Chizuru Yukimura:
"Then..."
Ask Iba.
Chizuru Yukimura:
"Then... Can I ask for your help, Iba?"
Hachiro Iba:
"You want me to guard you?"
Chizuru Yukimura:
"Ah, I’m being a nuisance, aren’t I? Then– "
Hachiro Iba:
"N-No! You’re not being a nuisance at all!"
"It’s just that, since it's an internal matter of the Shinsengumi, and I'm an outsider..."
"So I never thought you would choose me."
Souji Okita:
"You're not jumping to any weird conclusions, are you? You know she’s just asking you to be her escort, right?"
Hachiro Iba:
"Of course I know that!"
“But the fact that she chose me as her escort should mean that she trusts me to keep her safe.”
Souji Okita:
“… You sure you understand?”
Genzaburou Inoue:
“Well then Iba, please take care of Yukimura for us.”
Hachiro Iba:
"Of course! I will do my best to protect her."
Souji Okita:
"Then we'll take care of Tani."
Okita and Inoue then both left the hall.
For some reason, Iba seems to be very enthusiastic.
Chizuru Yukimura:
"... So, what should we do after this?"
“Should I stay in my room so that Tani won’t get suspicious?”
Hachiro Iba:
“Earlier, Tani tried to confront you, didn’t he?”
“If you stay locked up in your room after he tried to confront you, he might get more suspicious of you instead."
"I think it would be best if you just do what you normally do."
Chizuru Yukimura:
"I see... You might be right."
It's quite difficult to create a natural atmosphere, but...
In order to act natural, we decided to just wander around the compound.
~NEXT SCENE~
Hachiro Iba:
“Earlier, Okita said he would take care of Tani…”
"Is it really alright to leave him be?"
Chizuru Yukimura:
"Sure, I'm a little worried as well, but..."
"Inoue should be with him, so it'll probably be fine."
"Maybe it won’t be so bad..."
Hachiro Iba:
"If that's the case, I guess it'll be fine..."
Iba replied with a tone that sounded like something was wrong.
Chizuru Yukimura:
“… Are you worried about Okita?”
Hachiro Iba:
"Yes. I've known him since back in Edo."
"Besides… this isn't just anybody's problem."
"It's Kondo's family..."
“The way Tennen Rishin-ryu is inherited is somewhat similar to Shingyoto-ryu.”
Chizuru Yukimura:
“… Is it alright if you tell me a little about it?”
Iba looked at me and nodded.
Hachiro Iba:
“In the Shingyoto-ryu, we too select from among the disciples who have mastered the arts, those who are suitable for both physical strength and personality, adopt them, and make them succeed us.”
"Among them, my generation is a little special."
"The former head of the family, Iba Hidenari, is my real father."
"He died when I was only fourteen…"
“At that time, I was still too young and was unable to succeed my father.”
“Then, my current adoptive father, who was a high-ranking disciple, was adopted into the Iba family and decided to take over.”
Chizuru Yukimura:
"Is that so…"
Regarding Iba's family situation, I only knew that they run a prestigious dojo…
He seems to have a lot of complicated things going on.
Hachiro Iba:
"... My adoptive father used to say–"
"That his wish is for me to become the next head of the Shingyoto-ryu style in the future."
“That's why he adopted me after becoming the head of the Iba family. So that I could succeed him in the future.”
"... But sometimes I wonder if that was really the life my adoptive father wanted."
"My adoptive father was fond of swordsmanship and only wanted to improve his skill with the sword.
“However, since he inherited the Iba family, he is busy with the management of the dojo and the work of the shogunate…”
"He couldn't live the life he originally wanted."
“… If only I was strong enough to take over the dojo when my father passed away.”
“My adoptive father could have lived the life he wanted.”
Chizuru Yukimura:
“Iba…”
Hachiro Iba:
"Of course, I know in my head that my adoptive father agreed and chose the current path."
"Even so... I still can’t shack those thoughts."
Chizuru Yukimura:
“...”
Hachiro Iba:
“… Maybe Okita has a similar conflict to mine.”
