"Morning, Ritsuka. I was just chatting with Tasuke, you know. It wasn't because I was deliberately running away from making breakfast!"
"O-Nui looked very busy. She had to prepare breakfast while taking care of Tasuke, so—I naturally took on part of her workload!"
"O-Nui, here. This is Tasuke, whom you asked me to look after. He really is such a good boy."
Miyamoto Musashi placed Tasuke back into his sister's arms and smiled.
"By the way... is Lord Sakumura still sitting up there?"
Musashi looked up. Sakumura was still sitting on a tree branch, his eyes closed as though he were asleep.
But his magical energy fluctuations told Fujimaru Ritsuka that he was merely resting with his eyes closed.
Hearing Musashi's words, Sakumura opened his eyes and jumped down from the tree.
"The view was better up there, and this little one kept perching on my shoulder, so I didn't come down."
A tiny sparrow stood on Sakumura's finger. Although quite a few people had gathered around it, the sparrow showed no fear of humans at all. Instead, it curiously watched everyone around it.
"Ah! So cute!"
O-Nui's eyes sparkled as she carefully moved closer to Sakumura and observed the sparrow perched on his hand.
With a smile, Sakumura placed the unafraid sparrow atop O-Nui's head.
"Chirp chirp—"
The sparrow hopped twice, chirped, and then flew away.
"Ah..."
O-Nui looked rather regretful.
Little birds like that were very timid, so chances to get close to one were truly rare.
"Don't worry. You'll meet it again."
Sakumura gently rubbed O-Nui's head, telling her not to lose heart.
"As long as you treat other living creatures sincerely, that sparrow might come and keep you company in the future."
"Really? Mr. Sparrow would be willing to play with O-Nui?"
Hearing Sakumura's words, O-Nui,