Earning the trust of the Shinsengumi through hard work, Nakamura Keiko still hasn't earn their heart and tries to comply to their demands to her best, keeping her goal in mind and a male's attire at all times.

Over the passing of the few next days, it was frequently asked from Keiko that she dressed as an official and acted as an interpret for the group. The men sent over by the allied members from the shogunate were mostly from the west, and not many even knew how to act accordingly in presence of Japanese officials. The young woman often had to explain to Kondou-san why some of them reacted in different ways throughout the daily rituals and the conversations they had. Her experience proved to be useful.

She was allowed to meet the rest of the Shinsengumi as long as she was dressed as a man and behaved like one, but a problem was quickly noticed by those who knew of her secret.

"She's unbelievably bad at being manly."

Souji's comment surprised the others who were training just beside him. Heisuke, Shinpachi and Harada interrupted their activity to come and peep around the corner already occupied by their friend, discovering a view that explained fully his amused statement: still dressed as a man, but with a much simpler garb, her hair darkened by coal and tied up in a topknot, Keiko was crouched in the grand alley in front of what seemed to be a puppy, and she was petting it with an expression that didn't suit a male at all. The young girl's attitude, laugh and posture were clearly that of a girl. At least, no one else detected her manners before Harada stepped in, leaving the other guys behind, and mercilessly enlightened her on the issue.

"You womanliness is flooding the whole headquarters." He said straightforwardly while crossing his arms.

Startled, the young woman turned around hastily and nearly punched him as she had for Heisuke and Shinpachi. Knowing she had nothing to fear inside their grounds, she prevented herself to hit him and just stared back at his merciless grin.

"Time for a lesson!" his deep voice declared while looking down on her.

"No, this is silly!"

Harada made Keiko fall on her back again by pressing his spear on the back of her ankles. Biting the dust again, she did not dare let go of any complaints and got back on her feet right away.

"Start over again!" he ordered strictly.

The guys, gathered on the veranda to assist to this very interesting display of the spearman trying to teach the rudiments of being a man to their newly acquired, non-official member. So far, he had made her stand like a man, talk like one, and was now force-feeding her with a crash-course about walking like a real male. Nevertheless, she had a lot to learn.

"Sanosuke sure is a demon when it comes to training." stated Shinpachi with pity flowing through his voice. "Still, it makes for a great show!" he added, whipping his sympathy with a greater dose of enthusiasm.

The others agreed, enjoying their time as bystanders to the lesson, later joined by Chizuru, who had detected the get-together as she was heading toward the kitchen to prepare the evening meal. When she interrogated them as of what was going on, Souji answered with a great deal of amusement barely restrained within his words:

"Sano-san is beating the man out of the young mistress."

Noticing the display in the court, she looked long enough to see her feminine homologue meet the ground yet again after a questionable attempt at walking like the spearman who was giving her the example. Out of her usual gentle heart, she walked toward the two performers and affirmed with an inch of credibility:

"Keiko-san is asked to assist me in the preparations for tonight's dinner. May I interrupt your training for the time being, please?"

Harada complied gracefully to her demand and, as an acknowledgment of her effort, stroked his student's head gently before letting her go. Her face going up a shade, she stared at him.

"Sorry Harada-san, but you should refrain from doing that again." The young woman muttered with a sorry look.

Startled, the young man's cheeks also blushed and he replied, seeming confused and disappointed:

"I apologize, I didn't think it would upset if I touched you head without permission…"

"Now your hand is dirty because of me."

He looked at his hand, full of coal and blackened heavily, then at Keiko who smiled but still looked very apologetic. He felt like a complete idiot and immediately responded with embarrassment:

"Well, I don't mind getting dirty for a lady!"

His answer brought tons of chuckles and giggles coming from the veranda, thwarting the young woman who reddened even more. Finally, Chizuru wanted to grab her hand and lead her to the kitchen to save her from her awkwardness, but a sizzling dart of pain fused trough her arm as she did so. Her reaction, accompanied by the painful cry she let out, caught the attention of everyone in the courtyard. Staggered by her sudden yell, Keiko immediately turned to her and asked if everything was alright.

"Did I hurt you? Can I help you, Chizuru-chan?" her caring voice fused with worry.

"I'm good now, there's no more pain… I might have done a wrong move today and it suddenly ached when I used my hand."

Soothed, everyone calmed down. Still, Keiko noticed that Souji, as well as Saitou, had drawn their blades at her at the very second they heard Chizuru's scream. Noting that in a corner of her mind, she kept her eyes to the ground with grief as she understood she was still a stranger and a potential danger to these men, not their friend. Recovered completely, her only female company leaded her toward the kitchen, but at their great surprise, Souji asked to join them in the dinner's preparations. They agreed, assembling in the kitchen with a bit of awkwardness that twitched horribly.