondo and others, Qingnog did not forget to add: Although he has asked Okita-kun in detail what happened in the past two days, he still failed to find out the reason.
She perfectly kept Souji's secret that she and her eldest sister were currently having a big conflict over "whether they practiced swordsmanship or not."
The two sisters looked at each other for a long time...
"...Xiao Si."
Okita Hikaru's expressionless face slightly opened his red lips.
"Why do I always feel like you are hiding something from me..."
In private, without any outsiders present, when Okita Mitsu calls Souji, he always directly calls Souji by his real name: "Si".
"What can I hide from you?" Souji just pretended to be stupid.
"...that's fine."
Okita Hikaru slowly withdrew his gaze and took the initiative to withdraw from the gaze with Souji.
"I don't expect you to do anything shameful."
Souji's eyes flashed with a guilty conscience at this moment, and his eyes began to dodge unconsciously... Fortunately, before Okita Hikari noticed, she quickly suppressed these strange things in her body with brute force. .
"Are you still dizzy? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere in your body?"
"No more!" Souji shook his little head quickly like a rattle, "My physical condition is great now! I feel like I can have an extra bowl of rice for lunch later!"
Okita Hikaru looked at Souji's face carefully, and saw that Souji's eyes were bright and his face was rosy. He did not look like he was lying to her. After that, he let out a long "huh".
"Ah That's good."
Okita Hikaru seemed to relax and smiled lightly.
"Since your body is fine, Xiao Si, I'm relieved."
"You have to pay more attention when taking a bath in the future! Don't do such stupid things as accidentally getting dizzy again."
"Especially now that the weather is hot, you need to pay more attention to the time you take a bath."
"Do you know how many people have developed irreversible diseases or even died directly because they soaked in baths or hot springs for too long?"
"I know, I know...Sister, I will never make such a stupid mistake again."
"That's how you kid is. You're always reckless... How are you going to support your husband and raise your children in the future if you look like this?"
"No, let alone a husband and a child. Whether you can find a good husband or a good family is another question."
Although Souji has sincerely stated that he will "never do it again", Okita Hikaru does not want to let Souji go just like that.
The topic of the chat suddenly rose from "Xiao Si, why are you so stupid that you accidentally fainted in the bathtub?" to "Xiao Si, if you continue to be so stupid, I am very worried about your future."
Faced with his sister's nagging, Souji smiled dryly... The smile was full of helplessness, but it was not mixed with any negative emotions.
"If I can't find a good husband...then I can only ask my sister to support me."
From time to time, Souji playfully responded to Okita Hikaru's nagging with unflattering words.
"Stop it."
Okita bent the index and middle fingers of his right hand, tapped Souji's forehead lightly with the second knuckle of his two fingers, and said angrily.
"We don't want to raise careless troublemakers like you."
"Ah! It hurts!"
The two sisters who were interacting like this kept talking like this. It seems that no matter how much we talk, we never get tired of it.
Although the topics they talked about were not very nutritious... it was this kind of conversation without any specific meaning that formed the friendship between the two sisters.
After chatting like this for a while, Hikaru Okita pressed the hem of her kimono and slowly stood up.
"Okay, I won't disturb Xiao Si and you will rest."
"You didn't disturb my rest. I told you, I have recovered! I don't need any more rest!"
"Even if you are dead, it is always right to take more bed rest when your body is recovering. Lie down and sleep, and even if you can't fall asleep, just close your eyes and take care of yourself. Today, if it is not necessary, there will be no room except the bedroom. You are not allowed to go anywhere.”
Director General: "Why is this!"
Not only Qingto and others, but also her sister gave her a "no-football order"... This made Souji very sad.
"No bargaining allowed."
After saying that, Okita Hikaru folded his hands in front of him and walked towards the door calmly.
Okita Rintaro, who had been sitting quietly aside just now, quickly got up and caught up.
"……elder sister."
"What are you doing?" Okita Hikaru, who had already touched the door handle of the door, said without looking back, "I have already said 'no bargaining', right? Lie down and rest."
"No. I don't want to bargain with you. I want to solemnly announce something to you..."
"Um?"
Okita Hikaru frowned, turned around, and faced the Souji again.
