"I will never give up Swordsmanship!"
"I will keep wielding my sword, keep wielding it... until I can no longer hold it!"
Toshisuke finished speaking.
The room was instantly enveloped in a silence so profound that one could hear even the sound of breathing.
Chokata Mitsuo’s eyes were wide open, lips slightly parted.
Chokata Rintaro, on the other hand, was initially startled and then wore a look of bewilderment, cautiously glancing back and forth between his wife and his sister-in-law with a worried expression.
Toshisuke fearlessly met Chokata Mitsuo’s gaze.
His smile exuded an unembellished candidness and boldness.
Confronted with Toshisuke’s utterly rebellious declaration, dismissing all her recent admonitions... Chokata Mitsuo did not fly into a rage, nor did she shout at Toshisuke.
She only silently pressed the hem of her kimono and sat once more at the bedside of Toshisuke.
"...Why suddenly speak to me in such a triumphant manner? To those unaware, they might think I’ve already agreed to let you continue practicing swordsmanship."
"Um... there’s no particular reason."
At this moment, the scenes from last night where Aoto personally praised her willingness to dedicate so much to Swordsmanship flashed through Toshisuke’s mind.
(Such determination, such love for swordsmanship, is truly admirable.)
"I just suddenly felt like telling you that loudly."
Toshisuke tilted his head, bared his teeth, and made a playful face at Chokata Mitsuo.
The smile on his face at this moment... no, it became a bit more profound after reminiscing about everything Aoto had praised her for last night.
His honest, unpretentious emotions were clearly conveyed to Chokata Mitsuo through that smile.
Chokata Mitsuo furrowed her brow momentarily, then immediately took a deep breath as if feeling burdened.
"’The determination will never waver again’..."
She softly repeated the exact words that Toshisuke had just spoken.
"You child... why won’t you listen..."
Chokata Mitsuo ended her sentiment with a long sigh, so faint as to almost vanish, yet imbued with a great deal of emotion.
Then, she said nothing more.
Silently pressing the hem of her kimono, she turned and left.
Watching his sister’s seemingly slightly bent back, a trace of regret flashed in Toshisuke’s eyes... but he did not regret his words or the will he had just expressed.
Hands clasped in front of her, Chokata Mitsuo walked briskly along the corridor with an expressionless face.
Due to the tightly fastened lower part of her clothing, it was difficult to walk quickly in a woman’s kimono, so Chokata Mitsuo’s strides and speed... made people worry she might trip over her own hem and fall.
"Aguang! Aguang! Don’t walk so fast! Be careful you don’t trip!"
Chokata Rintaro, following closely behind Chokata Mitsuo, urgently reminded her... but Chokata Mitsuo ignored his warning.
Seeing his wife not responding... Chokata Rintaro sighed heavily, his mouth opening and closing several times.
A look of wanting to say something to Chokata Mitsuo but not knowing how to begin...
Yet at this time, Chokata Mitsuo, who was walking rapidly, suddenly stopped.
Walking behind her, Chokata Rintaro almost bumped into her back, catching him off guard.
"Aguang, what’s wrong?"
"...It’s nothing," Chokata Mitsuo said softly, "just spotted the young man I recommended to Toshisuke the other day."
"Young man?" Chokata Rintaro looked in the direction of Chokata Mitsuo’s gaze—around the corner of the corridor ahead, a young samurai, drenched in sweat, was walking towards the restroom with hurried steps.
In the next moment after Chokata Rintaro focused his gaze on the young samurai, he suddenly sensed a burst of light by his side—Chokata Mitsuo, who was standing next to him, stepped forward again.
She walked straight towards the young samurai.
Since inheriting the ’Strong Stomach’ talent, Aoto’s digestive and absorption abilities had strengthened considerably, significantly reducing the frequency of bowel movements.
Of course, the frequency of urination hadn’t changed much compared to before.
Feeling his bladder full, Aoto ran with almost a trot towards the Shiwei Hall restroom, wanting to quickly relieve himself and return to the dojo to continue practicing swordsmanship.
Unexpectedly, from behind him, a pleasant female voice called out to him:
"Mr. Tachibana!"
Aoto’s expression slightly froze, and he paused, turning swiftly around to look back.
"Miss Chokata?"
Chokata Mitsuo, with Chokata Rintaro in tow, walked briskly up to Aoto.
Before Aoto could ask "What’s the matter," Chokata Mitsuo explained her purpose first.
"Are you free this afternoon?"
"Huh?"
"I have something very important to discuss with you."
Chokata Mitsuo’s expression was exceedingly serious.
"If you’re free this afternoon, might I request the honor of having you accompany my husband and me to the nearby Tea House?"
On that day, in the afternoon—
In Edo, not far from Shiwei Hall, in a tea house called ’Water Tasting House’, in a private room—
Sitting upright, Aoto looked at the Chokata couple seated across from him with a gaze that couldn’t conceal his perplexity.
At this moment, Aoto suddenly realized—it seemed this was his first time meeting and conversing with Toshisuke’s sister in private.
The resemblance between the two sisters was outrageously striking...
Every time facing Chokata Mitsuo, Aoto couldn’t help but have the illusion of talking with a "mature version of Toshisuke".
"Well... I’m not sure what Miss Chokata wants to discuss with me?"

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