I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Kinoshita Mai's flawless makeup, which can be described as exquisite, instantly elevated her radiance to a whole new level, increasing her head-turning rate by at least 2%.

Kinoshita Mai then noticed that many people were staring at her.

To Kinoshita Mai, who suffers from some social anxiety, the gazes of these people were like heavy hammers pressing down on her entire body.

Unaccustomed to and disliking being watched by so many people, Kinoshita Mai's pretty face immediately showed unease, and her fair hands, clasped together anxiously in front of her.

Qing Deng noticed Kinoshita Mai's unusual behavior immediately.

Almost without hesitation, Qing Deng took half a step forward and stood next to Kinoshita Mai, shoulder to shoulder with the beauty in red.

"Ah Wu, let's go." Qing Deng smiled and said, "Let's enjoy this lively celebration together before the fireworks start."

Aoto stood beside her... This small, inconspicuous movement seemed to have some special magic. Kinoshita Mai felt an unusual sense of security envelop her whole body, and a warm feeling spread throughout her body.

The unease on her face melted away like snow, and her beautiful eyes shone brightly once more.

"Ok!"

Kinoshita Mai and Asahi Tomo raised a big smile, radiating the youthful energy unique to young women of marriageable age.

Ignoring the stares of those around them, the young couple walked side by side, their paces somewhat out of sync, blending into the flow of people ahead...

……

……

The fireworks display will take place at 8:30 p.m.

It's still early; we'll have to wait another hour to see the spectacular fireworks.

To pass the time, Aoto and Kinoshita Mai strolled around the neighborhood near Ryogoku Bridge, stopping and looking at the sights.

All sorts of vendors filled every corner of the street.

Vendors selling snacks and drinks, vendors offering various fun interactive games, and professional performers showcasing their talents...

The two sometimes watched interesting performances by artists, and sometimes chatted casually.

Even though I didn't do anything meaningful or educational, I still felt that doing it was interesting and fun, and I didn't feel bored or dull.

Compared to Kinoshita Mai's glamorous attire, Aoto's outfit tonight appears much simpler.

She wore a dark blue kimono on her upper body and black hakama on her lower body. Her feet, covered with black socks, were tightly bound with a pair of sturdy straw sandals.

The reason I don't wear the currently popular yukata is twofold: firstly, I'm not used to wearing it, and secondly, this kind of attire is more convenient for combat.

Although the Extermination Group has been destroyed, some remnants who managed to escape the pursuit of the Magistrate's Office and the Fire and Thieves Bureau still live on shamefully.

Anyone in Edo who paid attention to current affairs would know how much the Exile Group suffered at the hands of Seido.

It can be said that the Expeditionary Force was basically defeated by Qing Deng.

Therefore, the remnants of the anti-barbarian group are very likely to seek revenge and take the opportunity to commit violence against Qingdeng.

In order to avoid being ambushed and killed without knowing why, Qing Deng was always prepared to engage in fierce street battles with the remnants of the Extermination Group.

"Ah, it's grilled rice cake!"

Suddenly, Kinoshita Mai beside her let out a joyful shout.

To the side and in front of the two, there was a very popular rice cake stall, with a surprisingly long line of people queuing to buy rice cakes.

"Qingdeng, I want to eat grilled rice cakes! Do you want to eat with me?"

"I don't need to..."

Qingdeng has always avoided sticky foods like grilled rice cakes.

“Then… let’s divide the work!” Kinoshita Mai said with a smile, pointing to an open-air tea stall next to her. “I’ll go buy some grilled rice cakes, and Aoto, could you go and buy some sweet water for me? I’m a little thirsty.”

“Of course.” Qingdeng nodded without hesitation.

"Then I'll leave it to you. I'll be right back!"

Having said that, Kinoshita Mai fluttered like a butterfly to the very end of the line for the rice cake stall.

Qing Deng silently watched Kinoshita Mai walk a distance before turning around and walking into the open-air tea stall that Kinoshita Mai had just pointed out. He asked the stall owner for two cups of sweet water to take away, and then casually found an empty seat to sit down.

The instant my bottom touched the cold bench surface...

"...Orange?"

Qingdeng seemed to hear someone calling him.

"Ok?"

Qingdeng looked around in confusion.

