Hakuoki Tenun no Shou: Chapter 2 - I was worried about Nagakura.

In the midst of all this, what was bothering me was...

• I was worried about Nagakura.

• I was worried about Hijikata.

• Go back to work.

I turned to Harada, who was nearby.

Chizuru Yukimura:

"Umm..."

"Is it okay to let Nagakura go like that?"

Sanosuke Harada:

"Well... that’s just the kind of guy he is."

"At times like this, I'd take him out for a drink and listen to what he has to say."

"But today I'm on patrol duty, so I can't."

Chizuru Yukimura:

"Then…"

I was worried that it might be presumptuous of me to say this, but...

Chizuru Yukimura:

"...Would it be okay if I go?"

Sanosuke Harada:

"You'll take care of Shinpachi?"

Chizuru Yukimura:

"Yes. I'm worried about leaving him alone like that..."

Harada looked at me with a suspicious look on his face, but then...

Sanosuke Harada:

"...That might be a good idea."

"He's probably around Mibu-dera, so you should look for him there."

Chizuru Yukimura:

"Mibu-dera, right? Thank you."

I decided to head to Mibu-dera right away.

~Next Scene~ 

Chizuru Yukimura:

"Um, Nagakura..."

As soon as I arrived at the temple grounds, I immediately started looking for him...

Chizuru Yukimura:

"...Ah"

I saw Nagakura standing there, looking lost.

He seemed to have noticed me too, and bowed his head in embarrassment.

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"Um… Chizuru? What are you doing here? Are you out for a walk?"

Chizuru Yukimura:

"What about you…?"

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"Me? I’m, um… going for a change of pace..."

After a short silence, Nagakura looked away awkwardly.

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"Haha… I made you worry about what happened earlier, didn't I?"

"Sorry about that..."

Chizuru Yukimura:

"No, it’s fine..."

I was worried about Nagakura, so I followed him...

He couldn't immediately think of what to say.

Nagakura let out a deep breath and lightly kicked the ground at his feet.

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"...Kondo, he’s changed. He wasn't like that before."

Chizuru Yukimura:

"......"

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"But, you probably didn’t really notice."

"You’ve only been with us since last year."

Nagakura laughed sadly and walked towards the stairs.

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"...It's not that I don't understand what Hijikata was saying."

"We've got to think about how to expand the Shinsengumi in the future..."

"Well, it's a pain when people you don't get along with join."

"And I don't think Kondo is just drinking around for fun."

"In order to make the Shinsengumi bigger, he needs to meet a lot of different people and get them to support us."

"Even I know I was acting a bit ridiculous..."

He can't express his feelings well...

Nagakura scratches his head impatiently.

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"But, bowing down to people with status and titles, flattering them, trying to figure out what they're thinking..."

"I don't know what it's like to get promoted that way..."

"But for Kondo... I don't think it suits him."

Chizuru Yukimura:

"That's true..."

Kondo values ​​Tani and Takeda, but–

I can tell that they are clearly a different breed of people from the others.

Chizuru Yukimura:

"I think I understand what you're saying, Nagakura."

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"Really?"

Chizuru Yukimura:

"Yes. It hasn't even been a year since you all started taking care of me."

"But still... I can understand why you all care for Kondo so much."

"I think it would be sad if Kondo were to change..."

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"...I see, thank you."

After saying that, Nagakura turned his back to me, looking embarrassed.

Then he sat down on the stone steps of the temple grounds...

~Picture~

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"This is kind of... nice."

Chizuru Yukimura:

"Huh...?"

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"Well, how do I put this..."

"I'm not that good at talking."

"I often end up fighting because I'm not good at expressing my feelings."

"That's why I'm grateful that you understand how I feel."

Chizuru Yukimura:

"Nagakura..."

He's a man much older than me, but...

His shy smile makes him look like an innocent boy.

When I see him like that, I can't help but smile too.

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"Wh, what's wrong? Did I say something weird?"

Chizuru Yukimura:

"No, that's not it..."

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"So, was it something I did?"

Chizuru Yukimura:

"No, it's okay. It's nothing."

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"Well, alright then. Though I don’t get what’s so funny."

"If it makes you laugh, then I'm all for it."

~Picture End~

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"...Well, if I stay here too long, people will start calling me lazy again."

"I think it's about time I went back over there."

"To be honest, it's a bit tedious, though."

Chizuru Yukimura:

"...I’m sure the problem with Kondo will be resolved with time."

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"Well...I guess so..."

"I've known Kondo for a long time, so I think it'll be fine."

"As for Takeda and Tani, I don't think we can just leave them be."

Chizuru Yukimura:

"......"

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"But I can't just stick to Kondo all the time."

Chizuru Yukimura:

“You have your own duties, Nagakura…”

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"Well, right now he’s just a little carried away because they've flattered him."

"We'll just have to believe that he will return to his old self soon."

Chizuru Yukimura:

"...I agree."

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"Even so, I understand what Hijikata is saying, but that's not the way he says it!"

"We're old friends, he should be a little more considerate."

"He said that my attitude has a bad influence on the new recruits."

"I think seeing Hijikata yell at us has a pretty bad effect, don't you think? Right?"

Chizuru Yukimura:

"That's true..."

Nagakura's words are so funny that I burst out laughing.

