Chapter 282: Whip and Sugar Must Be Used at the Same Time!
"The life you chose, even if you are covered in scars, you must go on, Shinpachi-kun!" Kawaki said seriously as he got up.
"Yes, yes, yes." Kagura folded her hands and nodded in agreement.
"That kind of scar doesn't refer to this kind of scar from falling off a scooter, right?" Shinpachi pointed at his bruised face and shouted.
"No, you are really overthinking this time. Kagura and I just want to train you to complete the task alone," Kawaki clasped his hands and explained, and then his expression softened, "In your life, there are not always people by your side to help you. Whether it is Gintoki, Kagura, or others, they can not always be by your side! But without them, can you really not accomplish anything by yourself?!"
Listening to Kawaki's scolding, Shinpachi murmured in disbelief, "It... It's actually like this... It was actually for me..."
"En!" Kawaki and Kagura nodded while holding hands.
"Whether it's work, sadness, happiness. There will be a day when you have to face everything alone as a man. You have to work hard, Shinpachi-kun!" Kawaki stared at Shinpachi with a burning gaze, "This is a very good opportunity! From a timid person who can't do anything without other people around to be able to handle everything alone without anyone around to help! Tell me, are you ready?!"
"Ready!" Shinpachi cried, "I'm ready!"
"No, your voice is too soft! I can't hear your determination!" Kawaki shouted seriously.
"I'm ready!" Shinpachi shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Oh my, this is enough. I have already heard your determination," Kawaki smiled, walked forward to pat Shinpachi on the shoulder, and said with relief, "Go ahead. It doesn't matter even if you fail. For your first attempt, don't be afraid; go for it!!"
"Yes! Coach!" Shinpachi wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, then turned around and resolutely walked toward the Cafe.
Watching Shinpachi walk further and further away, Kawaki finally let out a sigh of relief. He turned around and said to Kagura, "This kid is becoming more and more difficult to fool."
Kagura narrowed her eyes and stared at Kawaki expressionlessly. Although she did not speak, Kawaki still read the two words "scum" from Kagura's expression.
"Don't look at me with that expression. You don't want to eat barbecue?" Kawaki waved his hand and said casually.
"Yes!" Kagura instantly switched to an expression full of vitality.
"Alright! Let's go!" As he spoke, Kawaki bent down to help up the fallen scooter.
However, Shinpachi, who was walking towards the Kunoichi Cafe with his back to Kawaki, suddenly realized something and stopped, 'Wait! Wait! Kawaki-san's words just now weren't meant to fool me on purpose, right?! Could it be that he deliberately wanted to leave me behind and then eat barbecue together with Kagura?!'
'No, no, no, no, it shouldn't be, right? Although Kawaki-san once fooled Hijikata-san and Katsura-san, the situation should be different this time! This time, Kawaki-san put himself in my shoes! Right, right! It must be like this! He said those words to train me to complete the task alone! You must believe in Kawaki-san, Shinpachi!'
'But... I keep feeling that something is wrong. Did he really say that just to leave me alone here and eat barbecue? What should I do? What should I do now? Should I test Kawaki-san's attitude again?'
Thinking of this, Shinpachi adjusted his glasses and looked back tentatively.
Kawaki, who had just helped up the scooter, felt Shinpachi's gaze and quickly gave him a thumbs up and a smile of encouragement.
Seeing this, Shinpachi turned his head again and finally made up his mind, 'Look! So don't think blindly, Shinpachi! Kawaki-san really wants to train your ability to complete tasks independently! That kind of encouraging smile will never lie! That is definitely a smile that thinks highly of you! So you have to work hard, Shinpachi! You absolutely can't let him down, Shinpachi!'
"That was close!" Kawaki wiped the sweat off his forehead, "This kid must have sensed something! That look just now must have sensed something. Fortunately, I reacted quickly. Kagura, it's better for us to leave early."
Shinpachi, who was not far away, started moving forward again. However, when he reached the Cafe entrance, he was not in a hurry to open the door. Instead, he turned his head and looked at Kawaki with a determined expression, and patted his chest.
As if saying: [Leave it all to me! I will not let you down!]
"Kawaki-san!" Shinpachi bit his lower lip to stop himself from crying.
After a long pause, Kawaki turned to Kagura and asked in a low voice, "Kagura, what kind of task did Shinpachi complete today?"
"I can't remember at all-aru." Kagura shook her head and narrowed her eyes.
Initially, Kawaki wanted to ask Shinpachi about it, but when he saw Shinpachi crying bitterly, he gave up.
Then, Kawaki suddenly thought of something. He took out Gintoki's clothes from behind and handed them to Shinpachi, "My clothes have been washed and dried. Then I should leave. Continue to work hard, Shinpachi."
"Yes! Kawaki-san!" Shinpachi shouted gratefully after receiving Gintoki's clothes.
Perhaps because he couldn't accept the energetic Shinpachi in front of him as if he was a different person for a while, Kawaki was silent for a long time before he patted Shinpachi's shoulder again, sighed, and turned to leave.
Just as Kawaki walked to the door, Shinpachi's voice came again.
"I will continue to work hard, Kawaki-san!"
"En..." Kawaki really didn't know what to say. He could only casually reply and leave without looking back.
Just as Kawaki left, Gintoki, who had been unconscious for a day, slowly woke up. However, the first thing he said after waking up was, "Ah! This is bad! There is a commission today! Hey! Shinpachi! Kagura! How is the commission?"
"It's all done!" Shinpachi opened the door of Gintoki's room, patted his chest and said, "I have completed all the work by myself!"
"Really?" Looking at the tears on Shinpachi's face, Gintoki's face was full of doubt.
"Yes! It's all done!" Shinpachi replied, "That husband was just preparing a surprise for his wife! That's why he came home late every day. He didn't cheat at all! With my efforts, the couple has resolved their misunderstanding and reconciled!"
"Ah, I see." Only then did Gintoki heave a sigh of relief and lie down again.
"Gin-san, I completed the commission alone. I didn't ask anyone to help at all."
"Got it, got it," Gintoki replied impatiently.
"I'm alone..."
"I already said I got it! Why are you repeating it so many times?!" Gintoki shouted.
"It's just me alone..."
"So noisy! You virgin glasses!"
"So, it's just me alone..."
"So noisyyyy!!!!!"
"So, It's..."
"Both of you are very noisy!" Kagura instantly jumped up and threw the two of them out of the window...
(This chapter is over.)