Outside the solitary cell specially opened by Aoto, leading the group from the Prison Dōshin, they saw Hijikata Toshizo sitting cross-legged on the ground, idly scraping out the dirt from under his nails.
"Mr. Hijikata!"
Chokata was the first to step forward, raising both hands to grip the wooden bars of the cell, pressing his face close to the gap, showing a look of exasperation.
"What are you doing! Why did you get into trouble again as soon as you returned to Edo? What on earth made you beat someone up on the street?"
"Asheng, Toshisuke?" Hijikata looked at his two friends, as close as brothers, with surprise. But he quickly concealed his surprise and smirked at Chokata, "I just wanted to give that Kin'emon a good lesson. It's as simple as that."
Aoto had already explained to Kondo and Chokata what trouble Hijikata got into this morning, as well as the reason why he suddenly beat up Kin'emon on the street.
