My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 143 - 87: Ryo’s Depiction of Edo’s First Beauty [9,000 Words]

"By the way, Sana, I met a new friend a few days ago."

Chiba Shigetarou, with his arms crossed in front of his chest and walking with a duck-footed gait, suddenly spoke to his sister beside him.

"...A new friend?" Sana, with her hands folded in front of her, walking alongside Chiba Shigetarou, turned her head to look at her brother.

Chiba Shigetarou nodded: "It’s a new friend introduced to me by Rinaka Hachiro, named Kawahara Masaki."

"He’s a very outstanding young man."

Hearing Chiba Shigetarou’s words, Sana suddenly seemed to realize something, her delicate brows furrowing slightly, her expression... visibly turned indifferent.

Chiba Shigetarou noticed the change in Sana’s expression - but he deliberately pretended not to see it, letting out a few dry laughs as he continued:

"That Kawahara Masaki, this year is only 23, but he’s already a Deputy Master at Qianxue Academy in Echizen-cho."

"Sana, you should know about Qianxue Academy in Echizen-cho, right? It’s the academy that teaches the Ono Ichidōryū Stream."

"Tsk-tsk-tsk, to become a Deputy Master at a great Sword Dojo like Qianxue Academy at just 23 through his own abilities, he has a bright future ahead."

"I went out for a few drinks with Mr. Kawahara a few days ago."

Chiba Shigetarou raised his hand to mimic a drinking motion.

"I thought a young man with such a bright future and good looks would have been snatched away by some family’s daughter long ago."

"But to my surprise, that Mr. Kawahara is still unmarried..."

"...Brother."

Before Chiba Shigetarou could finish, Sana silently turned her gaze away from him and back to the front, interrupting him in a calm tone without any trace of emotion.

"I know what you want to say."

"Since it’s rare for us to go out together, can you not bring up topics I dislike hearing?"

Chiba Shigetarou’s expression froze.

He gave Sana a complex look for a few moments and then slowly closed his mouth, letting out a long sigh.

"...Sana, I admit that Sakamoto Ryoma is indeed an excellent and charming man."

"But is he really so exceptional... that you can’t forget him even now..."

Chiba Shigetarou raised his hand, scratching the back of his head in frustration.

Meanwhile, Sana slightly pursed her lips, lowered her head a bit, and gently held the fabric under her kimono sash with her hands folded in front.

"I’ve asked some friends living in the Tosa Domain to help me inquire about Ryoma’s whereabouts."

"After Ryoma left our Little Chiba Sword Dojo and returned to Tosa, he joined an organization established by a lower officer named Takeichi Hantai: the ’Tosa Imperial Loyalist Faction.’"

"According to my friends in the Tosa Domain... this ’Tosa Imperial Loyalist Faction’ is strongly committed to radical anti-foreigner tenets... aiming to expel all the barbarians from within the country."

"I feel Ryoma... has gotten into a bit of trouble... joining such a radical organization..."

"Sana, I think you should not have any expectations of Ryoma anymore."

"Ryoma might already... not be the carefree Ryoma we used to know, who only knew how to practice swordsmanship every day..."

"...Brother!"

Sana interrupted Chiba Shigetarou’s words once again.

This time, Sana’s tone was more forceful.

"Can we put a stop to the topic about Ryoma?"

"...Alright, alright." Chiba Shigetarou smacked his lips lightly, "If you don’t want to hear it, Sana, I won’t say anything."

After this exchange, the siblings did not speak again.

Until - the aroma of grilled eel wafted into Chiba Shigetarou’s nostrils.

"Oh oh...!" Chiba Shigetarou sniffed vigorously, then eagerly turned his neck, searching for the source of the aroma.

"An eel stall open at this hour..." Chiba Shigetarou looked at an eel stall still open not far ahead and swallowed hard, "Sana, do you want to have some eel now?"

Sana shook her head.

"You don’t want any? Well then, I’ll buy one for myself." Chiba took a deep breath to swallow the accumulated saliva in his mouth, then quickened his pace, heading towards the eel stall.

"Brother." Sana hurriedly called out to Chiba Shigetarou’s retreating figure, "We’re supposed to be heading to Shiwei Hall now, we don’t have time to linger here eating and drinking."

"No worries, no worries." Chiba Shigetarou waved his hand back at Sana without turning his head, "I eat quickly! Boss! One skewer of grilled eel!"

"Sure, 8 mon Coins."

...

...

Edo, Little Ishikawa Hoshimura Willow Street, Shiwei Hall—

In the room, Chokata, who was kneeling in the corner of the room and seriously engrossed in an arithmetic book, turned his head and blinked at Aoto standing by his side:

"Bathing?"

"Yes." Aoto nodded, "Kondo, Saito, and I plan to go to Qianxun House for a bath now. Mr. Chokata, do you want to join us?"

Aoto, who had been practicing in the dojo with Kondo for over an hour, was now drenched in sweat, his face flushed with the unique redness of intense exercise.

Aoto was someone who habitually goes for a bath immediately after sweating from intense exercise.

His body was covered in sweat from the night practice with Kondo, and he only wanted to quickly head to the public bathhouse near Shiwei Hall: Qianxun House for a bath.

Kondo’s home does not have a bathroom, so to bathe, he has to go to the nearby public bathhouse.