Facing the intensely emotional gaze sent by Chiba Jutaro, Aoto grinned.

"So... Mr. Jutaro, are you planning to rely on you, Miss Sanako and Chiba Tamon Shiro-kun, a total of four people to support a swordsmanship performance? Isn't the number of people too small?"

"4 people are enough."

Chiba Jutaro shook his head and smiled bitterly.

"The reason why I plan to hold swordsmanship performances with just such a small number of people... One of the main reasons is that the space we can use to perform swordsmanship is too small."

"The stalls at the fireworks display can basically be described as every inch of land costs a lot."

Chiba Jutaro raised two fingers.

"Even I only managed to grab a 2 square meter stall."

"Such a big stall can only accommodate 3 or 4 people to perform swordsmanship."

"If there were more people, we wouldn't even have a place to sit and rest."

After listening to Chiba Jutaro's explanation, Aoto nodded slightly: "Is it 2 square meters big... Then it is true that only 3 or 4 performers are enough..."

Qingden had heard a little bit about how difficult it was to apply for roadside stalls for fireworks displays.

For a grand event of this level, just setting up a food stall or a tea stall at the venue can make a lot of money.

Therefore, in the eyes of Edo merchants, the fireworks display was a piece of delicious meat, waiting to pounce on it and feast on it.

However, there are more monks than porridge... There is only so much space for people to watch fireworks, and there are only so many places suitable for setting up stalls.

Therefore, if you don’t have some skills and connections, you won’t be able to set up a stall at the fireworks display.

Therefore, from another perspective, it is really rare for Chiba Jutaro, who is not a professional businessman, to be able to get a stall space of 2 square meters on August 24.

As for what Chiba Jutaro said about "relying on performing martial arts to attract people to practice martial arts enthusiastically", Aonto was not interested at all. He did not have such lofty ideals.

But Qingdeng was quite interested in "Martial Arts" itself.

Since time traveling, he has never held or participated in any form of swordsmanship performance.

Performing chopping bamboo mats and demonstrating swordsmanship movements to the onlookers on the roadside... Qingdeng thought this seemed quite new and interesting.

Chiba Jutaro is his good friend, and Qingto is always willing to help his friends with small favors that are not particularly troublesome.

And I am quite interested in this activity.

Anyway, he didn't have much activities that night and was very free. So Qingdeng only thought for a moment and nodded gently:

"I understand. In that case, please let me do my best."

"Hahahaha!" Chiba Jutaro, who laughed with joy, slapped his thigh hard again, and raised the corners of his mouth so high that he almost grinned to his ears, "I am very grateful! Then let's say it! Then on August 24th,

Let’s meet at the ‘Towards Ryogoku’ area of ​​Ryogoku Bridge!”

The venue for the fireworks display: Ryogoku Bridge is a large east-west bridge spanning the Sumida River.

The east bridge is called "Ryoku Ryogoku", and the west bridge is called "Nihonbashi Ryogoku". The streets connected to the west bridge are the most famous entertainment street in Edo: Ryogoku Hirokoji.

When Chiba Jutaro said "meeting at Ryogoku", he meant meeting at the east end of Ryogoku Bridge.

Where to meet was just a trivial matter. Aomori silently remembered the meeting place told by Chiba Jutaro, and then nodded to show that he remembered it.

Chiba Jutaro, who was crossing his hands and digging into his sleeves, had a smile on his face that had not dissipated since just now... No, not only had it not dissipated, but it was actually expanding.

His eyes, which were almost squinting when he smiled, were shining with a subtle sense of joy and cunning.

Aotobu didn't know... that Chiba Jutaro, who was the "eldest son of the Chiba family branch", could definitely get a stall space that was much larger than 2 square meters.

Qingnobo didn't know even more - if he was free on August 23, then the swordsmanship performance mentioned by Chiba Jutaro would be held on August 23; if he was free on August 25, it would be on August 25

It will be held on the 25th of the month; if there is no time on any day, then Chiba Jutaro will ask Qingto to find a way to come out on one day to participate in his swordsmanship performance...

…

…

The next day——

The first year of Wanyan (1860), August 16——

A troubled night in which the world view of "good brothers" turned into "good sisters" was greatly impacted, but finally passed safely.

Even if the world has changed and everything has changed, the sun will still rise as usual.

I don’t know whether it was Souji’s body’s strong recovery power or the pot of “special medicine” that Abi boiled for her. In short, after a night’s rest, Souji regained his former energy and vitality.

