…… Did you succeed...... Deputy Chief...... Have you finally been captured by her......?!

Liu Quan blinked his eyes blankly, feeling an unreal feeling. However, her cheeks pressed passively against his chest under his embrace, and she could even feel the delicate embroidered dark lines on his coat tingling the surface of her skin.

…… Is it really him...... He's hugging himself tightly, like the CGs he's seen before......

"But, maybe it's because ......," she stammered, "from the old days......"

She choked.

The memories of the original "Kiyohara Yukiba", mixed with all the memories she had created after coming here and all the memories she had, all poured up like a tide in an instant, drowning her whole person.

From the time of the entrance exam, the man's dressed "Kiyohara Yukiba" was defeated by the sword of the young Okita and fell on the tatami mat with his back facing the sky, with the fear that the dark secret could not be realized, but the moment he saw Hijikata, who had come to inspect the swordsmanship test of the new team, walk into the dilapidated dojo, stand by the door, and glance at her very casually, a long time has passed.

From then until now, in times when she didn't realize it, she was looking up to him, relying on him, trusting him.

As far as she is concerned, although she has always told herself in her heart that he is nothing more than a tragic figure whose end is already doomed, just one of the pawns of the game she is watching, but the object of her false attack following the instructions of the systematic......

But now, she suddenly realized that how to stay by this man's side until the last moment, how to help him live as much as possible, this is the most important thing.

That's what she really wants to do.

This is the mission of "Qingyuan Snow Leaves" - it is the mission of "Willow Spring".

…… It is her mission to come here after experiencing incredible things.

Liu Quan moved slightly, leaning his face close to his shoulder blades, feeling the lines and warmth of his sturdy, toned mature male body beneath the form-fitting dress.

She never imagined that one day she would embrace his warm and vivid body, pursue his pure and firm faith, and stand side by side with him, no matter whether the scenery unfolding in front of her was a gorgeous spring cherry blossom or a cruel war-

The tip of her nose was inexplicably sour, paused, smiled slightly, and finished her sentence.

“…… When I didn't even realize it, I was always coquettish to Mr. Hijikata. ”

Hearing her bold words, his body shook slightly.

As if intending to respond to her words, he was silent for a moment before speaking.

"Ever since you left me......"

As if agonizing over whether it was time to continue to convey his thoughts, he didn't speak again for a while.

When he spoke again, she felt a hint of confusion in his voice.

"I see...... Something. ”

The feeling of confusion floated slightly in his tone.

“…… You seem to have been there for me all the time. ”

Hijikata stopped suddenly, as if it was very difficult to speak, and paused for a moment before continuing:

“…… Ever since you left me, even just standing there alone has been in great pain. ”

"No matter what time it is, I can't control myself from constantly remembering what happened before, how many times I have been in a moment of crisis, facing a powerful enemy or an emergency situation, you who have stood by my side and refused to retreat a single step. ”

"The thought that you might never stand by my side like that again makes me feel unbearable. ”

"I realized that you who have been standing by my side all this time have always supported me gently but firmly. What sparkles in you and catches my eye is your courage......"

"I think it's because of your existence that I might be able to be redeemed. ”

Willow Springs: ......!!!

Unexpectedly, tears poured uncontrollably out of Liu Quan's eyes, slid down his cheeks one after another, and fell onto the clothes on his chest that were clinging to her cheeks.

"I've been reminded of what had happened before...... When I was in Osaka, when I was in Ikedaya, when the forbidden door changed...... In Kyoto, in Edo, in Shirakawa Castle, in Sendai...... The Shinsengumi have had so many ups and downs, there have been moments of glory, and there have been great setbacks, and they have lost their stations, and they have lost their companions, and they have lost their leaders—"

His voice choked up, and it took a moment before it came back from above her.

“…… Yukiba, do you think the Shinsengumi are still a signpost for the samurai?"

"Do you think I can inherit what they once indulged in?"

His voice was soft, as if with a hint of unsure of the question, cautiously asking such a question that lacked confidence. This doesn't look like the deputy chief of the ghost who commanded the wolf of Mibu in Kyoto back then. But in his warm embrace, Liu Quan smiled slightly.

Before he knew it, he had changed his name to her. Maybe it's because ...... In the days of separation, he called her like this in his heart countless times, right?!

"The things that everyone loves and pursues have always been in the Shinsengumi. The same is true now. ”

She replied clearly and clearly in a tone of conviction and affirmation.

"Mr. Hijikata is a representative of this kind of thing. When I look at you, I can feel the undying faith that Shinsengumi represents......"

