"Who wants to watch you play, you bastard?!"
Just as Takasugi Shinsuke finally lost patience and rushed onto the stage, an irritated voice rang out from the crowd.
A shadow darted onto the stage.
"Oh my, this is..."
Souji showed a somewhat surprised expression.
The woman who had leaped onto the stage in full view of everyone and berated Takasugi Shinsaku was someone—or rather, someone the Sakumura family knew very well.
Very well, in every sense of the word.
Her name was Okada Izo.
Black River Upper Village's most notorious delinquent, without question. She was on fairly good terms with Sakumura, but because she was a delinquent, she had been arrested by Mibu Police Station plenty of times. Sakumura and Ryoma had bailed her out more than once.
"That idiot, honestly..."
Sakumura helplessly rubbed his head.
It looked like they would not be able to properly enjoy tonight's performance.
"Hey! You bastard, get off the stage!!!"
Hijikata Toshizo was furious.
He had been happily gnawing on pickled radish while listening to the shamisen, only for the music to suddenly be interrupted. He instantly saw red.
He had been eating pickled radish!
"Tch, what the hell is Hijikata doing here too?!"
Okada Izo had already drawn her sword when she spotted a wolf with a thick mane charging toward her. The corner of her mouth twitched as she clearly recalled some unpleasant memories.
Izumo no Okuni sat on the inner side of the stage with a blank expression, though she was actually thrilled.
Fight, fight!
"Danna?"
Souji smiled helplessly and glanced at Sakumura.
"Ahem, Hijikata should be enough for a situation like this, right?" Sakumura laughed awkwardly. "Look, none of the people from your police station have even chosen to go up with him."
Souji looked over to the other side.