“That may be why he feels hesitant about taking over the Kondo family and the Tennen Rishin school.”
Until now, that was something I had never thought of…
Inheriting one family or school means changing the lives and destinies of many people.
That may be one of the reasons why Okita doesn't want to give a clear answer.
Hachiro Iba:
“Maybe it’s because our circumstances are a bit similar, but I feel like I can understand where Okita is coming from.”
"... However, if I were to say this to him, I'm sure he'd just bite back with a sarcastic remark."
Chizuru Yukimura:
"Yeah... you may be right."
I can't help but burst out laughing at the image of Okita's sarcastic reaction.
I caught my breath when I saw Tani in the distance.
Chizuru Yukimura:
“...!”
What's more, it's obvious that he's looking for someone.
No, I have to hide quickly...!
Hachiro Iba:
"Chizuru? What's wrong?"
Chizuru Yukimura:
"Quick Iba, this way!"
Hachiro Iba:
"Huh? Um..."
I pull Iba by his sleeve.
And just like that, we slip into a nearby room.
However...
Chizuru Yukimura:
“Ah…!”
Because I was in a hurry, I stumbled over my own feet and started to fall.
Hachiro Iba:
"Hey, Chizuru, watch out!"
Iba immediately tried to protect me.
But then…
Chizuru Yukimura:
“Ah…!”
We both tumble and fall onto the tatami mats.
-Picture-
I gasped involuntarily as Iba covered my mouth with his hand.
Chizuru Yukimura:
“...!”
I never thought I would end up in this position.
Hachiro Iba:
"Don’t raise your voice. We'll get noticed."
“Don't move around. It's distracting."
Chizuru Yukimura:
“...”
I nodded slightly while my mouth was blocked.
Someone walks past the shoji door.
Sanjuro Tani:
“… I could have sworn I saw Yukimura around here just a second ago… Maybe I was mistaken?”
What should I do if he opens the door for confirmation?
My whole body is soaked with sweat, and I can't move.
I hesitated even to breathe, let alone speak.
Please. Just hurry up and go...!
As I silently prayed, I just waited for the time to pass.
Sanjuro Tani:
“I guess it was just my imagination. Maybe the stress is getting to me."
After muttering that, Tani's footsteps went farther and farther away.
Hachiro Iba:
"... It looks like the coast is clear."
Chizuru Yukimura:
"I-I'm sorry...!"
Panicked, I got off Iba.
Chizuru Yukimura:
"I-I'm so so sorry!"
“I didn’t mean for that to happen…!”
Hachiro Iba:
“N-No, it’s fine…”
Chizuru Yukimura:
"It's definitely not intentional! It's like force majeure...!"
If we were just a little closer, there might have been a chance for our lips to touch one another.
Hachiro Iba:
"Y-yeah, I know. I should apologize as well... I'm sorry."
"More importantly, are you hurt anywhere?"
Chizuru Yukimura:
"I'm fine. Thanks to you catching me..."
Hachiro Iba:
"I see. Well then... that's good."
Chizuru Yukimura:
“...”
My heart is still practically beating out of my chest.
Why on earth did I do that…
Chizuru Yukimura:
“Come to think of it, just because Tani was coming our direction–”
"There was no need for us to panic and hide in the first place..."
Hachiro Iba:
"Oh, now that you mentioned it, that's true..."
Chizuru Yukimura:
"I'm really sorry! It's because of my carelessness."
"There's no way I would do such a thing to a samurai like you..."
I couldn’t stand it, and as I kept bowing my head over and over…
Hachiro Iba:
“... Chizuru.”
Chizuru Yukimura:
"Yes?"
Hachiro Iba:
"Please stop saying such things."
Chizuru Yukimura:
“What…?”
Hachiro Iba:
"It's true that I was born into a samurai family, but..."
"When I'm with you, I'm just your childhood friend Hachiro Iba."
"It's not like I protected you because I'm a samurai."
"That's why when you keep apologizing like that… It feels like there is a wall between us."
Chizuru Yukimura:
“Oh…”
Iba was indeed born into a samurai family…
But if my childhood friend treated me like a stranger, I'm sure I would feel hurt as well.
