Zeal

Shinsuke's blows were precise, and his concentration flawless. There was no hesitation to his moves, and even Kotarō didn't stand a chance against him today. His eyes were glowing with pleasure, much deeper than resulting only from his good performance.

"You cheated," Kotarō said, unable to accept his defeat.

"No he didn't," Gintoki objected.

But today even Kotarō's provocations couldn't get Shinsuke out of his good mood. He slightly bowed to his classmate and looked around to find the next opponent. That day, he was unparalleled in the dōjō.

Shōyō didn't ask the cause of the boy's splendid humour; what mattered was that Shinsuke was full of energy and zeal. And somehow he managed to spread it to others. In the evening, he, Kotarō and Gintoki were best friends again. When after playing kick a can Shinsuke's gleeful laughter echoed in the yard, Shōyō stopped to listen to it.

"Sensei, why the spring can't last for ever?" the boy threw blithely; he rarely asked such questions.

"Well, it's impossible indeed," Shōyō replied. "But it's possible to always have it in your heart. If you don't forget how to laugh... If you remember what makes you happy. If you never lose that passion of yours, Shinsuke."

For a while, Shinsuke looked at him with a gentle - and secret, too - smile; and then he bowed and left.

And so the story is finished. Thank you who stuck with it until the end and even managed to comment on it. Special thanks to Risa9559, who was so kind to review in a regular manner. Maybe I will write more on Jōi kids one day, but for now you have to make do with my other Takasugi-centric stories, if you feel like.

~Clio