So thick. Aunt Yuko sure is generous.
"..." Ichigo was still marveling at the envelope when he finally noticed the strange atmosphere around him.
"..."
Ichigo turned and found the whole family staring at him without expression.
Karin said without batting an eye, "Ichigo, you have no shame."
Huh?
Pinned in place by several disdainful stares, Ichigo's brain finally came back online.
Oh no! I fell for it!
There's no explaining this now! I'm a high school boy, and I took New Year's money from a girl who looks younger than me? How am I supposed to show my face if word gets out?!
Worse still—
"Pfft." Senna laughed and patted Ichigo's shoulder, taking obvious delight in his misery. "Ichigo, you've really outdone yourself."
"Um... I..." Ichigo fumbled to return the red envelope, but Yuko had already been pulled aside by Yuzu.
"Xiaoyu, let's look around over there! Karin, you too."
They were so naturally close that they looked less like an older girl taking a younger one around and more like two friends their own age shopping together.
Surely I look like I'm from Ichigo's generation too? How can this girl treat me like we're the same age so naturally?
Yuko was speechless, but when she saw Yuzu's bright, innocent smile, she said nothing and let the girl pull her through the crowd.
Then Yuko noticed Karin looking at her. She turned and gave her a small smile.
So she really is Aunt Yuko.
Karin nodded slightly and said nothing more.
Yuko couldn't help thinking that Karin was the smartest member of the Kurosaki Family after all.
"Omamori!"
Yuzu cried out and pulled them toward a nearby stall, where a girl dressed as a shrine maiden was smiling as she sold Omamori to customer after customer.
"You've got to