Once you're used paying with credit card, you'll start spending way more money than you have
A Kagura-Hijikata special! 3
I just love Toushi being a stepdad.
"Toushii." Her big sky-blue eyes were looking at him in a mix of innocence and sternness. "I need your help."
It wasn't so much the fact that she asked him a favor but rather the fact that she stood in front of his room inside the Shinsengumi Headquarter. Her lackadaisical gaze was adorning her cute face as she tilted her head and sighed like it was a pain in the ass to come here in the first place.
The diligent Vice Commander looked at her in utter surprise, sitting on his work table and shuffling around some papers. It was his day off duty today, but he still couldn't help it. He wanted to work. Especially since he had been hospitalized for a week just a while back. He couldn't stand Sougo's constant teasing anymore, reminding him what a 'lazy ass' and 'useless policeman' he was. But now, as the young teenager with the red hair stood in his doorway, he couldn't help but focus his attention on something else.
Befuddled, he eyed her and tilted his head as well. "…My help?"
An annoyed grunt and she walked in just like the insolent girl she was. She didn't care for Earth's strange ideas of authority or hierarchy. She just waltzed into his room and stopped in front of him, her face signaling the pain she was going through.
"Yes. I need to borrow some money."
That gave the cop an uneasy feeling in his stomach. As much as he loved his boyfriend, this guy really needed to pay his kids. He felt bad for them. Hopefully, they weren't starving because this guy couldn't get his shit together. If she was coming to him, she must have been really desperate. Edgy, the dark-haired man let go of the pen he was holding and scratched the neck of his dark kimono. He was hesitant but not defensive.
"How much?"
Kagura just shrugged and averted her gaze, as in embarrassment. "Not much. Just enough so I can get this piece of shit a birthday present."
Oh.
Oh right. Gintoki's birthday was coming up.
He smiled just a little bit and tried to lighten the mood. "You sure you really want to? If that guy can't even pay you a salary, are you sure you want to spend your money on him?"
She pouted and took the bait. "'s not that I want to. But you damn Earthlings really celebrate your birthdays, right? He'll get sad if I don't get him something. And I live with that guy. 'Don't wanna hear him bitch about this until the end of the year."
Hijikata was happy that he could read the girl a bit better now. Even though they still had quite a distanced relationship. But he liked her. She triggered his natural protective instinct. Smiling, he just shrugged and turned back to his papers.
"Do some handicrafts then. It's free and comes from the heart."
"I'm not in kindergarten, y'know?" Kagura replied unnerved. "And besides, I'm bad at stuff like that."
"So, you really want to borrow money just to get him a gift?"
"Just a bit." She was scratching the tatami with her foot. "I'll pay it back, I promise."
As if she had to. Hijikata would never ask a teenager to pay back money when he had a steady income. Especially not if said teenager was suffering under an irresponsible adult like Gintoki. He turned towards her again and fumbled for his wallet.
"Ok, fine then. Take whatever you want."
As he handed her his wallet, she hesitated. Looking at him in an uncomfortable silence, she seemed to struggle with words. The dark-haired man paused as well, not quite grasping the whole meaning of this situation. He had been sure she would leap at his money without a second thought.
Eventually, she cleared her throat and blushed a bit. "I also need some help choosing his gift."
.
What? Suddenly, Hijikata gulped and understood what she was getting at. She wanted him to join her? Why? She knew this guy better than anyone. So why him? He didn't understand.
Blushing a bit as well, he shook his head. "I… I'm not sure I'd be of any help."
"Doesn't matter." She got grumpy. Seemed to be her coping mechanism as well. "I don't wanna go alone and you're the only person I can ask."
Really, he was completely taken aback. Kagura wanted to go shopping with him? For Gintoki's birthday present? With him? He would have never expected that. He really didn't know how to react.
"But… what about Shinpachi-kun?"
