Chapter 601 - 191: Aoto Makes Mukiwa Blush

Chapter 601: Chapter 191: Aoto Makes Mukiwa Blush

Aoto’s sharp peripheral vision quickly captured the fleeting, indistinct expression on Sazanoko’s face, prompting him to ask this question.

"It’s nothing..."

Sazanoko half-closed her eyes, her red lips slightly parted, gently exhaling a hint of fragrance.

"I just have a bit of sentimentality in my heart."

"Although half a month has already passed... the experiences of that night were truly thrilling, making me feel like I’m still dreaming even now."

"Just a little difference, and I might not be standing next to you chatting like this now."

With that, Sazanoko paused, slowly raising her exquisite, pretty face and crystal-like eyes, looking up at Aoto.

"Even though I’ve said similar words repeatedly these days, I still want to sincerely thank you once again."

Sazanoko turned her body towards Aoto.

"Mr. Tachibana, I’m very grateful for your life-saving grace."

Sazanoko bent forward and performed a flawless bow, revealing the smooth, white nape of her neck that seemed incredibly soft just by looking at it.

"...I’ve really been receiving a lot of thanks lately." Aoto scratched the hair at the back of his head, a helpless curve appearing at the corner of his mouth, "Miss Sazanoko, please straighten up. I have received your gratitude."

"I just did what I should have done, that’s all."

"Mr. Tachibana, you are really humble." Sazanoko’s gaze slowly moved upwards with her straightening waist, once again looking up at Aoto, meeting his gaze, "Despite achieving such great accomplishments, you don’t boast in the slightest."

"Humility... it’s not really that." Aoto smiled faintly and lowered his hand from his head, "I just don’t think I did anything particularly impressive."

"Moreover, I wasn’t fighting bloodily that night to gain people’s admiration or receive some unimaginable reward."

"Then why were you fighting?" Sazanoko instinctively asked.

"For nothing." Aoto actively broke the eye contact with Sazanoko and looked at a white cloud passing by the window in the sky, "I just wanted to do it, purely and simply."

Aoto sensed Sazanoko’s puzzled gaze... She probably didn’t understand what he meant just now.

Aoto pondered for a moment to phrase his words, then said softly:

"At that time, after I successfully interrogated members of the Anti-foreigner Group and found out where you and Miss Nakamura were held and that the settlement was about to be attacked, I really didn’t think about anything."

"To be more precise, I didn’t think much."

"I only felt that if I ignored it, I would lose something very important."

"When I came to my senses, I had already decided to rescue you and Miss Nakamura, and to protect the settlement to the best of my ability."

"Simply put, I just moved with my heart."

Sazanoko blinked her bright eyes a few times, giving Aoto a deep, meaningful look.

The emotions in her gaze were hard to grasp, but didn’t contain any negativity.

"...I used to think Mr. Tachibana was much like someone I know..."

"Looking at it now, it’s truly an illusion."

"Hmm?" Aoto turned his head, looking at the reminiscing Sazanoko with confusion.

"Mr. Tachibana, you are nothing like my acquaintance."

"Compared to that acquaintance, Mr. Tachibana, you are more... elusive."

"Huh?" Aoto paused.

Sazanoko’s sudden words, with odd phrasing, rendered Aoto’s expression dominated by intense curiosity.

More elusive... When Sazanoko said this, her tone was very calm, and her expression remained tranquil, leaving Aoto unclear whether Sazanoko was complimenting or criticizing him.

Sazanoko understood Aoto’s confusion.

"I wasn’t speaking ill of you."

"How should I put it..."

Sazanoko pursed her alluring, full red lips thoughtfully.

"Mr. Tachibana, you can take my previous words as praising your distinctiveness."

"I used to think Mr. Tachibana only excelled in swordsmanship."

"But now I realize that you not only excel in swordsmanship but are also extraordinary in temperament."

"Now I regard you with a bit of newfound respect."

After finishing, Sazanoko smiled.

Just an ordinary, gentle smile.

But as Sazanoko revealed this gentle smile, it seemed that the air and light around her suddenly converged towards her.

This was the first time Aoto saw Sazanoko, usually seen as an overly serious high flower, smile at him.

At this moment, Aoto felt his vision compress.

His field of vision was narrowed down to a small central area encompassing only Sazanoko’s smiling face.

He couldn’t focus on anything else.

This wasn’t the same as being focused.

In short, in Aoto’s eyes now, there was only her, only this smile that seized the surrounding light, air, and his gaze.

Chiba’s Ghost Komachi, Edo’s First Beauty... Aoto previously had no real sense of these titles referring to Sazanoko.

Sazanoko was indeed beautiful. Whether in appearance or figure, Sazanoko was a stunning beauty, yet Aoto had always found it hard "to truly appreciate Sazanoko’s beauty."

Until now.

Until this very moment when witnessing Sazanoko’s smile, Aoto was enlightened.

He finally understood—why Sazanoko was praised by so many as "Edo’s First Beauty."