Following behind Shige Shige and Kuro, they walked along the corridors inside the Tenshu Pavilion.
Okita Sougo's crimson eyes, always so devoid of ripples,
casually swept over the silent figure ahead, clad in a black suit.
Tilting his head slightly, he muttered in a low voice audible only to those beside him.
"Eh, so this is Kuro of a Hundred Plans."
There was a hint of the interest one might show while appraising a toy in Okita's tone.
"That scum-in-a-gentleman's-face really does look a lot like he does in the manga."
"Too bad there aren't two golden poop symbols on his clothes."
"And he doesn't push up his glasses with his wrist, either."
"I feel like he's missing that twisted, obsessive pervert vibe from the original~"
Hijikata Toshiro, walking beside him, twitched at the corner of his mouth.
Then he snapped back in a lowered voice, "Just how warped is your sense of taste, you bastard?"
"Since when is having a pervert vibe something worth praising?"
"And why do you remember the clothing details of such an obscure villain?"
"How much manga have you been reading at the Yorozuya while skipping work?"
"Quit the nonsense, you two!"
Kondo Isao, walking a few paces ahead, turned around and shot them both a glare with eyes like bronze bells.
Though even he found Kuro's very existence absurd.
"Didn't you hear Okuni's prophecy just now?"
"A riot!"
"Get serious, all of you!"
"As members of the Shinsengumi, the Shogun's safety outweighs everything else!"
Hijikata and Okita immediately fell silent and swept their gazes across every corner around them.
Though the entire area within sight had already been secured layer upon layer by Shinsengumi members, Samurai, ninjas, and onmyoji,
the unease brought by the prophecy still clung to everyone's hearts like a fine web.