Now, she got furious. Her glare was both embarrassed and impatient. "I said, you're the only one I can ask! You really think you can refuse, Toushii? You know why I'm always having to sleep over at other people's homes recently? It's because you two homos have been super lovey-dovey for a while now! You know how irritating that is? Being kicked out of your own apartment just so your dads can make out? 's not that I'm not willing to give you two some space but I live there for God's sake! So, you owe me one, Toushii!"
And just like that, his head flushed.
Oh dear, she was right. He really had been intruding their personal space a lot lately, hadn't he? Damn, it was embarrassing being called out like that. Not being able to look her in the eye, he cleared his throat. "S-sorry. …I'm sorry."
"So, you'll go shopping with me?"
It was not like he had a choice.
Half an hour later, both of them were taking a stroll along the busy shopping street.
It was a warm day, even though it was autumn now. Kagura was browsing through the goods of some stalls but it was mostly omiyage* and some super expensive souvenirs. Somehow, she didn't look too pleased. Hijikata was feeling weird. Uncomfortable, he was smoking cigarette after cigarette and was mostly staying out of the teenager's way. He didn't know what she was looking for, after all. It was not like he was a big help when it came to a gift for the Yorozuya. He was still struggling with his upcoming birthday, after all. From time to time, he answered Kagura whenever she showed him something but somehow both of them were uncomfortable with that. This just felt so weird.
Finally, after the tenth omiyage booth, the alien girl grunted in frustration. "Goooooood, why is this so hard?!"
I feel you, he thought but didn't answer. Instead, he still kept his distance, eying her. "I really don't think you have to put much thought into it. What was his present for your birthday?"
She pouted as if a horrible memory haunted her. "A toothbrush and a pack of tampons."
Hijikata shivered. This guy was such a horrible guardian. "So, get him something equally awful."
For a moment, she went silent. Something was bothering her, wasn't it? The policeman didn't pry, though.
"Do you already have a gift for him?"
"…No. Not really."
The teenage girl eyed him, and he was blushing just a little bit under her scrutinizing gaze. She wondered if he lied or really didn't have one yet. She opted for the latter. Sighing, Kagura turned around and started walking again, crossing her arms behind her head.
"I wanna get him something nice. So that he'll feel guilty and will get me something real for my next birthday. Besides, I don't wanna sink to his level."
Good point. He took a drag and closed his eyes. "So, what were you thinking of getting him?"
"Honestly, no idea."
Man, that was hard. Though, Hijikata was tenacious by nature. So, he was dead-set on helping her achieve her goal. "Let's go to the mall, then. Maybe we'll find something there."
Her face brightened just a bit and she nodded in excitement. "Can we have cake as well?"
"Sure."
"Ahh~! You're the best, Toushiii!" As she was cuddling up to his side, he froze for a second. People began to stare, and he began to sweat. He just hoped he didn't look like a sugar daddy preying on a little girl. Fortunately, she quickly pushed him away again and pinched her nose. "Urgh! You reek of cigarettes!"
.
Once they were inside the mall, Kagura instantly got more cheerful. Maybe it was the lack of sun or the cool air from the air con that returned a smile on her face. Gleefully, she told him to carry her umbrella and darted off towards the shop windows. Hijikata just sighed and craved a cigarette. Smoking wasn't allowed in here, though, and he didn't want to go to a smoker's room. Damn those new laws protecting innocent people from second-hand smoke…
The man with the olive-brown hair looked around. He hadn't been inside a mall for ages. He wasn't exactly the shopping type and in the Shinsengumi, he just needed to ask, and others would buy the things he needed. The rest he could get in supermarkets and shops. Besides, he felt like he was getting too old to enjoy things like this. But being here with Kagura was fine. Especially since she seemed to be enjoying herself.
As he watched her staring at girly stuff in the window of a jewelry store, he couldn't suppress a bittersweet smile. She was probably lonely, wasn't she? And he guessed Gin didn't take her out shopping often. Damn that guy was messed up. He needed to take care of his daughter and make sure she could buy the things she wanted.
