In the late spring, a man with his left arm who seemed to be unable to move easily came out of a house on the side of the road.

The man looked very mature and steady, and although he was wearing civilian clothes, the bravery on his body that had been tempered by the war was still very conspicuous. He walked out of the open door and turned back to bow deeply to his master who was seeing him off inside.

The owner of the house behind the door seemed to return the salute to him, but the man did not leave immediately.

He seemed to hesitate for a moment, but still lowered his voice a little and said:

“...... Are you really not thinking about joining the army anymore...... don't worry about identification, I'll take care of it for you...... In addition, all the members of the Shinsengumi have already received amnesty from the government, and some of the former soldiers have also joined the current army, and they have also been awarded and promoted for meritorious service in the last war......"

He spoke so earnestly, but the owner behind the door did not seem to answer him immediately.

He didn't seem to care that he didn't get a warm response from the other party right away, and continued to speak earnestly:

"Besides, didn't you also receive awards for your status as 'Katsuto Naito'......

The owner inside the door seemed to finally laugh, and a deep voice rang out.

“...... In the end, that guy from Ibuki leaked my tracks, right?" he asked.

The man outside the door also smiled, shook his head with a smile and sighed.

"Isn't it thanks to Inobuki-kun...... When we learned of his whereabouts, we came back again and again...... In the end, he can't survive our repeated troubles......"

As if remembering something, he paused, and then sighed, "However, it was possible to connect the dots and create reasonable suspicions, and finally find out where you might have been—"

“...... Thanks to the awards you received during the war. ”

"With your merits, it is incredible that you simply declined the award and left the army after the war......"

"Originally, at the beginning, it was just because good officers are so rare, and we really didn't want to see a talent leave so easily...... Later, we also became aware of it, and we have been visiting more than a dozen military colleagues who are familiar with you, and we have learned everything from your fighting style to your leg injury......"

In the end, a surprising conclusion was finally reached. ”

Recounting the reason and process of visiting the owner of this simple house on a remote road on this day, the man's attitude and tone were full of sincerity, as if he did not want to give up his intentions.

"Earthwork...... No, Mr. Naito," he said, at last, reasserting the syllables of the long-lost surname, and quickly changed his words under the gaze of the quiet-eyed owner on the other side.

He seemed to hesitate again, but still looked at the other party earnestly, and said:

"You also know that I now have a good position in the government army...... If you are willing to go out of the mountain, it is not impossible to reinvent the name 'Hijikata Suizo'...... After all, you performed an impressive feats in the last war. Moreover, even Soma's master Jijun had already received an amnesty many years ago...... Only later—"

His voice choked up, and he didn't continue, just lowered his gaze with a sigh.

The owner of the house opposite him smiled faintly.

"No, I'm not dwelling on that. He replied.

"A name is just a title...... It's like without those deeds, 'Shinsengumi' is just an empty title......"

The man, who was not very comfortable with his left arm, raised his gaze again and looked at the owner of the house inside the door.

That's right, living in seclusion in this small house is the former deputy head of the Shinsengumi, the army of the Republic of Ezo, and the famous "deputy chief of the ghost", Hijikata Suizo.

More than ten years have passed since the era of the "Mibu Wolf" that crossed Kyoto. However, it seems that time has not left many traces on his face except for some lines at the corners of his eyes and eyebrows, only a more and more solid and difficult to challenge easily, like a bottomless sea, under the calm sea, it seems to contain unfathomable power.

"Now, who remembers the 'meeting group'......" he said with emotion.

"Once upon a time, it was so famous on the streets of Kyoto that it occupied the best location, and even we, the Shinsengumi, had to back down...... Their leader, that Sasaki, was on his toes before us......"

As the elder of the former Aizu domain, the man who came to visit Hijikata, Hiroshi Yamakawa, a former Aizu feudal priest who joined the official army after being pardoned, did not know too much about the contradictions between the Mikai group and the Shinsengumi, who were in charge of public security in Kyoto, and he did not know very well what kind of person the leader of the Mikai group was. See Hui Group: "You've been angry there, haven't you?"

However, he didn't dare to say this inference, just his eyes flickered and he nodded.