"...What do you want to announce to me?"
"Sister, I figured it out! No... my determination will never waver again!"
The Souji raised his head high and showed a big smile like the sun to Okita Hikaru:
"I will never give up swordsmanship!"
"I will keep swinging the sword, keep swinging the sword... until I can no longer hold the sword!"
The director finished speaking.
The room was suddenly surrounded by silence so clear that even people's breathing could be heard clearly.
Okita Hikaru's eyes were widened and his lips were slightly open.
Okita Rintaro was startled at first, and then looked at his wife and his sister-in-law carefully alternately with worried eyes on his face.
Souji looked at Hikari Okita fearlessly.
The smile on his face showed his unpretentious magnanimity and heroism.
Faced with Souji's "treasonous" speech, which he completely ignored her advice these days, Okita Hikaru did not get angry, nor did he roar at Souji.
He just silently pressed the hem of his kimono and sat beside Souji's bedside again.
"...Why do you suddenly tell me this with a victor's attitude for no reason? People who don't know may think that I have agreed to let you continue practicing swordsmanship."
"Well...no special reason."
At this time, the scene where Aoden personally praised her for being willing to pay so much for swordsmanship last night appeared in Souji's mind——
…
(This kind of character, this love for swordsmanship, is really admirable.)
…
"I just suddenly want to tell you so loudly."
Souji tilted his head, bared his teeth, and showed a childish face towards Hikaru Okita.
The smile on her face became a little stronger at this moment... no, when she recalled every compliment Qingdeng had given her last night.
The honest and straightforward emotions are well conveyed to Okita Hikaru through his smiling face.
Okita Hikaru instantly lowered his eyebrows and frowned, as if in embarrassment, and then immediately took a deep breath as if he was feeling heavy.
"'Determination will never waver again'..."
She softly repeated the exact words the Chief had just said.
"You kid...why don't you listen to my advice..."
Okita Hikaru ended her sentiments with a long sigh that was so low in volume that it almost disappeared, but the emotion contained in it was not small at all.
Then she stopped speaking.
Silently pressing the hem of the kimono, he turned and left.
Looking at her sister's back, which seemed to have become more bent, Souji's eyes flashed with a hint of unbearability...but she did not regret what she had just said or the will she had revealed.
…
…
Hikaru Okita, with his hands folded in front of him, walked quickly along the corridor at his feet with an expressionless expression.
Because the lower body clothes are tied very tightly, it is difficult to walk quickly in a women's kimono, so Okita Hikaru's stride and pace... people can't help but worry about whether she will step on the hem of her clothes. Then he fell to the ground.
"Ah Guang! Ah Guang! Don't walk so fast! Be careful and you fall!"
Okita Rintaro, who followed closely behind Okita Hikaru, urgently reminded Okita Hikaru... However, Okita Hikaru turned a deaf ear to his reminder.
Seeing that his wife was ignoring him... Okita Rintaro sighed heavily, and then opened and closed his mouth several times.
He looked like he wanted to say something to Hikaru Okita, but didn't know how to say it...
But at this moment, Okita Hikaru, who was speeding at full speed, suddenly stopped.
Okita Rintaro, who was walking behind, was caught off guard and almost bumped into Okita Hikari's back.
"Aguang, what's wrong?"
"...It's nothing." Okita Hikaru said softly, "It's just that...I found the young man I recommended to Souji the day before yesterday."
"Young man?" Okita Rintaro followed Okita Hikari's gaze and looked forward - at the corner of the corridor in front of them, a sweaty young samurai was walking hurriedly towards the toilet.
The next moment Okita Rintaro cast his eyes on the young samurai, he suddenly felt the light at his hand brighten - Okita Hikaru, who was standing beside him, stepped forward again.
She walked straight towards the young warrior.
…
…
Since copying the talent "Strengthening the Stomach", Qingdeng's gastrointestinal digestion and absorption capabilities have become much stronger, and the frequency of defecation has obviously become much lower.
Of course, the frequency of unsexing the little hands has not changed much compared to the past.
Qingdeng, who felt his bladder was full, ran to the toilet of the trial gym at a speed similar to a trot, wanting to quickly get rid of his physiological needs and then return to the dojo to continue practicing swordsmanship.