"...Orange?"

I could hear it much more clearly this time than before.

Someone was indeed calling him.

A woman's voice...

The voice sounded somewhat familiar... it seemed like a voice I remembered, but I couldn't quite place it.

"You are... Tachibana Aoto, right?"

The person who said this was located directly behind Qingdeng.

Qingdeng turned his face at the sound.

Two steps behind Qing Deng stood a young woman wearing a dark brown yukata.

The woman was around 20 years old. Her jet-black hair was styled in a bun, a hairstyle only married women could wear. She was tall and slender with a beautiful face. Her long, narrow phoenix eyes stared straight at Qing Deng.

Qingdeng remained silent, their eyes meeting in quiet contemplation.

Qingdeng recognized the woman dressed as a married woman.

This woman's face held an undeniable place in his memory... or more precisely, in the memory of "Yuanju Qing Deng".

"You are... Ashi?"

Miyagawa Minoru... a woman's name.

If Ao's registration is correct, she has now changed her name to "Ootsuki Minoru" after getting married.

"Ju, it's been a long time."

A mocking smile appeared on Ootsuki Minoru's face.

At this moment, Qing Deng's face was filled with intense astonishment.

He never expected that he would reunite with this old friend who had a very special relationship with "Yuanju Qing Deng" tonight.

Her relationship with "Haru Tachibana Aoto" was so complicated that even Aoto couldn't bear to think about it... Correction: It was because he couldn't bear to think about it too much...

The only daughter of her deceased father's close friend.

Childhood sweethearts.

The "goddess" I once fawned over with the humility of a "simp"...

*******

*******

To avoid censorship, the title can only be in pinyin...

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Chapter 228 I only recognize "Daitou Deng"! Who is "Renwang"? [6600]

Ootsuki Minoru's appearance is almost unchanged compared to more than a year ago.

If there is any change, it is that her facial features have become more elegant and mature, and her hairstyle has changed from the Shimada bun, which was only worn by unmarried girls, to the bun, which is exclusive to married women.

After a brief moment of surprise, Qing Deng's astonishment slowly transformed into a complex and bizarre expression, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly involuntarily.

—How did I run into her here…? Didn’t she marry and move to Nara…?

At this moment, the memories belonging to "Yuanju Qingdeng" flashed rapidly before his eyes, beyond Qingdeng's control.

These memories are all related to this woman's past... they are simply unbearable to look at!

To explain the relationship between Hara Tachibana Aoto and this woman, we must first start with their fathers.

Aoto's father, Tachibana Takayuki, and Otsuki Minoru's father, Miyagawa Shunzo, are very close friends.

Thanks to their parents' connection, Hara Tachibana Aoto and Otsuki Minoru, who are close in age, are childhood friends who grew up together.

Because Ootsuki Minoru was considered quite good-looking, Hara Tachibana Aoto had always liked her.

The falling flowers are full of affection, but the flowing water is heartless.

Otsuki Minoru had absolutely no feelings for "Haru Tachibana Aoto".

If she had no romantic feelings for "Yuanju Qing Deng", it would be fine, but this woman has a rather wicked personality.

Despite her father, Miyagawa Shunzo, being an exceptionally virtuous and loyal samurai, Ootsuki Minoru's personality is undeniably sharp-tongued, mean, and selfish, whether due to genetic mutation or inadequate family upbringing.

She viewed Hara Tachibana Aoto's feelings for her as a source of amusement, and treated Hara Tachibana Aoto like a toy.

He readily and generously accepted Hara Tachibana Aoto's kindness, but pretended to be oblivious, only "enjoying" the benefits and never "giving" anything in return.

They neither explicitly refused nor accepted.

"Original Tachibana Aoto" has been hanging in the air ever since.

This gave Hara Tachibana Aoto a persistent illusion that "I might have a chance."

The simple-minded "Haru Tachibana Aoto" really fell for this woman's trick!

He tried every possible way to be nice to Dayue.

He showered her with warmth and thoughtful gifts, trying to win over Ootsuki Shi with his sincere heart.

But you can't wake someone who's pretending to be asleep.

Hara Tachibana Aoto, who relentlessly pursued Ootsuki Minoru, poured countless hours, energy, and emotions into her...