I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

The crowd gasped in surprise.

At this moment, Qing Deng and Kinoshita Mai no longer cared about their ambiguous behavior. They quickly looked up and held their breath to admire the fireworks that rose into the sky and exploded one after another.

This was the first time Qing Deng had witnessed fireworks of this era since he had traveled through time.

Was it because the fireworks manufacturing techniques of this era were different from those of modern times? Or was it because he was accompanied by a beautiful woman? Qing Deng felt that this grand fireworks display had a unique charm.

"Tamaya~~!"

"Keyhouse~~!"

……

Although Tamaya was driven out of Edo decades ago due to an accidental fire, the custom of shouting "Tamaya" and "Kakeya" during fireworks festivals has continued.

As the flames flickered, vibrant colors stained Kinoshita Mai's cheeks and illuminated her bright, sparkling eyes.

Perhaps influenced by the atmosphere around her, this introverted and shy girl, who rarely shouts in a crowd unless she is wearing something to cover her face, hesitated for a moment before mimicking the actions of those around her and cupping her hands to her lips.

"Jade~house~!"

After shouting that, Kinoshita Mai paused for a moment, then chuckled as if amused by her own "bold move."

At some point, Qing Deng's attention had shifted from the fireworks in the night sky to Kinoshita Mai in his arms.

The corners of his mouth unconsciously curled up slightly.

His arms, which were braced against the bridge railing, unconsciously tightened slightly, bringing Kinoshita Mai closer to him.

Looking at Kinoshita Mai's blissful smile, lost in the beauty of the fireworks, Aoto felt as if all the hardships of the night had vanished.

……

……

At the moment when the moon is already high in the night sky—

"I'm so happy tonight..."

Kinoshita Mai, walking side-by-side with Aoto on a street devoid of other passersby, wore a satisfied smile.

Tonight's fireworks display was a perfect ending, both for the event itself and for Qing and Wu.

The two thoroughly enjoyed the festivities and watched the magnificent fireworks display in its entirety... with no regrets whatsoever.

Aoto, who also had a great time tonight, nodded in agreement with Kinoshita Mai's remark.

However, while happy, Qing Deng also felt a little sad—the thought that the night he spent with Kinoshita Mai was over made him feel inexplicably lonely.

On the way home together, Qing Deng, trying to soothe the loneliness in his heart as much as possible, racked his brains to come up with various topics to chat about with Kinoshita Mai, and deliberately slowed down his pace.

But no matter how slowly he slows down, he will eventually have to face the moment when he and Kinoshita Mai part ways.

"Ah...we've arrived..." Qingdeng stared blankly at the crossroads not far ahead.

At this intersection, he and Kinoshita Mai went their separate ways...

Qingdeng: "..."

Kinoshita Mai: "..."

As if it had been pre-arranged, upon seeing the crossroads ahead where they would have to part ways, Aoto and Kinoshita Mai both fell silent and remained silent.

They walked until they reached the very center of the intersection before stopping.

"Qingdeng, thank you, I had a lot of fun tonight."

"Likewise." Qing Deng smiled nonchalantly. "I had a great time tonight too. Let's hang out again sometime."

"Um……"

"Well... I'll be going now."

"Um……"

Even though they weren't having a life-or-death farewell, a strange, melancholic atmosphere lingered between them...

Not being very good at handling this kind of atmosphere, Aoto hurriedly turned around and prepared to leave after saying goodbye to Kinoshita Mai.

However, at this moment—

"Qing, Qingdeng!"

"Hmm?" Qing Deng turned around and faced Kinoshita Mai, who had suddenly called out to him.

"..." Kinoshita Mai, with her hands folded in front of her and her head bowed, took small steps and stood in front of Aoto again.

"A-Wu, what's wrong?"

"I...I still have something to say to you..."

"talk?"

"..."

Kinoshita Mai raised her hands, pressed them together against her chest, and took a long, deep breath with a "ha".

Then she stretched out both of her soft hands, lifted Qingdeng's right wrist, raised Qingdeng's right hand to her rounded left shoulder, and then, like a cat, peeked out and gently rubbed her delicate left cheek against Qingdeng's right palm.

The smooth, silky feel of caressing fine silk flowed continuously into Qingdeng's large palm.

"I...I'm done talking..."

The beautiful woman before him revealed a shy smile.

