It is about the end of March in the 11th year of Keicho (1606), the day after the conspiracy between Hidetada and Okubo Yasushi was discovered in the middle of the night in Kyoto. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

It stands to reason that Hidemitsu would usually choose to return to Osaka Castle right away. Today, however, he suddenly decided to stay one more day and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Kyoto when the cherry blossoms are about to bloom.

"It's fine. No one knows my identity, and Irisawa is following. ”

These are the words that Hidemitsu said to his close attendant Hidemune in the residence of Prince Hachijonomiya.

Xiuzong was originally opposed to this, because the sooner he went back, the better. But in the end, he was knocked down by Xiuguang, who rarely showed his childish side, so he reluctantly agreed.

So, now it's the following state-

“……”

Standing alone in the crowd, Xiuguang felt a sense of emptiness and powerlessness.

Now that Hidemitsu had taken off his usual luxurious clothes, he was wearing the plain cloth clothes worn by ordinary civilians, and he was alone in a particularly prosperous street in the middle of Kyoto. Well, that's right, a person.

What the? Where is Xiuzong, you ask?

Ah, speaking of which, Xiuzong should have been following Xiuguang. It's just that when they were on the street next door, because of the impact of a crowd, the two of them dispersed like this.

Although Xiuguang and Xiuzong have been looking for each other for a long time, they still haven't been able to see each other.

"Ahh

Xiuguang stood in the crowd and scratched his head, expressing both helplessness and surprise at the incident.

Well, having said that, no one knows if it's bad luck or good luck. After all, fate is impermanent, and there are many accidents and coincidences between the world. For example, a certain story or proverb that has been passed down from the Ming Dynasty is like this. Well, the name...... Probably seems to be called Seon lost his horse, who knows if it is a blessing?

While carrying out such cranky thoughts, Xiuguang tried his best to squeeze out the crowd and came to a sparsely populated corner.

"If you think about it, it was the same scene back then, the same crowded."

Xiuguang sat on a certain rock, looking at the crowded pedestrians in the distance, as if he remembered the scene when he went to Beijing three years ago.

At that time, I came here because of the marriage contract between the Toyotomi family and the Kujo family. Then he and Hidemune went to watch the song and dance performance of Izumo Akoku. Many people came to Kyoto, so the streets of Kyoto were as crowded as they are now.

So now that I think about it, today is really similar to that day three years ago. Hawkers, although now Xiuzong has been crowded into a crowd to the point where he doesn't know where.

It stands to reason that the attendants who were following him suddenly disappeared, and he would usually be a little panicked. However, Hidemitsu knew that even if Hidemune was not by his side, the Wind Demon Ninja's Irazawa Shinnai would definitely follow him.

“…… My lord. ”

Look.

While Hidemitsu was thinking about this, Irizawa Kannai suddenly appeared from nowhere, and then walked to his side.

"Ah, it's really Irisawa. Did you see Xiuzong? ”

“…… Yes, I just found Hidemune-sama on the street some distance from here...... He asked me to bring a message to you, saying that the streets were too crowded for a while, and that I would not be able to come to you for a while, so he specially instructed me to protect you until he arrived. ”

"Yes. That's really hard......"

After hearing this, Xiuguang wiped his sweat and felt that he could already imagine the scene of Xiuzong being squeezed into the crowd and dazzled.

"Speaking of which, Irisawa,"

Hidemitsu seemed to suddenly remember something,

"What do you think of Tsurunosuke and Tsukichiyo...... Who can inherit the name of Kotaro Kazemo? ”

Irizawa stopped and began to fall silent.

This is a very serious matter. After all, the sentence "Who can inherit the name of Wind Demon Kotaro" just now means who is the next head of the Wind Demon and the next heir.

“…… I don't think it's easy to say right now,"

After a moment of silence, Iris spoke very slowly in a hoarse voice,

"After all, Tsuranosuke-sama and Tsukichiyo-sama are still young, and there are still a lot of unknowns."

"Definitely. But looking at the relationship between their brother and sister, they don't have to worry about these problems. ”

Xiuguang thought about it and thought it was too.

However, at this time, Iris added in a whisper,

“…… Originally, everyone was more optimistic about Tsukichiyo-sama. Because Tsukichiyo is very smart, he learns ninjutsu faster than anyone else, and he is a very good child...... However, Tsuranosuke-sama has been working harder and harder lately, and although he was a little slow to learn these aspects before, he is now working very hard to complete both his studies and martial arts...... Tsuranosuke-sama has the possibility of surpassing his sister Tsukichiyo-sama. ”

He said.

Hidemitsu knows that Irisawa, who usually doesn't talk much but has always been outspoken, usually doesn't lie at such a time. So that is to say, he really thinks that Tsuru no Suke has the possibility of being able to make up for his strength by hard work.

"Well, I see, since Irisawa thinks so, there is some truth to it. Well, it's still early anyway, so let's observe the situation again. I'm really looking forward to what Tsuranosuke and Tsukichiyo will become. ”

Xiuguang nodded, expressing his expectations for both.

“…… Thank you, sir. So, I'm secretly protecting the adults. Adults will arrange the next arrangement. ”

Irizawa Shinnai thanked Hidemitsu for his arrangement and advice, and then immediately infiltrated a place where Hidemitsu and the others could not see, quietly protecting the lord's Hidemitsu.

"Well, let's go somewhere else. It's kind of boring to stay there all the time. ”

Stretching, Xiuguang straightened his clothes, sat up from the stone, then patted the dust off his buttocks, and walked towards a bridge not far from him.

The bridge is not too big, and the flow of people is not too much and not too little. The reason why Hidemitsu was attracted to the bridge was that there were several cherry blossom trees growing next to the bridge, and the pink flowers on them looked like they were about to bloom, which was inexplicably beautiful.

"It's almost time to bloom."

Xiuguang looked up at the large sea of crimson flowers that came into his eyes, and couldn't help but sigh,

"However, this year is really a little early, why is it......"

He wondered in his mind as he walked slowly toward the bridge.

That's when --

“…… Wow! ”

Xiuguang felt that he was suddenly hit by something from behind, and he couldn't stabilize his body for a while, and fell to the mud with a thud.

"Ahh......h

Touching the back of his head, Xiuguang endured the pain and barely stood up from the ground.

"Isn't it really bad luck today......

He frowned and looked at the "thing" that had crashed into him.

Immediately, Xiuguang's eyes widened.

Lying on the ground, frowning and holding the back of his head like Hidemitsu just now, was a boy about his age.

Actually, it doesn't matter. The important thing is -

The boy in front of him, who had just knocked down Hidemitsu, was the same person who knocked him down when he was in Kyoto three years ago.

Because the boy's eyes are particularly beautiful, Hidemitsu remembers it very clearly.

Similar scenes, similar times, same people......

“…… Is it bad luck or good luck? ”

Xiuguang didn't know how to describe his mood at this time.