Kanao Tsuyuri

Even drunk, a kid could always find the way home. Kuuga Tsugikuni somehow carried Shinobu Kocho all the way back to the Butterfly Mansion. If Shinobu had not broken free the moment she could, Kuuga would have carried her straight into his room. Someone had nearly been in danger.

Standing at the door, Kuuga whistled at Shinobu. Shinobu could not take it anymore. She had only spared him some dignity in front of the Wind Hashira earlier.

Shinobu clenched her fists. The tai chi she had learned finally came in handy. With two solid punches, Shinobu gave Kuuga a pair of panda eyes while he was still dazed.

"Shinobu, why did you turn into two?"

Kuuga reached out and grabbed Shinobu.

"Hm?"

"Why is it so soft?"

Shinobu blushed furiously. Kuuga's hand was still on her chest, and then Kuuga went flying.

Shinobu's kick landed perfectly, sending Kuuga straight into his own room, though it left a huge hole in the door.

Shinobu left Kuuga's doorway with her hands on her hips. Before long, she returned carrying a bowl of milk. After watching Kuuga drain it, she tucked him in properly.

"I must have owed you in my past life. Just wait until you wake up!" Shinobu pouted as she walked out of Kuuga's room.

Over on Kanae and Sanemi's side, the air was especially quiet. The two of them seemed to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. By now, they had arrived at the Wind Hashira's residence.

"Thank you for bringing me back, Kanae!"

"You're welcome. And thank you for looking after Kuuga!" Kanae said with a smile.

"Then I'll head inside!"

"Goodbye, Mr. Shinazugawa!"

"You should call me Sanemi."

But the Wind Hashira was drunk too. As he stepped over the threshold, he lost his footing and fell. Kanae Kocho hurriedly reached out to pull Sanemi Shinazugawa up.

Instead, they both fell. Sanemi immediately shielded Kanae's head, though his own hand was scraped in the process.

Kanae lay on top of Sanemi in a daze for quite some time. Her heart pounded wildly, and her face gradually turned red.

It was the first time Sanemi had ever been so close to the girl he liked. He looked as steady as a rock on the surface, but inside, he was panicking terribly. After all, the Wind Hashira was only a teenage boy.

He was nothing like Kuuga Tsugikuni, who had lived a second life. Once Kanae came to her senses, she immediately got off Sanemi.

After spacing out for another moment, she realized Sanemi was still lying on the ground and hurriedly helped him up.

"Sanemi, are you okay?" Kanae asked worriedly.

Sanemi patted his sturdy chest and said confidently, "No problem. It was just a little fall!"

Sanemi felt that if it were Kuuga, he would definitely say he could fall a few more times. But Sanemi did not think he could bring himself to say that.

Still, the attentive Kanae spotted Sanemi's wound. Knowing it must have been caused by protecting her, she hurriedly took out a handkerchief and bandaged his hand.

Before Sanemi could react, Kanae Kocho hurried away.

Sanemi looked at the handkerchief, then at the threshold. This deal had been worth it. Thanks, threshold.

Kanae Kocho hurried into the room. Seeing her sister return, the gloomy Shinobu immediately greeted her with a smile, but something seemed off.

How had her face turned red just from walking someone home? That was strange. What happened? Could it be...

"Big Sister, dear Big Sister, your face turned red just from seeing the Wind Hashira home. Spill it!" Shinobu wore a mischievous grin.

"You really do let your imagination run wild all day!" Kanae Kocho lightly tapped Shinobu's forehead.

"By the way, how is Kuuga?" Kanae Kocho hurriedly changed the subject.

"He won't die, anyway."

"Did Kuuga make Little Shinobu angry again?"

"That guy is a shameless lecher, a complete pervert! He's driving me mad!" Shinobu puffed up her cheeks.

"Well, who told you to bully him all the time? It all came out when he got drunk!" Kanae Kocho said with a smile.

"I didn't!" Shinobu denied it at once.

"Alright, I'll go check on him. You should rest."

"Oh, right, I already gave him milk! You don't need to go, Sister," Shinobu reminded her.

"Sure enough, Little Shinobu has her own kind of gentleness toward Kuuga!" Kanae covered her mouth and laughed.

"I'm going to sleep!"

Shinobu turned around and went to bed. That night, two people slept soundly, while two others' hearts raced for a long time.

The sun was already high in the sky, shining right on his backside, when Kuuga slowly crawled out of bed. He could no longer remember much of what had happened the previous night.

Looking at the huge hole in the door, Kuuga stood there in a complete mess for a full minute. Had the Scum Boss attacked, or had he gone too far?

And why did his eyes hurt a little? He really needed to drink less in the future. This was terrifying.

"Does someone remember that he's supposed to go shopping with us this afternoon?" Shinobu came in carrying a bowl of porridge.

"Don't worry, I won't forget! It's only noon, isn't it?"

Kuuga took the porridge and began drinking it. He really was hungry now, and this porridge was delicious.

"This porridge is amazing. I want ten more bowls! The person who made it must be a gentle, thoughtful, kind, adorable beauty!"

"Since you're so good with your tongue, I'll let what happened last night slide!"

Maybe praise from anyone else would have meant nothing to Shinobu, but the idiot in front of her was different.

"Shinobu learned how to cook?"

"What, do you have a problem with that?"

"No, I suddenly feel like ten bowls might not be enough!"

"Bring the pot!"

"I'll stuff you to death!"

Shinobu carried the bowl out. Before long, she brought him another bowl of porridge. That was right—this was porridge Shinobu had specially made for Kuuga.

After eating and drinking his fill, Kuuga happily served as a pack mule. The two girls bought many things at the market that afternoon.

Kuuga suddenly realized that even swinging his sword a thousand times did not feel this exhausting. He was dying.

But it was all worth it, because the Butterfly Sisters had specially changed into kimonos today. The older sister wore pink, while the younger sister wore purple. Kuuga was responsible for admiring them and preparing to beat people up, since the two girls were simply too eye-catching walking down the street.

"Shinobu, Kuuga, look, up ahead!" Kanae pointed ahead and grabbed Shinobu, rushing over.

Could there be a place to rest up ahead? Big Sister was so considerate. I'm so touched! Sob, sob, sob!

But when Kuuga raised his head, he saw a burly man pulling a thick hemp rope while constantly hurling insults meant for livestock.

Following the rope, he saw a little girl in tattered clothes. Her hair was a mess, her face was grimy, and a thick hemp rope was tied around her waist.

Her eyes were hollow. It was hard to imagine that someone at an age meant for innocence and cheerfulness had already become so numb. Kuuga recognized her at a glance. She was the young Kanao Tsuyuri.