Chapter 7: Gintama (Joui Era)

"Excuse me, did you bring your resume?"

"Huh?"

Take Kuratake was stunned for ten seconds. This didn't make sense—why would you need a resume to join the anti-foreigner movement? She hadn't even finished middle school; what was she supposed to do?

"Um, I didn't bring a resume," Take whispered.

"What! You came to an interview without a resume? Most companies require one!" Katsura declared righteously.

"But this is the anti-foreigner league, isn't it? I didn't know I needed a resume," Take said, bowing deeply. "But I came here out of patriotism. I want to contribute to my country. Please let me join the movement."

Katsura pondered as he looked at Take.

"How old are you?"

"I'm sixteen." She was actually fifteen, but decided to lie.

"You look quite young." Katsura eyed her up and down. "Where are your family?"

Take fell silent for a moment before murmuring, "My family was killed by the Amanto..."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up something painful," Katsura said, patting her shoulder.

"It's okay. Even if they're gone, I want to live well for their sake," Take said, lifting her gaze.

"Hahaha, what a fine comrade!" Katsura suddenly burst into laughter. "You're accepted. But since you're still young, you'll start with the basics. Report to the logistics division."

"Yes, Mr. Katsura!" Take jumped to her feet in excitement. Despite Katsura's quirks, she felt he was a decent person.

"Take this slip and show it to the soldiers outside," Katsura handed her a note. She accepted it quickly and was about to leave when he called her back.

"By the way, I've been meaning to ask since you walked in—is your face made up with some special effects makeup? You know, like in horror movies, when they purposely make someone look scary? Like Kayako from that ghost film."

Take's mouth twitched.

"No, I was born this way."

"Oh, I see. Well, with a face like that, you wouldn't need makeup to star in a horror movie," Katsura muttered to himself. "If I looked like that and acted in a horror film, I'd call it 'Katsura's Grudge.' Akiko is a beautiful woman who's been married for years, living alone in a luxury apartment..."

"Um, Mr. Katsura, I'll be going now..." Take stared speechlessly at the wig-wearing man lost in his own fantasy.

"Ah, the beautiful Akiko is so lonely. But she doesn't know there's a figure watching her every night..."

That's just creepy! Take wanted nothing to do with her superior's imaginary drama. The image of a righteous and handsome Katsura she had built up in her mind had shattered completely—like dust swept into a garbage bin.

She went outside and handed Katsura's slip to the soldier on duty. He glanced at her, then led her toward the back of the shrine.

Take noticed that the members of the anti-foreigner league barely reacted to her appearance. Of course, these were men who had crawled through the battlefield, grown accustomed to the sight of death. She was quietly impressed.

After winding through several turns, the soldier brought her to the kitchen.

"Uncle Ueda, there's a newcomer," he called into the busy kitchen, just before lunch.

A burly, shirtless man stepped out, eyed Take, and frowned. "So scrawny—can you manage the work?"

"Just teach him slowly. The kid's still young, he'll learn," the soldier said, patting Take on the shoulder.

Take stepped forward quickly. "Nice to meet you, Uncle Ueda. My name is Take Kuratake. I'll do whatever you need me to."

Ueda's expression softened a little. "Alright, come in. Kashimoto, you too—stop slacking and get back to work, or there won’t be any dinner for you."

"Got it, Uncle Ueda. I’ll leave this kid to you, then. See you around," Kashimoto said with a grin, waving to Take. "Kid, do what Uncle Ueda says and work hard, okay?"

"I will. Thanks for bringing me here," Take replied, waving back.

After Kashimoto left, Take followed Ueda into the kitchen.

"First, put your pack aside. Once we're done here, I'll arrange your sleeping quarters. For now, get to work."

"Okay," Take said, quickly stowing her bundle in the corner.

She turned to find a huge barrel of potatoes set before her. Ueda, arms crossed, said, "Peel all these potatoes. Quickly. Take longer than half an hour and you don't get lunch." With that, he tossed her a paring knife.

Take stared at the towering barrel and the tiny knife in her hand, feeling like crying inside. How long would this take with such a small knife? But she wasn't one to complain. She rolled up her sleeves, determined to earn her lunch.

She grabbed a potato and began peeling, her fingers moving swiftly. One after another, the potatoes were stripped clean.

Ueda, busy chopping meat, glanced over and smirked. The new kid looked scary, but at least he worked diligently.

Twenty minutes later, Take had finished the potatoes. Ueda handed her a large basket of cabbage to wash.

