The end of the curtain

?After returning to the village, everyone looked at them with ambiguous expressions, especially Yongcang Shinpachi, who was boiling all of a sudden.

"Say, you didn't come back all night, where did you go last night?" Xinpachi showed an extremely wretched expression, adding fuel and jealousy for fear that the world would not be chaotic.

The general manager glanced at him casually, and said slowly: "Xinba, are you free? Why don't we have a competition." Although the general manager never came forward to deny the deep-rooted misunderstanding of them, but every time Shinpachi's ambiguous inquiries are always indifferent, and it is obvious that Shinpachi wants to die of curiosity.

By the time Sakurai came out, she had already changed out of the lady's bathrobe, and put back on the somewhat faded blue Taoist gown. Her high ponytail and calm expression always made her appear desolate look.

Although the others were equally curious, they were much calmer than Shinpachi. The so-called early bird died earlier. He Qingguang.

Shinpachi suddenly lost his arrogance. Recalling the last time, he was so arrogant and cheeky that he called himself "the number one warrior of the Shinsengumi". He overestimated his own strength, and the result was that he was beaten by the general manager until the sword flew. The most important thing is that I have lost all my face.

"Ah, that, Chief, I still have something to do..." Shinpachi took a few steps back with a smile and hurriedly bowed his hands. He quickly turned his head to look at Harada who was watching the show, " ——Yes! I'm going to drink with Zuo Zhi! Right...? Zuo Zhi?"

Then he anxiously murmured in his heart: "Harada, save me quickly! Save me quickly!"

"Huh—?" The chief executive's dark green eyes had a fox-like cunning luster, and Harada was holding back his smile desperately, just as he was about to give Shinpachi a blow, when he looked up, he saw Shinpachi dripping in cold sweat with a terrified expression on his face looking behind him.

Everyone has long been used to it, and they all turned their faces to the bewildered Harada calmly——

"...Tu, Mr. Hijikata! Good morning, good morning!!!"

Behind everyone stood Hijikata whose face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, and beside Hijikata stood Chizuru with an awkward smile, holding a bowl of leftover hangover soup... Harada and Shin Ba recalled what they did on the street last night, and quickly thought about the consequences, they shuddered involuntarily.

It's over!Stupid, last night was really unlucky!Why don't you go to Shimabara and have to drink on the side of the road?Why did you meet the chief executive when you were drinking vigorously?Why did you easily listen to the slander of the general manager, "If you meet Mr. Hijikata, just get him drunk"... The general manager!Thanks to us treating you as brothers to help you create opportunities, now you are killing us instead! ! !

The corner of the boss's lips evoked a divine smile at the right time.

"Harada Shinpachi!" Hijikata's deep voice sounded, his handsome face was once again covered with a layer of gray haze, "You two guys—"

Seeing Mr. Hijikata's anger ready to unleash, the Chief Secretary naturally let go of his hand on the handle of the knife. At the same time, Hijikata's hand quickly stretched towards his waist, and with a bang, the edge of the knife suddenly gathered , before Harada Shinpachi could snort, he turned around and ran away!

——Ahhhhh!Don't get excited, Mr. Hijikata!Let us explain! ! !

Fox, you must have already planned everything...

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In the evening of this day, the erratic clouds in the sky were dyed enchanting blood by the afterglow, and Shinsengumi's light green feathers danced with the wind reflecting the setting sun.

Today, the inspection mission of the first team of the Shinsengumi is also over, and all the team members look listless after a busy day, just waiting for Captain Okita to say that they can go back to the village for dinner.

The chief executive walked in the front, and after rounding the last corner of the street, he finally stood still, turned around and said to the first team: "This is the end of today's inspection, you go back first."

As he said that, regardless of everyone's surprised gazes, he took off the light green haori on his body and threw it into the hands of a soldier, turned around and walked away swaggeringly.

All the team members were not surprised. Occasionally, Captain Okita would leave after the inspection without saying anything. He probably went to do his own business. Just one click.

There were almost no pedestrians on the street at this dusk, and the chief executive walked forward steadily on straw sandals. Although his purpose this time was very clear in his heart, he also felt very confused in his heart.

Shouldn't he face this matter calmly tomorrow?But he felt more and more uneasy in his heart, and even became so depressed that he, who had always had good self-control ability, was irritated.

If you understand it, why do you have to prove it again?Are you urging yourself, or warning yourself?

Almost coughing, he hunched his body and walked into the medical clinics at the end of the street. Just as he stepped in, the familiar and strong smell of traditional Chinese medicine hit his face.

It's been a long time since I've smelled this familiar smell even though I dislike it.Two years ago, at that time, I was not what I am now. At that time, I went in and out of the hospital just out of a playful mentality and simply wanted to play with her... Now I came to the hospital because of the deep Reasons to feel helpless to the point of dread just thinking about how it will end in the future.

The gray-haired old doctor kneeling in front of the short table frowned involuntarily when he heard the director general's violent coughing...

After simply checking and asking a few questions, the old doctor shook his head helplessly.

"Young man, your illness is already very serious. Although you have been suppressed by strong drugs, once you stop the drugs..." The old doctor raised his head and looked at the chief executive who looked paler than ordinary people, and said from the bottom of his heart feel regretful.But what puzzled him was that the general manager had always had that indifferent smile on the corner of his lips from the beginning until now.

