My Gang of Swordsmen

“Let’s just consider our meeting tonight as a chance encounter.”

“If fate allows, we’ll meet again in the future.”

After saying this, Aoto no longer lingered and led Mukiwa away without looking back.

In front of Ozuki Minoru and the others, they left the tall, nonchalant figure behind.

Time passed without knowing how long… half a minute? A minute? Her muddled mind made Ozuki Minoru’s sense of time go awry.

She only realized when she came to her senses that Aoto and Mukiwa’s figures had disappeared from her field of vision.

Since Shimizu Eiichi and the others left until now, Aoto hadn’t looked her way even once…

Ozuki Minoru bit her lower lip tightly.

Her eyes and expression were filled with indescribable complexity.

…

…

Ryogoku Bridge—

“Finally, we can peacefully enjoy the fireworks…”

Aoto said to Mukiwa with a half-joking tone.

After casually saving Ozuki Minoru and the others, Aoto and Mukiwa could finally continue enjoying the lively summer festival tonight.

The two hurried to Ryogoku Bridge as planned, looking for a good spot to watch the fireworks.

Luck was quite on their side—though they arrived late, they still managed to find a space that could accommodate the two of them standing on the left side of Ryogoku Bridge, right next to the railing.

There were about 5 minutes left until the fireworks would begin… The bridge was already filled with a tense and expectant atmosphere.

“So, that lady earlier was actually your childhood friend, Aoto…” Mukiwa whispered.

Just now, Aoto candidly confessed to Mukiwa that the lady they saved earlier—Ozuki Minoru—was his childhood friend whom he hadn’t seen in a while since she married far away to Nara.

“Yeah, she is.” Aoto said lightly, “Seeing her twice in one night… it really surprised me.”

“…” Mukiwa looked up at Aoto’s calm expression, tilting her small head.

Seeing how indifferent Aoto was towards Ozuki Minoru, Mukiwa’s beautiful eyes quietly revealed traces of joy and relief.

At this moment, the bridge of Nihonbashi was crowded with onlookers trying to find good spots to watch the fireworks.

People crowded and pushed each other…

“Hey! Stop pushing!”

“What are you pushing for? Can’t you see people are here?”

“There’s no more space here! Stop crowding!”

…

Mukiwa, being small and light, seemed like a willow catkin floating in a storm amidst the dense crowd.

Aoto had already noticed several times the “undercurrents” from behind bumping into Mukiwa, causing her to stumble.

“…Awu, come over here.”

Aoto raised his hand to grasp Mukiwa’s slender left wrist and pulled her in front of him, then braced himself against the railing ahead to create a safe space between his arms for Mukiwa to hide.

Using his body as a shield, he built a protective space where Mukiwa would no longer be bumped into.

This, however, inevitably created an intimate physical contact between her and Aoto.

All Aoto had to do was lower his head, and his nose would bury in Mukiwa’s beautiful hair.

Mukiwa only needed to lean back slightly, and she could rest her small head against Aoto’s strong chest muscles.

“!” A stunning crimson instantly dyed Mukiwa’s cheeks.

Although Mukiwa was turned away from him, and Aoto couldn’t see her expression at that moment, he vaguely saw soft “steam” rising from the top of Mukiwa’s head and forehead.

It was awkward… Mukiwa wasn’t the only one feeling shy—the instigator of this ambiguous scene was also embarrassed and tense all over.

Aoto had simply been worried that Mukiwa would get knocked over by the crowd, which was why he pulled her in front of him… He hadn’t considered anything beyond that.

It wasn’t until he had Mukiwa in his arms that Aoto realized how bold and intimate his actions were.

Mukiwa’s pleasant scent continuously drifted into his nostrils, and from his current angle, he could see the eye-catching sight of her yukata being pushed up by two sizable things… Aoto couldn’t help but have his thoughts wander.

To disguise the awkwardness, Aoto cleared his throat and asked Mukiwa in a pretend manner:

“Awu, is the space too tight? Should I spread my arms even wider?”

“No…” Fixated on her petite toes, Mukiwa shook her head gently while repeatedly grasping her folded hands, speaking shyly, “I feel it’s just right…”

Before her words had completely finished—

Woo~!

The fireworks rose.

Under everyone’s expectant gaze, the first firework finally ascended into the sky.

The dispersed red fireworks illuminated the entire night sky.

The crowd gasped in awe.

Aoto and Mukiwa no longer concerned themselves with their ambiguous positions, quickly looked up, and held their breaths as they watched one firework after another rise into the sky and explode.

This was Aoto’s first time witnessing the fireworks of this era since he traveled through time.

Was it because the fireworks of this era differed from modern ones in their craftsmanship? Or was it because he had a fair lady by his side? Aoto just felt that this grand firework display had a unique charm.

“Tamaya~~!”

“Kagiya~~!”

…

Though Tamaya had been expelled from Edo decades ago due to an accidental fire, the tradition of shouting “Tamaya” and “Kagiya” during fireworks festivals had persisted.

Amidst the flickering flames, vibrant colors painted Mukiwa’s cheeks and illuminated the lively glow of her eyes.

Perhaps, influenced by the surrounding atmosphere, the introverted and shy girl—who found it difficult to shout in a crowd without something to cover her face—after hesitating for a moment, mimicked those around her, placing her hands around her mouth.