I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"Chatting with you is more tiring than chatting with A-Wu."

"In fact, there was a time when I didn't even want to deal with you."

"But similarly, in the process of gradually becoming friends with you, I discovered many 'shining qualities' in you that I had never noticed before."

“These ‘sparkling’ aspects of you deeply attract me.”

"Without realizing it, I can no longer regard you as an ordinary friend."

Qing Deng had no idea what he was talking about.

It didn't sound like my own voice, but the person speaking was definitely me.

After pouring out all the emotions that had been building up in his chest, Qingdeng paused and pursed his lips.

He wanted to give his feelings a powerful finale and a perfect ending.

But for a moment, I couldn't think of the right words.

Emotion and reason are engaged in a final battle.

Just then, Qing Deng suddenly recalled his discussion with Komaki Goro yesterday about the "Peerless Sword" and the "Sword of the Living"—his last bit of rationality was completely extinguished under the overwhelming onslaught of emotion.

what……

Qingdeng let out another long breath.

After vomiting until there was nothing left to vomit, and feeling pain in his lungs, Qingdeng took a deep breath—

Driven by emotions.

Under the gaze of the two women, he unleashed all his emotions.

"I want to protect you all forever, together with my sword!"

Heartfelt words that reflect the spirit of this era…

After shouting the last syllable, goosebumps immediately covered Qingdeng's entire body.

It felt as if every pore on my body opened up in that instant, even more comfortable than taking a nice hot bath.

There's a sense of exhilaration and relief, like a cool breeze blowing away all the chaotic thoughts in your mind, and straightening out the messy lines one by one.

Qingdeng felt his heart expand and contract repeatedly... This spasm, full of tenderness and affection, was irresistible.

Finally, she said what she had been holding in since the fireworks festival ended...

Do you prefer Kinoshita Mai or Sanako? Have you ever thought about marrying one of them?

Qing Deng has given his answer today, at this time and in this place.

Unfortunately, neither the person who asked him the question nor the people who were listening in at the time are here.

Qingdeng has done and said everything he could.

Next... we just wait for the two women's reply.

At this moment, Qingdeng's mood miraculously returned to calm.

He calmly looked at the two women, letting the wind and time pass by him.

Suddenly, the wind picked up.

A strong wind made the hems of the three people's clothes sway and flutter.

Sanako gracefully raised her slender white fingers to press down the stray hairs at her temples, while glancing furtively at the lower right corner of her vision.

His eyes revealed embarrassment, confusion, and a stubbornness that seemed to be suppressing some kind of emotion.

"Tangerine, Orange-kun..."

Sanako, who remained calm even when kidnapped by the Expeditionary Group, now surprisingly displayed the bewilderment and naivety of a lost child.

"I'm sorry... I don't have any plans to get married at the moment..."

Sanako, who always speaks so logically, is actually stuttering...

"Besides, I only consider you an important friend right now..."

"Even disregarding my own desire to get married... I think my family would not agree to my future husband taking other women as concubines."

After saying that, Sanako glanced at Kinoshita Mai beside her.

"Why am I a concubine?!"

Sanako's direct assumption that she was a concubine greatly displeased Kinoshita Mai.

But she doesn't have time to argue with Sanako right now.

After glaring fiercely at Sanako, Kinoshita Mai turned her gaze to Aotoji.

The moment her eyes met Qing Deng's, Kinoshita Mai's gaze softened.

Her earlier fierce glare at Sanako transformed into one filled with shyness and resentment.

"Qingdeng, I'm so happy that you have such deep feelings for me too."

"but……"

As Kinoshita Mai changed the subject, she lowered her head and stared intently at her small toes.

"My grandma would definitely not agree to my future husband marrying me and then taking other women as concubines..."

After speaking, Kinoshita Mai seemed to be ready to confront Sanako, and gave her another fierce look... but Sanako, whose gaze was fixed on Aoto, completely ignored it.

Qing Deng listened to the two women's answers with a calm expression, and then solemnly gave a series of answers that neither Sanako nor Kinoshita Mai expected.

"I know."

“Miss Sanako, I know that with the Chiba family’s status, they would never allow your future husband to marry other women.”

“Ah Wu, I know that if I repeat what I just said to your parents, they might very well draw their swords and try to kill me.”

"But I don't want to give up!"

When Qingdeng shouted out the words "I don't want to give up" word by word, the determination and confidence in his voice were unprecedented.

"I want to be your family, I want to protect you with my sword forever... I will not take back this determination!"

"I've made up my mind!"

"I want to become stronger than anyone else! To become more outstanding than anyone else!"

"I will soar to the heavens! I will make you and your families accept me!"

The force was almost tearing his throat apart... as if he wanted people far away, gods and Buddhas in the sky, and ghosts and demons on earth to all hear his voice.

Sanako opened her red lips in surprise.

Soon after, the surprise turned into a charming expression mixed with confusion, doubt, and a little bit of...joy.

"Tachibana-kun..."

She lowered her head, looked at the ground in front of her, and said:

"No matter how outstanding you become, I can't accept that you have other women besides me... I'm sorry... I want to go now..."

After saying that, Sanako turned and fled as if she were escaping.

Just as she turned around, a faint blush appeared on the tip of her small ear.

Despite wearing a women's kimono that restricts movement, Sanako moved with incredible speed.

In no time, the blue color disappeared from Aoto and Kinoshita Mai's field of vision.

Qing Deng silently turned his gaze to Kinoshita Mai.

"Qingdeng..."

Kinoshita Mai glanced in the direction Sanako had left, then looked at Aoto in front of her, and gently bit her lower lip.

"I... also can't quite accept that you'd marry another woman besides me..."

"I...I need to calm down a bit! I'll take my leave now!"

Kinoshita Mai hurriedly bowed to Aoto, then ran away from the riverbank with Sanako.

Qingdeng calmly glanced around in the direction the two women had left, then closed his eyes, looked up at the sky, and let out a long breath.

He did not regret his actions... not only did he not regret them, but he also felt fortunate.

Qingdeng feels like he's lost half his weight and is so happy he feels like he's floating on air!

This is the way to follow his style: never drag things out, and do what you want to do and need to do directly!

The two women's reactions were largely as he expected.

Although Japan is still in a feudal era where polygamy is permitted, families with slightly better social standing hope that their future son-in-law will stay with their daughter for life.

"From now on... I'll have to work really hard!"

Qingdeng smiled and cast a bright, earnest, and confident gaze at the clear blue sky above, where the rain had just stopped.

……

……

There was no need to linger on the riverbank where the two women were no longer visible.

After tidying up his clothes and calming his emotions, Qing Deng set off to return to the Shiwei Hall.

Because he had just focused all his mind and emotions on releasing his feelings, Qing Deng didn't realize until he left that a little listener had witnessed his feat the whole time.

Souji leaned calmly against the big tree, his hands clasped tightly together behind his back, the instep of his right foot pressed against the heel of his left foot, his eyes gazing up at the azure sky peeking through the gaps in the branches.

"...That's true."

The commander lowered his head and looked at a black handkerchief he was holding in his left hand.

"After all... I'm just a good friend..."

call……

A gentle breeze suddenly blew in.

The branches above the head of the Souji swayed in the wind.

The dappled shadows cast by the wind perfectly concealed the expression on Souji's face...