My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 416: Chapter 152: Mukiwa: ”Mr. Tachibana, Are You Free Tonight?” [Massive 10,000 Character Update] (Part 4)

After sneaking a few glances at Aoto, Mukiwa finally seemed to gather her courage, took a deep breath, and spoke:

”Mr. Tachibana.”

Aoto: ”Hmm?”

”I’ve already heard.” Mukiwa tilted her head up slightly, smiling at Aoto, ”You won the championship at the Swordsmanship Competition the day before yesterday! Congratulations!”

”Ah, thank you.” Aoto quickly replied with a modest smile.

”Mr. Tachibana, you’re amazing! I heard that many skilled fighters participated in this competition, and you managed to come out on top among them.” At this point, Mukiwa’s beautiful brows showed a hint of regret, ”It’s such a shame... I wish I could have seen the competition myself...”

Aoto raised an eyebrow: ”Hmm? Did Boss Kiryu not allow you to watch the competition?”

”Yes.” Mukiwa’s lips pouted slightly, and a perceptible expression of discontent appeared on her face, ”Mr. Kiryu happened to have business to attend to both the day before and the day before that, and I had to stay behind to look after the shop and house, so he didn’t approve my leave...”

”I see...” Aoto smiled wryly, ”That really is a pity...”

Mukiwa slightly opened her lips, let out a sigh, and then smiled again:

”Never mind, it’s all in the past, let’s not dwell on it.”

”Did you encounter any tough opponents in this competition?” Mukiwa pursued further on the topic of the ”Swordsmanship Competition” with Aoto.

”Well... the opponent in the final match did give me some trouble.”

Aoto answered all of Mukiwa’s questions with an open and thorough attitude.

The two of them continued to chat idly about the ”Swordsmanship Competition” for a while until they unwittingly turned into a street that was sparsely populated and somewhat desolate.

Mukiwa glanced around at the scanty flow of people and suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Caught off guard by Mukiwa’s sudden stop, Aoto took two steps forward by inertia before quickly halting as well, ”Miss Kinoshita, what’s wrong? Why did you suddenly stop?”

”...Mr. Tachibana, I’m sorry.” Mukiwa showed a smile mixed with apology to Aoto, ”I actually lied to you... Mr. Kiryu didn’t ask to see you.”

”Hmm?” Aoto couldn’t help but be startled.

Mukiwa immediately provided an explanation in a tone of helplessness:

”I only lied to you to divert Mr. Saito and the others away.”

”If I didn’t find a way to get rid of them, there would be no way for me to talk business with you.”

Having said this, Mukiwa took two steps forward, approaching Aoto closely, then stood on her tiptoes to bring her lips as close to Aoto’s ear as possible and whispered so only the two of them could hear:

”Mr. Tachibana, are you free tonight?”

”I found another target that needs Fox Monk’s help.”

Upon hearing Mukiwa’s concise statement... to be precise, upon hearing the mention of ”Fox Monk,” Aoto’s demeanor grew slightly serious.

He lowered his head and gaze, casting solemn and attentive eyes at Mukiwa, who, even on her tiptoes, was still much shorter than him.

”...Miss Kinoshita.” Aoto lowered his voice, speaking in a tone only for them to hear, ”What target have you found this time?”

”Hmm...” Mukiwa scanned the surroundings with a cautious look, noting the occasional passersby, ”It’s not convenient to talk much here.”

”Mr. Tachibana, are you free tonight? If you are, I’d like to talk in detail then.”

Aoto contemplated for less than two seconds before nodding seriously: ”I understand. I’m free after 2 a.m., can we meet then?”

a.m. is the time Aoto usually wakes up.

”Of course.” Mukiwa answered without hesitation, ”Then tonight at 2, I’ll be waiting for you in the dark alley behind the ramen shop next to Shiwei Hall... the same place we went before.”

Aoto nodded in agreement.

Then, he gave a helpless smile.

”Miss Kinoshita, you’re quite clever. You actually thought of using ’Boss Kiryu wants to see me’ as an excuse to get rid of Mr. Saito and the others.”

At this moment, Aoto suddenly realized: the red-clad, red-sandal-clad girl before him was far more cunning than she seemed.

When Mukiwa earnestly said to him ”Boss Kiryu wants to see you,” her expression and actions were all normal, and Aoto didn’t notice anything unusual. So he truly believed that Boss Kiryu had something urgent that needed his immediate attention.

But upon reflection, it made sense—how could someone who was not precocious become the infamous Phantom Thief who had given both the Edo Magistrate’s Office and Edo’s rogues headaches?

”I’m sorry...” Mukiwa’s face once again showed a tinge of apology, her fingers intertwined, apologizing to Aoto once more, ”I just couldn’t think of any other way to make us alone without bringing up Mr. Kiryu...”

”It’s no problem.” Aoto waved his hand, ”I don’t mean to blame you.”

”In fact, I want to commend you for using such a smart method to get rid of Mr. Saito and the others and lead me to such a secluded place.”

”Well then, let’s meet later tonight.”

After speaking, Aoto quietly sighed to himself.