Somehow, Hijikata felt the urge to cheer her up.
"Toushii!" She was waving him closer and pointed at a tiara. "How about this one?"
He couldn't refrain a grin. "Would suit him perfectly."
"Right?!" She chuckled. "He's such a drama queen after all."
"How about this one?"
When the cop pointed at a golden necklace with a cute strawberry in a whipped cream hat, Kagura had to laugh out loud. "Perfect!"
Relieved, Hijikata buried his left hand inside his kimono. He was happy they could bond this way. The sugar freak didn't deserve anything else. But then again, Gintoki would probably actually enjoy these presents. "Maybe we should pierce his ears? Look at all these earrings in the shape of dessert."
"Those are really cute!" She gasped and scowled the second later. "Too cute. If I can't have cute things, then he can't either!"
"Do you want to wear those?"
"Nah." She pouted. "I'm not the type for jewelry. Gets in the way when fighting."
"You'd look cute in it, though."
Shocked, she stared at him and almost choked. "Urgh… are you hitting on me, Toushi?! What would Gin-chan say?!"
"O-of course not!" He took one step back, panicking.
Giggling, she poked him with her elbow. "Haha, I know you're not. But thanks anyway." For just a second, it looked like she blushed, a small smile on her lips. "You're sweet."
Not saying anything, he stared down at her. She was cute alright. Like the little sister, he never had. Before he could add anything, however, she already walked to the next store. "Toushii! Look, look! I think I found something for Gin-chan!"
"Come on, Toushi. Pleeeeeeease!"
She started to whine and the sound she made was insufferable. His fist was shaking, and he clenched his teeth. He didn't want to.
"Come on! We can only be sure if you do it! You two are so similar, it will work! I promise!"
He didn't want to. No!
A few teardrops appeared in her eyes and she sniffed. "You're cruel, Toushi. This way, I'll never find a gift for him…"
Damn it at all!
With a deep, dissatisfied growl, he snatched it out of her hand and disappeared. Kagura, in turn, started to dance and clap. Worked every time. Men were such hopeless losers. Grinning, she shouted at him behind the curtain.
"You're gonna look amazing, Mayora!"
Two minutes later, he shoved the curtain of the changing booth open with unnecessary force. Grunting, hiding, eyes closed, he didn't dare to come out of the booth. "Not. The. Right. Size."
And all of the sudden, Kagura started snorting with laughter. Her body was convulsing, and she held her sides as the tears came. "You look breathtaking, Toushi!"
The demonic Shinsengumi Vice Chief was wearing a pink shirt with a cupcake on it. The shirt was way too small. It looked as if someone put children's clothes on a bodybuilder. The cloth ended at his bellybutton and right at his armpits. Hijikata's head flushed and he yelled at her, yanking the curtain shut again.
"Just get me a bigger size, for Heaven's sake!"
"Aye, aye!" It was hard for the teenager to stop laughing. She somehow managed to throw two other shirts over the curtain into the booth. "Try on the strawberry milk one next!"
Her wish was his command and a few seconds later, he opened the booth again. This time, he was wearing an eggshell-colored shirt with a cute carton of milk on it. All-inclusive with a face, sparkles, and glitter. Hijikata's face was peeved because the shirt was too tight again, even though it was the right size.
Suppressing her laugh, Kagura nodded now, scratching her chin. "Hm, it looks great. But something's off, isn't it?"
"That's because it's a woman's shirt!" The cop growled and stayed inside the changing room. If Sougo saw him like this, it would be his end.
"Ah, poppycock! Gin-chan won't mind."
"I'm sure he will! I can't even move in this thing! As soon as I raise my arms, this thing goes up!"
"That's because it's sexy!" Kagura chuckled again, not being able to resist. Hijikata looked hilarious in this.
"Sexy my ass! Is that how women's clothes are designed? You can't even move properly without showing off skin!"