Suddenly, a pleasant female voice called out from behind him:
"Mr. Tachibana!"
Qingdeng's expression was startled, he paused, and quickly turned around to look back.
"Miss Okita?"
Okita Hikaru led Okita Rintaro to walk in front of Qingto in three steps and two steps at a time.
Before Aoto could ask, "What are you doing," Okita Hikaru explained his purpose.
"Are you free this afternoon?"
"ha?"
"I have something very important to tell you."
Okita Hikaru's expression was extremely serious.
"If you are free in the afternoon, could you please come with me and my husband to the teahouse next door?"
…
…
It's day, afternoon——
In Edo, in a certain private room at a teahouse called "Shinsuiya" not far from the Imperial Examination Hall——
Qingto, who was sitting upright, looked straight at Okita and his wife, who were sitting opposite him with their shoulders crossed, with a look of confusion that could not be concealed.
At this time, Qingto suddenly realized that this seemed to be the first time he had met and talked with Souji's sister in private.
The looks of these two sisters are so eerily similar...
Every time he faced Okita Hikaru, Aoto had the illusion that he was talking to the "mature version of Souji".
"Um... I wonder, Miss Okita, what do you want to tell me?"
Qingdeng went straight to the point without any hesitation.
Although his tone was sonorous and powerful... there was a hint of caution in his tone.
To be honest, Okita Hikaru suddenly ran over to him and said, "We have something important to discuss." Her behavior made Qingto feel a little guilty...
This made Qingteng couldn't help but doubt himself: Could it be that what I did to the General Secretary last night was exposed? Is the eldest sister of the General Division coming to settle accounts with me now?
Thinking of this, Qingdeng felt a little chill on his back...
In order to find out what was going on, Aomori nodded without hesitation this morning and agreed to Okita Hikaru's "invitation".
After lunch, he and the Okita couple came to this tea house near the trial guard hall and opened a private room that was secluded and where they didn't have to worry about being overheard.
Faced with Qingto's direct attack, Okita Hikaru did not respond immediately.
Instead, he first carefully looked at Fan Qingdeng's face thoughtfully.
"...Looking closer, Mr. Tachibana, you are indeed very talented."
"Huh...? Uh...you're flattered."
Being complimented for no reason... Qingdeng looked humble and polite.
"Mr. Tachibana, there is no need to use honorifics to me. You can talk to me in a more casual tone just like you would with a friend."
After finishing speaking, Okita Hikaru picked up the tea cup in front of him and gently sipped the tea in the cup.
When he put the teacup back to its original position, Okita Hikaru raised his eyes, cast a solemn gaze towards Aomori, and said carefully and word by word:
"Mr. Orange, the reason why I am disturbing you suddenly today is because I want to ask you to do me a favor."
"help?"
"Yes. Can you please join me in persuading Souji not to learn anymore... no, not to be addicted to kendo anymore?"
A shadow of surprise suddenly appeared between Qingdeng's brows.
When speaking of the word "obsessed", Okita Hikaru specifically used a particularly sharp tone... The edge in his voice was like a sharp blade suddenly unsheathed, making the air in the room "chichi". .
"The Souji is the eldest son of our Okita family, and he needs to inherit the Okita family business in the future."
"But Souji is now completely addicted to kendo and can't extricate himself."
"He is indifferent to anything other than kendo and Jin Ping Tang."
"His current obsession with kendo has completely broken away from the scope of 'learning self-defense techniques' and 'strengthening the body'."
"I don't object to him practicing swordsmanship...but I can't ignore his current state of being possessed."
"Mr. Tachibana, you are one of Souji's closest friends."
"Master Kondo, Junior Kondo, Mr. Hijikata, and Uncle Minamoto may all turn a deaf ear to the words of the Souji."
"But what you say...the Director-General might be able to listen to you!"
"I would like to ask you to help me persuade the General Secretary in private."
"Take his eyes off the sword in his hand."
"Let him pay more attention to the world besides kendo."
…
Okita Hikaru's eloquence has always been outstanding.
Her words can be said to be true and contain strong emotions.
After generously explaining the content of his request to Aoto and the reasons for his request, Okita Hikaru looked at Aoto to confirm.
