In the middle of September of the first year of the Meiji era, the fourth year of the original Keio era, the Sendai clan was tilting its mind toward the obedient faction, and it might be dangerous to linger for a long time.

The army led by Keisuke Otori has also arrived in Sendai to join everyone. Everyone agreed that they should leave Sendai as much as possible.

Takehiro Enomoto's fleet was anchored not too far from Sendai Castle, and in order to join his fleet and sail north together, the Shinsengumi left Sendai on an autumn evening and headed for Ezo, what would become Hokkaido.

After entering the forest outside Sendai Castle and walking for a while, it was almost possible to join the fleet, but Hijikata suddenly ordered to rest on the spot.

Liu Quan is still serving as the acting leader of the Ichiban group, and at the moment when the cadres are constantly sacrificing or leaving, she has already wordlessly cleared her reputation through the reappointment of Hijikata as the director of the bureau, so at this time she does not march with Hijikata, but walks in the ranks of the Ichiban group.

When the herald brought Hijikata's orders, Ryuizumi felt a little strange that the fleet was resting just ahead, but faithfully carrying out every order of Hijikata had become the habit of almost everyone in Shinsengumi. So Liu Quan also truthfully ordered to rest on the spot.

He had just arranged the affairs of the group, and the herald came running out of breath again—this time to convey another instruction from Hijikata. He ordered Liu Quan to go to him immediately.

Although it was strange why Hijikata didn't convey the order to see him along with the order to rest on the spot just now, Liu Quan didn't delay at all, and immediately followed the herald.

Hijikata wasn't at the front of the line, but in a small forest next to it.

After the Battle of Munari Pass, Shimada had returned to Sendai to join the Shinsengumi main team, and at the moment he and the young cadre Soma, who had not been in the limelight for long, were also busy. Seeing Liu Quan coming over, both of them greeted her. Shimada pointed to a small forest not far away and said, "Mr. Hijikata said he was waiting for you there." ”

Liu Quan felt even more puzzled. She thanked Shimada and hesitantly walked towards the grove.

Intuition cried through her—a sudden order to rest in place, a separate order to meet her later, and now a meeting place in a grove away from the eyes of the people...... Now that the Shinsengumi have been defeated repeatedly, this situation doesn't seem like something good is going to happen, right......?!

Earthwork stands under a tree. Hearing Willow Spring's footsteps, he turned to look at her.

"You stay, Kiyohara. ”

The sentence came so simply that for a few seconds Liu Quan's mind went blank, and he didn't even realize what was going on.

“…… Huh?!" She was so shocked that she could only let out this monosyllabic questioning sound.

"Stay away from the war. Hijikata said calmly, "There's no need for you to follow us anymore. ”

Liu Quan: !?

She stared at him in astonishment, her brain seemed frozen in utter astonishment, and she had no intention of starting to spin again.

"You...... What do you say?!"

Hijikata had an anxious expression that she didn't expect to react with such a stupid look.

"You're a woman. He said in a tone that was frighteningly calm, "The Shinsengumi don't need women. ”

The words seemed to stir Willow Spring's solidified nerves, and her brain finally began to spin again, creaking and rattling like an unlubricated doorshaft.

“…… You said I could stay!" she argued louder to drown out the screeching in her head.

Memories gradually revive in my mind. Liu Quan felt a wave of anger slowly welling up, and now he took over his mind and chest.

"You've said to me before, 'Your future attempts to quit the Shinsengumi, for whatever reason, are a violation of the law of the game, and you must have a seppuku.'"

“…… I don't want to cut my stomach for such a thing!" Liu Quan yelled.

Well, she can now understand Hijikata's good intentions in choosing the place to talk.

What is she going to do with all that false demeanor if she can't be heard no matter how much she yells? She's about to be kicked out of the Shinsengumi by the deputy head of the Shinsengumi—no, now the new director!

The last time he asked her to leave, it was so that she could save Director Kondo. But this time, without warning and for no reason, for what?!

…… No matter what kind of bullshit reason, she won't agree to it!

"The next step is to regroup our strength in Ezo and launch a general counteroffensive. Even if we can't defeat the new government forces for a while, we can rely on the natural geographical advantages of Ezo to build a country there and plan for a long-term confrontation......"

Hijikata's voice was so calm that it made people feel a chill in their hearts.

"So, I'm going to win in the end, don't worry. ”

"Since you will win the final victory......" Liu Quan squeezed out a few words from between his teeth, "Why are you driving me away now?!"

