The deputy chief was just about to go berserk, but was stopped by Liu Quan's timely (and not) Rakshasa frenzy.

Now the deputy chief was standing in place, his face slightly uncomfortable—mixed with the feeling of helplessness that had just come from witnessing her Rakshasa manic attack but unable to help, which just happened to offset the anger and betrayal that had sprung up in his heart because he had deceived his lover and failed to rescue the man he regarded as a general and brother.

And Yanagiquan, who had just weathered a wave of rakshasa frenzy, couldn't have looked more embarrassed now—no, maybe she was now, only when she was shot in the abdomen and fell from her horse in the small forest leading to Bentendaiba on the outskirts of Hakodate.

Not to mention that there is an extremely depressing and embarrassing atmosphere between her and Hijikata now.

At this moment when the two of them were relatively speechless and about to be cold, there was a sudden movement among the trees on the mountain.

Earthwork:!!!

Liu Quan: ?!

Hijikata immediately stepped forward, put his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist in vigilance, and prepared for battle at any time.

Although Liu Quan was extremely unwell, he barely stood up. She knew that with her current situation, rushing forward was only a drag on the deputy chief's hind legs, so she immediately ignored the embarrassing fact that she had just had a conflict with the deputy chief, and staggered behind Hijikata, and on the way, she picked up the pistol that had been snatched from Kujo Daoqing's hand and held it back in her hand, ready to attack from a distance at any time.

As a result, the rumbling of the mountain forest continued for a while—as if a beast of medium stature was burrowing through the woods without finding its way out—and then, out of the thick woods, a large living man burst forth!

The man, with his blue unkempt hair, and his hair and body were covered with branches and grass clippings, as if he had traveled a long distance, bent over tiredly, put his hands on his waist, and muttered: "Ahh......h

Liu Quan felt that this person seemed a little familiar for a while. But in a hurry, I couldn't think of where I had seen this person.

But the Hijikata beside her was already making a sound of disbelief.

“...... Well blowing?!"

Liu Quan jerked back at the earth.

Ah, she remembered.

This person is Ryunosuke Ibuki. Serizawa Duck's nickname. The protagonist of one of the games in the Sakura Ghost series.

...... But didn't he leave the Shinsengumi after Serizawa's death?!So what is he going to do now in the mountains of Hakodate?!

Fortunately, Liu Quan still has a little impression of this person - it seems that he is a guy who attaches great importance to love and righteousness. Whether in the game or later in the TV and theatrical versions, he appeared briefly as "warmly welcoming the Shinsengumi companions when the shogune was embattled".

Liu Quan relaxed a little. She endured the unfinished pain in her body, put down her pistol, stood up straight, and looked at the young man quietly.

The young man across from them, known as Ryunosuke Inobuki, had a deep stab wound in his throat and unkempt hair, as if he were very careful, looking between the earthwork and the willow spring.

"That, deputy chief...... No, Mr. Hijikata," he said cautiously, as if at last he had finally made up his mind, and with a look of determination on his face, "I ...... I just happened to pass by, but I saw that you were still alive, Mr. Hijikata...... Better than anything else. ”

...... Lie. Who would get lost and get lost in this deep mountain forest! Even the hunters at the foot of the mountain wouldn't pass by this place by chance, okay! The hideout carefully selected by the deputy head of the Shinsengumi and the head of the Ichiban Group would not be able to be bumped into by such a reckless young man by chance!

Thinking so, Liu Quan did not speak.

As "Kiyohara Yukiba", she shouldn't have known this young man who left the team before she joined the Shinsengumi. However, his attitude seems to be very familiar with Hijikata, and when he comes up, he says "since she left the Shinsengumi", which also implies that he is an old part of the Shinsengumi that left the Shinsengumi before she joined the Shinsengumi.

However, how strict the rules of the Shinsengumi are in the game, this young man was able to get out of the game...... Is it really a little bit of a protagonist aura?

Ryuizumi's gaze slid over the knife mark on Ryunosuke's throat in Inobuki.

Fortunately, Hijikata has regained his composure. In fact, the moment this young man named Ryunosuke Ibuki appeared, he was only stunned for a moment, and he quickly regained his original expression of the deputy chief of the demons - like a kind of disguise, and the mask of the deputy chief of the demons returned to his face. Although his attitude was tinged with kindness in surprise, and even a faint smile, his tone was calm as if there were any ups and downs in his heart.

