However, the expression of the "disobedient subordinate" standing a few steps away from him was a little strange.

In the dimly lit streets at night, the current inquisitor of the former Shinsengumi stood there pursed his lips, his left hand pressed against the hilt of the Taidao at his waist. In the dim light, no one noticed that her left hand, which seemed to be empty on the hilt, had actually tightened its five fingers into a fist, so hard that slight green tendons appeared on the back of her hand.

That's not good.

Even if I was standing here, just looking at him, tears seemed to want to erupt in an instant, and I couldn't wait to pour out.

The last time we met, what he had said, was running through my mind.

【...... Someone like me wants to be with her, it's delusional.]

The inquisitor pursed her lips hard, her jaw tense, as if only by doing so could her facial features not suddenly collapse and melt in the torrent of tears.

...... No.

Mr. Hijikata......

You don't know, people like me, wanting to be with you, are delusional.

It's a pipe dream that will never come true.

Not hearing the response of the normally reliable team member, the deputy head of the Shinsengumi, Hijikata Suizo, frowned suspiciously.

"Kiyohara, are you dumb?" his tone was a little bad. Perhaps because he was in a hurry to get to Ikedaya, he looked a little agitated.

"Forget about these people, let's wait until it's over...... Hey, Kiyohara, are these kids behind you suspicious? It has nothing to do with Choshu, right?!"

The Female Inquisitor looked a little stunned.

Luckily, when she went out today, she tied her hair high behind her head and combed it into a ponytail to make it easier to fight, and now it looks like the style of the deputy head of the Shinsengumi - and the style of the shrine maiden costume she wears was probably formed during the Taisho period, and it was actually the men's style that was rising at that time, so at first glance it looks a little similar to men's clothing, but she didn't wear the shinsengumi's signature light onion haori.

So now it's not impossible to play the role of the Shinsengumi team member Kiyohara Yukiha, who is defined as "a woman dressed as a man".

Realizing that her reaction was a bit off-top, the Female Inquisitor cleared her throat.

"Yes, Deputy Chief, I was attacked by a number of rebels from the Choshu Domain on my way to Ikedaya, and I had to throw Haori behind, and I am willing to accept the punishment...... These people are...... It's a student of the Naval Drill Institute......! Because I learned that some of my classmates were going to participate in the riots in Beijing, I was opposed to this, and I came to help out on purpose!"

Awataguchi's little shorts: "......"

Shan Mu cut the country: "......"

Listening to this brilliant lie concocted by the female inquisitor in less than a minute—a perfect explanation for why they appeared in the streets of Kyoto at night in groups of all ages, all armed with swords, and all of them of different ages—only the smiling face Qingjiang, who had always been calm and relaxed, curled the corners of his lips slightly and whistled silently.

By the faint light of the lantern under the eaves of the roadside and the lantern used by the team behind him for lighting, Hijikata's sharp gaze swept over the people behind the female inquisitor, but he didn't see any flaws for the time being.

Some of them were teenagers, and some looked to be in their twenties. Although all of them were dressed in Western-style uniforms, none of them looked flustered and worried - they didn't look like bad guys, and as the deputy head of the Shinsengumi, he still had some self-confidence (?).

He thought about the evasive and ill-intentioned look of the old Shuntaro Kotaka that he had caught earlier today, and finally reluctantly accepted this statement.

More importantly, Kiyohara seems to be a team member who is very loyal to the Shinsengumi. She had already shown her ability and loyalty to the Shinsengumi many times before. Except for the fact that she is a woman dressed as a man, which makes people a little annoyed and suspicious, she is really a good candidate who can be trusted and entrusted with important tasks.

And it's not a good time to dig deeper. Kondo-kun was outnumbered at Ikedaya, and the Choshu Rebellion, which was about to rebel, was of course more important than a few childish-looking young students—and of course it should be eliminated first.

So Hijikata glanced at this disobedient subordinate, turned around and shouted, "Let's go, all run, go to Ikedaya to help!"

As if he remembered something, he looked back and stared impatiently at the Kiyohara guy who was standing there and didn't act immediately as a Shinsengumi after listening to his order.

"What's nerve-wracking...... I actually lost Haori in such a battle......"

He muttered, glaring fiercely at the guy dressed as a man and looking like a handsome teenager.

"If you don't wear Haori, you'll be slashed and killed if you rush in. ...... There is a shortage of manpower today, so don't mess with me!"

Under the moonlight and the faint light of the lanterns under the eaves of the houses on the street, the corners of Hijikata's lips curled slightly when he saw the guy he had reprimanded, as if a smile had floated into him.