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"Well, I guess I have to talk to Hijikata directly... or rather, use force to get him to understand."

Chizuru Yukimura:

"Use force..."

"Nagakura, what are you planning to do?"

Nagakura then gives a meaningful smile.

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"That's a secret! It'd be no fun if I revealed it."

"Well, just watch me. I won't disappoint you."

Chizuru Yukimura:

"......"

Nagakura seems very confident, but...

Is it really okay to trust him?

~Next Scene~ 

And so... A few days had passed since Hijikata and Nagakura's argument.

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"All right, we're finally done with today's work!"

"Sano, Heisuke, let's go out for a drink!"

Sanosuke Harada:

"Again? We just went yesterday."

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"I know, but because we went yesterday doesn’t mean we can't go today."

Heisuke Toudou:

"Well, that's true, but..."

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"Come on, it’ll be my treat. So now you've got no complaints, right?"

Sanosuke Harada:

"Really? You better not forget your wallet like you did last time."

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"Don’t worry! Here, look, I got my wallet right here."

Chizuru Yukimura:

"Are you going out to drink?"

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"Yeah! This is what I live for."

Chizuru Yukimura:

"...Just don't drink too much."

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"It's fine! There's nothing to worry about!"

“We're grown-ups, so we know when to stop."

Sanosuke Harada:

"...You, of all people, got no right to say that."

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"Alright, let's go!"

"The other day, I saw a store that caught my eye while I was on patrol!"

Just then, the door opened and someone entered the room.

Toshizo Hijikata:

"...What’s this? You’re planning to go out?"

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"We don’t have patrol today, so we can go wherever we want."

Toshizo Hijikata:

"I'm not telling you not to go."

"But you have to obey the curfew."

"You’re senior officers, you need to set an example for the new recruits."

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"Pfft, I don't give a damn about curfew."

Toshizo Hijikata:

"Hey, Shinpachi...!"

Shinpachi Nagakura:

"Sano, Heisuke, let's go."

After that, Nagakura quickly left the hall with the others.

Toshizo Hijikata:

"...Geez, is he still holding a grudge about what happened the other day?"

Chizuru Yukimura:

"Is it okay to let them go like that?"

Toshizo Hijikata:

"...Well, as long as they're doing your job properly, I can't really say anything about their days off."

Chizuru Yukimura:

"But what happens if they break curfew?"

Toshizo Hijikata:

"If they break curfew, they'll be suspended."

"But if they do it repeatedly, then according to the Code of Conduct, we'll have to consider committing seppuku."

"Just because we're old friends doesn't mean we can give them special treatment."

Chizuru Yukimura:

"...!"

And just like that, Hijikata leaves the room.

W-what should I do...!

I don't think Hijikata is seriously planning on making Nagakura and the others commit seppuku.

But with how things are now...

~Next Scene~ 

That night–

After cleaning up after dinner, it was time to get ready for bed, but...

There was still no sign of Nagakura and the others returning.

If this continued, would they really be forced to commit seppuku?

...I'll go and check on them.

Maybe they'll be back soon.

Being careful not to make any noise, I quietly opened my door.

It was completely silent outside, and there was no sign of Nagakura and the others returning.

...I wonder if they’re alright.

I’m pretty sure it's already past curfew.

At that moment–

I heard footsteps from the other side of the hallway.

Chizuru Yukimura:

"...!"

I frantically tried to hide myself...

Kai Shimada:

"...Is there someone there?"

Chizuru Yukimura:

"Shimada?!"

Kai Shimada:

"Shh, please don't make any noise."

Chizuru Yukimura:

"Ah… Yes!"

Kai Shimada:

"What are you doing out here in the middle of the night, Yukimura? Are you thirsty?"

Chizuru Yukimura:

"No, it's not that..."

"I was just worried about Nagakura and the others."

Kai Shimada:

"I see, it’s about Nagakura..."

After muttering, Shimada seemed to think for a moment.

Then, after making sure there was no one around...

Kai Shimada:

"...Yukimura, there's one thing I'd like to ask of you. Is that okay?"

Chizuru Yukimura:

"What would you like to ask of me?"

Kai Shimada:

"Actually, when Nagakura comes back tonight..."

"I've been asked to remove the bolt from the gate..."

Chizuru Yukimura:

"That means..."

He wants me to help Nagakura break curfew?

Kai Shimada:

"...It would be terrible if they were to be suspended for breaking curfew."

"And what's worse, that could lead to them having to commit seppuku..."

Chizuru Yukimura:

"..."

It must have been a tough decision for Shimada.

When I remember Nagakura's behavior, if he was ordered to commit seppuku...

He would probably say, "Fine!" in the heat of the moment and commit seppuku on the spot.

Kai Shimada:

"But then I was given an urgent matter to attend to."

"So if it's okay with you, Yukimura... I was wondering if you could remove the bolt on the gate for me."

Chizuru Yukimura:

"...!"

Should I... remove the bolt in Shimada's place?

Chizuru Yukimura:

"But, if Hijikata finds out..."

Kai Shimada:

“...Well, that’s…”

"...No, I shouldn't get you involved after all."

"Forget what I just said. See you later."

Chizuru Yukimura:

"Ah...!"

Shimada just walks away.

As for me...

• I'll just wait in the courtyard.

• I'll go check on the front gate.

• I guess I'll give up.