"That level...I'd better wait and challenge that guy..." Saitoichi said to himself lazily.
"What's wrong? Saito boy, are you giving up now?" Hijikata looked at Saito with a smile.
"I just don't want to ask for trouble. Look at him." Saito pointed at Zuomura who was talking to Kondo Shusuke, "Obviously he looks so harmless, but who knew he could jump so high all of a sudden?
If you jump up, how can you cut it?"
"That's the truth..." Isamu Shimazaki touched his unshaven chin and pondered, "But have you ever thought that if Zuo Cun jumped up, it means that he has become a living target?
After all, he can't move in the air."
Hijikata Toshizo rolled his eyes: "I can't move, but you can jump up and chop him?"
"No." Shimazaki Isamu admitted in a bachelor's manner.
"So, if you still can't cut it, you will definitely lose. I am too lazy to participate in such a duel." Saito ran away as soon as he finished saying this.
"What a casual guy..." Shimazaki Isamu and Hijikata Toizo looked at each other and smiled in unison.
...
"I want to find sweet potatoes in this weather..."
There is no market today, and it is not a crowded time like in the evening. There are still not many residents on the streets of Edo.
When he was in Kurokawa Shimomura, Samura once lost a bet to Okita, and the price was that Samura had to make a chestnut dumpling for Okita.
But I walked around Zuocun several times but couldn't find anyone selling sweet potatoes.
Not even chestnuts...
Sighing, Zuo Cun had no choice but to buy a few more jars of wine, then a chicken, and went back.
Okita is wielding a sword in the trial defense hall.
Zuo Cun shook off the snow that fell on his body and walked into the training hall.
"Ah, Samura-kun, you are back." Miss Okita looked at Samura in surprise, "How are you doing? Did you buy sweet potatoes and chestnuts?"
"Uh, I didn't buy it..." Zuo Cun looked a little embarrassed, "But I bought a chicken."
Miss Okita's smile instantly froze on her face.
He pursed his lips: "It's really difficult to buy sweet potatoes today..."
"Don't worry, I will definitely cook it for you in the future." Zuo Cun handed the chicken to the servant of the trial guard hall, and then lightly nodded Okita's head.
"Mr. Zuomura, please don't break your promise." Okita shouted at Zuomura's back.
...
The New Year is approaching.
Several people were sitting on the steps at the entrance of the Imperial Guard Hall, looking in the direction of Edo Castle.
"There should be fireworks in Edo Castle today." Shimazaki held a small plate of wine in his hand.
"There should be some..." Saitoichi looked at the wine in Shimazaki's hand.
"We should all go to Sensoji Temple tomorrow." Shusuke Kondo put his hands in his sleeves and walked out of the house, looking at the group of young people gathered at the door.
"I must go. After all, we need to pray for blessings during the New Year." Miss Okita sat next to Zuo Cun, holding a meal in her hand.
Boom...
The buzzing sound of bells came from afar.
"Ah, it's begun." Toshizo Hijikata looked into the distance, "The bell-ringing ceremony of Sensoji Temple."
Boom...
Several people said nothing.
The sound of this bell is to eliminate pollution and welcome the new year.
If you listen to these one hundred and eight bells, you will be happy in the new year.
Boom...
The cold winter wind blew slightly on several people's cheeks, and the three drunken teenagers became a little more awake.
The monks of Sensoji Temple rang the bell one hundred and eight times.
A white bird landed on Zuo Cun's shoulder, as if it was also listening to the bells.
"Okay, okay, now that the bells are over, let's all go back and have a rest." Kondo Shusuke began to greet people, "Samura Hijikata Shimazaki! Put down the wine, don't welcome the New Year with that drunken look.
!”
Everyone was driven back to their rooms.
Kondo Shusuke looked in the direction of Sensoji Temple and smiled slightly.
I couldn't help but think of my most proud disciple.
...and Zuocun.
In fact, not only Kondo Shusuke, Shimazaki Isamu, Hijikata Toshizo, but even the somewhat casual Saito Ichi.
Everyone could see that there seemed to be something wrong with the relationship between Zuo Cun and Okita.
However, it is not like the relationship between men and women.
Okita is very active, very active with everyone, but only when facing Zuomura, he has a very gentle feeling, and he can't help but be a little timid.
As for Zuocun...
This person holds his knife all day long, but occasionally he still interacts with Miss Okita.
Samura's attitude towards Okita is also very ambiguous.
It seems that both of them have some ideas, but neither of them are moving forward.
Kondo Shusuke sat on the steps and looked at his garden.
No matter if he doesn't move forward, Okita is still in a period of rapid growth in strength, and he is too young to be a mother.
However, if these two children finally get together... it seems to be good, right?
...
Today is the New Year's Day, everyone put on thick yukata to keep warm, and headed towards Sensoji Temple on the mountain in the distance.
Kondo Shusuke is wearing a black yukata, which is in line with his temperament - hidden and unobtrusive.
The brothers Shimazaki Isamu and Hijikata Toshizo were wearing blue yukata and were chatting.
Saito Ichi is wearing a brown yukata and is looking around on the street. Although he is not a member of the Imperial Guard Hall, he has already integrated into this big family.
In the same situation, Zuocun was wearing a blue yukata, which made him look a little thinner. His long black hair was tied into a braid and swayed in the wind behind him.
Samura did not choose to have a mainstream samurai hairstyle. In his opinion, shaving off a piece of hair and tying it into a knot looked stupid.
Miss Okita likes the color of cherry very much, and her yukata is also cherry color. After putting on the yukata, Miss Okita is still full of energy, her clogs make a clicking sound on the stone road, and she looks very happy.
"Samura, the trees in Sensoji Temple are so big!" She pointed to a strong branch sticking out from Sensoji Temple in the distance and said happily.
There are many people coming to worship during the New Year, but the road leading to Sensoji Temple is very wide, so it doesn't feel crowded.
A group of people entered the temple, paid New Year's greetings, and made their wishes for the new year.
After making their wishes, several people came to the place where the lots were drawn.
This is a tradition. If you draw an unlucky lot, you will hang it on the tree at Sensoji Temple to pray to the gods to eliminate bad luck. If you draw a lucky lot, everyone will be happy and welcome the new year happily.
Everyone got the lucky draw and everyone was happy.
"Mr. Samura?" Miss Okita took one of Samura's hands.
"Huh?" Zuo Cun grabbed his lucky draw and looked at Miss Okita who was smiling sweetly.
"Happy New Year." Miss Okita smiled like a cherry blossom.