"Ahh He answered, pausing for a moment, then turning to Willow Spring.

"This is a guy I knew before I came to Kyoto, Ryunosuke Ibuki...... Hey, Ibuki, this is the acting leader of the Ichiban Group, Kiyohara Yukiha, who later succeeded the head of the head office. ”

"Kiyohara...... Jun?!" The unkempt hair of Ibuki stammered as if his brain was obviously insufficient, and hurriedly put on a friendly and flattering smile.

"That, it's a good luck to ......"

His face was full of puzzled and horrified expressions, "Oh my God, the world is really crazy, that cautious and strict deputy commander not only allowed a woman to join the Shinsengumi, but also asked her to take over the position of the head general." Even though Liu Quan's mood was still very heavy, seeing this clumsy appearance, he couldn't help but purse his lips and smile lightly.

"Luckily, Ibuki-kun. She said, explaining his doubts in a few or two words of understanding. "I'm disguised as a man to join the Shinsengumi...... If it hadn't gone wrong, I would have been confident that I would have been able to keep the deputy from discovering my true face as a woman, right?"

Hijikata smiled bitterly.

"Ahh You're ......."

Liu Quan quickly glanced at him, and continued in a brisk tone, "...... Also, I'm pretty confident in my swordsmanship?...... After I joined the Shinsengumi, I have been working in the Ichiban-gumi under the head office. Afterward...... The general secretary is sick, and in order to keep the position of the leader of the team for him forever, he chose me to be the temporary substitute?"

The trick in this, this young man who doesn't seem to have a very bright mind after being stunned for a long time, actually showed a clear expression.

"Ahh......h Qingyuanjun is really a hero of the moment. He said sincerely, "I can get the affirmation of the deputy director and the recognition of the general director...... It must not be an ordinary person. ”

Even though Yanagizumi and Hijikata were in a very low mood right now, and the atmosphere between them was unnatural, they were still amused by Ibbuki's sincere and straightforward compliment. The atmosphere at the scene was a lot more relaxed for a while.

"Since we've met here, let's go back to my house for a meal before leaving?" Hijikata paused, but still extended a natural invitation to Inobuki.

"You're here to find out my whereabouts?...... Otherwise, you wouldn't be in such a place alone. He hesitated for a moment, and finally made clear the meaning of the well blowing.

Ibbuki's face became extremely embarrassed for a moment, he blushed and stammered and explained, "I...... I heard about the fall of the Republic of Ezo...... I heard that the deputy chief was killed in Hakodate...... Worried about the ...... of those people to the deputy chief Uh, how's that, like they did to the director in the first place...... So I rushed there......"

He mentioned that after Kondo was ordered to seppuku by Sa Changjun, he was shown to the public again. Even though it had only happened after Ryuzumi had fled Edo, she still felt an embarrassment on her face.

But the earthwork was calm. His deep eyes darkened for a moment, but he didn't show any anger, and said calmly, "Ah, I see, thank you, Ibuki." ”

As if to encourage Inobuki, Hijikata's calm reaction summoned up the courage to continue: "...... Later, I rushed to Hakodate, but I heard about the deputy chief's ...... Uh, gone, and no one found it...... There are many rumors circulating, and some say that the deputy chief was also ...... Government troops secretly took it away and prepared to show it...... It is also said that the survivors of the Shinsengumi in Hakodate secretly buried the deputy chief...... I've been looking for a while, but I've actually given up...... But later, I felt that I still couldn't give up, so I thought about going to the mountains to find ...... If you can't find it, ......"

These words seemed to move Hijikata a little. His eyes widened slightly, staring at the restless young man in front of him. After a moment, he let out a long sigh.

"That's why, Wellbuki. ...... Back then, I didn't treat you very well, it was too harsh...... And, because you're Serizawa-san's person, you're secretly wary of you......"

Ibuki's eyes widened as well, as if he really didn't know how to express it for a while. Finally, he exhaled and said loudly, "...... Although I don't want to see Mr. Serizawa die, I also know that Mr. Hijikata's choice is not for your own ............! Mr. Hijikata did not order that I must be chased back regardless of life or death...... Originally, I didn't want to have anything to do with the Shinsengumi, but I don't know why, but after hearing the news that the Shinsengumi had finally destroyed Ezo, I thought, I must find out the whereabouts of those people again......"

