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Review on KH Vol. 30
Vol 30 starts from chapters 153 to 158.
NB. Btw, I have not read these chapters myself. Below was done based on my very loose translation of those updates/ reviews in other languages I read elsewhere, hence may contain translation errors and inaccuracies……
ch. 153 - Nakamura’s last attempt to persuade Kamiya (aka Sei) to leave Shinsengumi.
Nakamura was fed up being a part of Harada’s troop, doing nothing to control the Sanjo Seisatsu Incident, but wasted time in the geishas house (or tea house?) instead. He thought it might be easier to convince Sei with Itou’s philosophy, once she could see through it herself how corrupted these Shinsengumi troops actually were…. So one day, he invited her to meet outside at night, alone.
“I do not care of a seppuku,” he said, “…I have to show you something important…”
As expected, Sei rejected him instantly, though she was growing suspicious of his reason for meeting her alone at night… Just as she decided to clear her mind of Nakamura, Okita showed up – he had something for her from Nakamura. It was a parcel with message, asking her to deliver this to him tonight, in case he might die in the fight with enemies.
Sei lost her rage, “WHAT THE HELL IS THIS? A dying wish or what?! Think I will go just because of this stupid message? Did he think I was an idiot????!!!!!!“
Okita, however, convinced her that she should go, in case anything really happen in the night. Sei looked at Okita with tears in her eyes, “Okita sensei, so you do WANT me to go?“. He replied that she should for Nakamura’s sake, just in case the enemies would turn up anytime. Sei then realised Nakamura must have deliberately asked Okita to be the messenger, so that she could not refuse him.
Remembering what he said about Okita, she lost her rage again, in her head this time, “So basically you just want to tell me what kind of man Okita sensei is right?! I am telling you I will love him FOREVER! So what it is an unrequited love?! Hail unrequited love! Hail baka sensei!! JUST YOU WATCH NAKAMURA GORO!!!!!!“
Sei then turned to Okita and said, “So, I will go as you said…. BUT PLEASE let me clarify this for once and for all, I am going ONLY because I do not want to hold on to what may be the deceased’s belongings! I have no wish in going to see him; I would DEFINITELY not if I could! especially I do not want to hear any misunderstanding about us! So PLEASE don’t ever do this kind of things again!!“…. and left the stunned Okita behind.
Thinking of what Sei had just said, Okita suddenly realised, “... could it really be..?”….and started chasing after Sei, reflecting also on what Saito san had said to him before, “What would be the real happiness for Sei? Don’t you know it by now?“.. After Okita left, Saito san appeared from no where thinking, “I was really going to kill him this time, if he didn’t chase after her…. But why I am still felling frustrated with that idiot!!“
Just as Nakamura was wondering why Sei had not showed up yet, Okita appeared in front of him. (Most likely Okita sensei was in a rush, ran too fast, found himself a short-cut, and arrived at the spot much earlier then Sei ^^). Nakamura was surprised to see him here and asked him why.
“To protect Kamiya.” Okita replied. “I should really accept your challenge now at an instant. But to avoid affecting your duties, let us arrange other times for the challenge. Should I win, I ask you to let go of Kamiya. Is it ok?”
Nakamura was astonished and speechless. Meanwhile, Harada came out to tell them a report had come and the enemies had arrived. Nakamura was stunned again by the this, but Okita was excited to be involved in the catch ^^ The enemies appeared but were defeated very quickly by the Harada’s troopNakamura then realised what Harada et al. had done; whilst pretending to be drunk and wasted, Harada had actually ordered some of his team to hide and attack the enemies as and when they show up! He deliberately misled their enemies to underestimate the Shingensumi’s strength.
Sei showed up finally, just in time to see the end of the show. “That’s fantastic, Nakamura! You are STILL alive“, she smiled, “Sorry I was late. Tonight’s moonlight was so beautiful that I felt asleep at the riverbank whilst enjoying the moonlight”… and then her face froze and continued, “Here your parcel! IF you do this again, I WILL KILL YOU!!……. Never I will do this again!”
The angry Sei turned around and saw Okita smiling at her instead, “The moon was so beautiful tonight, so I thought of coming to accompany Kamiya instead.“… and so the pair of them left, leaving behind a speechless Nakamura.
As the two walking and each holding a lantern in their hands, Okita suddenly asked, “Kamiya, have you been crying? Your eyes….“
“Eh? Are they still swollen (puffy)? … I was thinking of too many stupid things along the way ^^“
“… Is it because of me?…. I apologise, for I have been trapped in my own thoughts for so long that I did not paid enough consideration for you…. I should have told Nakamura that, ‘Kamiya belongs to me” as soon as he started challenging me back then…..”
