Kanao Tsuyuri

Though drunk, the kid could always find his way home. Tsugikuni Kuuga had carried Shinobu Kocho all the way back to the Butterfly Mansion, and if Shinobu hadn't managed to break free just in time, she would've been taken straight inside by him—someone was almost in danger.

Tsugikuni Kuuga stood at the door whistling at Shinobu Kocho. Shinobu couldn't take it anymore; she'd only held back earlier in front of the Wind Hashira to save him some face.

Shinobu clenched her fists. All that Tai Chi practice finally came in handy. Bang bang—two punches landed, and in his daze, Tsugikuni Kuuga happily acquired a pair of panda eyes.

"Shinobu, why are there two of you!" Tsugikuni Kuuga reached out and grabbed at Shinobu Kocho.

"Hm?"

"Why is it so soft!"

Shinobu's face flushed red, but Tsugikuni Kuuga's hand was still on her chest. Then Tsugikuni Kuuga went flying.

Shinobu's kick was perfectly aimed. Tsugikuni Kuuga flew straight into his own room, leaving a large hole in the door.

Shinobu Kocho walked away from Tsugikuni Kuuga's door with her hands on her hips. Before long, she returned with a bowl of milk. After watching him drink it all down, she tucked his blanket in for him.

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

On the other side, with Kanae and Sanemi, the air was unusually quiet. It seemed both of them were enjoying this peaceful atmosphere. By now, they had arrived at the Wind Hashira's estate.

"Thank you for seeing me home, Kanae!"

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

"Then I'll head inside!"

"Goodbye, Mr. Shinazugawa!"

"You can just call me Sanemi!"

But the Wind Hashira was also drunk. As he stepped over the threshold, he accidentally tripped and fell. Seeing this, Kanae Kocho hurried to pull Sanemi Shinazugawa up.

The result was that both of them fell at the same time. Sanemi Shinazugawa immediately shielded Kanae's head, but his own hand got scraped.

Kanae lay on top of Sanemi Shinazugawa, stunned for a long moment. Her heart pounded wildly, and her face flushed red.

As for Sanemi Shinazugawa, this was the first time he'd been this close to the girl he liked. On the surface, he was as steady as an old dog, but inside, he was panicking like crazy—after all, the Wind Hashira was just a teenager in his teens.

Unlike Tsugikuni Kuuga, who had lived a second life. Once Kanae Kocho came to her senses, she immediately got off Sanemi Shinazugawa.

After another moment of daze, she realized Sanemi was still lying on the ground and quickly helped him up.

"Sanemi, are you okay!" Kanae asked, worried.

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

Sanemi Shinazugawa felt that if it were Tsugikuni Kuuga, he'd definitely say something like "I'd take a few more falls for that," but he couldn't bring himself to say it.

However, the observant Kanae still noticed Sanemi's wound. She knew it was from protecting her, so she quickly took out a handkerchief and bandaged it for him.

Before Sanemi Shinazugawa could react, Kanae Kocho hurried off.

Sanemi Shinazugawa looked at the handkerchief, then at the threshold. This trade was worth it. Thank you, my threshold.

Kanae Kocho rushed into the room. Seeing her older sister return, the sulking Shinobu Kocho immediately smiled and went to greet her, but something seemed off.

How did sending someone off make her face turn red? How strange. What happened? Could it be...

"Sister, my dear sister, sending off the Wind Hashira made your face all red. Spill it!" Shinobu Kocho said with a sly grin.

"Oh, you! Always daydreaming!" Kanae Kocho lightly tapped Shinobu's forehead.

"By the way, how's Kuuga?" Kanae Kocho quickly changed the subject.

"He's not dead, anyway!"

"Did Kuuga make Little Shinobu angry again?"

"That guy is nothing but a lecher, a pervert! He makes me so mad!" Shinobu's cheeks puffed up.

"Who told you to tease him all the time? Once he's drunk, it all comes out!" Kanae Kocho laughed.

"I did not!" Shinobu denied it flatly.

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

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

"As expected, Little Shinobu has her own gentle way with Kuuga!" Kanae covered her mouth and laughed.

"Going to sleep!"

Shinobu turned around and got ready for bed. That night, two people slept soundly, and two people's hearts raced for a long time.

The sun was high, practically burning his backside. Tsugikuni Kuuga slowly crawled up. He couldn't quite remember what had happened last night.

Staring at the big hole in the door, Tsugikuni Kuuga stood frozen in the wind for a full minute. Had the Scum Boss attacked, or had he gone too far himself?

And why did his eyes hurt? He'd better drink less from now on. Too scary.

"Someone still remembers we're going shopping this afternoon, huh?" Shinobu Kocho walked in carrying a bowl of porridge.

"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten! It's only noon, right?"

Tsugikuni Kuuga took the porridge and started drinking. He was really hungry, and this porridge was delicious.

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

"Since you're such a smooth talker, I'll let last night slide!"

Maybe no one's praise could move Shinobu, but the idiot before her was special.

"Shinobu, you learned to cook?"

"What, you got a problem with that?"

"No, I just suddenly feel like ten bowls aren't enough!"

"Bring the pot!"

"I'll stuff you to death!"

Shinobu carried the bowl out directly, then came back a moment later with another bowl of porridge—yes, this was porridge Shinobu had specially made for Tsugikuni Kuuga.

After eating and drinking his fill, Tsugikuni Kuuga happily played the role of a pack mule. The two girls bought a lot of things at the market all afternoon.

Tsugikuni Kuuga suddenly realized that swinging a sword a thousand times wasn't nearly as exhausting as this. He was dying.

But it was all worth it, because today the Butterfly Sisters had specially changed into kimonos—the older sister wore pink, the younger sister purple. Tsugikuni Kuuga was in charge of appreciating the view and preparing to throw punches, since the two girls were way too dazzling walking down the street.

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

Could there be a place to rest up ahead? Big Sis is so thoughtful, so touching, boohoo!

But when Tsugikuni Kuuga lifted his head, what came into view was a big man pulling a hemp rope, cursing nonstop like he was scolding livestock.

Following the rope, he saw a little girl in tattered clothes, disheveled hair, a dirty face, and a thick hemp rope tied around her waist.

Her eyes were hollow. It was hard to imagine that someone who should be at an innocent, carefree age was already numb. Tsugikuni Kuuga recognized her at a glance—that was Kanao Tsuyuri from when she was little.