He took a breath and continued to speak loudly, "...... I've heard that Heisuke has already ...... Legend has it that the head secretary also died of illness in Edo...... I can't find the whereabouts of Zuozhi, I've already seen the new Hachi-kun, and Saito-kun is also ......! Now, only the deputy chief remains......

Hijikata's face showed a look of extreme surprise for a moment.

"What...... What?!You, you said Saito?!" He took a step forward, grabbed the clothes on Inobuki's chest, and asked with great urgency, "Saito is still ...... Isn't he already ...... Mucheng Pass!?"

Ibuki was taken aback by the sturdy, and his face turned pale.

"I—I've heard that's the case...... But、But before Aizu completely fell, I passed by there, and I met him on a hill outside the castle while he was still fighting...... He said that if he was still alive after the fall of Aizu, he would also live with Aizu...... Later, I heard that the entire Aizu Domain was ...... was punished, deprived of most of the closed households, and moved to Dounan...... I—I'm still thinking that if I still can't find the whereabouts of the deputy chief this time, I'll leave here and go to Dounan to find out......"

The movement froze for a few minutes, then he threw his head back, let out a long exhale, and let go of Inobuki's placket.

"I see, that's right...... Saito is not dead......" he repeated the fact, a genuine smile on his face for the first time today.

"Shinhachi is still alive...... It's—that's great......"

Although Ryuzumi had already confirmed the fact that Saito was not dead through Kujo Michikiyo, Kujo Michikiyo's original words were, "I don't believe that Saito was really dead when he died!" She also deduced that Saito was still staying in the Aizu domain's new fiefdom of Dounan with the remaining retainers of the Aizu domain, but she was still happy and excited to hear the news that he was still alive after the battle of Munari Pass.

...... Sure enough, just like in history, Xiaoyi is really alive!

Liu Quan thought like this, and a bright smile appeared on his face.

This good news undoubtedly greatly encouraged the two people who lived in isolation in the mountains, Hijikata and Yanagizumi. Even after walking all the way back to their wooden house, the atmosphere of leaving the well to blow down and having dinner was much more lively.

Although Ibuki looks a little clumsy, he is not really a fool to survive in troubled times until now. As soon as he entered, he saw this humble hut, apparently only inhabited by two people, Hijikata and Yanagizumi—except for two narrow rooms, which were the kitchen hallway and something, what did he not understand?

...... However, the woman who can take down the strict and cold deputy head of the Shinsengumi back then can only be this newly met "Genshinsengumi Ichibangumi Acting Leader", right?!

Although he didn't pay attention to the name Kiyohara Yukiha-I guess he knew that when she was active as a man in the Shinsengumi, it would never be possible to use her female real name-but since she was able to accompany the deputy chief to the end as a member of the Shinsengumi, and was recognized by the General Secretary to take over her position in the Shinsengumi, she must be an extremely outstanding female middle school hero......

Thinking of Xiao Ling, who was thrown in his hometown by him running around and still looking forward to his return, there was also a gentle smile on his face.

Still the same as a few years ago, he still couldn't resist the strong pressure of sitting opposite the deputy chief and being watched by the deputy chief, and finally, he ran away cheekily, hid in the kitchen, and enthusiastically asked for help from the acting leader of the Ichiban group.

Seeing him running with messy hair, Kiyohara Yukiha seemed to be stunned for a moment, and first politely said "No, no, you still go and chat with Mr. Hijikata", and after Ibuki resolutely said, "No, no, although staying in this kind of place, Mr. Hijikata's aura of the deputy head of the ghost is still too strong", she snorted, and finally gave way to the side, handing him a small pheasant or a bird or something like that, and let him deal with it, she can make a stewpot.

Ibuki watched with anticipation as she expertly made a plate of stir-fried greens, a stew pot with wild mushrooms and tofu and the hapless pheasant, and helped to scald the wine, which she said she had bought when she went to the market at the foot of the mountain, and served it steaming.

However, he just put a chopstick chicken in his mouth, chewed it a few times, and showed a strange expression.

