I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Commoners did not have as many formalities as samurai, so they were much freer and more open than samurai.

Every summer, you can see many young couples entering the fireworks festival venue to enjoy the celebration together.

There are countless examples of couples who were influenced by the enchanting atmosphere of the fireworks festival and even got married soon after.

Chiba Jutaro thought to himself: The fireworks festival is coming soon... This is a great opportunity!

If Aoto and Sanako could attend the fireworks festival together... then maybe this year, Aoto and Sanako could become a couple!

Another year later, Sanako will be able to change her surname to "Tachibana Sanako"!

And then another year later, I'll have another nephew or niece!

The overly romanticized imagery caused Chiba Jutaro to uncontrollably curl the corners of his mouth into a smile.

However... the idea is wonderful, but the problem is: how can we get these two to participate in the fireworks display together in a reasonable way?

To say directly to Sanako, "Hey, Sanako, the fireworks festival is in a few days, do you want to go watch the fireworks with Tachibana-kun?"... That's definitely not an option!

Chiba Jutaro knew Sanako's temperament best.

Even though she's 22 years old, she still has a strong rebellious streak.

The more you ask Sanako to do something, the more she wants to do the opposite of what you ask.

She's like a cat that's both noble and grumpy.

If you stroke her fur in the right direction, she will treat you kindly.

If you touch her against the grain... you'll get a real "meow punch" in response.

Chiba Jutaro could imagine what would happen if he told Sanako directly, "Why don't you go see the fireworks with Tachibana-kun?" Sanako would definitely roll her eyes at him, coldly retort, "Why would I go see the fireworks with Tachibana-kun?", and then walk away without looking back.

Furthermore, Chiba Jutaro wasn't quite sure what kind of feelings Sanako had for Aoto.

Although Sanako and Aoto seem to be getting along very well lately... Chiba Jutaro still vividly remembers the scene where Sanako bluntly said, "I will not like Tachibana-kun".

Therefore, just to be on the safe side, Chiba Jutaro decided to proceed with caution.

He shared his idea of ​​"getting Aoto and Sanako to attend the fireworks festival together" with his only comrade at the moment... namely, Chiba Tamon Shiro. Together with Chiba Tamon Shiro, they pondered how to turn this idea into reality.

Speaking of Chiba Tamon Shiro... after the "Genbukan vs. Shieikan" red and white battle, he became noticeably more enthusiastic about "matchmaking Aoto and Sanako".

That's just how Chiba Tamon Shiro is: he respects the strong and despises the weak.

If your strength and talent are impressive enough, even if we have had unpleasant experiences before, we are willing to look at you with new respect.

The Red and White Battle a few days ago allowed Chiba Tamon Shiro to personally experience Aoto's strength... From the day he was defeated by Aoto, Chiba Tamon Shiro had no further objections to "finding a way to make Aoto their Chiba family's son-in-law".

Besides Chiba Tamon Shiro, many of the disciples of Genbukan developed a deep respect for Seito because of this loss to Shieikan.

The defeat was certainly disheartening for the members of Xuanwu Hall, but amidst their gloom, they also greatly admired Qing Deng, who single-handedly eliminated most of their competitors.

This is also due to the prevailing atmosphere at Xuanwu Hall.

Under the leadership of the rather combative Chiba Michizaburo, the entire Genbukan was filled with an atmosphere of belligerence and a desire to spar with the strong.

Therefore, the strong receive special respect and courtesy in their Xuanwu Hall.

He beat up the members of Xuanwu Hall, which resulted in his popularity soaring within the hall—an outcome that Qing Deng had not anticipated.

Despite being neither of them being adept at handling matters between men and women, these two brothers managed to come up with a rather impressive and practical plan this time.

Using the pretext of a swordplay performance at the fireworks festival venue, they lured Aoto and Sanako over! The swordplay performance would proceed as planned, but they would create opportunities for Aoto and Sanako to be alone and have close contact. When it was time for the fireworks to start, they would use the excuse of "Since we're already here, let's go watch the fireworks" to create a natural opportunity for Aoto and Sanako to watch the fireworks together!

Sanako is very interested in any activity related to swordsmanship.

If you tell her "Come see the fireworks," she most likely won't come. But if you tell her "Come to the swordplay performance," she'll most likely agree happily.

Chiba Jutaro grasped this very liking of Sanako.

Sure enough, when Chiba Jutaro told Sanako that he planned to demonstrate swordsmanship with Chiba Tamon Shiro at the fireworks festival, Sanako's eyes immediately lit up and she exclaimed, "Please let me participate!"

The above is the truth behind why Chiba Jutaro suddenly held a swordsmanship performance and invited Aoto to participate.

It's all a setup.

So far, the plan is progressing quite smoothly.

Both Aoto and Sanako have successfully taken the "hook".