Without a word, she hefted the cabbage and headed to the sink.

"Uncle, this new kid is pretty hardworking," a young man chopping vegetables commented.

"Much more than you were when you started," Ueda mocked.

"Heh, don't call me out like that, Uncle. I'm hardworking now, aren't I?" The youth chuckled awkwardly and went back to his task.

By noon, Take had lost count of how many baskets of cabbage she’d washed. By the time Ueda finally called, "Lunch time," she was nearly collapsed with exhaustion.

This work was even harder than her kendo practice.

Lunch was curry and cabbage soup. Take ate side by side with a crowd of soldiers, all wolfing down their food. Starving, she ate ravenously as well.

After lunch, Ueda took her to arrange her lodging.

"Kuratake, you’re only sixteen. Why did you decide to enlist?" Ueda glanced at her small frame.

"My family was killed by the Amanto. My father joined the army, so I wanted to look for him," Take replied honestly.

"What’s your father’s name?"

"Kuratake Takehiko. Do you know him, Uncle?"

"Never heard of him. After so many battles, so many have died... It’ll be hard to find your father," Ueda said.

Take hung her head. She had already considered the worst possibilities, but she still couldn’t give up hope. Even if she couldn’t find him, just clinging to that hope made her feel less alone in the world.

Seeing her disappointment, Ueda changed the subject.

"Since you’re new, there are things I need to tell you."

Take snapped back to attention. "What is it, Uncle?"

"Our logistics division handles all sorts of chores. We cook, care for the wounded, clean the battlefield—everything. Our status might not be high, but our work is important," Ueda said seriously.

"Yes, Uncle. I’ll do my best. If I don’t understand anything, I’ll ask you. If I make mistakes, please correct me."

Ueda nodded in approval at her earnest response.

"Good attitude. Young people shouldn’t rush onto the battlefield. You’ll have time to practice. Once you’re skilled, you’ll have a better chance of surviving in battle. Don’t throw your life away needlessly."

"I understand. Thank you for your advice, Uncle," Take said sincerely. She knew he meant well.

Soon, Ueda brought her to a room at the back of the shrine, lined with mats for communal sleeping.

"You'll sleep here," Ueda pointed to an empty spot in the corner. "The guy who used to sleep there died in battle last month. It’s yours now. And keep an eye on your belongings—when there are a lot of people, there’s always someone with sticky fingers."

Take nodded. There was nothing valuable in her pack anyway.

After some final instructions, Ueda left.

――――

The days that followed were especially busy for Take. She worked hard at every meal, cared for the wounded, changed dressings, washed their bodies, wrapped bandages, and sometimes ran errands for supplies.

That was manageable, but the most nerve-wracking part was the emergency relocations. Whenever the shogunate or Amanto discovered their base, they had to move everything at once. As a member of logistics, Take not only had to carry her own belongings but also pots and baskets of vegetables. Thankfully, she was strong, so it wasn’t too hard—though it always felt like they were on the run.

Their latest base was an old, rundown temple. Take, Uncle Ueda, and the other logistics soldiers set about settling the wounded.

While Take was boiling water, a group hurried in, supporting a man. She turned to look—a man with silver, curly hair and vacant eyes, a large gash across his abdomen.

Silver hair? Take realized this was the "White Demon" that Uncle Ueda always talked about.

The White Demon—silver hair, white clothes, vanguard captain, formidable in battle. Uncle Ueda often said that anyone who had seen him fight was captivated, and he spoke of him with boundless admiration. In short, Uncle Ueda was a diehard fan of the White Demon—and today, Take finally saw him in person.

Her first impression: dead eyes, messy, overly curly hair, not nearly as impressive as the eccentric Katsura.

"Hot water! Is there hot water? Hurry!" one of the men supporting the White Demon shouted.

"Yes, hot water coming!" Take rushed over with the steaming pot.

She set it down and looked up at them. "Here's the hot water."

"Ghost—aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Gintoki Sakata’s gaze swept past her face, and he leapt up with a scream.

Take’s expression darkened. This was Uncle Ueda’s idol? Really? The White Demon, who had killed countless men, was afraid of ghosts?

Eventually, after seeing her shadow, he calmed down, but he still flinched every time he saw her face. She looked at the trembling, terrified silver-haired man, then at Uncle Ueda’s awestruck, adoring gaze and genuinely couldn’t bear to watch.

Uncle! Just what exactly do you admire about this guy?!