Chapter 107: Older Brother?

  It's been three months since I moved to Saibyō-ji Temple in Nagato Province, and I don't feel much different from before. It's just that there are more monks around me now. Those monks always look at the new recruits with a very unwelcoming expression whenever they see them.

  I'm also very disgusted with the new selection group now, because I secretly found out about the ingredients of that 'medicine' they made. There's actually blood from our clan in it! They even went abroad to spread the blood of my people! Don't they know how important blood is to us?!

  Today I went on patrol with Heihachi, the purpose was to ask about that old dad who had lost contact, and also to buy some delicious and fun things. As for the Shinsengumi, I have been living very comfortably during this period, because I have secretly put my accommodation and food expenses into the Shinsengumi's public funds. And there are still many of them, in order not to let Toushirou suspect me, I also secretly altered the account book a bit, he absolutely won't suspect it, he should be happy instead~

  "It's been a long time since I've gone on patrol with you, Heisuke." I turned my head to look at him. Since that incident, the new recruits of the Shinsengumi have all been on edge and rarely get to go out.

  Toudou Heisuke is a big kid in my impression, always full of energy and seems to be happy forever. And he's straightforward, says whatever comes to mind, often ends up getting beaten by Tofu-san. Whenever there's excitement, he rushes over, really good at causing trouble, and as a result, gets into fights, breaks the store owner's things, and Tofu-san has to pay for it. I feel really sympathetic towards Tofu-san now.

  "Hmm? Is that so, I've been in Edo for quite some time. When I wasn't around, were you bullied by Shinpachi and the others?" Heisuke turned to ask me, Heisuke had gone to Edo on an errand for Totoumi after the incident at Yamagata, and it seemed he also visited 'my' home along the way.

  "It's nothing." I smiled at him and said, feeling a little touched by his concern.

  "You said your house was in Edo, so I went to look for it too..." Heisuke didn't continue speaking, and not continuing meant that there were no gains. However, I also didn't expect the protagonist of the main storyline related to my life or death would be found so easily.

  "Trouble you to make a special trip." He politely thanked him.

  He patted me on the shoulder with a big smile and said "Cheer up! Maybe we'll meet her soon!"

  My mouth twitched slightly, Ping Zhu Jun, you saw that I was depressed... If your words come true, I'll definitely treat you to a big feast. "After being away for so long, we're finally back in Kyoto, and can finally buy some good food."

  "Senba, your cooking is always delicious! Kyoto... the town, the people, everything has changed so much..." His eyes no longer held the encouraging smile from earlier, and as he gazed out at the streets of Kyoto, his eyes were filled with nostalgia and melancholy.

  Hey, hey, being a tragic and pitiful young man doesn't suit you. You're not suited to be a weak and beautiful person like Lin Daiyu. Suddenly changing your image is wrong.

  "......Huh?" Heisuke seemed to have noticed something and waved his hand towards the street. "Oh, Soji! How's it going on your side?"

  "There's nothing out of the ordinary, just as usual." Sōji seemed to be patrolling another route as well, and after exchanging greetings with Hiratō, he smiled slightly, like a child expecting something interesting. "But when the general arrives in Rakuyo, things will probably get busy."

  "Is the general coming to Kyoto?" I gave Soji a cold glance, I still remember his grudge from back then! A woman's desire for revenge is very strong! That's why I'm especially displeased with him now!

  "That's right, so Kondō is getting nervous too." With the general visiting, the new recruits of the Kyoto guard, Shinsengumi, would naturally be under scrutiny. Thinking about Kondō being all tense makes me feel a bit amused.

  "Ah, yeah. Kondou is that kind of person after all..." Higashi replied absent-mindedly before falling silent.

  Hiro seems to have become a bit strange since he came back, has puberty hit him? I looked at Sousuke with an uncomprehending gaze, wanting him to clear up my confusion, but...

  "Cough...cough...cough..." Totota Sōji suddenly started coughing violently, covering his mouth with one hand, his face twisted in some pain.

  "!...... Are you okay?" I asked him in silence for a while with some worry, did he get tuberculosis like the one recorded in history?

  He frowned as if in pain, coughing softly without stopping. The general's gaze shifted this way, but his line of sight passed directly over me, as if seeing something, his eyes suddenly became sharp, and then narrowed to glance sideways.

  "Hey, little girl! You dare to refuse us?!" The ruffian said, taking action, and grabbed the woman's hand.

  "Let go of me!" The woman struggled. At this time, Zong Si stood up and walked over.

  I followed General Sō with a faint smile, of course to watch the excitement and see how General Sō would heroically rescue the beauty in front of the villain and capture her heart.

  "For us who have been advocating the theory of expelling barbarians to the ignorant masses every day, isn't it natural for us to voluntarily toast a few cups?! The ruffians pressed in further."

  "Goodness gracious, it's really pitiful that such words come from your mouths." Passing by the crowd of onlookers, General stood alone in front of those men.

  At this sight, the ronin all stiffened their faces "Light green haori... Shinsengumi?!"

