First Battle

My name is Haruchika Chosokabe.

People I meet for the first time often ask, but
I am probably not a descendant of the 'Lion of Shikoku,' Lord Motochika Chosokabe.

I was born in Tokyo, but because my father was a transfer-prone employee, I never lived in one place for long.
Perhaps that is why I am at a loss for words when asked where my hometown is.

Although I graduated from university, I was just drifting along aimlessly.
One day, I went out for drinks with my best friend from university, Odachi.

Since Odachi was from Kochi, he was hooked on my surname from the start.
'It's the first time I've ever met someone named Chosokabe.'
That was the beginning of a friendship that continues to this day.

I remember up to the point where the topic came up that Odachi's parents had bought a condo and moved, leaving their family home vacant.

The next day, Odachi told me about the previous night while laughing hysterically.
Simply put, I had ended up deciding to live in Odachi's vacant family home.
Perhaps it's because every time I go out for drinks with Odachi, the topic of Motochika Chosokabe inevitably comes up.
Apparently, I said this:

'I will unify Shikoku.'

What are you talking about?

I wanted to say that instinctively, but as he told me the story, Odachi just laughed hysterically again.

Since I had decided to move to Kochi based on a story that sounded like a lie,
a week passed while I prepared my luggage and such, and the day of the move arrived.

I traveled to Okayama by Shinkansen and transferred to the Nanpu limited express train.
On the way, I believe it was Oboke and Koboke, but Odachi had insisted that I look at the scenery, but I missed it because I was fast asleep.

I had been asleep for most of it, but I arrived at Kochi Station regardless.I wanted a cigarette, so I asked a station attendant if there was a smoking area, and was told it was on the right side of the building to the right after exiting the station, so I headed right while dragging my wheeled suitcase.

As I walked along the station building, I discovered Gyoza no Ohsho, so I decided to have a gyoza set meal before my smoke. It goes without saying that I added an extra order of gyoza.

After leaving Gyoza no Ohsho and continuing along the building across the street, I found a smoking area on my left.

I hadn't smoked for over six hours, so I felt a bit dizzy for a moment, but I was able to calm down a little.

After my smoke, I went out to the south side and saw the backs of three bronze statues on my left,
and since I was curious, I dragged my suitcase over to the front.
Then, I realized that Lord Motochika Chosokabe was not there.

Is the Lion of Shikoku not a hero of Kochi?
He is not the head of the Yamanouchi family who ruled Tosa Province during the Edo period either.

The three bronze statues were the Tosa Three Loyalists: Ryoma Sakamoto, Shintaro Nakaoka, and Hanpeita Takechi.

At that moment, a sense of mission welled up within me.

Unification of Shikoku

Before that, first the province of Tosa

Lord Motochika was fair-skinned and slender, and it seems he was called Hime-wako (Princess Child).
His first battle was at age 22, which was rare for the time, and it is said he performed remarkably well.
After that, he succeeded to the head of the family and unified Tosa in 15 years.

Haruchika Chosokabe, 24 years old, landed here in Kochi.

The End

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This is a sequel to this article.