I could understand what that would feel like.
Hachiro Iba:
"Ah… I'm sorry."
Chizuru Yukimura:
"... I understand what you're feeling. I'm sorry."
Hachiro Iba:
"That’s good. But really, don't worry about it."
"I'm just glad I was able to protect you from Tani."
"And what happened because of that... I consider a happy accident..."
Chizuru Yukimura:
“What…?”
Hachiro Iba:
"It’s nothing, let’s get out of here!"
What does he mean by "happy accident"?
After that, we couldn't make eye contact for a while.
~NEXT SCENE~
The following day, the sky looked rather dreary.
In the meantime... All the captains who were aware of the Shinsengumi’s secret, were gathered in the common room.
Chizuru Yukimura:
"I brought you some tea."
The soldiers who were gathered all had a tense look on their faces.
Chizuru Yukimura:
“There’s your tea.”
I quickly distributed the tea so as not to disturb their discussion.
It seems that everybody has already been made aware of Tani's actions.
Everyone kept quiet and had grim looks on their faces.
Hachiro Iba:
"... Thank you, Chizuru."
Souji Okita:
“Why are you here so early in the morning, Iba?”
"Can’t you keep your nose out of our business?"
Hachiro Iba:
"I'm here as a representative of the shogunate, so..."
"So I can't return to Edo until Tani's case is resolved."
"... Besides, she is involved in this as well."
Toshizo Hijikata:
"Souji, Hachiro, save the conversation for your own time."
Hachiro Iba:
"Right, I'm sorry."
Toshizo Hijikata:
“First up… Saito and Shinpachi, you guys were watching Tani yesterday.”
"Please tell us your report."
Hajime Saito:
"During my investigation, I discovered that Tani has indeed been keeping an eye on Yukimura."
"He also seemed to be trying to investigate what was going on inside the garrison."
"When I called out to him, he dodged the question and ran away."
Shinpachi Nagakura:
"I saw Tani go to Itou's room in the middle of the night."
Toshizo Hijikata:
"... I see. Did you see anyone else enter the room?"
Shinpachi Nagakura:
"It was just him."
"He and Itou were in there for quite some time... I think they were talking for about half an hour."
Toshizo Hijikata:
"Itou, huh... It would be troublesome if he were to investigate what’s in the depths of the garrison."
Sanosuke Harada:
"Before he starts sniffing around any further, wouldn't it be better if we tried to explain the dinner tray to Tani?"
Toshizo Hijikata:
"That may not be a bad idea... But what explanation would satisfy Tani and stop him from sneaking around?"
Heisuke Toudou:
“Wouldn’t it be fine if we told him she was just carrying food for the sick and resting soldiers?”
Souji Okita:
"It would be nice if he were to believe that."
Sanosuke Harada:
"How about we tell em Shinpachi has secretly been eating two servings in order to grow his muscles?"
Shinpachi Nagakura:
"There's no way Tani is gonna believe that."
"But if you wanna let me eat for two, I won’t complain."
Souji Okita:
“… By the way Chizuru, when Tani confronted you, wasn’t that near Hijikata’s room?”
Chizuru Yukimura:
"That's right, his room wasn't that far away."
Souji Okita:
“Then why don’t we tell him that Hijikata has been having extra meals?”
Chizuru Yukimura:
“What!?”
Hachiro Iba:
"Wait a minute, Okita. I don’t think–"
Toshizo Hijikata:
"Tani isn’t stupid enough to believe that. Start thinking about this more seriously."
Souji Okita:
"Aww, but I really like that idea, so please push through."
Shinpachi Nagakura:
"Well, Hijikata is the Commander. It wouldn't be too strange if he were to have two meals."
Toshizo Hijikata:
"You assholes, saying whatever you want..."
...... I wonder, would Tani really believe such an odd explanation?
Even I was starting to grow anxious.
Hachiro Iba:
“… Are you really okay with using that excuse?”
"If it comes to light that you were having two servings behind everybody else's backs"
“Wouldn’t your reputation suffer greatly among the soldiers?”
