“Hmm, look, isn’t that Mitsuyuki?”
Returning tonight by chance were Kondo Isami and Hijikata Toshizo, members of the Shinsengumi who would shine brilliantly alongside Okita Souji in the future.
They saw Mitsuyuki coming out of their teacher’s room.
Kondo Isami, about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, wore a very approachable smile and stepped forward to greet Mitsuyuki: “Junior Mitsuyuki…”
“Wait.” In sharp contrast to Kondo Isami, the expressionless and even somewhat cold Hijikata Toshizo frowned, as if he had discovered something, and pulled Kondo Isami back.
Under Kondo Isami’s confused gaze, Hijikata Toshizo watched Mitsuyuki and said, “He seems…
a bit different from usual.”
“Different?” Kondo Isami was somewhat bewildered.
He looked at Mitsuyuki again.
“I don’t see anything different.
Could it be he’s grown taller again?”
“His sword momentum is different from usual,” Hijikata Toshizo said, narrowing his eyes slightly.
Hearing this, Kondo Isami was first stunned, then looked at Mitsuyuki again.
He was, like Hijikata Toshizo and Okita Souji, a master swordsman recorded in history, and the future leader of the Shinsengumi.
Thus, he naturally saw the signs very quickly.
Kondo Isami couldn’t help but smile and said, “It seems we returned at the perfect time tonight.
This sharp blade that our teacher has hidden for over ten years…”
“Today…
it seems it is finally going to be unsheathed!”
Shortly after, inside Okita Souji’s room.
Mitsuyuki pushed open the door.
Moonlight fell through the window.
Like a wisp of cherry blossom drifting past his eyes, Mitsuyuki saw Okita Souji sitting by the window, gazing at the moon inside the room.
“Mitsuyuki?”
Okita Souji, dressed in a pink kimono, turned her head to see that the person who had entered the room was Mitsuyuki.
The Ahoge on her head swayed slightly, and confusion showed in her eyes.
“Is something the matter so late at night?” Blinking her golden eyes, she wasn’t unhappy about Mitsuyuki’s sudden intrusion; she was merely curious.
“Souji, could I trouble you to accompany me tonight?”
Slightly stunned, Okita Souji quickly reacted and stood up, replying happily, “It’s sword practice, right?
No problem.”
As she spoke, she prepared to pick up the Wooden Sword placed to the side.
But Mitsuyuki stopped her.
Under Okita Souji’s confused gaze, he shook his head slightly and said seriously, “Today we won’t use Wooden Swords…
we’ll use Steel Swords!”
Okita Souji was stunned for a moment, her eyes widening slightly.
Just as she was about to say something, her gaze met Mitsuyuki’s eyes.
In those deep eyes, there was now a calmness filled with determination!
And just then, Okita Souji finally noticed the sword momentum that was currently brewing within Mitsuyuki.
That sword momentum grew stronger and stronger tonight,
As if it had been suppressed for a long time and was finally going to explode completely today.
“…I see.”
Okita Souji smiled; she didn’t say much else.
Because communication between swordsmen is never through words, but through the swords in their hands.
And this kind of communication had continued between the two of them since they were nine years old until now.
“It’s just a bit difficult, Mitsuyuki, because whether it’s me or you, Teacher hasn’t given us the qualification to hold Steel Swords, has he?”
Hearing this, Mitsuyuki was about to speak.
“Then use our swords.” Kondo Isami, who had been following behind all along, now walked in with a smile, accompanied by Hijikata Toshizo.
“Senior Kondo, Senior Hijikata, you’re back!” Seeing the two, Okita Souji’s eyes lit up, and she spoke very happily.
“Yes.” Kondo Isami nodded with a smile to Okita Souji, then looked at Mitsuyuki and said, “How about it?”
“Senior is being kind, so I naturally won’t refuse.
However…
if Teacher blames you for this, don’t blame me afterward.” Mitsuyuki naturally laughed as well.
“No matter, it’s for our cute junior brother and sister after all, right Toshizo?”
To the smiling face Kondo Isami turned toward him, Hijikata Toshizo gave an indifferent nod.
And so, a short while later,
In the backyard.
Okita Souji and Mitsuyuki, holding sharp swords, came beneath the cherry blossom tree in the courtyard.
