Show-Off Style: You're All Useless!

Uzuki Yugao turned and headed deeper into the alley. Yongye followed with his hands in his pockets, walking at an easy pace as he admired the sway of her hips.

They crossed two alleys and turned into a narrower lane. Tall wooden walls rose on either side, their tops covered in ivy. Vines hung down and swayed gently in the breeze.

Uzuki Yugao stopped in front of a small house.

It was a two-story wooden house with pale gray paint peeling in places to reveal the dark brown boards beneath. A small cluster of hydrangeas grew by the door, their heavy blue-purple blooms hanging from the branches.

She took a key from her waist, opened the door, and stepped aside.

"Come in."

Yongye walked inside.

The entryway was small. Its dark brown wooden floor had been polished clean and held a faint sheen. A low cabinet stood against the wall, topped with a celadon vase holding a few wildflowers he didn't recognize.

Uzuki Yugao took a pair of guest Geta from the cabinet and set them by Yongye's feet. Then she changed into slippers and hurried into the kitchen.

Yongye put on the Geta and entered the living room.

The living room was small too. A low table covered with a plain tablecloth stood in the center. Against the wall was a bookshelf lined with neat rows of scrolls and books. The window was open, and the white gauze curtain fluttered gently in the breeze.

He sat down at the table, crossed his legs, rested his hands on his knees, and glanced around the room.

The sound of chopping came from the kitchen, the knife striking the cutting board in a steady rhythm. Then came the sizzle of heating oil, the sharp hiss of ingredients hitting the pan, and the