The end of the curtain

?Flowers die from the branches with the wind, and before we can appreciate the splendid beauty of summer flowers, the coolness of autumn engulfs almost everything in its loneliness.

Like Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto, the Nishi Honin Temple where the Shinsengumi is stationed is also an excellent place to enjoy the beauty of the maple forest in autumn.

Pieces of fiery red maple leaves are reflected on the quaint courtyard wall intentionally or unintentionally, like blood-colored flowers blooming brilliantly, piercing into the eyes irresistibly.

Hijikata didn't set very strict wake-up time for Sakurai and Chizuru, as long as he wasn't sleeping in the dark, he would usually turn a blind eye and let nature take its course.

As always, the life of the Shinsengumi is plain with unavoidable bloodshed.In the eyes of outsiders, this is where the Mibu wolves gather and where they are killed.

Sakurai, who usually sleeps later than Chizuru, also woke up early with Chizuru, and went to the kitchen to cook breakfast for everyone as usual.The very thin porridge is mixed with elegant cabbage, exuding a faint fragrance.The breakfast is not greasy and the price is not expensive.

It can't be said to be a gourmet delicacy, but the taste is not bad.

"Qianhe, dysentery frequently occurs in summer, and there will be a lot of purslane on the country roads in hot weather. Remember to pick some for everyone to cook. Generally speaking, there will be no side effects." Qianhe was staring at the steaming pot. When the cabbage porridge was in a daze, Sakurai's flat voice suddenly came.

Qianhe was stunned for a moment, and then slowly came back to his senses. Before he could make a sound, the soft voice continued: "You don't usually get up too early, the key is to get enough rest. Yes, everyone is a good person, they can understand you..."

It's like a sister or mother's caring chanting, she doesn't feel irritable, but there is a little touch and warmth in the plainness, but because of this, Qianhe feels inexplicably sad.

"Xiaoxu..." I felt that the vision in front of me was gradually blurred, and there was a layer of faint mist, but it seemed that tears would flow out of my eyes in the next moment.Qianhe choked up and murmured a sentence, but couldn't speak for a long time, only felt as if a black rock was pressing on his heart, and he couldn't breathe.

——Why did you promise Mr. Kazama to leave? Although I believed that Xiaoxu would never betray, if she just left like this, would everyone still believe her?Mr. Okita...

"What's wrong? Don't cry... If it's Qianzuru, you should be stronger, everyone needs you..." Sakurai didn't seem to take it seriously at all, as usual.Qianhe quickly wiped away tears with his sleeve, and smiled forcedly: "I'm sorry, I lost my temper...I'm fine..."

"It's fine, and you don't have to think too much about it. In fact, it's good to get used to this kind of thing, and you can treat it like nothing." Sakurai said with a deep smile as if thinking about it.

Because she was the one who shouldn't be here.

Chizuru will be the heart warmer for everyone in the future, and the chief executive will need her very much, no matter what I say, I am just superfluous.It's really shameless to step in by yourself, it's better to leave early, or change another way.

In the future, when I find Xiaoxue, I will find a small mountain village with Xiaoxue and live in obscurity until I die, that's all right.

"That's not the case, Xiaoxu always said that, you are also very important in everyone's heart!" Qianhe suddenly said loudly with a small crying voice, "If there was no Xiaoxu, I didn't know how to face it at the time." Regarding my life experience, I am obviously a person who is very good to everyone, why do I have to push it away without saying a word? Why do I have to bear this pain alone?!!"

——Because...because I'm not qualified...

They didn't notice that at the corner of the door frame, a dark purple skirt quietly left under the shadowy eaves that the sun couldn't reach.

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Except for Hijikata and Chizuru who were present that night, no one else knew that Sakurai was about to leave. Under the empty eyes of joy, he still suppressed his anger, and finally gave, approved.

— Mr. Hijikata!I believe in Xiaoxu, and I believe that she also has a last resort!If it's still possible, I... I believe she will be able to come back in the end!

At that moment, Qianhe, who couldn't bear it any longer, rushed over to stop her. Although her voice trembled slightly, she still said clearly what she wanted to say.

In fact, Hijikata gave Sakurai the biggest bottom line, that is, not to have any behavior that hurts the Shinsengumi, including what she vowed to say at the beginning.Hijikata, it's not that he didn't hear the key from these words, the original owner of the bracelet on Sakurai's left wrist...

"No matter what you do, if you endanger the Shinsengumi, you will end up dead—" Hijikata finally dropped this sentence coldly, and left without looking back. Sakurai felt his heart in his heart at the same time. Complete breakdown.

Hehe, it seems that he has completely become a bad person...

If that's the case, then cheer up and use the last remaining time to complete the things that haven't been done here, so that you can more or less get rid of a little worry.

When people who didn't know saw Sakurai, they greeted Sakurai cheerfully and joked. Chizuru just smiled awkwardly and forcedly. However, Sakurai was both surprised and grateful that Hijikata didn't take last night's incident at all. Things get out.

Because Hijikata is also a gentle person deep down in his heart.If the title of deputy devil chief is dug out from the essence or the depths, it is actually just a false name.