When Qingdeng and others saw this, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

Although Souji seemed to have recovered, in order to ensure that her body had completely recovered, at the unanimous request of Aomori and others, Souji was issued a "no-no" order.

Except for the room and the toilet, you are not allowed to go anywhere today. Just curl up in bed and sleep. Don't worry about how to eat. We will bring you food when it's time for dinner - this is

The exact words Qingteng and the others said to the General Secretary now.

The general manager who had been "grounded" argued vigorously and said impassionedly that he had recovered his health and no longer needed to stay in his room to recuperate.

"I want to practice swordsmanship in the dojo! Look! I'm so energetic!" Souji shouted loudly, while jumping in place like a puppy trying to please its owner, with the slender ponytail on the back of his head.

Flying up and down.

But obviously - no one paid any attention to her claims.

Early this morning, Qingdeng, who has always been self-disciplined, was honing his sword skills in the dojo as usual.

Also early this morning, Souji's sister Okita Hikaru and brother-in-law Okita Rintaro came to the guard hall again as expected.

Since arriving in Edo to attend Kondo's upcoming wedding, Mr. and Mrs. Okita have been coming to the test hall almost every day.

As a disciple, Souji has lived in the Imperial Guard Hall for seven years. Shusuke and Kondo have already regarded Souji as half their daughter and half their sister.

Thanks to Souji's relationship, the Kondo family and the Okita family have always had a very good relationship. In addition, Okita Hikaru is very polite and has a good way of dealing with people, so the Kondo family very much welcomes the Okitas to come over and spend time with them.

They make daily routines.

Okita Hikaru, who came to try out the defense hall again today, knew immediately that Souji had lost his mind in Chihiro House last night.

So, naturally - she quickly led her husband and hurried to the chief secretary's room to visit this little sister who made her very worried.

…

…

Trial Guard Hall, Chief Division's room——

"She even fainted in the bathhouse... When did my little sister become so stupid?"

Okita Hikaru, who was sitting upright beside Souji's bedside, half-closed his eyes and looked at Souji, who was sitting cross-legged on the quilt, as if he was looking at a fool.

"a ha ha ha……"

The Souji, who smiled dryly, reached his left hand behind her head and stroked her ponytail.

"People always have accidents..."

"So what happened to you last night? Did you accidentally fall asleep while taking a bath in the bathhouse?"

Okita Hikaru aggressively questioned the general manager.

"There is no special reason..."

The director-general said vaguely.

"It's just that when I took a bath last night, I felt that it was so comfortable, and I accidentally stayed in the bath for too long. When I first came out of the bath, I didn't feel that bad, but when I returned to the bathroom, I

After the gym, I feel more and more dizzy...but don't worry, sister, I have fully recovered!"

After saying that, the smiling Souji raised his arms like a gorilla.

"..." Okita Hikaru silently looked directly into Souji's eyes with a gaze as sharp as a blade.

Being stared at by his sister, whom he respected as his biological mother... Souji couldn't help but feel a little flinching in his heart.

In order to prevent Okita Hikaru from discovering her guilty conscience, Souji had to brace herself and keep the smile on her face while bravely looking at Okita Hikaru.

Although Souji looked quite arrogant last night. As soon as he woke up on Aoto's back, he quickly picked up his mood and talked freely about her past with Aoto... But this is just Souji's nature.

.

Now that Tachibana-kun has discovered the daughter's true identity, there is no choice but to accept the fact and move on - Souji is a person with such a personality.

So optimistic and open-minded.

But Souji is still a girl after all, and she also has the reserve and shame of a girl!

As for what happened in the bathhouse last night... Souji would never tell anyone even if he was killed! Including his own sister!

The naked self and the equally naked Qingnobo bathed together in the men's bath. In order to avoid Nagakura and others, he had to hide behind Qingnobo in a back-to-back position. In the end, he became dizzy and had to let Qingnobo go.

Noboru dragged her out of the bathtub alone, dressed her, and carried her back to the bathroom. During this process, his private parts were accidentally used as a grip by Qingnobo... Souji couldn't be ashamed to say these things!

The director-general is just optimistic and open-minded, not heartless.

So as early as last night, she and Qing Dengyu made a private agreement: everything that happened in Qianxun's house tonight was their shared secret and must not be told to anyone!

For such an agreement... Qingdeng couldn't wish for it.
To be continued...