Yamazaki's Letter

A letter written to Chizuru after the end of the main game. Enjoy his heartfelt letter filled with his inner thoughts and words of affection!

Dear Chizuru.

I'm sorry if I surprised you. I know this is sudden, but I've decided to write you a letter.

The truth is... there's something I want to tell you, and I've tried several times but it didn't work out.

It seems I have difficulty expressing it to you directly, so I thought I'd put it onto paper.

So, I'll try to put what's on my mind into words, so please read to the end.

The first time we met was during the Ikedaya Incident.

...But in truth, I’ve had my eye on you even before that.

To be precise, I was on the orders of the Commander to watch and guard you from the moment you were captured by the Shinsengumi.

At that time, neither I nor anyone else knew what kind of person you were.

I had no choice but to keep an eye on you from the shadows, to make sure you didn't run away or get into contact with anyone else.

But the big turning point came when you ran off to the Commander during the Ikedaya Incident.

I'm sorry, but at first, I didn't understand why Colonel Sanan had appointed you for that task.

But you... believed my words and ran off alone into the darkness.

That incident was the turning point for me in realizing that you were a person worth trusting.

And so my view of you changed after that.

I also began to like the way you took the initiative to provide meals and do odd jobs for the Shinsengumi.

I was especially glad that you were one of the few people I could talk to about medical matters because you're well-versed in Western medicine.

Before I knew it, you'd become someone I could trust and rely on.

So much so that if anything were to happen to me, you'd be the only one I could leave in charge of the injured or sick soldiers.

But then... I became Fury, and I went astray.

Instead of helping people like before, I wielded my sword for the Shinsengumi from the shadows.

At the time, I thought that was the only thing I could do.

There was a time when I lost my human heart, and was almost consumed by the darkness.

But... in that darkness, you were always beside me, like a guiding light.

Even though I nearly lost sight of that light, I desperately ran around the darkness... and I was able to grasp your light.

It's all thanks to you being by my side. I'm truly grateful.

That's why I decided to leave the Shinsengumi and stop Kodo together with you.

The Shinsengumi were my reason for living, and they were irreplaceable, but...

I chose you. I chose this path to walk with you.

I don't regret it. Because...

Now, after going through that life-or-death battle... I'm back in the sun, helping people once again.

And with a wonderful partner like you by my side.

I can say it now. I'm grateful that you're here with me, in this place. And also...

Chizuru. I want you to stay by my side forever.

And I promise you. No matter what happens in the future, I'll never let you go.

~END~