Chapter 600: When the Outcome is Certain, the Process Becomes Extremely Important! (1/2)

After staring at each other for two seconds, their expressions went beyond mere constipation; the cold sweat on their faces began to pour out like a small waterfall.

But then, simultaneously, they seemed to realize something. Both turned away and glanced briefly at something else.

Wait... could it be?! Kawaki and Gintoki both felt a wave of dread wash over them.

This must be a joke, right? What's going on? What happened?! Kawaki clutched his head, his pupils trembling as he panicked internally. What did I do? No, no, no, no! That kind of thing is absolutely impossible! I trust myself! I trust myself!

...

At the hotel entrance, both Kawaki and Gintoki, now fully dressed, were crouched and vomiting non-stop while leaning against a utility pole and the wall.

After about five minutes, they turned to look at each other, but just one glance was enough to make them turn away and start vomiting again.

What am I supposed to do now? What do I even say? Everything feels disgusting no matter what! It's just pure disgust! This is bad, really bad! Kawaki thought, feeling utterly defeated.

At that moment, Gintoki wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, his face twitching with dark lines as he turned around, trying to speak. "Uh... about that..."

"I'm sorry!!" Kawaki and Gintoki simultaneously turned back to each other and shouted.

But as soon as they finished, they both turned around and started vomiting again.

...

"Hey, I was the first to apologize!" Gintoki snarled through gritted teeth, clutching the front of Kawaki's shirt. "It was me!"

"No, it was me!" Kawaki, grabbing Gintoki's shirt in return, gritted his teeth and growled back. "I was the first to apologize!"

That's right! Even if everything feels disgusting, I have to at least maintain my dignity! Kawaki and Gintoki thought simultaneously.

But as soon as they thought that, the moment they accidentally caught sight of each other's faces, they both turned away and vomited once more.

"Uh, well..." Gintoki wiped the corner of his mouth again, trying to say something, but Kawaki interrupted without turning around.

"Wait!" Kawaki raised a hand without looking back. "Until we figure out what happened, don't say anything! Maybe nothing actually happened! Maybe it's just a coincidence... Σ_(」∠)ugh..."

"Yeah, yeah, it's probably just a coincidence... Σ_(」∠)ugh..."

"But until we know for sure, I should apologize. Sumimasen!" Kawaki called out first.

"Take that back! I'm the one who should apologize first until we know for sure!" Gintoki retorted.

"No, it's me!"

"No, it's me!"

"Σ_(」∠)ugh..." ×2

...

At Edo General Hospital, Kawaki and Gintoki both visited different departments, even though they both started in the proctology section. After finishing their checks, they left the hospital one after the other.

But even though they were in different departments, the expressions on their faces were eerily similar—a mix of disgust and something else unnameable.

As Kawaki walked back to Yoshiwara, his mind raced. Even though the test results proved it wasn't me, it still feels disgusting. It's so gross... this disgusting incident is something I might never forget for the rest of my life... I just want to die...

As these thoughts swirled, Kawaki felt another wave of nausea, forcing him to lean against a wall and start vomiting again.

After wiping his mouth, Kawaki angrily thought, Damn it! If only I had been more careful yesterday! Who was the one who gave me that last drink? I'm going to kill them! No, wait...

Suddenly, a new thought struck Kawaki: Does everyone else know? If they do, and I go back to this state, things could get really bad. They'll definitely look at me with strange eyes. What should I do? Maybe it's better not to go back.

"Kawaki-sama?" A voice interrupted his thoughts. It was Tama, standing beside him. "What's wrong? Why are you out so early today?"

"Oh, nothing, just felt like waking up early for a change!" Kawaki laughed awkwardly, scratching his head, then lowered his voice and asked, "Tama, I have a bit of a hazy memory about last night. I vaguely remember Zenzo and the others coming over, but most of it is a blur. Could you tell me what happened?"

"Sure," Tama nodded, then replied earnestly, "The first to leave were Kagura-sama and Shinpachi-sama. Kagura-sama said she wanted to sleep."

Thank goodness! It seems Kagura and Shinpachi don't know! Kawaki thought, relieved.

"After that, Catherine-sama got drunk, so I carried her home," Tama continued. "It was around that time that the ninjas arrived at Yoshiwara. But by then, Kawaki-sama and Gintoki-sama were already somewhat drunk, though I'm not sure why."