Here

Over here! Try to keep up!

Man, what a slowpoke. Ahahahaha!

Hey! What do you think you're doing!?

Waah, it's Souji! Souji's here!

Run away! Run awaaay! Ahahahahaha!

Mwahaha! Did you really think you could get away from me that easily?

Supersonic step! Ha!

Wh-whoa, that was awesome, Souji! How'd you do that?

Hehe! Anyone who trains in Tennen Rishinryu can learn to do that with enough practice.

At any rate, you know better than to pick on other kids.

That's not how we play nice, right?

But he doesn't even cry. It's obnoxious.

He's been coming here to play a lot lately, but he never says a word.

Oh, a new recruit, huh?

Well, whatever the case, I'm still counting on you to make sure you all play nice! That's a promise, okay?

That goes for you too, all right?

？！

Oh wow, you really are a quiet one.

Are you out here again, Okita?

Mr. Serizawa is looking for you, you know.

Oh, Mr. Yamanami. Okay, I'll be right there.

All right, everyone, I'd better go. But let's all play again later, okay?

Bye, Souji!

You've been playing with the neighborhood children a lot lately, haven't you?

Yup. The kids love me.

Even Mr. Kamo joins us sometimes.

He draws caricatures for them, sings songs... He's actually almost as popular as me.

Mr. Serizawa? Wow, I guess you really can't judge a book by its cover.

Really?

I think you can tell everything about who Mr. Kamo is just by looking at him.

D-do you now?

Huh... So this must be our flag.

What do you think, Souji? Pretty thoughtful, isn't it?

You're really into this kind of thing, don't you, Mr. Kamo? First we got haori uniforms, now we even have our own flag, huh?

Damn, you actually had it made. Didn't you have to borrow money to commission it?

Hey, we'll be running the capital soon enough. And once we are, the merchants'll be more than happy to support us.

We're patriots in charge of defending our country!

Can you come with me, Mr. Serizawa? Kondou said he wanted to talk to you.

Sheesh. Not again.

Tell him I'm busy, Hijikata. I've got other merchants to see.

It's those merchants he wants to talk to you about.

Oh? Is there a problem?

Do I really have to spell it out? You've gotta clear this stuff with him first.

And where do you think the Shinsengumi would be now if we'd waited for clearance for everything? Back in the sticks where we started, that's where.

I take your point, but that's not what we're talking about here. Now shut up and come with me already.

Wh-why don't we discuss this inside? Okita, Saito, isn't it time for you to go on patrol?

Okay, Mr. Yamanami. Come on, Saito.

Yeah, yeah, I'm coming.

...

Hi, everyone! How've you been doing?

You're in luck. Today, I've got special treats for all of you. Come on, let's have them together.

Yaaay! Treats!

Okay, everyone line up. Would you do the honors, Mr. Yamanami?

Settle down, everyone. No need to push. There's plenty to go around.

Huh? Hey, where's Kamo? Isn't he here today?

...!

Uh, Mr. Kamo had to go on a...business trip. It's, uh, pretty far away, so he won't be coming back soon.

But look! I've got Mr. Sannan here in his place!

Sannan?

That's right. It's another way to read the characters in his name. "Yama" becomes "San," and "Nami" becomes "Nan," so "Sannan."

Uh... Yes, that's right. I'm Mr. Sannan.

Sannan! Sannan!

Come on, Souji! Let's play tag!

You're it, Souji!

Mwahaha. I see you still haven't learned your lesson about playing tag with me...

Come on, Mr. Sannan! We've gotta run away!

Haha, don't worry, I'll be fine. You don't have to tug my sleeve.

Ready or not, here I come! Supersonic step!

A-aah! I couldn't even see you!

...Phew.

Oh, hello. Aren't you going to join the others?

？！

Hahaha, you're a quiet one, aren't you?

All right, why don't you and I take a break together then?

...

...

To tell you the truth, I'm a little tired from everything that happened last night.

Okita and I had to step out to, uh, help resolve a little dispute, you see.

...

And it was just kind of one thing after another, and...

...Anyway, I didn't really feel like going out today. None of the others did, either.

But Okita was different. She bounced back as if nothing had happened.

Come on, Mr. Yamanami. I'm gonna go play with the neighborhood children.

...

It's strange. I thought she and Mr. Serizawa were really close.

...

I'm sorry...

...

I don't know why I'm telling you all this.

Mr. Sannaaan! What are you doing spacing out over there?

Come on! It's your turn to be it!

Sannaaan!

All right, I'm coming.

Okay, you keep resting up here.

...It looks like it's my turn next.

Hey, it's Souji! Where've you been? You haven't hung out with us in sooo long.

I'm sorry, everyone. I've just been kind of busy lately.

Aww, no fair. Oh, where's Sannan? Is he here, too?

I want another treat.

Uh... I'm afraid Mr. Sannan's gone off on a business trip, too.

Aww, really?

Well, that's no fun.