It happened to be the season when cherry blossoms were in full bloom.
The radiance of the bright moon spilled onto the ground, and fluttering cherry blossoms slowly fell onto the heads of Okita Souji and Mitsuyuki.
The two gazed quietly at each other.
“Nonsense!”
Just as Kondo Isami and Hijikata Toshizo stood in the shadows, watching these two young genius swordsmen, the voice of Kondo Shusuke suddenly came from behind them.
“Father!”
Kondo Isami hurriedly spoke with respect…
Kondo Shusuke was his adoptive father, and Kondo Isami was the designated future successor of the Dojo.
“Who permitted you to hand swords to them!”
Kondo Shusuke swept a sharp gaze over them.
Just as Kondo Isami was laughing awkwardly while his brain worked frantically, thinking of how to bluff his way through,
“…However, it’s a bit too late tonight.
My eyesight isn’t very good, and I can’t see things clearly anymore.
I’m old, getting old.”
With those words, under the stunned gazes of Kondo Isami and Hijikata Toshizo,
Kondo Shusuke bypassed them and sat down in front of them.
Then, looking at the two young genius swordsmen in the courtyard—the genius swordsmen he had taught with his own hands—he finally couldn’t help but laugh loudly.
“Finally, this moment has arrived.
These two sharp blades are about to be unsheathed!”
Facing a gratified Kondo Shusuke, whose face even held a look of anticipation, Kondo Isami and Hijikata Toshizo looked at each other.
Then Kondo Isami shook his head slightly, couldn’t help but smile, and sat down beside Kondo Shusuke, with Hijikata Toshizo following close behind.
“Are you ready?”
In the courtyard, the wordless silence was finally broken by a soft question from Mitsuyuki.
“Yes.”
Okita Souji responded, and the very instant her voice fell, the smile on her face vanished.
In her eyes, there was now only Mitsuyuki.
Immediately, Okita Souji took the initiative.
Since they met at the age of nine, almost every few days, the disciples in the Dojo would see the scene of the two facing each other with Wooden Swords.
Thus, how could Okita Souji not be familiar with Mitsuyuki’s swordsmanship?
Unlike Okita Souji, who excelled in agile combat and fully utilized the sword techniques, footwork, and Jujutsu of Tennen Rishin-ryū, as well as her own physical flexibility as a woman in her offense,
Mitsuyuki’s sword focused more on the use of momentum and practical combat within Tennen Rishin-ryū.
The moments he swung his sword to attack were extremely few.
He would wait, accumulating his sword momentum during battle, and then at the peak moment, strike with that decisive blow!
And what Okita Souji had to do was use rapid attacks to sever Mitsuyuki’s momentum and his rhythm.
Until now, Okita Souji had always lost more than she won.
After all, with similar innate talent, Mitsuyuki had held a sword several years before she did.
But in recent days, the situation had changed.
Although Mitsuyuki relied on his mature swordsmanship techniques and never fell into a disadvantage…
The matches between the two in recent days had consistently ended in a draw.
And tonight, the sharp weapons in their hands clashed, echoing a piercing melody under the bright moon and erupting in brilliant sparks.
The clash of their swordsmanship techniques even seemed to have an unusual beauty at this moment, to the point that even Kondo Isami and Hijikata Toshizo couldn’t help but feel a sense of inferiority.
“As expected of the two most recognized genius swordsmen in our Dojo.”
Kondo Isami couldn’t help but praise.
“…It’s still not enough.”
But Kondo Shusuke, witnessing all this, frowned and said steadily, “What Mitsuyuki wants is not this kind of result.”
Almost the instant his words fell, Mitsuyuki, whose sword was clashing with Okita Souji’s, suddenly took two steps back and stopped.
Out of perfect rapport, Okita Souji also stopped, casting a puzzled look at Mitsuyuki.
“It’s not like this, Souji.”
Mitsuyuki frowned and said to Souji, “What I want is not this kind of routine sparring…
I want you to sever the uncertainty in my heart!”
Okita Souji was stunned, looking at the Mitsuyuki before her with his determined gaze.
She then looked at the sharp sword in her hand, shimmering with a cold light.
“So, that’s how it is.”
Okita Souji began to smile.
She finally understood tonight’s situation.