Souji Okita:
“Hijikata already has a pretty crappy reputation, so this wouldn’t really change much.”
"It would be a trivial matter compared to if the truth were to come to light."
Hijikata looked unconvinced and folded his arms, but…
Toshizo Hijikata:
"... I guess it can't be helped. Let’s go with that form now."
“But you guys better try and come up with a proper excuse!”
"... Harada. Can you call Tani here?"
Sanosuke Harada:
“You got it.”
Harada then left the common room.
Will Tani believe the excuse that we had come up with?
My anxiety didn’t subside…
After a while, the shoji door opened again.
Sanosuke Harada:
"It seems that Tani is out at the moment."
Toshizo Hijikata:
"He’s not off-duty today... Do you know where he went?"
Sanosuke Harada:
"I haven’t a clue. I tried to ask the members of the 7th Division, but he didn't tell them where he was going."
Shinpachi Nagakura:
“Maybe he ran away because he heard Souji is out to kill him?”
Souji Okita:
"If that were true, it would make things pretty boring. I was just thinking of how I would cut him."
Toshizo Hijikata:
"... Harada, when Tani returns, tell him to come to see me."
Sanosuke Harada:
"Got it, I’ll let him know."
After that, they disbanded and everyone returned to their respective duties.
~NEXT SCENE~
However that night, things were moving in an unexpected direction.
I was clearing up after dinner.
Hachiro Iba:
"Chizuru, let me lend you a hand."
“Should I take this try and put it over there?”
Chizuru Yukimura:
"I-It’s fine...! I couldn’t possibly let you help me..."
Hachiro Iba:
"Please don't worry about it. It’s my way of thanking you for the delicious dinner."
Chizuru Yukimura:
“But…”
Hachiro Iba:
"When in Rome, you do as the Romans do, so please let me help out."
Iba seems to be in a good mood today…
Is he that happy to be able to eat with the others?
Souji Okita:
"... Oh, it seems you’ve already had dinner."
Chizuru Yukimura:
"Okita..."
"Have you ever been out? Where did you go…?"
I'm pretty sure I saw Okita heading out somewhere during the day.
Souji Okita:
"Well, I'm off duty today, so I just went out for a walk."
Chizuru Yukimura:
"If you're hungry, I can prepare you something."
Souji Okita:
"No need, I’m not really hungry."
Chizuru Yukimura:
"Alright…"
Sanosuke Harada:
"... I wonder what happened to Tani. It's almost time for curfew."
Ever since the meeting ended, Harada has been waiting for Tani to return…
But it seems that in the end, he still hadn’t returned to the headquarters.
I'm sure Tani is well aware that breaking curfew could end in honorable suicide…
At that moment, the shoji door opened…
Susumu Yamazaki:
"... Saito, Harada, Nagakura. Please follow me to the commander's room."
Sanosuke Harada:
"Why? Did something happen?"
Hajime Saito:
“I’m sure the commander will give us the details when we get there.”
Susumu Yamazaki:
“Okita, please join us as well.”
Souji Okita:
"... It looks like something pretty serious has happened."
"I hope I can finally get permission to kill Tani."
But Yamazaki didn't respond to Okita's joke.
And just like that, they left the room.
Hachiro Iba:
"... I wonder what happened."
“Judging by the look of things, it seems that something rather serious has happened.”
Chizuru Yukimura:
"I hope nothing bad has happened..."
Just as I finished saying that.
Susumu Yamazaki:
“Iba, could you please follow me as well?”
“And you too, Yukimura.”
Hachiro Iba:
“So you want us to join too. ……Alright, I understand.”
Maybe this has something to do with Tani…
We headed for Hijikata's room with a bad feeling in our hearts.
~NEXT SCENE~
Toshizo Hijikata:
"I'm sorry for calling you all out here so out of the blue."
"... Tani has been killed. It seems to have happened a little earlier today."
The moment Hijikata uttered the words, it felt like the entire room froze over.
Then, everyone's gaze turned to Okita.
Toshizo Hijikata:
"Souji, is this your doing? Didn’t I tell you to restrain yourself?"