This pleasant expression seemed to make him feel even more angry.

Look at this guy's slack appearance before the battle! Even if he has good skills and swordsmanship, he can't be so casual! Really, what the hell is that guy in charge of the head office! The team members he teaches are just as difficult as him!

Hijikata furrowed his eyebrows fiercely, and said in a rough voice, "You, since you don't have Haori and are easy to be injured by mistake if you enter, then be on guard on the street outside Ikedaya!"

He glanced at the fellow who seemed a little surprised when he heard the order, remembered what she had just explained and the origin of the teenagers behind her, and added.

"Also, take care of the children behind you! Since you sneaked out of the Navy Drill Institute to raise a mess, your head can finally be saved...... When today's matter is settled, hand it over to the Kyoto office—no, let's take it back to the cantonment office, and carefully inquire if they have any more information to provide to us!

After yelling at what he thought was the right thing to tell his subordinates, he turned around and hurried to Ikedaya to support Kondo-kun without further delay.

He shouted loudly: "All, run for me——!"

Behind him, the disobedient subordinate he defined as "a good but a headache" looked at his running back, and the tips of his long, straight black ponytail that swayed slightly with his firm and powerful running steps. The mountain pattern painted in white on the hem of his pale shallot-colored feather weave and the white ties behind it seemed so bright and clear in the deep darkness of the night, as if it was deeply reflected in the eyes of others—

After he led a dozen other soldiers dressed in light green feathers along the main road of Sanjo-dori Street, passing Kiya-cho-dori and rushing into Ikedaya, her back in the distance from the view of everyone still standing at the head of the Sanjo Bridge, the female inquisitor finally moved her body slightly as if she had stiffened.

Then, she withdrew her gaze from the direction of Ikedaya in the distance, and turned her head to look at the mourners behind her, her expression half-hidden in the darkening night.

As is the case with the Gion Festival, the second day will be the main event, the Yoimiya Festival, where ornately decorated Yamahoko – floats that resemble mikoshi and carts – parade the streets of Kyoto. Therefore, on this evening, many residents come out to enjoy the cool air and enjoy the lively atmosphere of the Gion Festival.

At this moment, it is built around the mountain hoko trees all over Kyoto, and a lively music is played. Across the silent Kamogawa River, the female presessor seemed to be listening to the sound of flutes and drums in the distance. Or, she was just pretending to be so, but she was listening intently to the shouts of slaughter and the clashing of swords and the clash of gold and iron coming from the Ikedaya in the other direction.

Finally, she raised her gaze and looked around at the mourning gods she had brought.

“...... Let's go back. She said in a hoarse tone.

No one spoke. Until a flash of golden light flashed and everyone stepped out of the teleportation array established in the Honmaru courtyard again, they were still silent.

Then, the Goddess Inquisitor strode straight down the hallway. As he walked, he said without looking back: "That's all for today, let's disband." ”

Almost out of breath by this bad atmosphere, the Awataguchi family's little shorts flew back to their rooms.

Although Shan Muqi Guoguang will not take the initiative to say what he has seen and heard today, and the smiling Qingjiang may not say it, but after all, there is no impermeable wall in the world - not to mention that before the female judge left, he did not strictly order everyone not to spread the strange situation encountered today.

So, after dinner, the female inquisitor, who had hid in her room since returning from the battle, and had not appeared in front of the other mourning gods in the name of official business, walked down the corridor with a towel while wiping her long dripping hair after taking a bath—and did not hum a song as usual—and pushed open the shoji door of her bedroom without looking, and her movements froze there.

...... Just like earlier in this long day, when she heard the voice of the deputy head of the Shinsengumi, Hijikata Suizo, at the head of the Sanjo Bridge in the first year of Genji, her face was stunned.

Because the person who was sitting in her room on his knees, wearing a blue kimono-style inner robe with an elderly thermal underwear, raised his head when he heard the sound and showed a kind smile at her.

"Aha, are you finally back, Yukiba-kun. ”

The Female Judge froze as she wiped her wet hair. After a moment, she let out a long sigh of relief as if she had come to her senses, and rolled her eyes lightly and quickly to the sky.

“...... So, is it you who came to bed tonight, Your Excellency Three Riyue?"

The author has something to say: September 14:

Sorry for being late...... The reappearance of the deputy chief means that the examination is about to start again.

So most of tonight was spent gathering information......

This chapter feels like it's hard to write.,I hope the final update can convey the subtle feelings of the girl.。

PS. Thank you, little angel Lin Sangen's mine~~(づ ̄3 ̄)づ╭~