"Well, welcome to our world, Toushii." The schadenfreude in her voice was obvious.
"This won't work! We may be the same height but we have different body types, you know? He's heavier than I am."
Now it was Kagura's turn to show her sadistic side. Her grin was devilish. "Is that so? Well, how would I know? I'm not the one seeing him naked on a regular basis."
"Kch…" His head reddened now, glowing almost. "That's not what I meant…"
"Oh, really?" She chortled, clearly enjoying the high ground. "So, he's more muscular than you? Is that what you want to say? Do you like muscular men, Toshi?"
Swallowing all the insults and curses dwelling inside of him, he dragged the curtains shut once more. Kagura's cackle sounded through the whole shop and mocked him relentlessly.
The third time, it took longer for Hijikata to come out. Kagura was growing impatient, looking at other shirts now. Most of those she liked were indeed for women. But some of them were pretty wide and without any frippery. This boutique was a real gold mine for trashy clothes. And honestly? She was convinced Gin-chan would actually like them.
"Ok, last one."
When she turned around, she was quite surprised. The shirt actually fitted him. Not just size-wise. It was white with pale blue stripes on the sleeves and waistband. The cute little print of a pink parfait adorned his chest and belowパフェ was written in pink letters. A few stars with happy faces made the design perfect.
It took a short moment until Kagura beamed. "I'll take it!"
"You think he'll like it, huh?" Hijikata's face didn't show any emotions anymore. He had accepted his fate.
"What's not to like? It says 'parfait' and is white and blue! It'll absolutely suit him!"
"Well… then I'm happy." That this was over, he meant.
"Should we get one for you, too?"
He almost choked on that, quickly disappearing inside the booth again. "I'm good, thank you."
She chuckled happily and hollered. "Yaaaay! Let's eat ice cream next! Toushii, come on! Let's get ice cream!"
He didn't mind anymore. He really didn't mind at all. Seeing the girl so carefree and joyful made him feel at peace. She was happily eating her giant cone of ice cream, including 6 different flavors, waffles, chocolate sauce, and sprinkles. He got chocolate flavor and spiced it up with his mayonnaise from his personal stash. They were walking along one of the bridges to cross over to the other side where Kagura saw another store she was interested in. She insisted to buy another gift for Gintoki but somehow, he had the feeling that she enjoyed this whole shopping trip.
Below them, the lower floors lay and above them, the sunlight streamed down through the glass ceiling. There were decorations all over the place, most of them silver fishes, squids and jellyfish reflecting the sunlight like a beautiful mirror ball. The theme seemed to be underwater, and in the distance, they could see a giant mythological sea creature trying to bite off the fourth floor. It was impressive, to say the least. Hijikata didn't know they were having so much art in malls. He understood why people liked it.
Kagura was munching her waffle, half of her ice cream already gone. He hadn't realized she was staring at him. "Toushii. Today's your day off, right?"
"Hm?" His dark blue eyes met hers and for a moment, he paused. "Ah, yeah. Why?"
"Just wondering." She tilted her head and scrutinized him. "Why were you working then? Why 're you not doing anything with Gin-chan? Did you two have a fight? Got tired of his stinking feet already?"
Oh, that's what she had been wondering about. "Ah, no. I just felt like working since that time. You guys have been taking out the drug ring, so I wanted to get some work done."
"Honestly." The red-haired girl sighed dramatically. "You're working too much. Try to be a reasonable adult for once, ok? I can't take care of you as well. I already got my hands full with one shitty adult."
He smiled and scratched his head. Somehow, being scolded by her didn't bother him too much. "Sorry."
"Good thing I'm getting you outside today." Her cheeky smile was pure gold. "Otherwise, you'd die of karōshi*."
"Thanks for taking care of me."