In front of him, the deputy head of the Shinsengumi, who was once so radiant and aura-catching, still said with a calm gaze and a calm face:

“...... So, I don't care too much about the name. I just don't think I'm suitable for working with those old men and women for a long time. ”

Yamakawa Hao blurted out: "But, don't you want to continue to serve Your Majesty anymore......?!"

Hijikata seemed a little surprised, and his gaze flashed a little sharp for a moment. But the glimmer of light quickly faded, and he regained his previous calm demeanor.

"Since you have gone to great lengths to come all the way to visit, I might as well tell you the truth. He replied.

"My original belief was just to grow the Shinsengumi and realize the dream that Kondo-kun and other companions were pursuing. For whom, is it a general or a majesty...... We are all just seeking the righteousness of our hearts. ”

His tone was unexpectedly straightforward, even with a little cold and rude, as if the deputy head of the ghost had returned.

"Even if Your Majesty suddenly gave the Nishiki Imperial Banner to those guys in the chief, it would make our righteousness look like a joke...... But ten years later, I have also upheld my loyalty and served Your Majesty. ”

"Now, if I was really asked to do something else, I had my own ideas. ”

Hijikata paused, rarely, and a strange look appeared on his face.

“...... I'm going to be a judge or something......"

Hiroshi Yamakawa: ?!

He couldn't help but let out an exclamation of "Huh?!"

As if he was a little embarrassed, he coughed several times as a cover-up, and finally overcame the psychological barrier, and replied in a rough voice: "...... Yes. That's it. ”

Hiroshi Yamakawa felt that it was unimaginable.

To be serious, he thinks that among the members of the original Shinsengumi, the one who adheres to his original intention the most is Saito Ichi, the current Fujita Goro.

In the final analysis, the Shinsengumi was an organization that worked together with the Aizu clan and the Kyoto office in Kyoto to maintain order and law and order.

That is, the police now.

Therefore, Saitoichi, who joined the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, responded to the recruitment of the brave general of the Aizu Domain, the "Oni Kanbei", and later the first-class police officer Sagawa Kanwei, who joined the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, is the person who adheres to his original intention in the simplest and most straightforward way to continue the mission of the Shinsengumi.

Of course, some of the other members joined the army, some were in business, and they all worked hard to continue to make a living. However, it was the first time he had heard of a person who wanted to be a judge.

...... He is worthy of being the deputy chief of the ghost back then! His thoughts are not something that ordinary people can predict!

——Inexplicably, Yamakawa Hao suddenly had such feelings and respect in his heart (?).

Of course, becoming a judge is not completely out of the question. Takagi Morinosuke, one of Aizu's good sons, had just passed the bar exam and was about to become a judge, but he didn't know where he would take office yet - but in terms of age, Takagi-kun certainly had a big advantage.

...... Although Hijikata-kun was also a well-known and talented official in the Ezo Republic back then, but in the final analysis, getting older will make the brain's memory decrease, right?

Yamakawa Hao stammered a rare moment before he said, "...... For example, if you really want to do this, you have to pass the exam...... When, of course, identity is not an issue. I can get things done for you...... Something to learn is as tall as a mountain, though, and I'm not questioning your resolve, but—"

Hijikata seemed to be a little surprised, his eyes widened slightly, and after a moment, he seemed to understand something, and his expression suddenly relaxed.

“...... Since I can clearly express my determination, I naturally have the corresponding awareness. He replied lightly, with an unmistakable power in his tone.

Yamakawa Hao was stunned for a moment.

"No, of course I didn't mean that......" he explained in an obscure manner, feeling that he would be getting darker and darker if he continued to speak, and finally sighed, nodded briefly, and promised, "...... Since I am grateful to you for telling you the truth, if there is anything I can do to help, I will try my best to ...... Still, can you ask why you made this decision?"

Hijikata paused, his expression softened suddenly, and there seemed to be a touch between his eyebrows and eyes—an almost melancholy emotion.

"I've talked to people about this before. - What did everyone do after the name 'Shinsengumi' disappeared......"

Yamakawa was amazed.

"What?...... Now that you've talked about everyone's way out, did you tell someone about it in the last war?"

Earthwork bowed slightly.

"Who is it-" Hiroshi Yamakawa stopped before he could finish speaking, sensing some kind of inexplicable atmosphere suddenly emanating from Hijikata's body.

