Outside the solitary cell specially opened by Aoto, leading the group from the Prison Dōshin, they saw Hijikata Toshizo sitting cross-legged on the ground, idly scraping out the dirt from under his nails.

"Mr. Hijikata!"

Chokata was the first to step forward, raising both hands to grip the wooden bars of the cell, pressing his face close to the gap, showing a look of exasperation.

"What are you doing! Why did you get into trouble again as soon as you returned to Edo? What on earth made you beat someone up on the street?"

"Asheng, Toshisuke?" Hijikata looked at his two friends, as close as brothers, with surprise. But he quickly concealed his surprise and smirked at Chokata, "I just wanted to give that Kin’emon a good lesson. It’s as simple as that."

Aoto had already explained to Kondo and Chokata what trouble Hijikata got into this morning, as well as the reason why he suddenly beat up Kin’emon on the street.

After being brought back to the Magistrate’s Office for his "street brawl," Hijikata quickly confessed his motive for the incident.

The reason he suddenly assaulted Kin’emon on the street was quite simple—to avenge a friend.

About ten days ago, a friend of his, who owns an izakaya, had a run-in with that rogue Kin’emon one night.

After feasting and drinking excessively at his friend’s place, Kin’emon, noticing that Hijikata’s friend seemed timid and easy to bully, developed wicked intentions.

Fueled by alcohol, Kin’emon refused to pay for his meal and drinks.

When Hijikata’s friend tried to reason with Kin’emon, he ended up getting beaten.

After injuring him, Kin’emon even threatened him viciously: Do not report this to the authorities! Even if you do, I’ll only spend a short time in prison at most, and when I get out, I’ll certainly come for revenge!

Kin’emon hadn’t misjudged the man.

Indeed, Hijikata’s friend was somewhat timid and afraid of trouble.

Kin’emon had various tattoos on his hands, proof of his previous criminal offenses. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

During the Edo Era, there was a form of punishment that involved tattooing criminals’ hands and faces.

Different crimes led to different tattoo patterns, so by looking at someone’s tattoos, one could tell what they had done before.

Intimidated by someone with such "criminal marks" on his hands, Hijikata’s friend chose to swallow his anger and not pursue Kin’emon’s dine-and-dash and assault.

While his friend chose to endure injustices, Hijikata couldn’t stand it.

When Hijikata, back in Edo for the first time in a while, visited his friend this morning and saw the bruises on his face, he started questioning what had happened.

Without a second word, Hijikata dashed out of his friend’s izakaya, went to settle the score with Kin’emon.

Kin’emon was well-known in Takaracho, so Hijikata easily found out the places Kin’emon frequented.

This led to the scene this morning where he wordlessly launched an assault on Kin’emon...

"Asui..." Kondo sighed heavily, looking as exasperated as Chokata, "Why are you so impulsive?... Can’t you think of another way to avenge your friend aside from fighting?"

"I’m not good at anything else besides fighting," Hijikata said slowly as he stood up, dusting himself off, "Moreover, giving Kin’emon a good beating is the best form of revenge I could think of."

"Even if you report it, Kin’emon would only get a brief stint in jail, which means nothing to someone who lives off despicable deeds like him."

"So after careful consideration, I decided to just mask myself and give the guy a solid beating—that’s the only way to give him a punishment severe enough."

"You... Ugh, this isn’t the place to talk," Kondo sighed again, taking out a small pouch from his pocket.

"Mr. Tachibana." With a wry smile, Kondo handed the pouch to Aoto, "Please arrange for Asui’s release quickly."

Aoto nodded and accepted the pouch from Kondo.

With Hijikata’s motive clarified—acting purely to avenge his friend and unrelated to the "Masked Faction"—his offense was deemed not too severe; he hadn’t beaten Kin’emon too badly or killed anyone.

Given the relatively minor nature of Hijikata’s offense, a fine and a little help from Aoto, who worked at the "City Police Department," could facilitate Hijikata’s release today.

Taking Kondo’s fine, Aoto approached the Prison Dōshin, briefly explained the situation and handed over the fine, leading to the opening of the cell that Hijikata had occupied for about an hour and a half.

After leaving the Prison Compound with Aoto and others, Hijikata stretched lazily: "Asheng, thanks, I’ll pay you back the fine later."

"Don’t thank me. The one you should thank the most is Mr. Tachibana."

Hearing Kondo’s words, Hijikata looked at Aoto standing beside him.

"...What a strange twist of fate." Hijikata pursed his lips and let out a long breath, "The one who caught me was the rookie Asheng had been mentioning in his letters..."