Chapter 613: Awesome (1/2)

[Hiraga]: It's not possible, Hijikata-san, Shinpachi subtly shook his head, conveying his thoughts through a glance. Kawaki-san has recently changed his phone and number multiple times; no one knows his current number!

[Hijikata]: What about that woman?

[Shinpachi]: Only Kagura knows Tsukuyo-san's phone number, Shinpachi glanced over at Kagura, who was happily playing with Otae and Saigou's group. If we ask her in this situation, the monsters will definitely notice the Madam's presence! So it's out of the question!

[Hijikata]: Alright, then it's decided, Hijikata said as he started walking towards the door. I'll head to Yoshiwara. You guys wait here until I get back. Trust me! I'll bring that man back! Until then, you take care of the Madam!

[Gintoki]: No way! Gintoki immediately grabbed Hijikata's shoulder, glaring at him with gritted teeth. You're the one trying to sneak out in this situation! Stay here! I'll go!

"Idiot! Not everyone thinks like you!" Hijikata retorted, grabbing Gintoki by the collar, his veins bulging in anger.

"I'm going! You stay here!" Gintoki insisted, not backing down. "I'll bring that idiot back!"

"I'll be the one to bring him back!"

"No, I will!!"

As Gintoki and Hijikata continued to escalate their argument, Shinpachi hurriedly stepped in, trying to calm them down. "You two, stop it! This is not the time for this! I'll go get Kawaki-san. I'll be back soon, and until then, you take care of the Madam..."

Before Shinpachi could finish, both Gintoki and Hijikata grabbed his shoulders.

"Hey," the two men said with unsettling smiles, "you're trying to run away, aren't you, Shinpachi?"

"Not everyone is like you two! And isn't it rude to be fighting over something like this right after the Madam arrived?" Shinpachi angrily protested.

"Then it's settled," Gintoki released Shinpachi's shoulder.

"How about we go together?" Gintoki and Hijikata suggested in unison.

"You just want to dump all the trouble on me!" Shinpachi retorted, spitting his words out in frustration. "Stop messing around, you idiots!"

Watching the bickering trio, the Madam spoke softly, her eyes gentle. "You don't have to worry about me. I'll be leaving soon."

"Huh? Leaving?" Shinpachi, still holding onto Gintoki, was stunned. He turned around, shocked to see the Madam turning to leave. "Wait, aren't you..."

"A forgotten promise is understandable," the Madam stopped and replied quietly, "If he has forgotten, then I have no reason to stay. Although... I did want to see him again, but now it feels a bit embarrassing..."

"You..." Shinpachi suddenly realized, "Could it be that the reason you returned to this club wasn't because you hated it, but to see Kawaki-san?!"

"Just as I thought," the Madam nodded, lowering her head in slight disappointment. "You've heard the rumors about me. But it's a pity—I'm neither a fortune-bringer nor a death-bringer. And certainly, I don't control the streets. I'm just a sad woman who has forgotten both friends and a place to call home, ensnared by the so-called power of money. I never became a regular at any club because I didn't want to be treated specially, carefully, by others. But, somewhere along the way, my name spread throughout Edo, and I lost the one place I could call home.

"However, then I met KOU... Kawaki-san. He was different from anyone I had ever met. It felt as if my heart had been captivated, and I drank a lot, pouring out all my worries to him. But he seemed to ignore it all, simply smiling and ordering more drinks. Maybe he wanted me to forget my troubles in that way. A mysterious man..."

[Gintoki and Shinpachi, thinking]: No, that idiot definitely didn't hear a word you said!

"Chatting away about his favorite giant robots and games, sharing his woes with me without a care..." the Madam continued, "In that moment, I realized that he didn't see me as a client, but as a friend—someone he could talk to about anything, someone who could share each other's troubles. I... became completely infatuated."

[Shinpachi, glancing at Gintoki]: She's got it all wrong, Gin-san! The Madam has completely misunderstood! Kawaki-san didn't mean any of that! Does Kawaki-san even know how to be a host?

[Gintoki]: Who knows?! How did that idiot turn being a host into something like hanging out with bar hostesses? I don't get it at all!

"Then, I made that promise on my own..." the Madam pulled out two movie tickets. "Because I wanted to see him again, to chat like ordinary friends, I made that promise. But... the movie started a while ago, and he still hasn't come. Maybe he really has forgotten..."

"Madam..." Shinpachi murmured.

"Oh right, you're here to replace the hosts who quit because of me, right?" The Madam turned around, smiling gratefully as she removed her hat and bowed slightly. "I'm very sorry. Please rest assured, the death god will no longer linger on the streets at night. But... I'm already satisfied. That smiling face is still deeply etched in my memory. Maybe it's best that these feelings weren't conveyed... so I can always remember them..."

"They can be conveyed, you know," Kagura's voice suddenly interrupted the Madam, "Even though that idiot uncle is stupid, he wouldn't forget a promise. Maybe he's just constipated or something, but he'll definitely come."

"Hey, that example is disgusting!" Shinpachi hit Kagura on the head and whispered angrily.

"That's right, Madam Yagami, just wait a little longer," Otae, who had appeared out of nowhere, said with a smile. "Even someone as hopeless as him will remember at the last minute."

"Hey, who are you calling hopeless?" Kawaki's voice suddenly came from behind the Madam.

At the sound of his voice, the Madam's eyes widened in disbelief as she slowly turned around.

"I do tend to forget about clients quickly," Kawaki said with a smile, "But when it comes to friends, I do remember."

Tsukuyo, standing beside him, crossed her arms and looked away, letting out a small huff.

"Kawaki... san," the Madam murmured.

"But I really did forget about the time we agreed on," Kawaki scratched his head and laughed. "Ahaha, things like this happen often, right? After all, everyone has moments when they can't even remember what they had for lunch..."

"How... wonderful," the Madam clasped her hands to her chest, her cheeks flushing an unnatural shade of red.

"Huh?" Everyone present was taken aback.

"We made plans, and you even set the time yourself, yet you forgot..." the Madam gazed affectionately at Kawaki. "That's just wonderful..."