Insanity?
The way Young Scholar coughed just now was a little frightening.
The woodcutter was startled.
At the same time, he felt rather guilty for being the one who had made Young Scholar cough like that.
"...I'm fine."
Young Scholar waved his hand.
His voice was a little hoarse from the violent coughing.
"Have some more water."
The woman poured Young Scholar another cup of water.
She handed it to the woodcutter. "Give it to your younger brother."
Young Scholar waved off the woodcutter's attempt to feed him water.
He reached out and took the cup himself.
Once again, he drained it in one go.
He wiped the corner of his mouth,
feeling somewhat refreshed.
"Would you like more water?"
The woman asked Young Scholar.
Young Scholar shook his head.
No more.
What he needed now was a moment to recover.
He rubbed his throat.
"This is all your brother's fault."
Seeing that Young Scholar had stopped coughing, the woman glared at the woodcutter.
"If he hadn't shouted, you wouldn't have been startled and choked."
"At least you're all right."
The woodcutter looked sheepish.
Young Scholar shook his head slightly.
"I overreacted."
He hadn't expected his reaction to be so extreme, either.
Maybe he had been too engrossed in watching the little black thief...
Then someone had suddenly called out to him...
Wait!
Speaking of the little black thief...
Young Scholar immediately looked around.
It was gone...
Just as he expected.
Young Scholar wasn't particularly surprised.
That little black thief always left after eating the steamed bun.
It never lingered.
It was very clever.
"...What are you looking for?"
Young Scholar didn't notice anything unusual in the woodcutter's voice.
He looked disappointed. "It got away again."
Speaking of