It was obviously life-threatening, but he looked calm.

"Ah, I know." The chief executive responded lightly, but his eyes passed through the scene outside the lattice window behind the old doctor surrendering him.

"You should have a doctor with good medical skills by your side." The old doctor couldn't figure out what the chief executive was thinking, so he asked hesitantly.

Why go to the clinic if there is already a doctor by your side?Unless something happened in the middle and we had to find someone else...

"If doing this will trouble her, it's better to let her stop earlier, so that she doesn't have to do any more useless work." The chief director retracted his gaze and looked at the old doctor with a puzzled expression. A faint smile, but there is a bit of indifference in this lightness, which seems to be a natural indifference, "So doctor, please."

If it were any other doctor, at least he wouldn't be so desperate... At least he could stay in that place for a while, and be able to get along with everyone and Mr. Kondo for a little longer, but he never wanted to see her do it for him. The condition was exhausted and became haggard day by day.If he had to sacrifice her health in exchange for more time for himself, he would rather let her go.

The old doctor sighed faintly and said nothing more.

—————————————————————

Inadvertently, it is almost October, and this year is the first year of Qingying.

Late at night, Shinsengumi's kitchen lights were still on, and the orange candlelight inadvertently illuminated a corner of the corridor.

That night, Qianhe tossed and turned and couldn't sleep, so she slowly got dressed and stood up from the tatami mat, her mind was a little muddled thinking about going for a walk to catch some wind, but she stretched and swept to the empty room beside her. tatami.

Huh?Haven't come back yet?It's obviously already that late...

When Qianhe Qingsheng came to the door of the kitchen quietly, through the half-open door of the kitchen, he saw the person sitting in front of him holding a brush to draw and write, with a serious and serious expression on his face, standing up occasionally. He got up and quickly ran to the stove to lift the lid of the pot to check the medicine that was frying. The whole kitchen was filled with a strong smell of medicine.

... So Xiaoxu, do you work so hard every night because of Mr. Okita's illness?It is obvious that the heart is already enduring so much pain, and even the body is tortured to the point of haggard?

When Sakurai just turned around to look at the Chinese medicine in the casserole, she had already vaguely sensed that someone was coming, so she wondered "Why is there still someone coming so late", when she looked up and saw the person standing by the door When Qianhe looked confused, he hesitated and asked: "... Qianhe?"

"Huh?" Suddenly came back to his senses, Qianhe quickly suppressed his sad mind, and smiled a little reluctantly: "I couldn't sleep just now, and I saw that you didn't come back, so I came over to take a look."

"Ah, I'm fine, you go back and rest first." Sakurai just smiled, seeing that Qianzuru hadn't moved, so she didn't insist, but quickly regained her mind and returned to work.

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In late autumn and October, the maple leaves planted everywhere in Nishimotoyuan Temple seem to be a lot hotter due to the cold wind blowing overnight, like a group of flames burning on the branches, adding a touch of ancient charm to this autumn unconsciously. color.

There is a touch of beauty in the desolation, but it is deeply emotional.

Sakurai's complexion was a little pale, and he wobbled a little when he walked, looking very unsteady.At this time, she was holding a tray in her hand, and a bowl was placed in the middle of the tray. The porcelain white bowl was filled with a dark brown to black potion, steaming hot.

I came to the door of the chief executive's room and asked a few times, but no one responded for a long time. Sakurai gently opened the door with some doubts, but he couldn't find the chief executive at a glance.

So he closed the sliding door and walked along a small path to go to the ashram to find it.

The general manager has a very full schedule for the last day. Every day, he gets up early to practice swordsmanship almost before dawn. After breakfast, he leads his team to patrol until dusk. He took the initiative to apply to go out to inspect at night. If Mr. Tukata hadn't scolded him with a cold face, the chief executive might not even have a chance to rest all day long.

——Mr. Hijikata, you are too protective.

He said this with a smile, but no one could understand how quiet his expression was covered by the fine bangs.

The bluestone slab path that has experienced vicissitudes over time is covered with maple leaves falling from the branches. The color is as sad as blood, but it is thrillingly beautiful and exciting.

From a distance, Sakurai saw the tall black figure standing under the maple tree, the soft dark purple hair was blown away in the slightly cold wind, and the hem of the black clothes fluttered.

"Mr. Saito." Sakurai greeted him with a low voice, which was somewhat tired.Saito just raised his handsome face to look at the maple leaves falling and whirling with the wind, and didn't answer her.Sakurai was about to walk past him when Saito's cold voice suddenly sounded.

鞕——How is the general manager's illness?

His eyes were as deep blue as the night sky, and his words also carried an indescribable depth.

"..." The chief... I, I can't help myself...

Almost sluggish at that moment, Sakurai only felt that the words hit the pain point and she was almost unable to breathe, even she didn't realize that her face suddenly became ugly, and the hands holding the tray trembled slightly .

There was silence for a while, only the maple leaves falling from the branches drew brilliant bloody arcs one after another in mid-air, the beauty of the country and the city.

In the end, there was Saito's inaudible sigh——

"The chief is in the atrium."