When she saw his warm and benign expression, she beamed as well. There wasn't much left to say, so she continued to eat her ice cream and strolled towards the other shops. The silence between them was comfortable now and she could feel him relaxing. She wondered why he had been so tense around her. Was he still worried she didn't approve of him and their relationship? Honestly, these guys were dense sometimes.
It was nice spending time with him like that. Sure, she needed a present for her shitty warden and she didn't have any money, but she liked Toshi. They hadn't spent time with each other since the day they all had been to the cinema and festival. She was almost getting jealous sometimes. Hijikata was such a responsible and nice person. Kagura needed that from time to time, especially whenever Gin was really obnoxious. He was a good counterbalance.
True, she still believed Tsukuyo would have been a nice fit for Gin-chan. But only because she wanted to have more female friends and role models. Gintama featured a lot of strong women but she sometimes still felt like all the focus was on the men. So, having Tsukuyo as a mother would have been nice. However, she couldn't complain about Hijikata being her stepdad either. He was doing a decent job. She was glad he and Gin-chan were a couple. Even if that meant the two of them getting all lovey-dovey in their apartment.
When her train of thought embarked in that direction, she suddenly flinched and shook her head. Getting nervous all of the sudden, she tried thinking of something else. Not now. It wasn't the right time yet.
.
Kagura didn't even notice she stopped in front of an electronics store. She was spacing out when her eyes met a cute clamshell phone with bunnies all over the shell. Hijikata, in turn, didn't realize any of her inner turmoil. The only thing he saw was her staring at a mobile phone. So, when his voice sounded, she winced for a second.
"That one with the rabbits is cute."
"What?" Her big blue eyes stared at him in utter confusion.
"That one." He pointed at it calmly, making sure she understood what he was getting at. "It suits you."
For a moment, the red-haired girl stared back and forth between her new dad and the cell phone. When she finally understood, she was genuinely startled. "I don- I don't need one…"
"Sure, you do." His gaze met hers and she could see how serious he was. "You don't have my number yet."
"Your… number?" What? Why? Why was he acting so weird all of the sudden?
Just a shrug. "In case something's wrong. Which is always, Yorozuya being your warden and all."
She shook her head in sheer bewilderment. "You serious?"
"Yeah." He turned away a bit, leaving her some space. "Girls need a phone when they get older. Or do you want to be depended on his old-ass telephone at home forever?"
He had a point. But still, him taking care of her was really, really weird. And really, really nice. Her cheeks reddened now, and she scratched the floor with her foot. "Toshii… that's nice of you. But I don't want to be indebted to you."
"Who says you will be?" A short answer as he looked away. "I'm only giving you the phone and the starting money. But you're the one who has to recharge it with your own money."
A gulp and she felt a tingle in her chest. Truth be told, she actually did want a cell phone. "That's still too much…"
"Listen." Oh, how much he craved a cigarette right now. "It's not your fault this sugar freak is a lazy ass who can't even pay you a salary. I've got enough money saved up, so one or two phones won't matter that much. You're old enough to handle these kinds of things now. And besides, if you ever do get in trouble, that way it'll be easier to contact me."
For a second, her eyes tore up. She sniffed and quickly rubbed away the swelling tears. This guy really was much nicer than he let on. The alien girl refrained from hugging him again. Instead, she hit him with a chuckle. "Damn, Toshi. You're making me blush. You're such a ladies' man!"
Now it was his turn to blush. He cleared his throat but before he could reply anything, she pinched him.
"Thank you…"
"…You're welcome."
After a moment of uncomfortable silence, the policeman offered her a few thousand yen and she gratefully took it, dashing off into the store the second later. His heart still pounding, Hijikata turned away and walked a few steps towards the balustrade to take a breather. Man, did he crave a cigarette. He was still not very good at dealing with teenagers, much less alien teenage girls. He didn't want to scare her off or condescend her. He genuinely wanted to help her. But he was a klutz when dealing with women. That was probably also why he never had a girlfriend.