  "It's easy once you know... but what to do?" General's mouth corners slightly curved upwards, slowly reaching for the hilt of his sword. At this moment, General wore a smile on his face, but precisely because it was a smiling face, it was even more terrifying.

  I watched from a distance, and indeed, the rumored 'Son of the Devil' was not to be underestimated. With just his presence, he intimidated the opponent. One of them showed an expression as if they had been doused with cold water, and muttered in frustration. "Damn it, bakufu's lapdog!"

  "That's enough, get out of here!" Seeing the same pale green uniformed Heihachi approaching, they seemed to have finally sensed the unfavorable situation and changed their faces, tucking in their tails and fleeing in a hurry.

  At this time, a woman who was watching from the side tidied up her hair, and a faint smile appeared on her delicate face. She moved with gentle steps, and judging from her clothes, she should be a geisha (note 2). Every move she made was warm and elegant, indeed very ladylike. "Ah... my name is Natsumi Kun, thank you for saving me."

  I gazed at the woman in front of me with a hint of profound meaning, and I always felt that she looked somewhat familiar, where had I seen her before?

  Just as I was thinking this way, someone suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled me over. "Huh?"

  "Alright, stand next to her." The general pushed me to make me and that woman stand closer.

  "What do you mean?" I glared at him discontentedly and gave him a dirty look.

  "囧... Little Qianhe, your expression is a bit too natural." Zong Si finally managed to make her look like that, and this strong point of hers was very similar to his own older sister, suddenly giving him a sense of déjà vu.

  I stood side by side with a girl named Xun, and Soji kept glancing back and forth at us. To be honest, I really wanted to say, "Soji, it's very impolite of you to stare at girls like that."

  I turned my head to look at the woman's face, no wonder I felt like I had seen her somewhere before. It turns out she looks very similar to this body. Very similar... So it seems that from Yuki-mura Chizuru's data, she also has an older brother... Could it be this person? o(╯□╰)o Yuki-mura Chizuru really isn't a normal person, even her older brother is a cross-dressing otokonoko...

  I looked at him and found that she had been staring at me, seeing my gaze he smiled at me with a smile that was enough to conquer the city, although there was a sense of discord, probably because he was a fake girl. I quietly made a mouth shape 'brother?'

  "As expected... you two are quite alike." Toushirou muttered to himself.

  "Is it? I don't think so at all."

  "No, very similar. If she also wore women's clothes, it would be exactly the same." General Zong said lightly.

  He gazed at me quietly, as if he hadn't heard the conversation between Soji and the others. He nodded slightly, as if acknowledging that he was Yukimura Chizuru's older brother.

  My eyes sparkled as I stared at him, Brother Huan, it's okay! Even if you have this weird hobby, I still have the confidence to like you! You're my brother after all! I'll definitely find a cute little uke or a handsome little seme for you to be with! (Kurenai's brother complex soul suddenly awakens)

  "Although I should express my gratitude more formally, I still have something on hand... Forgive me for being rude." He seemed to let out a slightly helpless sigh, pulled up his hem and bowed to the general.

  "I'll repay this kindness someday, Mr. Totota of the Shinsengumi. Farewell, Chizuru." My dear brother disappeared into the crowd like that.

  At the same time he disappeared, Hirasawa-kun, with a mischievous grin on his face, elbowed Sōji and whispered "Hey, it seems like she's interested in you, Sōji?"

  What the...?! How is this possible?! My lovely Nii-chan can't be handed over to this perverted General who spends his days harassing others, I absolutely won't allow it! I glare at the General with a fierce gaze, imagining using my death stare to kill him instantly.

  "If you think that's what it meant, then Ping Zhujun, you'll never win against Zuo for the rest of your life." Totota Sōji said calmly and turned to leave.

  "What's that supposed to mean?!" The carefree conversation between the two people made me feel even more distant, and I still wanted to leave this world I couldn't fit into as soon as possible.

  My gaze fell into the puddle formed by last night's rain, and I squatted down to look at my reflection in the water. I forced a smile, but the me reflected in the water mirror had no smile at all, like a puppet placed in a dimly lit room...

  "Senba! Let's go back!" Heisuke urged from the front, with sunlight shining on him, and indeed he was a bright and passionate boy who suited the sunshine.

  "Hmm..." I responded faintly, smiling wryly at myself in the water before standing up and following after.

  Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which can affect multiple organs throughout the body but most commonly affects the lungs. The pathological features of TB are tubercles and caseous necrosis, often forming cavities. Clinically, it usually presents as a chronic process, with few cases having an acute onset. Common symptoms include low-grade fever, fatigue, and respiratory symptoms such as coughing and hemoptysis, commonly known as "consumption".

  Note 2 (Geiko): Geiko are not prostitutes. They are women who perform in the traditional Japanese arts. Apart from serving food and drink to guests, a large part of their work is performing dances, playing musical instruments, or singing at banquets. (In short, their job is to dance, play the shamisen, pour drinks for guests, etc.)