Hijikata sighed softly, then looked at her with chilling eyes.

"Don't look for happiness in me. ”

Willow Springs: !!

For a moment she thought she had misheard.

Admittedly, she knew that her intentions for his strategy seemed to be seen and mentioned again and again at a time when everyone was constantly separated, and it seemed that it could not be regarded as a secret, but her careful thoughts—or rather, the purpose of the mission—were suddenly responded to in such a positive way for the first time that she almost thought she was dreaming.

He had never really touched on the topic before. Although everyone knew it, and he was by no means ignorant of her intentions, he never seemed to intend to respond. It's like he never intended to respond to the pile of love letters from other women on the deputy chief's desk in the Shinsengummi's Mibu Tun Office.

Liu Quan subconsciously wanted to deny this for a moment.

"I ...... I didn't...... I'm not ......."

Hijikata's brow furrowed deeply.

“…… I can't make you happy. ”

He put it another way, and repeated what he had just said.

Liu Quan felt his brain buzz for a moment.

This is...... Refuse?!

…… How is it possible?!Even if it is no longer a goddess-level character who inherits the Mary Sue physique played in the first two worlds, the "Kiyohara Snow Leaves" here - if you add the identity bonus of "Nine Noriko" - no matter which objective setting it is, it is also Su Cheng Dù who can comprehensively surpass the original heroine Xiao Qianhe, no, there is no reason to suffer such a neat rejection?!

- Especially, when the other party has clearly revealed his willingness to CP with you for a long time!!Don't come to tell her anything now[Those good memories are all because the deputy chief treats her as a reliable companion and not a CP object]This kind of nonsense!There are many trustworthy companions, why don't you see him do something similar?!

Deputy Chief...... No, the director has drilled the tip of the horns again. This dangerous behaviour must be put to an end immediately and definitively!

"Can you be happy...... It doesn't matter......" Liu Quan raised his voice a little as if he had made up his mind.

"I didn't follow Mr. Hijikata for this reason! I have fought with you all of you with the ideals and beliefs that the Shinsengumi brought me, not for the ......sake of being left behind by Mr. Hijikata in a place like this!"

Although she knew that it was most important to dispel the other party's wrong thoughts calmly and rationally now, when she said this, the sudden tears made her nose sour without warning. Liu Quan gritted his teeth.

"I want to fight with all of you, and I want to stand by Mr. Hijikata's side and continue to do my best for the ideals and beliefs of the Shinsengumi as before...... It doesn't matter if you risk your life—"

Hearing her shocking confession, Hijikata suddenly smiled bitterly in distress and sighed again.

“…… That's why I'm sure I'll let you go. His eyes drifted away briefly, he muttered in a whisper, and looked at Willow Spring.

"I appreciate your heart...... However, I would like to see you happy and live well elsewhere. I lived until a long time later, and lived this life in peace......"

Willow Springs: !!

At that moment, she felt as if her body was cold and hot, all her internal organs were tightened, and her heart seemed to beat extremely slowly.

His tone was very earnest. He didn't just say it to convince her. He was praying from the bottom of his heart that such a good outcome would happen to her.

Because of this, the beauty and pain of knowing this fact rose to the highest point in an instant.

Although he spoke indifferently and made a ruthless expression, his tone and words still revealed in the subtleties the eagerness to think of her, the desire to live more than anyone else, and the determination to put aside her pain forever.

Although she knew that the progress of her strategy had been progressing slowly and bit by bit, Liu Quan never imagined that one day she would get such a beautiful, sweet and painful response.

“…… Is Mr. Hijikata a fool......?"

His words made him stunned slightly, as if he had no idea how she could say such a sentence.

"Say that to me...... How could I still be gone!!" The next second, Liu Quan burst out and yelled at the new director of the Shinsengumi.

He is a calm and mature person, usually so stern, and the most roaring is probably "Shidao is not enlightened, go to seppuku". However, now she is talking about childish hopes like a child, hoping that someone like her, who has been active as a cadre of the Shinsengumi for so many years, can suddenly disappear into the sea of people as an ordinary person, and then live safely and happily for the rest of her life?!

But she also knew that if she said anything strong, it would only strengthen her determination to drive her away.

It's the same as her reluctance to see him die, and he doesn't want to see her die.

That's why you're so clumsy and planning to blow her up......?!

Do you think that by getting rid of her, she can live in a place that he can no longer see and know, so that he can be satisfied and can die with peace of mind?!