Lilium pumilum

《(Gintama) Like an Old Friend Returning》 is a Gintama-inspired romance novel by author Shuishuiyu (also known as Shuiyezi Yuan), published on Jinjiang Literature City. The full text spans approximately 489,000 words and centres on the emotional entanglement between the female lead, Shimizu Tsukihime, and Sakata Gintoki. It faithfully recreates Gintama's signature satirical style while incorporating supernatural elements, resulting in a lighthearted yet emotionally nuanced narrative. Below is a detailed synopsis: 1. **Core Plot** The novel revolves around three bittersweet encounters between the female lead, Shimizu Tsukihime, and Sakata Gintoki. First encounter: Tsukihime, disguised as another, acts heroically. Gintoki watches from afar, smiles faintly, and departs without interaction. Second encounter: They recognise each other in a virtual world. Gintoki accompanies her on a digital Ferris wheel for a full rotation. Yet when the power cuts, they meet again on the real street—still strangers. The third time, after Shimizu Tsukihime personally dealt with their shared enemy, she turned to leave, disillusioned and ready to abandon everything. It was then that Sakata Gintoki finally reached out and took her hand. These repeated missed connections and reunions spanned seven years. Through all her twists and turns, Shimizu Tsukihime never ceased to think of Sakata Gintoki. This persistent affection became a crucial plot thread driving the story forward. 2. **Main Characters and Style** - **Main Character Profile**: The female lead, Shimizu Tsukihime, has a distinctive character design. The author acknowledges she carries some Mary Sue traits—extremely tsundere and delusional in life, though not a saintly type. After rebirth, her personality softens considerably, making her more relatable to readers. The male lead is Sakata Gintoki, and their romantic arc forms the novel's core appeal. - **Overall Style**: The author strives to mirror Gintama's original tone, peppering the narrative with abundant comedic commentary for a lighthearted read. Supernatural elements are also woven into the story, with the author specifically citing Gintama's Senbōkyō Hot Springs arc as proof of these themes' compatibility with the series. However, the author self-deprecatingly refers to this as a “dark history” work in the synopsis. While the prologue appears serious, the overall tone is actually quite whimsical and nonsensical. 3. **Story Development** The early stages focus on the emotional tug-of-war between the protagonists and the female lead's rebirth transformation. As the plot progresses, classic factions and characters from the original Gintama—such as the Shinsengumi, the Spring Rain Pirates, and the Oni Corps—gradually make their appearances. After the Edo arc, the plot largely follows the main Gintama storyline. The female lead, Shimizu Tsukihime, gradually integrates into Sakata Gintoki's world, interacting with characters like Kagura and Shinpachi. Beyond the main narrative, the novel incorporates cross-over elements linking to another character, Sarara, and her story involving Takasugi Shinsuke, enriching the secondary plotlines.