Ah, whatever. Come on, Souji! Let's play tag!

That's more like it.

Let's see if you'll be able to get away from me this time.

Here I come!

Supersonic ste

(Cough, hack!)

A-are you okay?

...I-I'm sorry. I must be coming down with a cold.

I think I'd better call it a day.

Aww... Well, okay.

Let's play another time, all right?

Okay, see you later.

Later!

...

？！

Oh, it's you again.

...

Oh, right. I have a request for you.

The truth is, I don't think I'll be able to come back anymore.

So, do you think you could play with the kids in my stead?

...

Yes... I'd really appreciate if you could fill in for me as long as you can.

...

...

Good morning.

Oh, you're looking especially healthy today.

Thank you. I guess I must have slept really well last night...

By the way, have you heard anything about the Shinsenguoh, right. They go by Kouyou Chinbutai now, don't they? Anyway, have you heard anything about Mr. Kondou, or Mr. Hijikata?

No, I'm afraid I haven't...

I see...

...

Oh, here's your medicine.

Dr. Ryoujun said you need to recuperate now, right?

Ugh, that medicine is so bitter, though. Can't they make it sweet?

Medicine is meant to be bitter. If it were sweet, it wouldn't work so well.

Now lie down after you take it, okay?

There you go. Rest up. I'll be back to check on you in a while.

Ahaha, I don't think I've ever gotten so much rest in my life.

Believe me, I'm more rested than I've ever been.

That's great. Once you rest up enough for your body to heal, you can start working for Mr. Kondou again.

Mr. Kondou... Yeah, good point.

All right, I'll be back later.

And whatever you do, don't push yourself, okay?

...

Me, working for Mr. Kondou, huh...

...

Phew... All these people telling me to lie down, rest up, get some sleep. Lying down is pretty hard work too, you know.

Besides, when I'm feeling good, I have to make sure I can still move at least a little.

Otherwise, I'll never be able to catch up to everyone else.

And I should still be able to do the occasional set of practice swings.

Well...maybe just one swing...

...

...I can't even hold a sword properly anymore.

...

Hm?

Oh. A black cat...

...

...

...I can at least cut that down.

I'm still...

？！

...Just kidding.

...

Here, kitty, kitty. Want to get some sun with me?

It's okay. I'm not really going to cut you down or anything.

I'm in a good mood today, and it's so nice and warm.

？！

...Say, have I seen you somewhere before?

Yeah... I think it was at Mibu-dera.

...But no, that can't be right.

There's way too much distance between Kyo and Edo for a cat to cross on its own.

It must just be a coincidence that you look like that cat. A cat-incidence.

...Hehe.

...

...You know, I really can't remember the last time my life was this peaceful.

Everything is so calm and relaxed now...

...But you know something, kitty?

...The truth is, I'd rather be out there fighting with everyone else...

...under that flag.

Even if they're fighting a losing battle...

Even if their deaths will ultimately mean nothing... I still wanted to be there with them.

Not out here in the warm sun, looking up at the sky.

I just wanted to be there until the end...

No way... Then, you're just going to keep acting as part of the Shinsengumi, Mr. Hijikata?

...?

What's

But that's ridiculous!

I mean, the Shinsengumi is no longer

Shut up, Okita!

Now you listen to me. The Shinsengumi's not going to fall...

Kondou... Nagakura... Saito... None of them stuck around till the end.

...But don't you worry.

As long as I'm still here...the Shinsengumi has not fallen...

This is it!

I am...!

The Shinsengumi!!!

No...

No, this can't be right!

？！

Master!? Wh-what do you mean by tha

Oho. You've got guts, new guy.

No... Fujimaru!

You're telling me, Hijikata Toshizo, the vice commander of the Shinsengumi...that the one standing next to you is the true spirit of the Shinsengumi!?

Master...!

That's right... I'm your sword now, Master!

Mr. Hijikata!

...This is where my makoto lies!

Well, well, Okita. For a captain too sick to carry out her duties, you've still got a hell of a mouth on you.

But if you're gonna go off on me about makoto, then you'd better be ready for the consequences.

Let's see once and for all which is the real deal: your flag or my Shinsengumi!

...Here I come.

Shinsengumi, advance!

...What was that?

Mr. Hijikata was there... So was I... And...

...

...I see. So that's what that was.

？！

...

I knew it.

...Kitty, so you're really

...Are you awake, Master?

I came to your room to get you, but you were fast asleep.

？！

Huh? What are you talking about?

You probably just ate too much at lunch or something.

Oh, right! Nobbu is up to some serious nonsense again! Come on, we need to go!

？！

Just come with me, okay!?

...

Don't worry. No matter what happens, I'll always be with you, Master!

Now let's go!

...As far as it takes!

I know I'm a silly half-wit.

A poor excuse for a captain who couldn't stay with everyone else till the end.

But...there is one thing I'll never forget.

Yes...

That is my fundamental truth.