In recent days, Chiba Jutaro and Chiba Tamon Shiro have been meeting every few days to discuss and refine their action plan.

Just like now, Chiba Jutaro has once again invited Chiba Tamon Shiro out to explain his newly conceived "operation plan".

"Speaking of which..."

Chiba Tamon Shiro suddenly changed the subject.

"Brother Shige, have you told Sanako that Tachibana-kun will be attending tomorrow night's swordplay competition?"

Chiba Jutaro paused for a moment, then waved his hand: "Not yet, I plan to tell her tomorrow afternoon."

"Are we going to wait until so late to tell her?"

"Hmph, you just don't understand, do you?"

Chiba Jutaro grinned.

"It will be safe enough to drag it out until the very last moment when she has no time to regret it."

Even though the "operation" was supposed to begin the following night, Chiba Jutaro still hadn't told Sanako about Aoto's swordplay performance with them.

The reason is just as Chiba Jutaro said: to avoid Sanako regretting her decision after hearing the news and declining to participate in tomorrow night's swordplay competition.

Chiba Jutaro is still studying what Sanako's feelings and attitude towards Aoto are right now.

To ensure the success of tomorrow night's "operation," Chiba Jutaro is taking every move with utmost caution.

"Ah! Brother Duomen! I've come up with another really good idea!"

Chiba Jutaro slapped his thigh suddenly, then excitedly told Chiba Tamon Shiro about his so-called "new idea": try to persuade Sanako to put on makeup tomorrow night...

……

……

About half an hour later—

Edo, Okemachi, Little Chiba Sword Hall, the No. 1 arena exclusively for members of the Chiba family—

Whoosh—! Whoosh—! Whoosh—!

The sound of the wooden naginata being swung at high speed filled every corner of the dojo.

Sanako, dressed in a white and blue kendo uniform, stood in the very center of the dojo, rapidly wielding a wooden naginata that was a head taller than herself.

Her ponytail swayed, and her black hair flew wildly.

Her pretty face and rosy neck, glowing with an alluring red light, were covered with glistening beads of sweat.

Looking at the exquisite skill contained in the sword, the speed at which such a large sword could be wielded so skillfully and powerfully makes one dare not underestimate Sanako's naginata technique as "a skill performed by a mere woman".

Although Sanako is proficient in the kodachi technique of the Hokushin Itto-ryu school, the naginata technique is her most skilled martial art.

After completing the entire set of sword techniques in one go, Sanako handed the naginata to her left palm, panting softly as she reached into her clothes with her free right hand and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her face with an elegant gesture.

"Things are still not going very smoothly..."

Sanako looked at the naginata in her hand and murmured.

She had just been practicing the new moves that Chiba Sadakichi had taught her a few days ago.

I practiced it over and over again, but there was always one move that I just couldn't get right.

"Go and ask your father..."

After her breathing returned to normal and the sweat on her face and neck was wiped away, Sanako, carrying her naginata, strode towards her father Chiba Sadakichi's room with unhurried and composed steps.

In no time, Chiba Sadakichi's bedroom appeared before Sanako's eyes.

"Father."

"Hmm? Sanako, what's wrong?"

"There's a part of the new move you taught me that I just can't seem to get right, so I'd like to ask you for your guidance."

"Oh...then come in."

"Yes."

At this moment, Chiba Sadakichi is taking a break from his busy schedule to sit at his desk and read a book.

After Sanako opened the door, he put down the book he was holding and said softly to her:

"Zanako, what movement are you having trouble mastering?"

"Father, I don't know why, but when I use this posture to exert force and slash the blade upwards, I always feel like I can't transfer the power..."

……

Sanako succinctly explained to Chiba Sadakichi the questions she urgently needed answers to.

"Oh... that's because your posture isn't right. Your legs are too far apart, so the power can't be transferred smoothly from the ground to your waist and arms..."

Chiba Sadakichi patiently guided Sanako.

“I see… I understand now. Father, thank you for your guidance.”

Having said that, Sanako was about to get up and return to the dojo to test whether the advice Chiba Sadakichi had just given her was a coincidence.

However, just as she was about to get up, Chiba Sadakichi suddenly called out to her.

"Zanako, wait a moment."

"Hmm? Father, what's wrong?"

"Um...it's nothing, I just have a question I wanted to ask you."

"A question?" Sanako knelt back down in her seat. "Father, may I ask?"

"Sanako, I've noticed you've been practicing martial arts very diligently lately, and you seem to be in a very good mood..." Chiba Sadakichi said with a smile, "So I wanted to ask you: Have you encountered something good that's made you so happy recently?"

Sanako was taken aback.

Then he smiled gently:

“Father, you’re overthinking it. I haven’t encountered anything particularly good lately that has made me feel great.”