(Sensei….) Sei’s heart pounded as she looked up to Okita…. and quickly geared herself up with a defensive pose, “OK! So what is the shock this time?! “ Sei had obviously been dramatised by too many disappointments from Okita before ^^
Instantly, Okita lost his confidence and his face turned red, “Have I mistaken? I thought Kamiya was really trying to stay away from Nakamura right? RIGHT?????“
“Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes, I was avoiding Nakamura, that’s all it was!!!…… I am so happy, very happy, hearing what sensei has just said!”
Okita was relieved by what she said (i.e her being “so happy” + “very happy” ^^)
They continued walking, just as Okita quietly said, “In fact I have already decided to take on the challenge (of Nakamura).“
“Wow, I am really looking forward to it ♥. I will surly be there to give the both of you my support ♥“
At this moment, Okita finally understood that he and Sei could actually share the same happiness ^^
Ch. 153 concluded the “Nakamura-Okita-Sei affair” as Nakamura still feeling sorry for himself thinking, “Wasn’t the ending obvious enough?!.. and since when did I ever challenge THAT PERSON on a sword duel?!“
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Ch. 154 began in 1866 (Keiô 2) and Tokugawa Yoshinobu was officially appointed by the emperor to succeed the shogunate; he became the 15th shogun on 5/12 (i.e. 10 January, 1867).
In the meantime, at Nishi Hongan-ji, the Shinsengumi troops continued to gossip on their new shogun. Sei expressed her displease with the shogun, followed by further teasing and joking between the troop leaders. Their gossip somehow was led to Hijikata and his frequent visits to a mysterious geisha recently…. Just as Sei was about to open her mouth and chip-in her comments, Okita grabbed her from the back, picked her up on his shoulder and ran away…. leaving the rest of the gossipers stunned. ^^
Under a tree, Okita let loose of Sei and asked, “Is it really that funny (strange) to be truly in love with somebody?” “NO! Not at all! I didn’t mean it that way… Even for me, I can truly understand what it feels like to be fallen in love with someone.“
Okita looked shocked and asked instantly, ”There is already THAT somebody for you, Kamiya?” (Somebody besides Nakamura san??????!!).
Unsure how to answer his question, Sei looked at Okita, both blushing red………. until a few sushi roll fell down from the tree; it was Saito san! ^^ He slowly climbed down, with one sushi roll still in his mouth, “Don’t mind me, please continue…..” Sei was shocked and shouted, “Why did Saito sensei eat up on the tree???” Okita, however embarrassed, bowed to Saito san and ran away instead, leaving Sei to wonder, “He (Okita) wants to climb up and eat on the tree too???”
At the commanders meeting (i.e. betwee Kondo, Hajikata and Itou), Itou expressed his deepest concern over the new shogun being untrustworthy and unreliable. Kondo, however, insisted his trust and loyalty to the shogun. Hajikata was annoyed by the fact that Kondo still had not been promoted as a Bakushin for all these years; as Kondo was not recognised as a proper bushi the Bakushin, he could not gain their respect that he truly deserved. Just as Hajikata was about to leave the room at the end of their meetings, he found a small message slip in his sleeve; that was Itou’s message for him to meet at the 10th hour of the evening. Hajikata was aware that their relationship had become much more intense and complicating, as they continued with their secret (meetings). But it was too late for Hajikata to withdraw from the game; he either sticked with it or loose the game entirely, which would harm the existence of Shinsengumi….
Meanwhile, Sei had prepared sushi for Okita for him to eat up on the tree. Okita giggled as he remembered their morning incident… Anyway, it ended up the pair of them climbing up the same tree and started munching away their sushi rolls….. Sei slipped and nearly fell down from the tree, Okita held her tight in his embrace saving her. Suddenly he realised what he had done and pushed her away, “Give me a break! a Shinsengumi dead falling down from a tree?! That would be the biggest joke in town by the morning!” Just as Sei being apologetic, he ran away saying, “Then, I shall return (to dormitory) now…. You… return after you have done up the bandage (on the chest)!!“
Leaving behind the embarrassed and screaming Sei, he looked at his hands and wondered, “What on earth?! …. they have grown bigger than before..!“.. and so Okita escaped into Saito san’s duvet, pleading, “Please Saito san, let me be your apprentice!!“ The “Master of calm” cooly replied, “I refuse.“….. ^^
Ch. 154 ended on 25/12, Keiô 2 (30 January 1867), when the emperor died unexpectedly. It had merely been 20 days since Yoshinobu succeeded the shogunate….
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Ch.155 -156
Mainly interactions between Hijikata and Itou as they continued with their secret meetings, and Itou’s unfolding his plan for tricking the Satsuma into believing his conflict with the Shinsengumi.