She then took two steps back, gripped the hilt with both hands, slowly raised it, and once again assumed a stance to swing at Mitsuyuki.
However, this time, Okita Souji’s expression had completely changed.
Those pale gold eyes gazed at the Mitsuyuki before her.
Her gaze was clear and firm.
A faint, ethereal intent hovered around her…
that was exactly what Mitsuyuki lacked right now: the intent of a swordsman to cut through everything in front of them!
“Mitsuyuki, the reason I swing my sword is to witness something with it…
even if it’s just to contribute a meager effort to this era!”
Okita Souji’s voice was gentle but serious as she said, “Therefore, I will swing my sword and cut down everything that stands in my way!”
She gave an answer to Mitsuyuki, who was seeking one.
Mitsuyuki was silent for a while.
“Have Senior Brother Kondo and Senior Brother Hijikata already sent you an invitation?”
Okita Souji didn’t answer, but Mitsuyuki already knew the answer.
Clearly, it wasn’t just Mitsuyuki’s teacher, Kondo Shusuke, who saw his confusion; his two senior brothers did as well.
Therefore, they had not invited Mitsuyuki, but had invited Okita Souji instead.
Even though Mitsuyuki’s strength was not actually inferior to Okita Souji’s, he still hadn’t entered the Shinsengumi.
At the same time, Mitsuyuki truly felt the sword in Okita Souji’s hand—a sword without a shred of hesitation—and the sword intent that existed upon it.
So, finally, Mitsuyuki slowly raised the sharp sword in his hand, and at this moment, the momentum he had been accumulating finally reached its absolute peak!
In this instant, Kondo Isami, Hijikata Toshizo, and the others couldn’t help but hold their breath, their eyes wide as they watched.
Because they all knew that with this strike from Mitsuyuki and the other, the winner would be decided.
Even they were curious…
who would be the final winner!
Silence…
An eerie silence descended upon the scene.
Okita Souji and Mitsuyuki both quietly faced each other, gripping their swords tightly, until a breeze blew and a cherry blossom petal fell between them.
In that instant, they both vanished from their spots almost simultaneously.
Leaving behind afterimages,
Clang!
Only the piercing sound of cold weapons clashing was heard.
The outcome was decided!
Under the moonlight, and under the breathless gaze of the crowd, the weapons in both their hands had…
actually both had a corner snapped off!
A draw!
Indeed, looking only at the result, it was a draw.
But Mitsuyuki knew that he had actually lost.
Because he was personally intervening right now, his strength was even greater than usual!
His sword had hesitated at the end, but Okita Souji’s had not.
Otherwise, there was no possibility for Okita Souji to defeat Mitsuyuki in his current state.
Then, a second later.
“My sword!”
In the silent backyard, Kondo Isami’s wail rang out.
Even Hijikata Toshizo’s expression didn’t look very good at this moment.
Hearing this, Mitsuyuki and Okita Souji were stunned for a moment before looking at each other.
After blinking, the two couldn’t help but burst into laughter together.
“Souji, thank you.”
Mitsuyuki said to Okita Souji with a smile.
Okita Souji shook her head and asked, “Are you leaving, Mitsuyuki?”
“Yeah.”
Mitsuyuki nodded and said, “It’s time for me to leave.”
“Where do you plan to go?”
“Just walk around and see,” Mitsuyuki replied with a smile.
“To see this war-torn world, to find my own sword intent, and…
to see if there’s a chance to earn some reputation and leave my own mark.”
“Alright.” Okita Souji smiled; though she didn’t quite understand everything, it didn’t matter.
She said, “I’ll be waiting for you, Mitsuyuki!”
[Under the moonlit cherry blossom tree, you challenged Okita Souji, and in the end, you failed…
How can a hesitant sword sever the will of that young girl?]
[You prepare to bid farewell to your teacher and the others.
You choose to leave your footprints on this war-torn land, searching for your own sword intent while also seeking reputation to leave behind a legend.]
[She has made a promise with you; she will wait for the sword of your return.]
[Your teacher is also waiting for you.
Having only received the kaiden certificate, you are still missing the final menkyo kaiden.]
[You walked out of Edo, leaving the Dojo where you lived for over a decade.
You put on black Samurai Attire, took the Katana your teacher gave you before you left, donned a bamboo hat, and from then on, became a wandering swordsman.]