I can't tell you what the taste is...... There doesn't seem to be any real misseasoning, and there isn't any weird taste, but it's ...... It felt a little worse, as if she didn't take care of it with her heart—sure enough, cooking also depends on talent? God gave her a talent for swordsmanship that even a man like him couldn't match, so he wanted to take back a little bit of her culinary talent as a woman in exchange?

Through the steaming pot, Ibuki peeked at the Hijikata, who was sitting peacefully across the table and eating calmly. I suddenly had a complicated sense of admiration for the deputy head of the Shinsengumi in my heart.

...... Should it be said that the deputy chief's sense of taste is out of order and he can't taste good or bad at all? Or is it that the deputy chief has strong self-control and perseverance, and can eat any kind of food, even if it is not delicious, he still regards it as a good practice?

...... Or, the degree of the deputy chief's affection for this girl is really beyond his imagination, is it better to endure this kind of meal that is not very delicious for the rest of his life, and want to stay by her side?!

He may have been a dumb guy with a spinning mind. But after spending so many years with Xiao Suzu, he can certainly understand the subtle emotions between men and women.

This is also the reason why he didn't expect that the deputy chief and this Qingyuan Yukiye would really live together at the beginning.

...... When he came out, no matter how you look at it, the deputy chief was arguing with this woman. The atmosphere between the two men was so cold that it could freeze him, the hapless intruder, to death instantly.

He had a slight sense that Kiyohara Yukiha's momentum seemed to be a little weaker - but this was also normal, he had never seen many people who could maintain a higher aura than him in front of the deputy chief of the demons, except for Mr. Serizawa - but the problem between her and the deputy chief seemed to be more complicated.

...... The deputy chief's eyes staring at her were also more complicated. It seemed to be very painful, painful to the extreme, and angry to the extreme—but as if I wanted her not to say anything bad or make a bad decision. If the person concerned wasn't the Shinsengumi vice president and the Ichibangumi acting leader, his first feeling was like a stupid couple who didn't want to break up in their hearts.

That's why he thought he had to show up. But the two men were apparently keenly aware of his presence before he made a noise to alert them that there were outsiders present.

He felt that if it weren't for Kiyohara's apparent poor physical condition, as if he had just rolled off a cliff, the two would have discovered their existence earlier—sooner, before he could understand the delicate relationship between the two men.

Now, the Shinsengumi are gone...... The shogunate also ceased to exist. Everyone he knew back then had already passed away from this world. Some people may survive, but no one can live as indulgently and shine as hard as before. Faith and destiny are the least important things in troubled times—even life.

The deputy head of the Shinsengumi has been rumored to have died in the woods of Hakodate—what about Mr. Hijikata, who is now sitting in front of him and eating dinner peacefully?

Ibuki thought about it so much that his head hurt.

And that Kiyohara...... It looks like he's been poisoned or seriously ill. Her face was very pale, and she could even be called "iron blue" when she first saw her, but there was an occasional dark red light flashing in the depths of her eyes—

Ibuki stood up suddenly!

Because he remembered what kind of person that red light would appear on!

He stood up suddenly, and stood up so quickly that he slammed his body against the table, and the dishes on the table made a clanging sound.

Hijikata put down the bowl and looked up, staring at his stammering expression with a calm face.

"Ibbuki, what's the matter?" he asked.

Ryunosuke Ibuki originally wanted to say, "Has Kiyohara-kun also become a rakshasa!", but when he came into contact with Hijikata's gaze and expression, he was suddenly stunned, and what he wanted to say was stuck in his throat.

He recognized Hijikata's expression.

It was an expression of awareness and determination even in the face of extremely difficult situations.

It's like ...... The expression on his face when he was about to get rid of Mr. Serizawa was the same!

Only now...... He was going to spare that woman's life. want to do whatever it takes to save her life from disappearing in this world......

He muttered, "Mr. Hijikata......"

Why? Why did you do this? Why did you hide in this inaccessible mountain? Do you really plan to live in this place for the rest of your life? How did Kiyohara-kun go from the leader of the Shinsengumi Ichiban Group to the Rakshasa? Why did you stay here with her?......

Thousands of questions rolled through his mind, and he only said one sentence in the end.

