Xia Xi had not expected Shinjuro, his neighbor, to come calling at this particular moment.
Tanjuro asked, "Someone you know, sir?"
Xia Xi said, "A Big Owl, and a future colleague of yours."
He sighed and followed Tanjuro to open the door.
Sure enough, standing outside was the somewhat stubbly but exceptionally burly middle-aged man.
His long, flame-orange hair hung over his shoulders.
Just looking at it made one feel a little hot.
"Xia Xi, you brat. Never mind missing the Nine Hashira Meeting, but you're not planning to slack off during the big training session afterward too, are you?"
Shinjuro strode into the courtyard, sweeping his gaze around.
Then his eyes settled on Tanjuro and the children beside him.
He instinctively sensed something about Tanjuro that vaguely repelled him-or rather... made him wary.
"Is this... the Swordsmanship expert you mentioned in your telegram?"
Judging by both the way the man stood and the wear on his hands,
he was a complete novice at Kendo.
How could someone like this possibly deserve Xia Xi's assessment in the telegram: [has the potential to surpass the Nine Hashira]?
Tanjuro, meanwhile, completely ignored the scrutiny in his eyes.
He merely bowed slightly and spoke calmly. "You must be Mr. Rengoku, whom Xia Xi mentioned?"
"My name is Tanjuro Kamado. I look forward to your guidance."
Kamado?
Big Owl vaguely felt that he had seen that surname somewhere before.
But at that moment... his gaze and attention were entirely captured by the ornaments on the man's ears.
Those earrings.
They were identical to the ones worn by the [Yoriichi Puppets] Xia Xi had made.
They were earrings bearing Sun Wheel Flowers.
But he had never heard of Xia Xi giving anyone ornaments from his puppets to wear.
Could it be?
Shinjuro's gaze darkened a