Aoden looked at Hikaru Okita with a dull expression.

After a moment, his dull expression turned into a bitter smile with mixed emotions.

Although Okita Mitsuru had just said one thing... But Qingto knew very well that her impassioned speech just now was completely half-truth and half-falsehood.

Qingden raised his right hand and scratched the flesh on the back of his neck.

I secretly sighed in my heart:

They are indeed sisters... Both sisters are the kind of people who will not give in easily once they have made up their minds...

Souji's sister would come to him for help just to persuade Souji to give up sword training... This was really beyond Ayoto's expectation.

——Forget it...

Qingdeng put down the hand that was grabbing the back of his neck, "Huh..." and turned the complicated emotions in his heart into a sound.

Then--

"...Miss Okita, you don't want Okita-kun to stop being addicted to kendo, but you want Okita-kun to give up kendo directly, right?"

This time, Hikaru Okita and Rintaro Okita looked at Aoto with blank expressions.

Qingdeng struck while the iron was hot and continued:

"I know why you want Okita-kun to give up kendo."

"You know?" Okita Hikaru's eyes flickered slightly.

Qingden nodded: "Not long ago, I accidentally overheard the conversation between you and Okita-kun in the teahouse where Okita-kun often goes."

"Then... also not long ago, I accidentally learned Souji's true gender."

Last night was not long ago - Qingdeng convinced himself in his heart.

Surprise and confusion...the expressions that appeared on the faces of Okita and his wife were no longer dull, but shock without any pretense.

Qingneng summarized the whole story of how he knew that the two sisters were having a conflict over "whether they practiced sword practice or not" and how he found out that Souji was a girl.

Of course - As for how he found out that Souji was a girl, Aomori was completely vague. He just said "I found out by accident" to get over the topic.

As early as when he first learned that Okita Mitsumasa forced Souji to give up swordsmanship, Aoto had the idea of ​​having a good chat with this powerful elder sister.

After learning from Souji last night about the past of this young girl who had made many sacrifices to practice swordsmanship, Qingden's thoughts deepened a lot.

Okita Hikaru took the initiative to come to him for a private talk today... This is exactly what Aoshito wanted!

At this moment, Qingteng has made up his mind - he wants to help the General Secretary! Help mediate the conflict between these two sisters who are very stubborn!

"Miss Okita."

Qingdeng said in a serious tone.

"Although it may be very arrogant for an outsider like me to say this...but please go and pay more attention to your sister."

"...pay more attention?" Okita Hikaru frowned, with a shadow of doubt.

"Okita-kun..."

"Tachibana-kun, just call us by our real names." Hikaru Okita interrupted Qingto, "My husband, my husband, and Xiaoji are all 'Okita'. If you call us by our real names, it's okay."

It’s convenient for you and me.”

Now that Aoto had confessed that he was one of the people who knew Souji's true gender, Okita Hikari didn't bother to hide it anymore, so she boldly called Souji by his real name.

"Uh...okay."

It's convenient for Qingdeng to just use his real name...

Qingden cleared his throat vigorously and then continued:

"Miss Guang, Souji left home as a disciple when she was 9 years old and moved into the Imperial Guard Hall. If my guess is correct - after Souji she became a member of the Imperial Guard Hall, you guys

The chances of the sisters meeting each other must have become much less, right?"

"..." Okita Hikaru remained silent.

"Have you ever taken a good look at how my sister practices swordsmanship without any prejudice?"

"..."

"Have you ever carefully looked at the smile on my sister's face after her sword skills have been improved?"

"..."

"Have you ever tried to understand your sister's determination to change her name, disguise herself as a man, make trouble with her most respected eldest sister, and put down the sword in her hand?"

"..."

"I can understand why Ms. Guang wants Souji to give up kendo so much."

"It is true that there is almost no room for female swordsmen to survive in this world, and I do not intend to deny your concept."

"I just hope that you can try to look at your sister more with a normal heart without any prejudice."

Qingdeng straightened his waist a little and raised the corners of his mouth.

"Miss Guang, there will be a good opportunity in the near future."

"It's still some time before Kondo-kun's wedding starts, and you still need to stay in Edo for a while."

"You might as well take advantage of this period of time where you still have to stay in Edo temporarily and come to the Trial Guard Hall more often to see how your sister spends her days with the sword."

"In this way... maybe the 'distance' between you and your sister can be shortened."

After finishing speaking, Qingden bowed slightly and signaled to Okita Hikaru with his movements: I'm done.

After finishing what he had wanted to say to Okita Hikari in one breath, Aoto smiled softly as he felt relaxed.

The tea room returned to silence as Qing Teng finished speaking.

Qingden calmly waited for Okita Hikaru's response.

Compared to Aoto's leisurely look, Hikaru Okita's expression can be described as "solemn".

I saw her pursed her red lips, her eyes fixed on Qingdeng, and she exuded an aura of "keep away from strangers"

In a word - he looked as if he might quarrel with Qingdeng at any time.

Okita Rintaro on the side was shocked by the aura lingering on Okita Hikaru. His body tensed, his expression was stiff, and he was trembling...

After a while, the crowded tea room finally heard voices again.

"'Distance'...?"

Okita Hikaru's lips moved, chewing on the word that just came from Qingto's mouth.

"Mr. Tachibana, your eloquence is surprisingly impressive."

"I originally wanted to ask Mr. Tachibana to help me, but I didn't..."

Okita Hikaru sighed softly, then stood up slowly while pressing the hem of his kimono.

"……I see."

"Mr. Orange, I will seriously consider the suggestion you just made."

After saying this, Okita Hikaru turned around and walked outside the tea room.

"Mr. Orange, please don't let Xiao Si know that I secretly talked to you today."

The footsteps gradually fade away...

Watching Okita Hikaru and Okita Rintaro leave, Aoto calmly picked up the teacup in front of him and drank the tea in one gulp.

Sometimes, a simple word from an outsider can often bring unexpected results.

He tried his best to use words to impress Okita Hikaru.

All Qingdeng could do next... was to wait and see what happened.

…

…

The next few days were leisurely and calm.

Qingden just kept repeating his daily routine of practicing swordsmanship at the Trial Guard Hall, practicing sword-drawing skills at the Chishiya Sword Hall, playing with carrots at the Little Chiba Sword Hall, and teaching Elodie the swordsmanship at the residence.

Nothing significant happened worth mentioning.

Okita Hikaru seems to have really adopted Aonto's suggestion. The frequency of coming to the trial defense hall and the time he spends in the trial defense hall have obviously increased and lengthened a lot.

In the past few days, you can often see a scene like this in the dojo of the Imperial Guard Hall - Okita Hikaru is sitting in a corner of the dojo, quietly watching Souji's sword practice.

Okita Hikaru listened to his suggestion, which made Qingto feel very happy.

But whether the "distance" between her and Souji has been successfully shortened, Qingto doesn't know yet...

The days passed day by day.

In a blink of an eye... the time came to August 20th.

This day may be the most special day in August for the Trial Guard Hall.
To be continued...