Not wanting to go in this direction, he took a deep breath and waited for Kagura to return. This day turned out to be fun if he was completely honest. He would spend some more time with her. He didn't have any plans, after all.
A playful blow hit him from behind and when he turned around, a teenager with a gigantic smile greeted him from behind.
"Let's have some cake, shall we?"
They were sitting in a lovely café. It was bright and spacious, the walls painted in pastel colors and the tables adorned with the cutest decorations one could imagine. There were pictures of pandas on the walls and windows, fresh flowers on the counter and the menu was overflowing with childish dish names and cartoons. All of the snacks and sweets were ridiculously charming, had faces and looked like a gallery of emojis. Naturally, it was filled with girls and young women. One of them was Kagura, though her company didn't quite fit the youthful, cute atmosphere of this place.
The alien girl had ordered a cake that looked like a cat and the policeman had opted for coffee, though the foam on top of it was adorned with the face of a panda. He had just sighed and accepted it. This wasn't exactly something worth complaining about. And honestly, even though his otaku self had died hundreds of episodes ago, he could still feel some part of him enjoying this. Maybe he should bring Gintoki here sometime. He would love this.
"Itadakimasu~!" Kagura chimed before taking a first bite of her cake. She held back, he realized. Instead of gulping down the cake in one go, she savored it and hummed happily, fork still in her mouth. "Hmmmm~! This is amazing!"
The cop couldn't refrain from smiling. "Glad you're enjoying it."
Cheekily, she grinned at him. "Look who's talking."
There was no point in arguing with her. He wasn't in the mood to uphold his straight man's façade. Somehow, he was able to relax much more and don't take everything too seriously. He wondered if that was because of Gintoki. Maybe it was just character development. In any case, he sipped his coffee and looked around. There were just a few other customers but all of them were teenage girls talking about fashion and boys and so on.
"Thanks for being with me."
Hijikata just nodded with a tiny smile. "I've been meaning to come here, anyway."
She chuckled, enjoying this carefree, joking side of him. "Oh, really? Is that so? Well, then I'm happy we could come here together. It's almost like a date."
"Don't say things like that." He grimaced. "Some people might take it too literally."
"Naw, don't worry Toushi. Everyone knows you have the hots for someone else." Giggling, she took another bite of the lemon cake and shoved something over the table towards him. It was a small white paper bag. "Here. I got you a little something."
"Huh?" Perplexed, he stared down at the gift, not moving at all.
"Come on, open it!"
Completely dumbfounded, he took it and stared at it without the courage to do anything. "For... me?"
"Yes, you slowpoke!" Her smile almost blew up her face. "As a thank you for today."
Speechless, he stared at it for a long moment. He was honestly touched. Then he opened it and whispered a soft Thank you very much.
It was a cellphone strap. A very ugly one, too. Some kind of human monster, with a giant onion-shaped head, a bush of hair on the forehead, a beard and a swollen belly. It looked like a deformed baby. And it was holding a mayonnaise bottle.
Hijikata froze.
He started shaking and a tear was squeezing out from his right eye. He couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe she remembered.
It was the Mayorin mascot*!
"I… I…" He struggled for words, deeply touched.
Kagura was grinning like crazy now, happy that he liked the gift. "You don't have to say anything, Toushi. I'm just glad that we're friends."
Honestly, this girl was such a sweetheart.
.
After Hijikata had dried his tears, strapped the gift to his phone and thanked her again, Kagura continued eating her cake. She was still smiling but not as much as the policeman, who still couldn't get his shit together. The silence between them was comfortable and familiar. Hijikata wouldn't have known what to say anyway. He was so touched. He would treasure this gift. He didn't care if Sougo teased him. This was the best gift he had ever received in his whole life.
Staring at Mayorin in bliss, Hijikata was spacing out. It was so sweet that he even forgot to add Mayonnaise to his coffee. He didn't have eyes for anything else. Which was why he didn't realize the atmosphere changing, Kagura getting edgy. He didn't even realize the shy urgency in her voice when she stared at the remnants of her cake.