"Mr. Hijikata, are you ready for the final enlightenment......?"

Hijikata seemed a little surprised. Of course, he could guess the other party's psychological changes from Ryunosuke Inobuki's menacing sudden stop just now, but at this moment he didn't say anything, and just followed Ibbuki's simple question, and simply responded: "Ah." ”

After a pause, he added.

“...... Same as it was at the beginning. ”

Ryunosuke Ibuki: !!

He was silent for a long time, and suddenly smiled lowly.

"Yes......" he muttered, "Mr. Hijikata, what a strong-willed man......

Then he sat down again, bowing his head slightly to Hijikata and Yanagiquan.

"It was such a faux pas to stand up suddenly. He said, his tone had returned to his usual attitude.

"Maybe it's going to be a night's errand...... But I'll leave early tomorrow morning. I also plan to go to Dounan to find out the whereabouts of Saito-kun...... Once I found it, I went back to Edo. From now on, I will continue to live my life......"

Hijikata nodded slightly, not commenting on his words.

Early the next morning, in the slightly cold air of the early morning, Ryunosuke Ibuki took the burden that Yanagizumi had rearranged for him the night before, stood at the door of the cabin, and looked back at the deputy head of the Shinsengumi and the acting leader of the Ichibangumi.

He seemed to have a lot to say, but he only took a deep breath in the end.

"Please, please henceforth—"

He seemed to hold his breath, his eyes were red, and he finally shouted with all his might.

"Let's try to live from the bottom of our hearts!"

Hijikata was stunned. “...... Huh?"

"From now on......" Ibuki seemed to be thinking hard, trying to convey the emotions surging in his chest.

"Even if I don't ...... as the vice chief of the oni of the Shinsengumi"

"Mr. Hijikata will definitely be alive and well. ”

"Because, because, even people like us are no longer part of the Shinsengumi...... Half-unreliable fellows, all the while, their eyes have been looking up at you, Mr. Hijikata!"

"Although we say that we live like insects and ants, there is nothing for you to refer to......"

"However, I just think that it is Mr. Hijikata's words, no matter where you are, no matter what you do...... There must be a way to live a different life. ”

Hijikata: "...... Huh?!"

Liu Quan burst out laughing.

After a full night of rest, it seems that the pain caused by yesterday's Rakshasa power attack will no longer affect her body at all.

"That's right. She said with a smile and nodded kindly at Ryunosuke Inobuki.

"Ibuki-kun is not wrong at all. ”

"If it were Mr. Hijikata, he would have had this talent. ”

Hijikata was stunned for a moment, and then smiled bitterly.

“...... I can't tell you ......."

His gaze deliberately swept over Ryuizumi's side with a slight embarrassment, and landed on Ryunosuke Ibuki.

"Okay. ”

He said.

"I remember everything you said. ”

"I will always remember it in the future. ”

【Extra· END】

The author has something to say: April 18:

I'm going to Hong Kong the day after tomorrow...... Come back about next Tuesday.

So I've been messing around preparing for the last two days.

And I suddenly suffered from the brain holes that were opening up everywhere [x

For example, I have already thought of a very emotional way to write the ending of this volume! And in order to prevent me from forgetting, I have also started to write......

And then there are two non-responsible brains that belong to the deputy long line and the small line.,After thinking about it, don't waste it since it's written.,Just put it on now.。

Suddenly, I felt a lack of deputy chief...... So I'm going to write the deputy chief today, hhh

Because it was supposed to be updated yesterday, but it was later, so today I burst the liver with 7,000 words of content with high sugar content to give back to everyone~~

Today's is the deputy chief's extra.,It should be considered a-uh,The choice of the otome game?

For example, after killing the ghost beast Nissan, there was a dialogue to choose limbs or something, and if you choose the right one, you will directly enter the [This World Repair Completed ENDING] → enter the next HP world

If you choose another branch, you will enter the [Friend's Visit] branch→ enter BE or NE #1 (because the body of the girl in this branch is affected by the power of Rakshasa)

Well, that's what happened to this article

The next update is the day after tomorrow.,I'll put the same "branch line that entered because I chose another limb" HHH.

I wish you all a happy meal~~ In addition, thank you little angel Qiya's mine feeding!(づ ̄3 ̄)づ╭~