Saito san grew suspicious on Itou, seeing an increasing number of troop members hanging around him rather frequently lately…. Okita tried stopping Saito san to investigate any further as it might affect Hajikata’s current plan. Sometimes ago, on his way to his secret meeting with Itou, Hajikata was stopped by Okita. Instead, Hajikata asked Okita to remember only one thing, and that was no matter what it might appear to be, he would always be loyal to Kondo san and Shinsengumi. Although Okita had no idea what Hajikata was up to, he trusted him. So it was his “duty” to support Hajikata by clearing any possible obstacles ahead.
Meanwhile, Okita also trying to divert Sei’s attention on Hajikata and the rumors of his “mysterious woman”….. later in the chapters, Sei also started to suspect Itou was the “woman” whom Hajikata had been meeting secretly all these whiles…
In ch. 156, the troops went to visit Harada’s new born son. When Sei and Okita held up and played with the baby, the drunken Harada suddenly teased, “Ah~~~~ there there. you two look like a perfect happy couple together!” Needless to say, the baka Harada got all the smacks-on-the-head and scolding from the others…. Okita embarrassedly mumbled, “Come on… now…. Harada san! How could two men become a couple?!” Kondo replied, “But it may turn out that Soji (Okita) could be a good wife ^^” As everybody were soaked in laughters, Sei quietly left the room, feeling sad…. There was a saying, that even for the ugliest, a girl would be at her prettiest when she became 18; Sei just turned 19 years old today, and her prettiest year already over……
As Okita finally caught up with her, she whispered, “I have always wanted to be the wind…. Just like the free-spirited wind, without any form, and fly to anywhere with freedom…. But even so, I am still hanging on to the ground. I am just a blade of grass swaying hopelessly, destined to look up and only dreamed but never becoming the free-spirited wind…… the thought of it makes me feel empty inside.“
“Is that so. But has it ever come across your mind that, perhaps the wind also dreamt of becoming a blade of grass?“
“Huh?“
“Being able to hold on to a firm steady ground, growing pretty little flowers….. May be the wind is feeling envious of that blade of grass too?……. If ever possible, the wind may wish to blow away together with the flower…..”
Ch. 156 concluded as Saito and Nagakura were being invited by Itou to drink in a newly opened wine house.
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Ch.157-158
Saitou and Nagakura was invited by Itou and they drink all night outside the headquarter for three days. In fact, it was Itou’s scheme to try separate them from Shinsengumi, as well as testing Hajikata’s tolerance and trusts on him.
Knowing what happened, Sei grew concerns for Saitou and Nagakura, as they might be ordered a seppuku, breaking the Shinsengumi rules. Okita, however, ordered her to forget about this.
Stories continued in the wine house, where Itou continued to have a “friendly, casual and open” conversation with the two, in particular Nagakura, about their past and their thought of Kondo san…. Meanwhile, in the headquarter, Kondo was in distraught, learning the three of them had chosen to break the rules instead….. Could it be? that Nagakura trying to betray him again? At the end, he chose to have faith in them, “They would have their reasons…. Let them come back on their own terms… I don’t want to wake up from the nightmare of the past* again….. ” (*implying Yamanami’s seppuku)
At the end, the three of them did return to the headquarter. Kondo demanded to know their reason for not returning. Itou started by defending Nagakura and Saito san instead. The two were punished to be confined. Itou disclosed that he was merely doing this to trick their enemies into believing their conflict within Shinsengumi…
Ch.158 ended as Kondo rushed into Nagakura’s room where he was confined.
“NAGAKURA!! You foul-mouthed a lot of bad things about me when you were drunk. Was it true!?”
‘…. Yes I did!”
“You also said you saw your deceased brother in me?!”
“This…. My brother was my dream.. Therefore I could not forgive Kondo san, for any little faults of yours….. I was suspicious of Itou’s invitation, so I chose to stay behind. I did not expect myself enjoying the time we had.. I am ashamed of myself. Please let me commit a seppuku.”
“You bastard!! I was worrying sick about you!!!” (Tears)
“Kondo san~~~~~ I am so sorry!!!” (More tears…)
Later, when Sei returned from the patrol, Okita waved at her… and then whispered at her ears. Soon, Sei was completely in tears of joy and threw herself in Okita’s embrace. Okita, blushing red, held her tight instead….. The last scene of ch.158 ended at this happy sweet moment.
Author’s concluding note at the end of ch.158: ”So the three of them (Itou, Saito and Nagakura) were punished to be confined for a few days.. then the case rested….. Itou continued his scheme to separate from Shinsengumi, at Kondo’s acknowledgement…. At this moment, nobody could have expected a tragedy was already laying ahead, waiting for them….. “
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