Knock, knock, knock-
Akaseki and Ranwu arrived at the Kato House with get-well gifts.
They knocked for a while, but no one answered.
"Huh? Is no one home?" Ranwu asked, puzzled.
After mastering Sage Mode, Akaseki's senses beyond his vision had also improved considerably. The improvement was less pronounced when he wasn't in Sage Mode, but he could still hear a little... Someone was inside, just not answering.
"Then let's..." Akaseki had no intention of pointing out the sounds inside. He assumed Dan Katō still hadn't recovered emotionally and didn't want to see anyone.
But just then, Akaseki heard the person inside start walking toward them, so he trailed off.
Dan Katō apparently hadn't been refusing to answer the door. He had simply been tidying something up...
Well, Akaseki could understand why a man living alone might not be able to answer the door right away.
Creak-
The door opened a crack.
A weary eye appeared in the gap, startling Ranwu with the pale skin and dry white hair framing it. "Oh, it's Akaseki and Ranwu... Give me a moment." Dan Katō immediately closed the door again, his voice hoarse as though he hadn't spoken in a long time.
Akaseki frowned at the closed door.
Dan Katō's apparent rudeness was the least of his concerns. Just now... Akaseki felt that there had been coldness and wariness in his exhausted gaze.
Before long, the door opened again.
Akaseki took another look...
Everything he had just seen seemed like an illusion. Though Dan Katō looked somewhat sorrowful and tired, he still wore his usual gentle expression.
"Let me get you some water... Sorry about the lack of snacks. I don't keep any at home anymore." Dan Katō couldn't eat solid food at all now.
After inviting them inside, Dan Katō, still looking