My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 152: Chapter 89: ”Mr. Tachibana, Are You Married?

Aoto finally finished listening to Chokata’s ”prelude,” lightly pursing his lips as he silently digested the massive information he had just learned.

”So that’s how it is...”

”Well... listen to Chiba...”

At this moment, Shigetarou suddenly burst into hearty laughter, interrupting Aoto:

”Mr. Tachibana, there are two ’Chiba’ here, who are you calling?”

”You can simply call me ’Shigetarou,’ like Mr. Isami and the others do, and call my sister ’Sazanoko,’ which will be convenient for both of us.”

Aoto was startled: ”Calling you by your names directly...? Wouldn’t that be too disrespectful?”

In Japan, calling someone by their first name directly is considered very impolite and quite offensive; when dealing with strangers or friends with a normal relationship, one should only address them by their surname. Only those with a very close relationship would call each other by their first names.

”Hahaha.” Chiba Shigetarou laughed heartily again, ”It’s alright, neither my sister nor I mind such trivial matters.”

”Most of our friends call us by our names to distinguish between my sister and me.”

Sazanoko, who had been silent before, lightly interjected at this moment:

”Mr. Tachibana, feel free to call me and my brother ’Sazanoko’ and ’Shigetarou’ directly.”

Since the siblings said so, Aoto no longer had any concerns.

”Then...” Aoto picked up the thread that had been interrupted earlier, ”As Mr. Shigetarou mentioned just now, has the plan to hold the ’Red and White Battle,’ which has been delayed for a long time due to opposition from some priests, finally been approved?”

”Hahaha, yes.” Chiba Shigetarou looked emotional, ”During this period, the Divine Master of Yudashima Tenman Temple has almost worn out his lips trying to convince the opponents.”

”But his hard work has paid off. He successfully persuaded most of the stubborn people before the ’Plum Blossom Festival,’ and they all agreed to let us have a vibrant ’Red and White Battle’ during this year’s ’Plum Blossom Festival.’”

”My father has just learned of this good news.”

”Upon hearing this good news, my father immediately asked my sister and me to visit your esteemed residence at once and bring the good news to you.”

”Hohoho.”

Zhouzhu smiled apologetically.

”I’m really sorry to trouble you both coming over so late at night to report this good news to us...”

”Actually, you both needn’t have rushed to tell us this good news.

”Anyway, our Shiwei Hall will eventually learn about it sooner or later.”

”It’s alright, Mr. Zhouzhu.” Chiba Shigetarou let out his signature hearty laugh once again, ”It’s just a trivial matter that is hardly worth mentioning.”

”So it is finally confirmed, allowing us to hold the ’Red and White Battle’ at the site of the ’Plum Blossom Festival’...” At this moment, Kondo sighed and then smiled wryly as he lifted his hand to his chest, ”Ah, I’m already getting nervous... On the day of the ’Plum Blossom Festival,’ I wonder how many tourists will come to watch...”

”Ah, Mr. Isami, to be honest—” Upon hearing Kondo’s words, Chiba Shigetarou also smiled wryly as he raised his hand to his chest, ”After learning that it was confirmed, I’ve been really nervous too...”

”To be precise, I still feel very nervous even now...”

”On the day of the ’Plum Blossom Festival’... there should be hundreds of tourists coming to watch our ’battle’... Just thinking about that scene makes me nervous...”

Watching Chiba Shigetarou, who was also clutching his chest, Kondo smiled knowingly:

”Mr. Shigetarou, you’re nervous too... You must use the remaining half a month to adjust yourself, so you don’t embarrass yourself on the day of the ’Plum Blossom Festival’ from being too nervous.”

”Hahaha, Mr. Isami, same for you!”

...

...

Shigetarou and Sazanoko had purely come to inform Kondo and the others of this good news on their sudden visit to Shiwei Hall tonight.

Now that the siblings’ purpose has been achieved.

As it was already getting late, and since their purpose for this visit was fulfilled, the siblings felt it was inappropriate to linger at Shiwei Hall any longer.

Shigetarou and Sazanoko walked quickly to the entrance of the house as they were seen off by Kondo and the others.

”Mr. Tachibana.” After putting on his straw sandals, Shigetarou, with arms akimbo, regrettably said to Aoto, ”If time and conditions permitted, I would really like to chat more with you! I’m very eager to learn: how did you manage to defeat so many Anti-foreigner Faction rioters with so few people?”

Aoto smiled politely: ”I’m also very interested in having a good chat with you, Mr. Shigetarou; when time and opportunity allow in the future, let’s have a good long chat together.”

Aoto’s words weren’t entirely out of courtesy.

He had always had a good impression of Chiba Shigetarou, this bright, forthright, and easygoing person.

If conditions permitted, he was indeed quite interested in having a long chat with this hearty man in front of him.

”Haha!” Listening to Aoto’s words, Chiba Shigetarou raised an eyebrow, lifted his hand, and gave Aoto’s right shoulder a light but firm pat, ”Great! It’s a promise then, when there’s time and opportunity in the future, let’s find a place to have a good long chat!”

After saying that, Chiba Shigetarou suddenly looked sideways towards his sister.