My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 606: Chapter 191: Aoto Makes Mukiwa Blush

The most intimate form of address is to call someone by their true name.

How close must a relationship be to use a true name?

In short—Kondo, Hijikata, and Chokata are as close as brothers, yet Kondo and Hijikata never call Chokata by his true name ”Harumasa”; they only call him ”Toshisuke.”

Once you understand the hierarchy of these name forms and what a true name means to a Samurai, you will understand why Aoto is showing such an astounded expression now.

Mukiwa skipped directly from the current address ”Mr. Tachibana” over ”Aoto” to the top-level ”Moriharu”...

At this moment, Aoto indeed feels a bit startled.

Aoto doesn’t really care how others address him.

As a transmigrator whose soul comes from the 21st century, ”how others address him” is not at all important to Aoto.

However, the problem is that in this era, with its current naming culture, if others hear Mukiwa directly calling Aoto ”Moriharu”...

Then ten out of ten people would certainly think he and Mukiwa are a couple, and a very affectionate one at that...

At this time, Aoto, who hasn’t yet recovered from the unexpected event, hasn’t had time to say anything, when he sees Mukiwa shaking her head like a rattle drum.

”No, no, no...”

Just now, after mustering all her strength to say the name ”Moriharu,” Mukiwa felt all her energy and spirit were exhausted in one go.

Her face turned even redder, as if it might drip blood at any moment, and the light in her eyes wavered intensely.

”Mmm... calling ’Moriharu’ directly is too much... I can’t say it...”

Mukiwa murmured in a whisper like the sound of a mosquito.

Then she raised her right hand, pressed it firmly against her ample chest, and with a ”ha...” she let out a long sigh.

Then, she slowly lifted her head, mustered her courage and remaining strength, and met Aoto’s gaze with an apologetic look.

”Mr. Tachibana, just forget what I said earlier.”

”Calling you ’Moriharu’... was a bit too presumptuous...”

Having finished speaking, Mukiwa lowered her gaze, a faint hint of disappointment hovering between her brows.

”...” Aoto pursed his lips, thoughtful and contemplative.

Although Mukiwa hid her disappointment well, the sharp-eyed Aoto still keenly caught the hint of color between her brows.

”... Miss Kinoshita.”

Aoto raised his hand to scratch the hair on the back of his head, then turned his face to give Mukiwa a slight smile:

”I don’t really mind how you call me.”

”If you find it hard to say ’Moriharu’... then you can call me ’Aoto’ for now.”

”Eh...?” Mukiwa raised her face, a mix of surprise and delight reflected in her eyes as she stared intently at Aoto.

As if wanting to confirm she hadn’t misheard, she cautiously and quietly asked:

”Can I... just call you ’Aoto’?”

Aoto nodded.

Even if Mukiwa called him ”Moriharu” right now, Aoto, insensitive to this era’s naming culture, wouldn’t mind.

But from the current situation, the name ”Moriharu” is still a little too much for the shy and easily embarrassed Mukiwa at this point.

Having Mukiwa call Aoto ”Moriharu” in public... she might be too embarrassed to even stand upright.

”Then... then...”

Mukiwa’s feet, buried under her bottom, kept wriggling.

Her hands, resting on her legs, kept pulling at the fabric of her dress.

As she watched Aoto’s reaction with expectant eyes, she cautiously and quietly called:

”Ao... Aoto...?”

”...Hmm.” Aoto, feeling a bit tense, nodded in response after realizing belatedly.

This was the first time Aoto heard Mukiwa call him ”Aoto.”

Hearing Mukiwa use her soft and gentle voice to call him ”Aoto” made Aoto’s heartbeat uncontrollably quicken.

The tingling sensation that had been lingering in his chest quickly swelled.

At this moment, Mukiwa’s eyes and cheeks slowly took on an excited hue.

”Hee, hee hee hee hee...”

The girl, overjoyed and exhilarated at successfully calling Aoto by his name, suddenly let out such a laugh.

”Aoto!”

With a beaming smile, she called Aoto by his name again, in a sweet tone.

But just then—

”... What are you two doing?”

Outside the door, Kiryu’s voice sounded...

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The owed ten-thousand-word update is finally here (leopard exhaustion.jpg)

The first volume’s plot has only a small tail left.

So the monthly ticket bounty continues! Currently, the book has 3,035 votes in total, as long as it reaches 3,150 votes by the end of today, the author will burst out another ten thousand words tomorrow to finish the last part of the first volume’s plot!

PS: After more than five months of serialization, the first volume is finally coming to an end... Let’s preview the title of the second volume.

The title of the second volume—”Heavenly Ascent”!