"It’s just... She’s been coming to the dojo to watch me practice swordsmanship a lot these past few days, and sometimes she suddenly runs over to ask if I’m tired from practicing, if I’m taking breaks and drinking enough water..."
"That’s not bad at all." Aoto smiled.
"It’s good... But her behavior is so unusual that it’s making me feel weird... Because she opposes my continued sword training, my sister has never liked watching me practice swords."
While speaking, Toshisuke alternated rubbing his arms as if feeling a chill.
"To be honest—my sister suddenly acting out of character is a bit creepy... Could she be up to something strange..."
"Hmm... Who knows." Aoto shrugged lightly with a smile.
The talent "Deceiver" silently activated at this moment.
Toshisuke probably had no idea—at this moment, the one walking beside her, Aoto, was the only one in Shiwei Hall who knew why Chokata Mitsuo had suddenly become so abnormal.
—It seems... Mrs. Guang really listened to my suggestion, divesting more of her attention to "watching" Miss Chokata...
Thinking of this, a faint smile involuntarily appeared on Aoto’s face.
With laughter and chatting, Aoto and Toshisuke finally arrived at the front entrance on the first floor of Shiwei Hall.
In the entrance hall, Zhouzhu, Abi, Kondo, Hijikata, Inoue, Saito, Nagakura, Harada, Kyūbē, Chokata Mitsuo, Chokata Rintaro... everyone was ready and set to go.
Chokata Mitsuo and Chokata Rintaro, as Toshisuke’s relatives and esteemed guests of Shiwei Hall, could not be forgotten by the Kondo family who had invited them to watch today’s tournament.
Facing the Kondo family’s enthusiastic invitation, Chokata Mitsuo and her husband did not hesitate and generously agreed, repeatedly expressing that "they will definitely come to watch the competition."
From far away, seeing that Aoto and Toshisuke had finally arrived, Chokata Mitsuo first nodded to Toshisuke, then angled her eyes sideways, giving Aoto a deep, meaningful look... Her gaze lasted only a brief moment before she withdrew it from Aoto.
"You two are too slow." Hijikata, who always had a bad temper, twisted his mouth forcefully, "My butt is about to merge with the floor."
"That floor is too pitiful—it has to connect with Mr. Hijikata’s butt." Toshisuke tugged at the corner of his mouth, showing a "mournful" expression
"Ha, it’s this floor’s honor to connect with my butt." Hijikata grinned, "Do you know how many die-hard devotees covet my butt?"
"Don’t say such obscene things so naturally!" Toshisuke switched to "Roaring Tyrannosaurus Mode."
"Hohoho, alright, alright, save the talk for later on the road." Zhouzhu clapped his hands, "Since everyone’s here, let’s head out!"
"Brothers, let’s go!" Kondo raised his fist with righteousness, "Let’s go beat Xuanwu Hall!"
It takes nearly 30 minutes to travel from Shiwei Hall to the tournament venue on the outskirts of Edo.
Upon smoothly arriving at the venue, which remains cool due to its proximity to a spacious river, the group was immediately surrounded by gazes from all directions.
"Ah, Mr. Kiryu, look! Aoto and the others have arrived."
Mukiwa’s whole face flushed a soft pink with joy.
Still kneeling on the ground, she vigorously straightened her body above the knees, her plump "Water Honey Peaches" leaving her folded feet, facing Aoto. Her lifted right arm waved left and right like a car wiper.
Mr. Kiryu gazed with a complex expression at Mukiwa, who, in his impression, hadn’t interacted with him so enthusiastically since turning ten, and let out a long, emotion-laden sigh...
Aoto immediately noticed Mr. Kiryu sitting in the southern side "audience seat," along with Mukiwa waving earnestly at him.
To others, Mukiwa’s arm-moving like a car wiper might seem quite comical.
But in Aoto’s eyes, he only thought Mukiwa looked adorable doing this.
Amused by Mukiwa’s cuteness, Aoto felt warmth inside and couldn’t help but smile.
He raised both arms, waving toward Mukiwa from afar, signifying "I see you!"
At the same time, Aoto noticed Little Chiba Sword Dojo’s group sitting directly opposite Mr. Kiryu and Mukiwa, on the northern side "audience seat."
Seeing Aoto looking toward them, Chiba Shigetarou, Yamanaka Keisuke, and others quickly smiled and waved at Aoto.
Sitting beside Chiba Shigetarou was Sazanoko, who maintained her typical "Yamato Nadeshiko" elegance.
Unlike the excitedly waving Mukiwa, she simply placed her mildly smiling gaze lightly on Aoto’s face, nodding to him.
If one were to ask—at this moment, who is enduring the most, the densest gazes... It was undoubtedly Aoto.
"Hey, look, it’s ’Niō’, ’Niō’ is here!"
"Which one is ’Niō’?"
"The one who’s tall, and hasn’t shaved the Tsukushi haircut."
"As young as the rumors say..."
"Quite a nice build, obviously someone who often works out."
"Is he the one who recently challenged Little Chiba Sword Dojo’s 18 disciples..."
Xuanwu Hall’s "Main Array," sharp gazes stabbed into Aoto like arrows.
Apart from the very few exceptions, these gazes shared a common trait—a strong fighting spirit flame!

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