My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 517: Chapter 177: Miss Sazanoko, Stand Down—It’s All Right Now!

Uneasy, anxious? Can’t find suitable words to describe.

In any case, since early this morning, I’ve been feeling very unsettled.

Perhaps it’s because the surveillance on Nakamura Chouhachirou has been fruitless, causing emotions to become agitated... Aoto explained to himself.

Counting today, the surveillance on Nakamura Chouhachirou has already lasted several days.

Carrying out almost uninterrupted, round-the-clock surveillance, but so far, there’s been no sign of Nakamura Chouhachirou interacting with any suspicious individuals.

The prolonged lack of results... this situation is starting to put pressure on Aoto from the superiors.

Initially, the superiors, who only hoped to avoid mistakes and wanted to handle the case with the most conservative approach, were against Aoto conducting the ”investigation on Nakamura Chouhachirou,” which could easily go wrong.

Now, as Aoto’s investigation on Nakamura Chouhachirou continues to yield no results, the superiors inevitably start to critique Aoto.

See, I told you! There’s nothing worth investigating about Nakamura Chouhachirou, and you didn’t listen! Look, all this manpower and precious time wasted—although the superiors didn’t say this outright, Aoto could read such sentiments from their recent glances.

Regarding the pressure from the superiors, Aoto felt indifferent.

No matter what the superiors said, Aoto remained convinced that the peculiar Nakamura Chouhachirou was the key breakthrough to finding Sazanoko, so his thoughts were unwavering, and he had no intention of changing his current round-the-clock surveillance method.

As Mukiwa leaned against the alley wall for a moment’s rest, Aoto, hidden in the shadows of the alley, persistently continued his task of ”monitoring the Nakamura family,” his gaze fixed on the Nakamura family’s gate.

At this moment, Mukiwa, who had just closed her eyes to rest, slightly opened one eye, then discreetly observed Aoto’s face beside her with the open eye.

Watching Aoto’s very serious expression as he focused intently on surveilling the Nakamura house, an... unusual emotion surfaced between Mukiwa’s brows.

Her hands clasped in front, fingers intertwined. Her adorable, delicate toes scratched the flat wooden clogs underneath.

Aoto’s investigation on Nakamura Chouhachirou had official approval.

Thus, not needing to act surreptitiously, he naturally didn’t need to dress up as the ”Fox Monk.”

Similarly, Mukiwa, who came openly to assist Aoto at his request, also didn’t need any disguise, no need to wear the ”Cat Monk” attire.

To stay cool and facilitate movement, tonight... no, for the past few days since agreeing to assist Aoto, Mukiwa always wore a refreshing, cool thin red yukata, and her bare white feet perched on red-strap flat wooden clogs.

”Hmm? Miss Kinoshita, what’s the matter?”

Aoto’s peripheral vision noticed the gaze from Mukiwa.

”Ah, nothing...”

Mukiwa hurriedly withdrew the gaze she aimed at Aoto.

”Just... finding Mr. Tachibana very diligent and responsible.”

”While other officials have the attitude of ’as long as no big mistakes are made, it’s fine.’”

”Only you are handling this case so earnestly.”

When Mukiwa first came to help, Aoto mentioned to her the ”as long as no big mistakes are made, it’s fine” case-handling attitude of his superiors, which he found quite distasteful.

”It’s no big deal.” Aoto said with a wry smile, ”After all, Miss Sazanoko... well, she counts as my friend.”

”Not even mentioning the vague notion of ’the responsibility of an official.’”

”Just the reason of ’finding a friend’ is enough for me to dedicate myself to this case.”

Hearing Miss Sazanoko’s name from Aoto’s mouth, that unusual emotion which appeared between Mukiwa’s brows resurfaced.

Her fingers intertwined once again as Mukiwa lowered her gaze to her toes, like white jade petals, and softly conveyed a voice with a hint of apprehension:

”Mr. Tachibana, are you and Chiba Sonako... very good friends?”

”Hmm? Not really.” Considering Mukiwa’s question as casual conversation, Aoto replied without hesitation, ”Strictly speaking... neither of us might even be friends. Since knowing her, I’ve only exchanged a few words with her.”

”But I know her brother Chiba Shigetarou quite well.”

Upon hearing Aoto’s response... Mukiwa slightly pursed her lips.

Her eyes, like black crystals, sparkled, showing an emotion that could be reluctantly explained as ”relief.”

Suddenly, Mukiwa froze for a moment, then raised her hands, slapping her rosy cheeks vigorously with both hands.

”Miss Kinoshita?” Aoto asked with a puzzled look toward Mukiwa.

He questioned Mukiwa with his eyes, ”What are you doing?”

Understanding the gesture of Aoto’s questioning gaze, Mukiwa awkwardly smiled a few times.

”I’m punishing myself.”

”While Mr. Tachibana, you are seriously contemplating ways to save people, here I am, foolishly thinking of messy thoughts... That’s truly inappropriate.”

”While punishing myself, I’m also reminding myself: I came to assist Mr. Tachibana for the purpose of saving people. Compared to human lives, anything else is trivial. Focus on saving people first; everything else can wait until we rescue them.”