This action of course means "What do you think?"
Aoden looked at Hikaru Okita with a dull expression.
After a moment, his dull expression turned into a bitter smile with mixed emotions.
Although Okita Mitsuru had just said one thing after another... Qingto knew very well that her impassioned speech just now was completely half-truth and half-falsehood.
Qingden raised his right hand and scratched the flesh on the back of his neck.
I secretly sighed in my heart:
They are indeed sisters... Both sisters are the kind of people who will not give in easily once they have made up their minds...
Souji's sister would come to him for help in order to persuade Souji to give up sword training... This was beyond Qingto's expectation.
——Forget it...
Qingdeng put down the hand that was grabbing the back of his neck and said "Huh..." turning the complicated emotions in his heart into a sound.
Then--
"...Miss Okita, you don't want Okita-kun to stop being addicted to kendo. You want Okita-kun to give up kendo directly, right?"
This time, Hikaru Okita and Rintaro Okita looked at Aoto with blank expressions.
Qingdeng struck while the iron was hot and continued:
"I know why you want Okita-kun to give up kendo."
"You know?" Okita Hikaru's eyes flickered slightly.
Qingden nodded: "Not long ago, I accidentally overheard the conversation between you and Okita-kun in the teahouse where Okita-kun often goes."
"Then... also not long ago, I accidentally learned Souji's true gender."
Last night was not long ago - Qingdeng convinced himself in his heart.
Shock and confusion...the expressions that appeared on the faces of Okita and his wife were no longer dull, but shock without any pretense.
Qingden summarized the whole story of how he knew that the two sisters were having a conflict over "whether they practiced sword practice or not" and how he found out that Souji was a girl.
Of course - Aomori was completely vague about how he found out that Souji was a girl. This topic was covered with a simple sentence of "discovered by accident".
As early as when he first learned that Okita Mitsumasa forced Souji to give up his swordsmanship, Aomori had the idea of having a good chat with this powerful elder sister.
After learning from Souji last night about the past of this young girl who had made many sacrifices to practice swordsmanship, Qingden's thoughts deepened a lot.
Okita Hikaru took the initiative to come to him for a private talk today... This was exactly what Aoto wanted!
At this moment, Qingteng has made up his mind - he wants to help the General Secretary! Help mediate the conflict between these fierce-tempered sisters!
"Miss Okita."
Qingdeng said in a serious tone.
"Although it may be very arrogant for an outsider like me to say this...but please go and pay more attention to your sister."
"...pay more attention?" Okita Hikaru frowned, with a shadow of doubt.
"Okita-kun..."
"Tachibana-kun, you can just call us by our real names." Hikaru Okita interrupted Qingto, "My husband, my husband, and Xiao Si are all 'Okita'. If you call us by our real names, it's okay." It’s convenient for you and me.”
Now that Aoto had confessed that he was one of the people who knew Souji's true gender, Okita Hikari didn't bother to hide it any more, so she boldly called Souji by his real name.
"Uh...okay."
It's convenient for Qingden to just use his real name...
Qingdeng cleared his throat vigorously, and then continued:
"Miss Guang, Souji left home as a disciple when she was 9 years old and moved into the Imperial Guard Hall. If my guess is correct - after Souji she became a member of the Imperial Guard Hall, you The chances of the sisters meeting each other must have become much less, right?”
"..." Okita Hikaru remained silent.
"Have you ever seen how my sister practices swordsmanship without any prejudice?"
"..."
"Have you ever carefully looked at the smile on my sister's face after her sword skills have been improved?"
"..."
"Have you ever tried to understand your sister's determination to change her name, disguise herself as a man, and get into trouble with her most respected eldest sister, and yet she is unwilling to put down the sword in her hand?"
"..."
"I can understand why you want Souji to give up kendo, Miss Hikaru."
"It is true that there is almost no room for female swordsmen to survive in this world, and I do not intend to deny your concept."
"I just hope that you can try to look at your sister more with a normal heart without any prejudice."
Qingdeng straightened his waist a little and raised the corners of his mouth.
"Miss Guang, there will be a good opportunity in the near future."
"It will be some time before Kondo-kun's wedding starts, and you still need to live in Edo for a while."
