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Ch 77 Summary
Summary by Suika
We see Sei standing by herself and crying. She is talking to aniue (big brother)
and asks him for advice but won't tell what the problem is. Only when she is
sure that he will not reveal the secret to anyone... we find that the Nyoshinsen
(gender changing disease) has been spreading and "Seizaburou" now
has breasts. A very flustered Saitou wakes up, and pants heavily. It was only
a dream! (Remember, Saitou still does not know that Sei is truly a girl!)
That morning Saitou washes up and thinks back to the Nyoshinsen. He was skeptical
that there could be a disease which turns a man into a woman; therefore he got
some reading material on it. To his surprise, there have been past occurrences.
In one case, there was one person who married and was able to bear children.
Saitou then thinks about Kamiya becoming a bride... and starts regretting reading
the book because it's giving him funny dreams.
Okita and Sei are back from their rounds and meet Kondou who is heading off
to a meeting. Kondou apologizes to Sei for the constant delay of her coming
of age ceremony. But Sei assures Kondou that she doesn't think she is suitable
for a grown man's hairstyle. Kondou disagrees, but decides it's alright for
the time being.
Okita affectionately touches Sei's head, and comments that everything has been
settled now. He tells her he feels a bit bad having to deceive everyone and
make them worry. But this lie could be beneficial should Sei's secret be revealed
one day. He compliments Matsumoto as a smart man for thinking this scheme up.
Sei agrees and thanks her "tareme no ojichan" (droopy eyed Uncle).
Okita then notices that Saitou (who looks absolutely distressed and unkempt)
is home and starts to run to him. Okita and Sei happily tell Saitou that they
found the person he was looking for. Saitou is confused, so Sei tells him that
it's his beloved Yukiya, whom he had separated from after an old man had redeemed
him from Miyagawachou. (see Vol. 5). Sei is a little disappointed that Saitou
does not have much of a reaction after hearing the news. He calmly tells her
that Yukiya is not his lover. But Sei isn't listening and that agitates Saitou.
Sei notices that Saitou does not look too well and puts her hand on his forehead
to check if he has a fever. That however leaves her chest wide open for Saitou
to stare at. He freaks out and quickly turns away (to avoid staring at her chest
*lol*), and thinks to himself that he keeps looking at the place that he shouldn't.
Later, he starts wondering if there's something abnormal about him. Why does
he keep thinking about the changes in Kamiya, and not about the important job
Sir Tanimori had entrusted him to do? He then decides to completely concentrate
on secretly investigating the going-ons within the Shinsengumi and forget about
any other distractions.
That summer, many changes are happening within the military group. Firstly,
is the decision to allow officers to live outside the headquarters. Second,
is the usage of gun power. Third is breeding livestock, and dealing with excess
food. Lastly, is the decision of a new formal uniform.
After battling a fire at Gion, Saitou's squad prepares to head back to headquarters.
Suddenly, someone yells out "Saitou Hajime" in a very deep and manly
voice and grabs him. Saitou turns around, and we find that it's Yukiya! His
voice has changed, and grown taller - obviously hitting puberty. Yukiya decides
that Saitou will be visiting his shop and orders a young child to prepare some
food and wine. Saitou asks who the kid is, and Yukiya tells him that it is his
child-servant that his master had gotten him. Yukiya in a happy face, remarks,
"In the past, he liked to be beside me all day long, but lately he pays
no attention to me. Now he has given me a shop. Perhaps it is because my voice
has changed and he has grown tired of me!" But Yukiya says he is happy,
because he has freedom, and can do whatever he likes. He then kisses Saitou,
who then asks Yukiya what the matter is. Yukiya starts to say something, but
instead asks Saitou to hold him tight.
At Yukiya's place, Saitou senses a sadness in Yukiya and again asks what the
matter is. Yukiya replies, "If only I was younger, and prettier."
He then goes on to say "Kamiya hasn't changed a bit and is still as adorable
as ever before..." The word "Kamiya" triggers a reaction in Saitou,
and he vehemently blushes. This angers Yukiya, who then pins Saitou down. Yukiya
goes on to say that he'll teach Saitou happiness and closes his eyes. Yet again,
Saitou thinks of Kamiya and protests.
Just then an old man interrupts. It is Yukiya's master! The old man asks Saitou
not to steal Yukiya away. Yukiya yells at him that the old man had gotten tired
of him. The old man embraces Yukiya tightly, professing he was worried what
would happen after he died. So he wanted to teach Yukiya how to work, and to
get to know the ways of the world.
Yukiya asks if that is the reason why he was given the shop to look after,
and not because the old man had gotten bored of him. The old man explains that
no matter how much Yukiya changes -- "Yukiya is still Yukiya."
Those words seem to strike a chord within Saitou. He starts to think, "Even
if your voice doesn't change, even if you don't grow taller, even if your chest
protrudes out... Kamiya is still Kamiya. It's as simple as that?" He realizes
he had been agonizing over useless worrying.
Saitou excuses himself and sets off to go home. Sei and Okita welcome him back,
and Sei voices her concerns about Yukiya's voice. Before Saitou can give much
of an answer, Okita cuts in and insipidly says, "There really isn't any
thing special about changing voices. After all, Yukiya will still be Yukiya."
Later that night, a lone figure sits on the rooftops and thinks to himself,
"Just you wait Okita Souji! One day...!"
End Chapter
Disclaimer: Kaze Hikaru is copyright to Watanabe Taeko, Flowers, Shogakukan and their respective owners. This is a non-profit website created by Suika. Background
taken from Mine Channel and Tiny Boubbles.
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