After listening to Toshisuke's past, Aoto, filled with deep emotions, couldn't help but say softly:
"...Miss Chokata, you really love swordsmanship, don't you?"
"To be able to study swordsmanship, you didn't mind having a red-faced argument with your sister whom you see as a second mother, nor did you mind changing your name and hiding your gender..."
"This dedication, this love for swordsmanship, truly commands admiration."
Aoto turned and smiled at Chokata with genuine admiration, devoid of any pretense.
Faced with Aoto's praise, Toshisuke shyly chuckled a few times.
"Mr. Tachibana, you're giving too much credit."
"Whether it's having a tiff with my sister or changing my name and hiding my gender, to me, none of these things count as 'sacrifices'."
"I know very well in my heart that my sister only has my best interest in mind when she didn't want me to learn swordsmanship. Her reasons for stopping me were indeed quite reasonable."
