Okita Hikaru's eyes shine with a clear light that is reminiscent of the morning sun, as if he has the ability to capture people's hearts.

In fact, Qingdeng's "soul" was indeed taken away.

My eardrums suddenly felt numb.

Qingdeng: "..."

Okita Hikaru: "..."

Chief: "Huh...huh...huh"

Silence fell between Aoto and Okita Hikaru, and the breathing of Souji, who was sleeping soundly behind Okita Hikaru, sounded inexplicably distant.

It seems that all the sounds in this space are gradually drifting into the distance in the "present continuous tense".

A tense atmosphere instantly arose.

The person who created this atmosphere was, of course, Okita Hikaru, who had just made a violent comment.

After about five seconds, the surprise finally turned into sound.

"……ha?"

Qingden tilted his head and let out a dumbfounded "ha".

No wonder Qingdeng reacted like this.

In Aoto's world view, Hikaru Okita is synonymous with "reason" and "intellectuality".

Never do anything unpleasant or disrespectful.

Never say anything weird and confusing.

But Okita Hikaru's words and deeds completely contradicted the image Aonto had in his mind.

A few seconds ago, he was thanking Qingdeng for helping carry the general secretary back to his room. A few seconds later, he said, "You and Xiao Si will get married."

There is no room for joking.

Hikari Okita exudes a serious aura.

Anyone who sees Okita's expression and aura exposed under the light will be sure that this woman is not joking.

She said what she just said in a solemn manner.

Okita Hikaru seemed to be amused by Qingto's dazed look, and the corners of his mouth curved up a little more.

"Ji Jun, this is not a good place to talk."

Okita Hikaru turned his head and glanced at the director behind him.

What a coincidence, when Okita Hikaru's eyes turned towards him... Probably he was having a good dream, Souji's lips opened a few times, and then he pulled the quilt on his body to the right side, and the thick cotton

Wrapped tightly around her body, a cute silkworm baby appeared in front of Aoto and Okita Hikaru.

"..."

Okita Hikaru raised his eyebrows, his eyelashes trembling slightly and unnoticeably.

She stared straight at Souji, who turned sideways with the back of his head exposed, and then looked away after a moment.

"Tachibana-kun, please come with me. Let's talk slowly in a place where we won't disturb anyone or be disturbed."

Without waiting for Aoto's response, Okita Hikaru stepped out of the chief's bedroom in three steps at a time.

Qingto's body seemed to be controlled by Okita Hikaru's voice, and he followed Okita Hikaru half a body away - he urgently wanted to know quickly, "As long as you and Xiaosi get married, I agree to let you

What does "Xiao Si continue to practice swordsmanship" mean?

Okita Hikaru and Aoto walked down to the first floor of the Imperial Guard Hall one after another, and walked to the paper sliding door connecting the corridor.

Okita Hikaru reached out and grabbed the doorknob. The moment he opened the door, the sound of wind and cold air spurted out.

It snowed lightly this evening.

Although the snow has stopped long ago, there are still traces of their presence on the ground.

The moonlight, as light as dust, penetrated the thin clouds and sprinkled on the silver-covered courtyard.

The "silver" of the moonlight, the "white" of the snow and the "black" of the shadows combine to create a hazy atmosphere, like a misty wilderness.

"Tangerine-kun, please sit down."

Okita Hikaru casually found a seat on the corridor, hung his feet tightly together outside the corridor, raised his wrists and made a "please" gesture to his side, signaling Qingto to come over and take a seat.

Aoto didn't use any polite manners. After politely saying "I'm sorry," he sat shoulder to shoulder with Okita Hikaru.

Sitting on the edge of the corridor, with the courtyard in front of me and the dojo where I have slept behind...it is full of gentle breeze.

If you add a plate of persimmons and 2 cups of green tea with standing tea stems, it will be more Japanese-style.

"That...Miss Guang."

Qingden cleared his throat.

"Can you explain to me carefully? How come you... suddenly became Okita-kun's matchmaker?"

