Makomo had completely failed to notice that the Vice-Captain beside her had developed a somewhat peculiar expression.
She kept talking.
"Senior Xia Xi always called her 'Persimmon,' 'Persimmon-chan,' and things like that."
"Later, some people in the dojo started calling her that too."
"At first, it was only Senior Dingqi... then more and more people joined in, until everyone called the Vice-Captain 'Persimmon.'"
Yan Zi froze. "Huh?"
That reason was just too...
"But why Persimmon?"
"Seiko" and "Kaki" sounded completely different, didn't they?
Her benefactor wasn't like that dummy Kuang Jin. He could definitely read.
"Maybe Sister Persimmon likes eating persimmons?"
Yan Zi stole a glance at the Vice-Captain, who was talking to Sayo on the other side.
Her head was lowered, her long hair hiding her cheeks.
It was hard to see clearly in the darkness.
He called her Persimmon because she liked eating persimmons?
"But Sayo and I like rice balls. Why doesn't he call us that?"
"Rice Ball sounds pretty cute too."
"Oh, that's not the point, Makomo!"
Who called someone by the name of their favorite food?
Even she, who had grown up in the slums,
knew that calling someone that was a little too intimate...
Wait!
A sudden flash of inspiration struck the girl.
It seemed... everything made sense now!
Every day, the Vice-Captain helped her benefactor, one of the Nine Hashira, handle his official duties.
When he went out, she prepared his luggage and travel money in advance.
When he returned from training or errands, she always had his bathwater heated beforehand too.
And what about her benefactor, Xia Xi?
Not only did he give the Vice-Captain special attention during their regular training,
he also entrusted her with the unit's finances and all sorts of important matters.
Whenever something came up, she was always