She tilted her head slightly, feeling that with this movement of her own, his hand on the back of her head slowly slid to the back of her neck, and the touch was slightly itchy, bringing a sense of intimacy and warmth that she had never felt before.

"That kind of thing is stronger than it used to be. Because everyone's hearts are united, and they are all pouring their own strength into this great and beautiful thing......"

She looked up at his close face, tears still in her eyes, but she smiled slightly.

"This kind of thing can sustain the lives of so many people in a meaningful way, and to fight...... In my eyes, such Mr. Hijikata is shining. ”

Hijikata was slightly stunned, and then the corners of his lips slowly hooked, revealing a soft, reassuring smile.

"I feel a lot more relaxed to be affirmed by you......" he said with a sigh of joy in his voice.

"Speaking of which, since you appeared today, you've been talking to me about what kind of in-game law...... However, today's Shinsengumi no longer need iron discipline. Because every soldier is a samurai with great ambitions. ”

His tone was very gentle, and the eyes that looked at her were as deep as the sea.

“…… You too. ”

Liu Quan was stunned and opened his mouth slightly in surprise.

He ...... a few months ago No, just ten minutes ago, I was probably still insisting on letting her go back to be an ordinary woman.

…… But now, he said that a woman is also a member of the Shinsengumi, and she is also a samurai with great ambitions?!

Is this an acknowledgment of her will and hope, or a surrender to her persistence and admiration?

…… Or is it the best response to her long-standing search?

Liu Quan laughed, and the arms around his waist tightened slightly.

"Then, from now on, whether it is uncomfortable or painful...... Please let me share some of the burden, too. ”

"It would be nice to be your pillar...... I hope you'll rely on me a little bit too and stop doing everything on your own. ”

Saying this, she couldn't help but laugh a little mischievously.

"I'm pretty reliable, Mr. Hijikata?" she said, half-jokingly.

"So, you can be coquettish to me in the future. ”

Hijikata was silent for a moment at this bold remark, but did not relax his arms that hugged her.

…… This guy really never laughs. And the former leader of the Ichiban group, the head of the department, that guy is two extremes at all.

It's really nerve-wracking to follow these two top bosses.

Thinking like this, Liu Quan's smile unconsciously widened a little, and the undried tears in his eyes also shone brightly, as clear as the night sky full of stars in autumn.

Hijikata watched her quietly, and he didn't know how long it had been before he suddenly spoke softly.

“…… Stay with me. ”

Liu Quan: ?!

Once the deputy chief's towering and powerful heart defense was completely broken, it was as if some switch had been pulled in his heart. What the deputy chief said now, every sentence to her ears was enough to be unbelievable. But those words echoed in her ears, slowly spoken in his deep voice, and conveyed directly to the bottom of her heart.

"Please support me to keep moving forward when I am occasionally confused......"

Perhaps not quite accustomed to this drastic change in his own painting style, the deputy chief stopped abruptly, paused a little uncomfortably, and took a deep breath.

"When I have doubts about something, help me re-orient myself......

"If I make a mistake out of my mind, feel free to point it out unceremoniously. ”

The corners of Hijikata's lips were slightly hooked, and an impossibly soft smile appeared on his face. As he whispered softly and clearly, his lips pressed tightly into the sideburns above her ears, his warm snort gently blowing in her ears.

“…… Please be the one who can make my heart stable and strong at all times, Yukiba. ”

Willow Springs: !!

…… She felt like she must be dreaming right now.

No, it shouldn't be a dream. For even in the wildest dreams of delirium, the deputy chief had never said such gentle and beautiful words, nor had he ever faced her so frankly, embraced her tightly, told her that she was important to him, and begged her to stay no matter what happened—

She slowly curled the corners of her lips and smiled silently.

…… So, in the end, the vice president was still brutally hurt by her, right?

Inexplicably, Kondo's last words to her in the alleys of Edo late at night came to her mind again.

[Xueye-kun, I still believe that as long as you treat people sincerely from the bottom of your heart, then, "Your kindness will be rewarded", such a thing?]

[This is the advice that Isamu Kondo, as the director of the Shinsengumi Bureau, can give you.] 】

…… yes, Kondo-san, you're really not wrong.

My kindness has now been rewarded.

So, whether you are or those who have been left behind by us along the way, who have been forever left in their memories, just take a good look.

Not for the shogunate or Aizu to whom you are loyal, but for a goal that is even more ambitious and important than that.

I will definitely save the life of the deputy chief and save this world that is on the verge of collapse.

For the sake of the future you are working so hard to protect, I will not stop at any time.

This is the promise I made with you, and it is my vow.