My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 463: Chapter 164: Sazanoko: "I Will Never Fall for Mr. Tachibana" [6600]_4

"I couldn’t resist for a moment and started flipping through this notebook without your permission."

Chiba Shigetarou hesitantly took back the booklet that Sazanoko handed over.

Sazanoko’s reaction... was much calmer than he had anticipated.

Anyone who isn’t a fool would understand what the book is used for after reading its contents.

He had thought that Sazanoko, who was strong-willed and had repeatedly told him that "there’s no need to worry about her marriage," would be at least displeased, if not angry, after seeing this booklet...

Chiba Shigetarou’s gaze wandered back and forth between the booklet he retrieved and Sazanoko’s beautiful face.

"...Sazanoko." Chiba Shigetarou took a deep breath and hesitantly asked, "Are you not angry?"

"There’s nothing to be angry about." Sazanoko said expressionlessly, "I’m no longer the kind of little girl who would get angry over such things."

"The only feeling I have now... is that you’re wasting time doing this kind of thing, brother."

"Brother, don’t do such meaningless things anymore."

"I appreciate your good intentions, but I really don’t need you to do this for me."

Meaningless... hearing this word from Sazanoko, Chiba Shigetarou couldn’t help but feel a heavy twitch at the corner of his eye.

Anyway, since Sazanoko has already seen this booklet... a feeling of "what’s done is done" surged in Shigetarou’s heart.

"Sazanoko." Chiba Shigetarou straightened his back, raising his voice, "You don’t actually plan to stay unmarried and live alone for the rest of your life, do you?"

Chiba Shigetarou opened the booklet in his hand, to the first page, to the page with "Sakamoto Ryoma" written on it.

Looking at this name, Chiba Shigetarou’s expression involuntarily turned peculiar.

"Or is it that... you still have feelings for that Sakamoto Ryoma?"

Always composed, Sazanoko’s usually impassive eyes showed a flicker of wavering when she heard Shigetarou’s final question.

"Sazanoko, don’t blame me for speaking plainly."

"Three years ago, when Sakamoto Ryoma left our Little Chiba Sword Dojo and returned to his hometown, he clearly told you, didn’t he? He has no such feelings for you, he’s always seen you as just an ordinary friend."

"It’s been three years now, such a long time has passed, shouldn’t you move on and look forward?"

"In this world... no, forget the world! Just in this corner of Edo, there are many excellent young men like Sakamoto Ryoma, and even better than him."

"Like Mr. Tachibana."

Chiba Shigetarou flipped through the pages with a "rustling" sound, turning to the page with Aoto’s name on it.

"Sazanoko, don’t you think Mr. Tachibana is quite nice?"

"Good-looking and good-natured, he holds a respectable official position with a busy yet decent income, currently rising rapidly in his career, with a promising future."

"Besides that, he has exceptional talents in swordsmanship, a perfect match with our Chiba family. As long as he persists in honing his sword skills, he will surely make remarkable achievements in the path of Sword Dao in the future."

"And he’s tall."

"Sazanoko, you’re already quite tall, and Mr. Tachibana happens to be a head taller, so we won’t face the awkward situation of ’the man being shorter than the woman.’

Chiba Shigetarou wanted to say more, but Sazanoko interrupted him.

"That’s enough, brother, you don’t need to say anymore."

Sazanoko lowered her eyelids, parted her red lips, and let out a soundless sigh.

Then, she raised her head and met his gaze, giving him a plain smile as if she had seen through the vicissitudes of life.

"I will not fall for Mr. Tachibana."

"So there’s no need to waste your words telling me about the merits of Mr. Tachibana or anyone else."

Chiba Shigetarou’s expression changed slightly, and he hastily asked, "Why? Are you not interested in Mr. Tachibana?"

"To be precise, right now, I have absolutely no interest in matters of love." Sazanoko’s voice rose slightly, "Let me first answer your earlier question, brother."

"I don’t like anyone right now, including Mr. Sakamoto."

"Long ago, I no longer held strong feelings for Mr. Sakamoto, who explicitly rejected me and told me that ’I would only be a burden if I stay.’"

"If it were a few years ago, I might have cared more about my future marriage."

"But times have changed."

"Having passed my youthful days, I’m no longer the little girl who yearns for such things."

"Now, I just want to focus on honing my martial arts skills and assisting Father and you in running the Little Chiba Sword Dojo, and nothing else."

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Seeking monthly votes! Seeking recommendation votes! (crying with a leopard head.jpg)

Speaking of Sazanoko, I suddenly remember that some readers oddly told me that if Aoto and Sazanoko developed a special relationship, it would be like taking up the mantle...

I just want to ask these readers: don’t you have any misunderstanding about the word ’mantle’? Sazanoko, who has never even been in love and only had a one-sided affection for someone, what mantle is there to take up? The vast assets of the Chiba family, however, could be considered a mantle! (leopard head laughing.jpg)