Pieces of crimson maple leaves flutter down with the wind, lying silently beside the smooth wooden corridor. Although red is born with a gorgeous visual sense, it looks a little refreshing against the wooden floor if you take a closer look. a feeling of.

Qianhe ran out just after finishing the work in the kitchen, as if she was still in a hurry, as if she was chasing something, her dark brown eyes faintly revealed a bit of anxiety.

Although Sakurai was puzzled, he didn't chase after him and ask more questions. He silently tidied up the somewhat messy kitchen, wondering if he should go to Qianzuru in the afternoon or at night.If it's at night, I don't know if there is enough time...

The messy and fast footsteps of "thump, thud, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thud" sounded the entire corridor, and Qianhe rushed to the end of the corridor. Hit by gravity, Qianzuru was almost unable to stand still by the force, and was about to fall to the ground.

The other party grabbed her with a pair of strong hands, and Qianhe also subconsciously grabbed the other party's sleeve at the same time and managed to stand firm.He quickly raised his head to look around, and what caught his eyes was the smiling face of the chief executive.

The brightness is like the sunlight penetrating the cherry blossoms.

"Sorry..." Chizuru, who has been well-educated since she was a child, apologized almost subconsciously. She was just about to say hello and continue to do her own business, but the soft voice of the chief director came: "Oh, oh, oh~ Little Qianhe left in such a hurry, did he intend to find Mr. Hijikata? Don’t worry, Mr. Hijikata won’t be able to escape.”

"Hey?!! No, it's not!" Qianhe suddenly realized that he had been teased by the chief executive again. Just now, he was a little depressed why Mr. Okita's character was so stubborn, but suddenly remembered that he ran over in a hurry to find Mr. Okita What!

The general manager raised his chin slightly and looked at Qianzuru with a black face with interest, but saw this girl who was usually obedient and docile like a little sheep suddenly remembered something, and then turned pale A slightly angry look suddenly appeared on the delicate little face, then he raised his head to look at him, and said a little loudly: "Mr. It's too late to regret it!"

The euphemistic and cryptic words, Qianzuru knew very well that Sakurai absolutely did not want the chief executive to know about this matter, but she looked at Sakurai indifferently every day, but she knew that Sakurai was not feeling well at all, if If so, why can’t it be revealed?Although Mr. Okita looks lazy every day, he will not be a dull person. Chizuru hopes that he can understand something by doing this.

"What are you cherishing? Little Chizuru and Mr. Hijikata are getting more and more alike. They always like to say some inexplicable things. It is really taught by Mr. Hijikata~" The chief executive didn't seem to understand what Chizuru said, but he didn't understand it for a moment. He kept seizing the opportunity to speak ill of Deputy Chief Hijikata, and put on a careless and slow look.

"Mr. Okita!" Qianhe was angry and impatient, and didn't know what to say for a while, "I... Anyway, Mr. Okita, don't treat Xiaoxu like that again, otherwise..." Qianzuru realized that he couldn't treat Xiaoxu like that. The whole thing is out, so I have to give up.

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Chizuru was busy in the kitchen almost all afternoon, either washing fruits and vegetables in a hurry, or running to the chopping board to chop vegetables, as if she was too busy to do anything, and she had no time to talk to Sakurai Say a few words.

Just like normal.

Sakurai is not a person who likes to talk a lot, so naturally he doesn't mind this silence.Occasionally, I went to help Qianhe by washing hands and vegetables, and then ran back to the yard to start boiling medicine, without delay.

Chizuru's father, Yukimura Tsunamichi, was originally a well-known western doctor in Edo, so he didn't need to spend so much thought when teaching Chizuru to make medicine for the chief minister. Work.

Now every day, Sakurai decocts the good medicine and prepares the medicine, and then Qianzuru sends it to the general manager.It took a little time at the beginning, but as time went on, the general manager became more obedient and obedient, almost without the stubborn and lazy attitude when Sakurai delivered the medicine.

Speaking of which, I haven't seen him for a long time. Occasionally, I pass by as if I haven't seen him. I don't even have the courage to raise my head and look directly at him.However, this awkward way of getting along with her may never happen again in the future.

...a bit, a sad feeling of not wanting to part with...

"Xiaoxu, I can't separate myself here, and I have to prepare some dishes. Today, can you deliver medicine to Mr. Okita?" Sakurai had actually noticed that Qianzuru looked back at her many times, but she also Too lazy to get to the bottom of it, I thought that Qianhe probably had something else to say.

At first, she wanted to pretend that she hadn't seen it, but Qianhe's next words were thunderous. Sakurai's hand holding the bowl full of soup and medicine trembled slightly, and a drop or two of the medicine spilled out, scalding the back of her hand with burning pain, but she He just frowned and didn't seem to feel it at all, and didn't even look at it.

... She, is she going?But, the general manager won't accept it... Hehe...

"Please Xiaoxu, I, I really can't delay the time to prepare dinner." Chizuru showed a pleading look, but Sakurai didn't know if it was her own illusion, she actually felt that Qianzuru's pleading It's more like a slight expression of anxiety.

"...Okay." In fact, I still want to see him again, but I probably won't see him again, so I should just leave the medicine at the door.

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