"You might as well take advantage of this period of time where you still have to stay in Edo temporarily and come to the Trial Guard Hall more often to see how your sister spends her days with the sword."
"In this way... maybe the 'distance' between you and your sister can be shortened."
After finishing speaking, Qingden bowed slightly and signaled to Okita Hikari with his movements: I'm done.
After finishing what he had wanted to say to Okita Hikari in one breath, Aoto smiled softly as he felt relaxed.
The tea room returned to silence as Qing Teng finished speaking.
Qingden calmly waited for Okita Hikaru's response.
Compared to Aoto's leisurely look, Hikaru Okita's expression can be described as "solemn".
I saw her pursed red lips, her eyes fixed on Qingdeng, and she exuded an aura of "Keep strangers away"
In a word - he looked as if he might quarrel with Qingto at any time.
Okita Rintaro on the side was shocked by the aura lingering on Okita Hikaru. His body tensed, his expression was stiff, and he was trembling...
After a while, the crowded tea room finally heard voices again.
"'Distance'..."
Okita Hikaru's lips moved, chewing on the words that just came from Qingto's mouth.
"Mr. Tachibana, your eloquence is surprisingly impressive."
"I originally wanted to ask Mr. Tachibana to help me, but I didn't..."
Okita Hikaru sighed softly, then stood up slowly while pressing the hem of his kimono.
"……I see."
"Mr. Tachibana, I will seriously consider the suggestion you just made."
After saying this, Okita Hikaru turned and walked towards the tea room.
"Mr. Orange, please don't let Xiao Si know that I secretly talked to you today."
The footsteps gradually fade away...
Watching Okita Hikaru and Okita Rintaro leaving, Aoto calmly picked up the tea cup in front of him and drank the tea in one gulp.
Sometimes, a simple word from an outsider can often bring unexpected results.
He had tried as hard as he could to impress Hikari Okita with words.
All Qingdeng can do next... is to wait and see what happens.
…
…
The next few days became leisurely and calm.
Qingto just kept repeating his daily routine of practicing swordsmanship in the Trial Guard Hall, practicing sword-drawing skills in Chishiya, playing with carrots in Chiba Sword Hall, and teaching Elodie swordsmanship in the residence.
Nothing significant happened worth mentioning.
Okita Hikaru seemed to have really adopted Aonto's suggestion. The frequency of coming to the trial defense hall and the time he spent in the trial defense hall had obviously increased and lengthened a lot.
In the past few days, you can often see a scene like this in the dojo of the Imperial Guard Hall - Mitsuru Okita is sitting in a corner of the dojo, quietly watching Souji's sword practice.
Okita Hikaru listened to his advice, which made Aoto feel happy.
But whether the "distance" between her and Souji has been successfully shortened, Qingto doesn't know yet...
The days passed.
In a blink of an eye... the time came to August 20th.
This day may be the most special day in August for the Trial Guard Hall.
Because on this day, their red and white battle with Xuanwu Hall... finally arrived!
…
…
The first year of Wanyan (1860), August 20th——
Edo, a river bank somewhere in the suburbs——
"Hey, look, isn't that person the famous disciple of Xuanwu Hall: Kikuchi Takejiro?"
"Ah, even that 'Oni Bazou' is here..."
"Am I right? Did I see Chida Sennosuke?"
"You read that right, that person is indeed Chida Sennosuke."
"My dear...there are so many masters here..."
"It always feels like...our chances of winning seem slim..."
"What nonsense are you talking about! How can you give up without fighting?"
…
The previous battle with Little Chiba Kenkan was an "exhibition match" for the purpose of entertaining the audience of the "Plum Blossom Festival".
This time the battle with Xuanwukan is a "private friendly match" with the purpose of exploring swordsmanship and improving each other.
Therefore, there were not many spectators in this competition. The only people who came to watch the competition were relatives and friends from the two sword halls.
As soon as Fang arrived at the competition site, before the competition officially started, the morale of the trial gymnasium began to plummet abruptly.
There is no other reason - the lineup at Xuanwu Hall can almost be described as "all-star"...
*******
*******
The battle with Xuanwukan is finally about to begin!
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(End of chapter)
