Therefore, as Chiba Shigetarou waded through the water towards Aoto, he spoke leisurely:
"Mr. Tachibana, I’ll get straight to the point first..."
His robust body, like a solid icebreaker, "crashed through" all the water obstructing his way,
Chiba Shigetarou’s move startled Aoto, Kondo, and Inoue.
If Chiba Shigetarou were allowed to get close to Aoto... he might very well discover Toshisuke hiding behind Aoto!
At this critical moment, a look of determination flashed in Inoue’s eyes.
"Mr. Tachibana, from August 23rd to August 25th..."
"Ugh...! Ugh ugh...! Ah ah...!"
Suddenly, Inoue raised his hand to cover his face tightly, letting out a pained moan.
Though the moan was not loud, its volume was enough for everyone present to hear it clearly.
Inoue’s sudden pained moan naturally drew the attention of Aoto, Kondo, and Chiba Shigetarou.
"Mr. Inoue." Chiba Shigetarou halted and turned his surprised gaze towards Inoue. "What’s wrong with you?"
"It’s nothing..." Inoue replied in a weak voice, using both hands to cover his face and lowering his head, "I just feel... very dizzy..."
"Dizzy?" Chiba Shigetarou’s pupils slightly contracted, "Mr. Inoue, have you gotten dizzy from soaking too long?"
"Hmm... maybe... ugh... so uncomfortable... I feel like throwing up..."
Seeing Inoue, who was lively just a moment ago, now suddenly "dizzy from soaking"... almost simultaneously, Aoto and Kondo’s eyes lit up brightly—they both instantly understood what Inoue intended to do.
Kondo, with a look of sudden realization, glanced around at Inoue and Chiba Shigetarou, then quickly walked over to Inoue’s side, showing apparent "anxiety."
"Uncle Gen! Uncle Gen!" Kondo steadied Inoue’s "unsteady" body, "Are you okay? Are you okay?"
"Ugh..." Inoue tightly shut his eyes, tilted his head, and rested it against Kondo’s chest, "So uncomfortable... feeling dizzier and dizzier..."
"Tch... this is troublesome, it seems like Uncle Gen really is dizzy from soaking."
Feigning concern, Kondo touched Inoue’s forehead and then turned to Chiba Shigetarou, speaking seriously:
"Shigetarou, can you come over and lend a hand? Uncle Gen looks seriously ill; we need to take Uncle Gen to see a doctor!"
"Okay!" Chiba Shigetarou nodded firmly without hesitation.
At this moment, Aoto joined in, seamlessly coordinating with Kondo and Inoue!
"I’ll go with you!"
Aoto said while stretching out his arms, supporting the walls at both corners of the bath, posing as if he was about to stand up.
"Mr. Tachibana, don’t come!"
Kondo quickly said.
"Shigetarou and I can handle taking Uncle Gen to see the doctor!"
"Someone needs to return to Shiwei Hall and let everyone know ’Uncle Gen and I might be back very late tonight.’"
"Mr. Tachibana, I’m entrusting you with this task!"
Indeed, there was no need for so many people to accompany someone going to see the doctor. Chiba Shigetarou eagerly joined Kondo in persuading:
"Mr. Tachibana, leave Mr. Inoue to me and Yong!" Chiba Shigetarou said seriously.
With your assurance... I can be at ease!
Aoto nearly blurted these words out.
Upon hearing Chiba Shigetarou’s statement, Aoto, Kondo, and even the now "dizzy from soaking" Inoue felt deeply reassured in their hearts!
Not giving Chiba Shigetarou any chance for regrets—Kondo urgently propped up Inoue.
"Shigetarou, let’s go!"
"Alright!"
Kondo and Chiba Shigetarou supported Inoue from the left and right, charging out of the bath with a bold stride.
"Wasn’t Mr. Inoue always in good health... how did he suddenly get dizzy from soaking..."
"Now that it’s gotten hotter, people have become more prone to heatstroke and dizziness from soaking."
...
The sound of Kondo and Chiba Shigetarou’s conversation gradually drifted away...
As the two’s figures were about to disappear beyond the Pomegranate Gate, Aoto noticed Kondo secretly turn back, giving him a deeply trusting look.
Leave Toshisuke to you—Kondo’s eyes conveyed that message with fervent emotion.
After Kondo, Inoue, and Chiba Shigetarou’s breaths completely faded, the sizable bath was once again left with only Aoto and Toshisuke, the lone pair.
Since Chiba Shigetarou’s appearance, the large stone hanging heavily over Aoto’s heart finally fell to the ground... Aoto couldn’t help but let out a long sigh.
After Hijikata, Kondo and Inoue also achieved a great success!
Without their clever coordination, it would have been impossible to so smoothly send Chiba Shigetarou away.
At this moment, Aoto couldn’t help but feel: Toshisuke really has a reliable group of family members.
Thanks to the assistance of Kondo and others, anyone who could expose Toshisuke’s secret further was now gone.
But just at this moment... Aoto suddenly realized something and opened his mouth wide, dumbfounded as he looked at the empty bath before him.
Like sleep-talking, he murmured to himself:
"It’s just... me alone now..."
Kondo, Hijikata, Inoue—the three who knew Toshisuke’s true gender and could provide Aoto with assistance—were all gone at this moment.
Which means—Aoto now had to figure out a way to take Toshisuke back to Shiwei Hall by himself!
For a moment, Aoto’s face was full of embarrassment, a bizarre atmosphere reigned over the entire bath...
In the eerie silence that seemed to stop time and space, chaotic thoughts swirled in Aoto’s mind.

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