Kinoshita Mai slowly released Aoto's hand, separating it from her pretty face, which was so red it looked like it was about to bleed.

Before Aoto could respond, Kinoshita Mai took several steps back, keeping her head down and creating some distance between herself and Aoto. She then raised her hand high and waved goodbye to Aoto.

Then, she stepped forward alone.

The flat-bottomed wooden clogs collided repeatedly with the stone bricks, making a crisp "clattering" sound.

After walking about 10 meters, she turned around.

Seeing that Qingdeng was still there, she smiled shyly, raised her right arm high again from a distance, and waved vigorously at Qingdeng.

Perhaps wanting Qingdeng to see her figure more clearly, she deliberately stood on her cute, delicate toes.

After waving to Qingdeng twice, Kinoshita Mai finally turned her delicate body back to the front as if she hadn't had enough, and quickly left as if fleeing...

……

……

The red figure disappeared into the night.

Qingdeng, who had been standing still, finally regained control of his body after a long while.

He looked down at his right palm, which had just been lightly rubbed against by Kinoshita Mai's face.

"..." He silently raised his right hand and pressed the back of his right hand against his cheek.

The heat was comparable to that of flames, and it burned the back of his right hand until it ached.

*******

*******

Kinoshita Mai is such a cute and gentle girl!

Today's chapter not only has 12,000 views, but also features Qing Deng and Kinoshita Mai in close proximity... If you don't vote today, you're really going too far! (Like a leopard crying.jpg)

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It seems like not many people guessed where the "painkiller" plot first appeared... That surprised me a little...

Chapter 231 The Sour Sanako, Always Fantasizing About Aoto's Body [6300]

While Aoto was still loitering around the fireworks festival venue with Kinoshita Mai—

Edo, a certain place, an izakaya (Japanese pub), a private room—

"So... Brother Chong, what is the purpose of suddenly calling me out?"

Chiba Tamon Shiro picked up the sake beside him and filled his cup.

"Brother Tamon!" Chiba Jutaro, sitting opposite Chiba Tamon Shiro, exclaimed excitedly, "I have a new plan for tomorrow's fireworks festival!"

Upon hearing Chiba Jutaro's words, Chiba Tamon Shiro was taken aback for a moment, then let out a long sigh.

"Brother Chong, what new plan have you come up with this time?"

“Brother Duomen, when the fireworks go off tomorrow night, let’s find some excuse to leave and give Tachibana-kun a chance to be alone with Sanako.”

"Huh? This... is way too difficult!"

“Not at all! I’ve already thought of an excuse for you! I’ll say I need to use the restroom, and you can say you’re hungry and want to buy something to eat. See? That way, we can leave without any problem.”

Chiba Jutaro grabbed the wine glass in front of him and drank the wine in it in one gulp.

"Let's linger for about an hour or two before coming back, giving Tachibana-kun and Sanako enough time alone. What do you think of my plan, Brother Domon?"

"...It seems alright." Chiba Tamon Shiro sighed softly, "It's much more reliable than those messy plans you came up with before."

As for why the cousins ​​Chiba Jutaro and Chiba Tamon Shiro would be discussing some kind of "plan" at this moment... it all started more than ten days ago when they formed a united front to "bring together Aoto and Sanako".

On the very day the two brothers formed a "united front," they found themselves in a predicament of being at a loss and unsure of what to do because they had almost no experience with matters of the heart.

Just when he was at his wit's end, Chiba Jutaro heard the sound of the Keya testing fireworks.

In that instant, countless inspirations surged into Chiba Jutaro's mind!

Fireworks—Fireworks festival—a lone man and a lone woman going to watch a fireworks festival together… Chiba Jutaro’s imagination leaps forward like never before!

This leap of imagination transformed into a bold idea: why not find a way to get Aoto and Sanako to go to the fireworks festival together?

Fireworks displays have always been an event where young men and women are most likely to spark some kind of romance.

The reason is not complicated—

During this once-a-year grand event, colorful fireworks repeatedly bloom in the night sky, their brilliant light illuminating the eyes and faces of those around them... Whether young men or women, it's hard not to be captivated by such a scene and atmosphere.

Although "arranged marriages by parents and matchmakers" were the absolute mainstream of marriage in this era, there were also many couples who eventually came together through "free love".

Especially among ordinary people, "free love" is a very common thing.