"Mr. Tomioka went out to hunt demons."
Shinobu Kocho set a cup of hot tea in front of Haruto and frowned. "He said it was a waste for someone able-bodied to stay here, and he might as well use the time to kill more demons."
The Tsuguko coming and going through the Butterfly Mansion were all able-bodied swordsmen. Some had passed the selection, and some had not. Their expressions soured when they heard that.
"Ah..." Haruto paused with his hand on the teacup. "He didn't mean it that way."
"I know." Shinobu crouched beside him, gathering up her overly long Haori like a butterfly folding its wings. "Like Mr. Shinazugawa? Oh, I don't mean your Shinazugawa, but the one... with all those scars.
"He looks so fierce and unreasonable, but my sister says he's a gentle person."
"Oh?" Haruto's voice suddenly jumped an octave, and his eyebrows shot up. "Kanae said Sanemi was a gentle person?"
What's this juicy gossip? Is it legit?
But Shinobu went on without noticing. "Mr. Kume also says the fiercest thing about Mr. Shinazugawa is his face. He's like a pufferfish-poke him and he puffs right up... but he isn't actually threatening at all."
Haruto tried to picture a Sanemi-shaped pufferfish-no, he couldn't imagine it!
The guy was clearly a lump of C4, ready to explode at the press of a button.
But... tell me more about Sanemi and Kanae!
"So," Haruto asked, feigning casual interest, "does Sanemi come to the Butterfly Mansion often?"
"Yes, quite often. Mr. Sanemi has a very unusual way of fighting, so he always ends up covered in injuries. Mr. Kume brings him to the Butterfly Mansion for treatment every few days. My sister usually bandages his wounds."
*Right, that guy relied on his rare blood, cutting himself every time