"Toushi… Actually… there's another reason I wanted to meet you today."
"Hm?" Grinning like an idiot, he glanced at her. He really didn't get it at all. "Why 's that?"
She hesitated for a moment, took a deep breath and finally said it.
Nothing could have prepared him for the words that followed.
"I need love advice."
His head shot up. He stared at her. In utter disbelieve.
The girl was blushing, avoiding his eyes, her lips pressed together in a thin line.
"…Huh?" was the only reaction.
Cheeks burning red, she closed her eyes and snarled. "Don't be so surprised! I'm a young girl, after all! This was bound to happen eventually! And, honestly, I think it's unfair that Shinpachi was the only one getting love advice from all of you! I want Followkata Toushifollow*! So, drop that stupid act and help me!"
His eye was twitching, and he tried to calm down. Her words really hit him like a truck. Since when did she have an interest in love? Was this an idol thing? And why the hell would she come to him of all people?
Trying not to say anything stupid, he collected his thoughts for a second. Her gaze cut deep, and he knew he had to be careful what to reply. This was a very delicate situation and he realized there were a thousand ways to mess this up. God, how did he get into this mess?
"Um…" His voice was low and weak. "…Why… are coming to me?"
Huffy, she crossed her arms and stared into another direction. "Why not? You're the obvious choice. You're sensitive and nice and in love yourself. Who else would I turn to? Shinpachi, that virgin? Or maybe even Gin-chan? You know fully well that this asshole would only make fun of me and make vulgar comments. Besides, since the Boyfriend arc* I'm not trusting him anymore. He would just freak out if I told him."
True, true. And he would kill him when he found out he gave Kagura love advice.
"You're the only sane guy I know. I can talk to you… You know what it's like… to be in love with that kind of person." She paused for a moment, honestly embarrassed. Her face completely red, she stared at him and looked vulnerable. "…Will you keep it a secret from Gin-chan?"
For a moment, his mouth stood wide open. Then, he nodded quickly and calmed down. As strange as this situation was, she came to him of all people. That must take a lot of guts. "Of course."
"Thanks…" Ashamed, she avoided his gaze again. Her fingers folded inside her lap, she seemed to struggle for words, but nothing came.
Enduring this awkward situation for her sake, Hijikata tried to mitigate the damage. Carefully, he started to ask questions.
"So… you're… in love with someone?"
She frowned. "Dunno. …Maybe. Or maybe it's more of a crush. I dunno. …But I never felt this way before."
His heart started pounding as well. He could understand this very well. It reminded him of Mitsuba. But he didn't go there. "How are you feeling?"
The red color of her face just didn't go away. "…Well… whenever I see this person, I… my heart starts racing and I feel kind of weak. I think this person is really beautiful. When our eyes meet, it's like a little electric shock… Or something like that."
Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no. This was the real deal. Shit, and he had to help her? Who the hell was he to give love advice?!
"So… you don't know what to do?"
A reluctant nod, followed by a heavy sigh. "I mean… I know what I could do. I've seen enough dramas to know what it means to have a boyfriend. But… the thing is that I don't know if I should."
"Why shouldn't you?"
"Because…" Her expression was exasperated. "…this guy is… kind of a macho."
Is that why she came to him? Did that mean Gin was a macho as well? Was he? He had this side to him for sure. Sometimes, he really was a sexist ass. He truly disliked that about the silver head.
"In how far?"
Another irritated sigh. "Well… he's kind of a troublemaker. Big mouth, quite aggressive, rude. …Whenever I see him, he makes fun of me, insults me. I didn't like him at first but… there's something about him that makes my heart beat faster."
"…And you're asking me because…?"
She stared at him as if that was obvious. "Aren't you and Gin-chan the same? He makes fun of you day and night, doesn't he? And still, you like him. So, I guess you and I are similar in that regard, aren't we?"
