"Yes, my sister is right. Sasayuri, thank you for all your hard work over the years," Zebu said with a sigh.
"It was my duty. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
Zebu paused, then asked, "You're leaving already? My sister made dango. Won't you have some?"
"Next time." With that, Xiu Yuan waved goodbye.
"All right, then. Make sure you get some rest!" Zebu called.
"I will."
As Xiu Yuan disappeared into the distance, Zebu and Baal exchanged a glance.
"I feel like something is weighing on Sasayuri's mind," Baal said, her brows knitting slightly in concern.
"I think something's a little off, too. Normally, he'd never turn us down."
Zebu looked at the dango in the bowl, her tone full of puzzlement.
"Could he really be that tired?"
"Maybe... I don't know, either."
After leaving Tenshukaku, Xiu Yuan went to a teahouse.
He bought a box of tea leaves, then headed to the seldom-visited far side of the island.
He lit a fire and slowly took out the tea set that was missing a cup.
After brewing himself a pot of tea, he leisurely savored it to the last drop, then washed the tea set before putting it away.
This was one of his few moments of leisure.
Once he had finished, Xiu Yuan rose with determination in his eyes and began his training.
"Huh...? He went to rest?" Chiyo was a little surprised.
"That's unusual. Isn't he always the first to charge into battle?" Kitsune Saiguu was puzzled, too.
"We thought it was strange, too... Maybe he really is tired..."
As Zebu spoke, she gently stroked the Little Pink Fox in her arms.
The Little Pink Fox seemed to have woken up. She opened her tiny mouth in a yawn and stretched.
They thought she