"I am Xiao Si's eldest sister. I act as a matchmaker for Xiao Si and find a good family for him. Isn't it weird?"

Okita Hikaru smiled, his tone full of ridicule.

"Uh...that's not what I meant, I meant..."

Qingdeng paused and racked his brains to think about how to express himself more appropriately and efficiently.

"Okay, stop teasing me."

Okita Hikaru seemed to be tired from playing, and suppressed the smile on his face slightly.

"Ji Jun, as I just said - I have figured it out. As long as you can marry Xiao Si, then the big problem that caused conflicts between me and Xiao Si... is 'whether Xiao Si should be allowed to continue learning swordsmanship'

, it can be solved perfectly.”

"...Miss Guang, please forgive me. 'I will marry Okita-kun' and 'Can Okita-kun continue to learn swordsmanship'... Is there any necessary correlation between the two?"

"Of course there is a connection. Not only that, but it's very strong."

Okita Hikaru raised his head an inch and stared at the distant sky.

"Ji Jun, has Xiao Si ever told you why I am so opposed to her continuing to learn swordsmanship?"

Qingdeng nodded.

"Because you think it's useless for a woman to practice swordsmanship. Just having sharp swordsmanship can't guarantee you will have enough food and clothing in the future."

"Hahaha, it seems that Xiao Si really trusts you. He has no reservations about even such private matters."

After letting out a few teasing chuckles, Okita Hikaru changed into a serious tone.

"That's right, just as Xiao Si said to you. I think women's sword practice is useless except to strengthen their bodies and gain some self-protection capabilities."

Speaking of this, Okita Hikaru seemed to recall some sad past events, and the corners of his eyes drooped slightly.

"My family was unfortunate. My parents died young. In order to raise my two younger sisters, I had to take charge of the family early and shoulder the heavy responsibility of feeding the whole family by myself, running around to provide three meals a day for my younger sisters."

"Therefore, I know better than anyone else in the world how difficult it is for a lonely woman to survive in this world."

"Not to mention the good jobs with high incomes."

"Even if you want to carry wood and load sandbags at the construction site, there is basically no foreman willing to accept a woman who is born with poor physical strength."

"If you don't want to sell your body, then the only jobs a woman can do are serving plates and cleaning tables in izakayas, teahouses and other restaurants."

"The hardships of that time... I still remember it fresh even now."

"It wasn't until I got married to Rintaro and had a strong man in the family that my life finally became easier."

Okita Hikaru had an indifferent expression throughout the whole process, and there was no ripple of emotion on his cheeks. He seemed to be talking about something that had nothing to do with him, but there was a deep topic hidden between the lines.

When his parents died, Okita Hikaru was only a teenager.

Just imagine: a girl who is not even twenty years old, raising two younger sisters by herself... This kind of thing is very difficult even in the information age of the 21st century, let alone the Edo period, which is still in the agricultural civilization?

Although Okita Hikaru told this past in a calm manner, anyone with a normal mind should be able to imagine that in order to support his sisters, Okita Hikaru must have made unimaginable efforts and endured countless hardships.

"Infatuated with swordsmanship... Such a life is really insecure."

Okita Hikaru's words did not stop.

"Ji Jun, you are a swordsman, so what I say next may make you unhappy..."

Okita Hikaru looked at Aoto to confirm. This action meant "Can I say this that may offend you?"

Qingdeng nodded without thinking and replied with his eyes: I don't mind, please speak.

After receiving Qingto's permission, Okita Hikaru no longer had any worries. She turned her gaze back to the front and cleared her throat:

"I think: Times have changed. Now is no longer the era of wielding swords and guns. The decline of swordsmanship and sword halls will only be a matter of time."

"Maybe 20 years from now, maybe 10 years from now, whether it's in the prosperous Edo, Osaka, or in a little-known backcountry, all the sword halls will be closed one after another due to the neglect... Even the Xuanbu Hall and the training hall.

, even big sword halls like the Little Chiba Sword Hall will not be spared."

"I was fortunate enough to witness the power of Western iron cannons and the majesty of black ships."
To be continued...