Souji Okita:
"It wasn’t me."
"Where the hell did you find him? How was he killed?"
Susumu Yamazaki:
“He appears to have been cut down by someone as he was leaving the Yasaka Shrine.”
"His corpse smelled of alcohol... So he was probably on his way back from Gion."
"The people who found his body contacted the guard, and the members of the Itou faction were the first to investigate the scene."
Toshizo Hijikata:
"Yamazaki, were you able to check Tani's body?"
Susumu Yamazaki:
"Yes, I received a report from the corpsman. I decided that I should inform you first."
“It appears that the autopsy of the corpse was performed by members of the Itou faction.”
Sanosuke Harada:
“It’s hard to believe that Tani was killed… His opponent must have been very skilled.”
Susumu Yamazaki:
“It may have been because he was drunk, but considering his position, Tani should have been prepared for a surprise attack.”
"Okita, where were you and what have you been doing until this evening?"
Souji Okita:
"... Don't know, I don't remember."
Susumu Yamazaki:
“Okita!”
Sanosuke Harada:
"Stop fooling around, don't you get that this isn't the time for jokes?"
Souji Okita:
"I am fully aware. I'm not joking."
“If I’d done it, don’t ya think I would’ve just told you guys I killed him?”
Shinpachi Nagakura:
"... Don't say that. What if others heard you? People might misunderstand."
Souji Okita:
"But I really didn't kill him. Look. I’m clean, I don’t got any blood on me."
"If you still have doubts, you can even check my sword."
Susumu Yamazaki:
"... The presence of your sword or the absence of blood cannot prove your innocence."
"You could have used a different sword, you could even have changed your kimono on your way back."
Souji Okita:
"... So in other words, you think that I killed Tani?"
Toshizo Hijikata:
"Stop twistin’ other people's words. Yamazaki is just asking for confirmation."
Shinpachi Nagakura:
“Hey, Hijikata, the fact that the members of the Itou faction were the only ones to inspect the corpse…”
Toshizo Hijikata:
“If they are the culprits, there is a possibility that they fabricated evidence that is convenient for them.”
Souji Okita:
"... Itou and his lackeys might be trying to make me out to be the culprit."
"If that's the case, I'd rather kill Itou."
"I'll probably be forced to commit seppuku anyway if I’m declared to be Tani’s killer."
Hajime Saito:
"... Souji, watch what you're saying."
Shinpachi Nagakura:
"Yeah, calm down. If you start acting rashly, you’ll be playing in their hands."
Hachiro Iba:
“Toshi…”
Toshizo Hijikata:
"Damn it… I've completely fallen behind."
“Considering that a captain was killed, I should have been the first person they should have notified.”
Susumu Yamazaki:
“It would have been understandable if the commander was out, but he was at the base all day today.”
Everyone seemed to be in serious thought.
Hachiro Iba:
"...Toshi. Do you know what Itou was up to today?"
Toshizo Hijikata:
"He seemed to have gone out somewhere. ... Why do you ask?”
Hachiro Iba:
“It’s nothing…”
Chizuru Yukimura:
“...?”
What was that about?
Iba appeared to be bothered by something...
Hijikata didn't pursue it any further, and turned to face the others.
Toshizo Hijikata:
"Alright then. I’ll go talk to Itou directly."
"You guys, don't do anything unnecessary, give priority to your usual duties."
"For those of you who are off-duty, try to stay in your rooms."
Shinpachi Nagakura:
"I think it’s better if we avoid being alone as much as possible."
"Who knows what they’ll accuse us of if we act even a little suspicious."
Susumu Yamazaki:
"Indeed. So please be careful."
Toshizo Hijikata:
"... I’m sure you already know this, but don't tell the other members that Tani is dead yet. Got it?"
Hajime Saito:
"Understood."
Before long, the group was disbanded, and I watched the others leave the room one by one.
Hachiro Iba:
"Chizuru, it's time for us to leave the room..."
Chizuru Yukimura:
"Ah... Right!"
I think I should just go back to my room…
However there’s one thing that has been really bothers me. That's …
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