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."
That must be when it happened! Kawaki deduced. Someone definitely spiked my drink with something else!
"Tama, who was still there at that time?" Kawaki asked.
"Hinowa-sama, Tsukuyo-sama, the Hyakka, Otose-sama, Otae-sama, Kyuubei-sama, Hasegawa-sama, Gintoki-sama, and the ninjas."
So, the kids probably don't know, Kawaki analyzed in his mind. The issue lies with the adults... though they might have been too drunk to remember anything. Should I go confirm it? I definitely can't go back to this state! Who should I ask first? Maybe someone who, even if they know, probably wouldn't spread it...
...
At Otose's bar entrance, Kawaki arrived to find Gintoki and Otose both leaning against the wall, vomiting with awkward expressions. Kawaki maintained a blank expression throughout.
From their conversation, Kawaki learned that these two... definitely experienced something yesterday...
They probably don't know anything, Kawaki thought, then turned to head toward Otae's house.
But Kawaki was a step too late because Gintoki had already beaten him there.
Listening to the sounds from the yard, including Otae's angry, tearful shout—You took away a girl's... my purity, and now you claim you don't remember?! You're the worst! Was it really just a drunken mistake? I can't believe you're this kind of person! Don't ever show your face in front of me again!—followed by Gintoki's painful "Gyaa!" Kawaki quietly turned away and left.
She probably doesn't know either, Kawaki thought as he walked away.
...
Behind a tree near the Yagyu residence, Kawaki watched the entire scene unfold—from Gintoki being warmly welcomed as the next head of the Yagyu family to him realizing he had done something unforgivable to Kyuubei, resulting in a frantic escape, only to be rescued by a perverted female ninja.
It looks like these two don't know either. Kawaki finally sighed in relief and slowly walked away.
...
In the streets of Kabukicho, Kawaki leaned against an alley entrance, eavesdropping on Gintoki's conversation with Hasegawa, who was smoking and looking up at the sky at a 45-degree angle.
When Hasegawa said to Gintoki, Just have a drink and forget about it. I'll forget, too, everything from last night, Kawaki breathed a sigh of relief.
It looks like this guy is safe, too. Kawaki thought, though, that Gintoki might not be as lucky. Alright, that just leaves Zenzo, Hinowa, and Tsukuyo. I can't find Zenzo right now, so...
...
In Yoshiwara.
Kawaki walked through the streets of Yoshiwara, his heart pounding with anxiety. He occasionally glanced at the courtesans, nervously watching their reactions.
When he saw that all the courtesans were smiling as usual, Kawaki finally let out a small sigh of relief. Gradually, he began to regain some composure, smiling and greeting the courtesans as usual as he headed home.
But Kawaki clearly overlooked something or perhaps failed to notice that today's Yoshiwara was slightly different from usual—neither Tsukuyo nor the Hyakka were patrolling the streets...
...
Knock knock!
"Come in~ I'm feeling a bit unwell," came Hinowa's voice from inside.
Click...
Kawaki quietly opened Hinowa's door, tiptoed inside, and gently closed the door behind him.
Seeing Hinowa lying in bed, Kawaki asked with concern, "What's wrong? Are you feeling sick? Didn't you call for a doctor?"
"Oh, stop it~" Hinowa turned her face away shyly, her voice tinged with embarrassment as she continued, "It's just a little discomfort that will go away with some rest. But really, Kawaki-san... you were so forceful last night, barging into my room like that with such a strong attitude. I told you my legs aren't in the best shape, but you were still so... rough. Now my back is really sore today~"
"Huh?" Kawaki froze for a moment; then his eye twitched involuntarily. "What? What did you just say?"
"And what about that thing you said? Was it true?" Hinowa turned back to face Kawaki, her face slightly flushed as she nervously averted her gaze. "You said... you didn't care about my past as a courtesan and wanted to be Seita's new father or something... Oh, it felt like a dream, Kawaki-san actually... actually..."
What's going on? Seita's new father? Huh? Who? Who's Seita's new father? Who? Huh? Is it that forceful guy who made Hinowa's back sore? Kousei-san? Who's that? Why does his name sound like mine?
In an instant, the realization hit Kawaki like a ton of bricks, his eyes filling with blood vessels. No, no, no! No, no, no, no! There's no way! It can't possibly be me! It's just a coincidence that this forceful guy has a name that sounds like mine!