With prayers for long life and happiness — an excerpt of “1863, December”

1864, September pt 1 “I was born today,” he says, his eyes locked on his task. On the fourth and seventh days of every ten, Sanosuke helps Chizuru in the kitchen after dinner. On nights like these, with the changing of the seasons, sunset paints their surroundings in a gentle twilight wash. Chizuru’s dainty hands …