Since Aoto was sitting back-to-back with Toshisuke, he hadn’t noticed that behind him, Toshisuke was drooping his head even lower, as if he wished he could bury his entire face in the water.
He sneaked a glance backward, and the moment he caught sight of Aoto, his gaze snapped back as if electrocuted, refocusing on the water surface before him.
At that moment when Toshisuke withdrew his gaze, a faint blush appeared on his cheeks.
Anyone seeing Toshisuke’s flushed face might think he’d soaked in the bathhouse for too long, making his face steam red from the heat.
But only Toshisuke knew that the redness on his face... wasn’t from the heat of the bathhouse.
"The reason I’ve been avoiding you today... isn’t because of the negotiation results with my sister, which are hard to tell you..."
"Hmm? Then why?"
"Uh... this..."
The blush on Toshisuke’s face spread wider.
"This... is something I can’t tell you for now..."
"Again with something you can’t tell me..."
Aoto couldn’t help but show a self-mocking smile.
The last time he asked about why Chokata Mitsuo insisted Toshisuke give up swordsmanship, Toshisuke declined to answer with "can’t tell you."
"Alright, if it’s something you can’t tell me, then don’t say it."
Convincing his sister not to obstruct his swordsmanship practice... is indeed important, but everyday life and training at the dojo are equally important.
Being lethargic and absent-minded due to his sister’s pressure every day... is really not right.
Just as Aoto was about to remind Toshisuke to take things easy and pay more attention in the future, so as not to look so absent-minded every day because of his sister’s matters—
Nagakura: "Bathing this late at night seems pretty great, it’s very quiet, and no one can disturb us."
Inoue: "Bathing at the bathhouse at this hour is certainly unique."
Harada: "Hmm? Don’t you guys think that if the bathhouse isn’t lively, bathing feels dull?"
Hijikata: "I don’t really like going to the bathhouse too late; if too late, the bath water gets cold."
Saito: "... Mr. Nagakura, there’s a spider on the back of your neck."
Nagakura: "What?! Really?!"
Saito: "Ah, sorry, I was mistaken, I mistook your mole for a spider."
Nagakura: "Damn, you scared me."
Kondo: "Alright, stop messing around, didn’t you remember what Granny Tang just said? The bathhouse is about to close soon, hurry up and bathe."
Harada: "Since we’re here, after washing up, let’s soak in the bath."
Nagakura: "We still need to soak?"
Harada: "Nagakura, are you silly? We spent 2 mon coins to get in; if we don’t make the most of it, won’t we lose out?"
Nagakura: "You’re right..."
Hijikata: "If we’re soaking, I have no objections."
Inoue: "I don’t mind either."
Kondo: "Let’s soak in the bath after washing up before we leave then."
Outside the Pomegranate Gate, the voices of the Shiwei Hall buddies suddenly came through.
"Hmm?"
Aoto blinked towards the Pomegranate Gate in surprise.
"Didn’t Mr. Kondo and the others already bathe?"
The sudden arrival of Kondo and his group only made Aoto slightly surprised.
Aoto’s calm demeanor... was in stark contrast with the reaction Toshisuke behind him was exhibiting at that moment.
Splosh!
The loud sound of water waves being pushed away behind him made Aoto turn around, drawn by the noise.
As soon as he turned his face behind, Aoto saw Toshisuke, still with his back to him, shifting his arm position from "hugging knees" to "crossing arms on his chest."
"Why-why why why are they suddenly coming to the bathhouse at this time? And they’re going to soak too...!"
Toshisuke said anxiously, looking around in a fluster.
"N-no way! I must-must-must, must quickly find a place to hide!"
"Mr. Chokata, what are you doing?"
Regardless of Toshisuke’s panicked glances or his words, Aoto was utterly puzzled.
Toshisuke ignored Aoto’s questioning, half bending at the waist, keeping everything below his neck underwater, rushed towards the furthest corner of the bath... seemingly looking for somewhere to hide.
"Hey, wait, Mr. Chokata, be careful, that pool gets deep."
To provide a good bathing experience for people of different heights, Qianxun House divided the bath into "shallow areas" and "deep areas."
The deeper into the bath, the deeper the water.
Eager to find a hiding spot, Toshisuke, anxiously moving into the deeper part of the bath, ignored the change in water depth.
Suddenly stepping into the "deep area," he accidentally missed his footing.
With a "plop" sound... Toshisuke’s entire figure disappeared from Aoto’s line of sight.
Falling into the deep zone, Toshisuke submerged into the water, with his whole head following the body beneath his neck underneath the water surface...
"Mmph...! Poof! Glub glub glub glub..."
From the place where bullous rings were wildly bubbling up, sounds of bubbles were heard...
Seeing this, Aoto’s face turned white, not even having time to scream, hurriedly parted the obstructing water before him, rushing towards the spot where bubbles kept bursting on the surface.
Although in a bath, it’s unlikely to drown, the recovery of Toshisuke couldn’t afford any delay.

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