It was as he feared. Defeated, he closed his eyes. This was a mess…
.
Kagura shifted in her seat. "I need your advice, Toushi. …What should I do? I've never been in love before. I'm not even sure he likes me. But he made some strange comments recently. They make me feel like he's interested in me. …Some people just show their affection through insults, right? …For some people, it's just hard to express their true feelings…"
As he watched her, he could feel her confusion and pain. He had never seen her like this. She seemed to have a major crush on this guy, huh? But who was he to tell her what to do? He had a horrible boyfriend who was a total sadist, after all.
After a long pause, the police officer finally breathed out, scratching his neck. "I'm sorry, but I can't give you any meaningful advice. You and I are completely different people after all. And I'm pretty sure this person and the Yorozuya are quite different too, aren't they? Besides, we're not teenagers anymore and both men. So, it doesn't make any sense to tell you what to do. Don't you agree?"
The disappointment was all over her face and she pouted. "I know that! But still… I feel so lost. How did you realize you're in love with Gin-chan? What made you so sure? And why did you decide to get together? I mean… he's a sadist and pervert and lazy bastard…"
She wouldn't let go, would she? Hijikata clenched his teeth for a second. He wasn't the type of person who talked about such things, who shared all of these intimate details. He had a hard time talking about feelings in general. But somehow, seeing her like this, he thought he owed it to her. So, he decided to open up, just a little bit.
His heart pounding and his palms getting sweaty, he glanced to the side. "…What kind of question is that? …I guess… I just knew. He helped us so many times and for some reason or another, he knows how I think and what I need. …And after you guys helped us getting Kondo-san out of prison, even though that meant you being enemies of the state… I just knew it."
Silently, she nodded and seemed to be deep in thought.
Wanting to shift the focus back to her as quickly as possible, he nodded. "I guess what I'm trying to say is… You'll know the answer in time. And you'll know what to do. You're a strong, young woman, aren't you? No need to care about what others think then. You'll figure it out."
A long moment, she said nothing, only stared at her unfinished piece of cake. Then, she smiled and closed her eyes. Her cheeks were still bright red, but she didn't seem to mind. "Thanks… I'm happy you think that way."
His lips curled into a weak smile as well, not sure if he did the right thing. He somehow felt a bit stressed out but couldn't understand why. Ignoring this creeping feeling, he tried to lighten the mood a bit. "So, he's handsome, huh? Do I know him?"
The redhead needed a moment to collect herself. She smiled to herself and closed her eyes, shifting in her seat again. "He looks quite good, yeah… A few years older, too. His eyes remind me a bit of Gin-chan, though he doesn't look as stupid." She eyed him, cheeky now. "If you knew who it was, you'd probably disapprove."
Huh? Disapprove? Why? What was that supposed to-
"But he's really handsome." Her face was glowing now from the major crush she had. "Red eyes, blond, tall…"
Wait.
"He looks great in his uniform."
What?
"Though mommy always said only sadists wear uniforms."
Hold on a second!
She sighed and glanced at him from behind rose-colored glasses. "He may be a bit of an asshole, but he can also be nice. Just yesterday he called me a ******. Isn't that sweet?"
It couldn't' be. It just couldn't be!
Her smile was vulnerable, and she tilted her head, pleading. "Promise you won't tell Gin-chan."
IT COULDN'T BE!
*Omiyage are boxed sweets that Japanese people bring home from a vacation. Look some up. They are adorable.
*Karōshi is death by working too much. Unfortunately, it has been quite common in Japan for some time now.
*Mayorin is from the anime episode 185 "Hometowns and boobs are best thought from afar" where Hijikata visits the Mayonnaise factory
*Followkata Toushifollow from the Correspondence Arc, manga 203-206, anime 126-128
*Kagura's Boyfriend arc, manga 419-422, anime 329-330
Next chapter will have a special surprise! I'm so excited!