Chapter 195: Chapter 99: Have Aoto and Sazanoko Get Together?

This evening’s celebration feast, Zhouzhu really spared no expense, not only covering everyone’s food and drinks but also inviting performers to entertain.

As Aoto returned from the restroom, the performers invited by Zhouzhu happened to arrive. They performed comedic acts resembling belly dancing in the center of the room, making everyone burst into laughter.

Aoto sat back in his seat and noticed Saito next to him looking rather stern.

"Saito, what’s up? Are you feeling unwell?"

Saito also attended this celebration feast.

Saito initially refused to sit with Aoto and the others, saying, "I’m not a member of Shiwei Hall, so I’d still prefer to wait outside the room."

But Aoto paid no heed to Saito’s reasoning and said to him,

"While you were temporarily living with us at Shiwei Hall, didn’t you help with chores like ’cleaning the dojo’s floors’? By that account, you’re sort of a half-member of Shiwei Hall. Come on, join us and enjoy the feast without worries."

With Zhouzhu’s approval, Aoto practically forced Saito to sit beside him, ensuring that Saito enjoyed the lively celebratory atmosphere together.

"...I’m not unwell," Saito said softly, "I just feel a bit embarrassed, that’s all."

"I’m not a member of Shiwei Hall, yet I’m here participating in the feast with you all..."

Hearing this, Aoto couldn’t help but chuckle to himself.

"Saito, as I’ve already said, you’re considered half a member of our Shiwei Hall, even our teacher acknowledged this himself."

"Don’t think too much about it, just relax and enjoy the celebration feast."

"It’s a rare lively banquet; it’d be too wasteful to keep a stern face throughout."

"Watch the performance, it’s quite amusing."

With that, Aoto, who had stopped drinking alcohol and switched to tea, continued to watch the performers in front of him perform a "belly dance" with great interest while sipping his tea.

Saito raised his head and watched the performance before him.

Then he slowly turned his gaze to the people around who were all laughing heartily.

Usually emotionless, with a stern face, Saito’s lips now slowly formed a faint smile.

A moment later, he withdrew his gaze.

Like Aoto beside him, he drank tea while engrossedly watching the "belly dance" performance.

Though it seemed he couldn’t fully appreciate this form of art, as his brows furrowed at a visibly rapid pace.

...

...

At this moment——

Edo, Oke-machi, Little Chiba Sword Dojo, bathroom——

Wow!

Completely naked, Sazanoko knelt beside the bathtub in an impeccably standard posture, drew a basin of cold water, and poured it over herself.

She poured four basins of cold water over herself in one breath, drenching herself from her head to her petite toes. Then Sazanoko closed her eyes, placing her hands, interlocked, on her thighs.

Her head held high, her back perfectly straight.

Little Chiba Sword Dojo, being a prestigious name in Japan’s Kendo World, lacked neither fame nor wealth, thus Chiba Dingji lavishly established a private bathhouse at home.

Sazanoko loved cleanliness, and whether it was summer or winter, she would bathe once a day without fail.

And each time she bathed, she had a habit—before officially bathing after cleansing her body, she would always kneel by the bathtub, pouring cold water over her body to let the chill stimulate her mind and nerves.

After dousing herself all over with cold water, she would close her eyes and carefully reflect on the gains and losses of the day, think about what mistakes she made today, and consider ways to avoid repeating those errors.

At this moment, scenes from today’s competition swiftly flashed through Sazanoko’s mind with her eyes closed.

——If...if I could have stalled Mr. Tachibana and Toshisuke a bit longer today, the outcome might have been vastly different...

——Hold on a bit more, and Mr. Yamanaka and the others could have come to my aid.

——With Mr. Yamanaka and others’ support, there’d be a chance to reverse the adverse situation and defeat Mr. Tachibana and Toshisuke...

Sazanoko continually reviewed today’s fight, enumerating her shortcomings and mistakes.

The hands interlocked on her legs slowly clenched and tightened.

——Ultimately, it’s my lack of strength...

——If I were stronger, strong enough to handle Mr. Tachibana and Toshisuke alone, today’s match wouldn’t have been lost.

——I must become stronger...

——As long as I’m strong enough, today’s events...or past events...the outcome would be different...

Sazanoko’s once tightly shut eyes now slowly opened.

Her eyes, bright and beautiful like midsummer stars, at this moment, shimmered with a faint sense of distress and sadness.

She appeared...to remember something unpleasant.

Her head, held high before, lowered, her chin nearly touched her collarbone.

The candlelight on the lampstand in the bathroom corner flickered slightly.

The swaying dim candlelight cast from above onto Sazanoko.

Stretching Sazanoko’s isolated figure long and lonely.

...

...

Little Chiba Sword Dojo, Chiba Dingji’s room——

Chiba Dingji and Chiba Shigetarou sat opposite each other face to face.

Chiba Dingji, dressed in sleepwear, asked Chiba Shigetarou in front of him with a light smile:

"Shigetarou, what do you think of today’s match?"