Hijikata did not get angry, but was silent for a while before continuing:

"At that time, we talked about...... Everyone, some of them go to work, some go into business, and maybe some of them become doctors......"

"I, my family sells medicine, Ishida Sanyao...... However, in the end, it was not so effective, and then the other party smiled and said, "Why don't Mr. Hijikata become a doctor......"

"I don't think I can't, though. Doctor or something, I can only think of Matsumoto-kun...... Like him, he calmly warned the relatives and friends of innocent people that just because he was sick, a good person would soon die...... I didn't miss anything, but my destiny had arrived—I couldn't do that kind of thing. ”

Hiroshi Yamakawa let out a low exclamation of "oh". He quickly guessed who Hijikata was talking about.

Perhaps Hijikata remembered the genius swordsman of their Shinsengumi back then, Soji Okita, who died at a young age because of a cough.

He nodded silently, indicating that he understood.

Hijikata didn't seem to care too much about whether he could understand it, and continued: "What am I going to do in business? I can't think of any kind of business I want to do...... Finally, the man said, 'If Mr. Hijikata doesn't mind, there's another job that suits you well.'" ”

Hiroshi Yamakawa: "That's, that's it...... Judge?!"

He was a little incredulous. The deputy head of the Shinsengumi is the kind of person who decides his future for the sake of others?!

But Hijikata ignored his entanglement, and said:

"Yes. ...... The man said, 'Since Mr. Hijikata is the maker of the 'laws in the bureau,' he can also do things to uphold the laws.' ”

He seemed to be briefly caught up in reminiscence.

It seems that the events related to that remembrance did not last long, because he did not come up with more or better descriptions, but instead concluded in a dry tone.

"I heard that the current rule is that if there is any violation of the law, in addition to the police, it must be handed over to a judge to determine the punishment according to the law. ”

"After private fights are no longer allowed, what can I do to uphold the law other than to become a policeman? ”

Hiroshi Yamakawa squirmed his lips a few times.

At first, he almost wanted to say, "No, there may be new positions like prosecutors and lawyers," but then he thought about the difference?

He finally bowed his head and said, "...... Since it's your decision, I'm here to help. You don't have to worry about identity...... But when it comes to exams, I don't have that ability......"

Hijikata smiled.

In Hiroshi Yamakawa's opinion, it was only the first time since he stepped into this room that Hijikata showed a faint smile that could be called sincere.

"Yes. He heard Hijikata say.

"That's enough. Thank you so much. ”

"I'll do the rest. ”

Then, after a pause, Hijikata uttered something that Hiroshi Yamakawa sounded like it was incredible.

“...... Because, that's what she said. ”

"There's not much I can do to miss her now......"

"If I was that kind of person in her mind...... If I'm the 'keeper of the testimonies,' then I'll try to do that." ”

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December 5:

First of all, I'm sorry that I haven't been able to update it in the past ten days abroad......

The place to stay, there was no table in the room, it was outrageous.

I can't go to someone's study or restaurant with my notebook to code words, so I ...... qaq

Sorry for the late update!

I hope that he can be more day to the end w

I thought a lot about the proposition of the deputy chief "what do you want to do in the future?"

I don't think any career is very suitable

In fact, Kondo-san is alive, and it is easy to say that he can go back and continue to run the trial guard hall

But do you want to let the deputy chief continue to be a medicine seller?

In fact, there is a historical stalk in the future when he becomes a judge, which is an incident that led to the resignation of Saigo from the province (does anyone still remember him).

But that one was late

If you really want to write it, it will become a matter of the deputy chief and the sister's white head when they grow old

Hawkers,Next update, we'll tentatively schedule it for tomorrow night, hehehehe.

Because the system automatically thanks the list of mine-throwers only for the last 7 days

So the missing cuties, I'll make it up manually later!

Thank you, Momoda

Thank you to the little angel who voted for me during 2019-11-25 09:26:57~2019-12-05 10:33:47~

Thanks to the little angel who threw the grenade: 1 Gui Heshen;

Thanks to the little angels who threw mines: ^o^ / 3, Meow Meow, Gui Heshen 2;

Thanks to the little angels who irrigate the nutrient solution: ^o^ / 14 bottles;

Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!

Wonderful Book House