Actually, Azula was quite cute, too. It was just that her usual behavior made it impossible to pay attention to her looks, but a stranger who knew nothing about her could indeed easily be drawn in.
Yin Shu's train of thought gradually took a strange turn.
On closer inspection, Kahn was quite cute, too, and would probably be a handsome boy in the future. Azula disliked listening to her guidance, and she felt quite helpless about that, but if Azula could change under Kahn's pursuit...
With that thought, Yin Shu's gaze toward Kahn gradually grew more kindly.
She smiled. "Since even Zuko's friend says so, let's leave it at that. I'm very happy you can all get along."
Zuko: "?"
Kahn was so strange, and so was Mother.
In any case, that put an end to the matter. After they followed Yin Shu inside, she simply exchanged a few pleasantries with Kahn rather than digging into every detail as though checking household records. Then she went elsewhere, leaving them to play on their own.
She could tell Kahn was somewhat reserved around her, but it was not because he was shy or introverted. Rather, it was a sign that he understood manners. That, too, was unlike what a child his age would display. He was like a little adult.
Hmm, being a bit steady is good, too. Azula is just too mischievous. They would complement each other perfectly.
Kahn also had a very good impression of Yin Shu. She was a model wife and mother, though the way she looked at him was sometimes inexplicably strange.
It's probably just my imagination.
After Yin Shu left, Zuko asked Kahn:
"Kahn, Azula was obviously giving you a hard time. Why did you still take her side just now?"
Hearing that question, Kahn did not answer, but asked in return:
"Is this how you've always handled things?"
Zuko paused. "How?"
"Whenever you two have a disagreement, you go tell your parents. Have you always done that?"
"Yeah. What else would I do?"
Seeing Zuko answer as though it were only natural, Kahn sighed and shook his head.
"No wonder you get along so badly."
"Why?"
Zuko asked in confusion.
"Uh, because..."
Kahn was momentarily at a loss for words. Even after stumbling over "because" for a while, he could not find the words to explain it. After all, this was something one could only understand through experience.
"You'll understand once you've experienced it. Anyway, when there's a disagreement between siblings, tattling is the worst choice."
Hearing that, Zuko asked again:
"All right, I won't tattle anymore. But what should we do if Azula comes to bully us again?"
"Simple. Give it right back."
"Give it back?"
"Yeah."
Kahn nodded. "If she insults you, insult her back. If she hits you, hit her back."
Among his friends in the past were an older sister and younger brother. As children, they could not stand each other either, and would tear into each other at the slightest disagreement. But whenever an outsider bullied one of them, the other was always the first to step up and help. Once they grew up, their relationship was actually very good.
Although siblings were supposed to love one another, how could there possibly be no disagreements when they spent so much time together? Resolving disagreements promptly was the way to make a relationship last. Otherwise, if they forcibly bottled them up inside, a day would always come when they could no longer keep the lid on.
When that happened, a simple argument or fight might no longer be enough to resolve things.
"But Mother doesn't want Azula and me arguing, let alone fighting. Besides, how could fighting possibly make us closer?"
Because Kahn's words ran completely counter to his understanding, Zuko instead did not believe him at all. He looked at Kahn doubtfully.
"Have you just been lying to me this whole time?"
"Absolutely not, but whether you believe me is up to you."
Kahn spread his hands indifferently.
He was only offering a reminder. If Zuko would not listen, so be it.
Zuko was still young anyway. There was plenty of time for society to beat him black and blue, and for him to learn these lessons from it.
Zuko did not pursue the matter, asking next:
"So, what should we do now?"
"This is your house. Of course we'll follow your plans."
Zuko readily agreed, saying excitedly, "Sure! I keep little turtles in the courtyard pond. Let's go play with them!"
"Uh..."
Kahn regretted it at once. Sure enough, the things children enjoyed doing really did not suit him.
So he began changing the subject:
"Speaking of which, Zuko, how's your firebending coming along?"
"Uh, pretty well, I guess..."
Zuko paused, his gaze wandering slightly as he spoke.
Kahn did not notice anything unusual about Zuko. After they talked for a bit, he discovered that Zuko was indeed much further along in his studies than he was, so he asked:
"Actually, I've been studying some things on my own lately, but I can never quite get the hang of them. If you know how, could I trouble you to teach me?"
"Sure!"
Zuko immediately agreed, delighted at the prospect of teaching Kahn.
"Then let's go to the training grounds. I'll teach you firebending, and then we can practice sparring, too!"
What a good kid!
Facing a Zuko who agreed to almost anything he asked, Kahn sighed inwardly with appreciation. Without mentioning Zuko's earlier suggestion of playing with the turtles at all, he nodded.
"Let's go, then!"
Just as the two were about to set off, a voice suddenly came from behind them:
"How about letting me join?"
They turned around. At some point, Azula had appeared behind them.
"Azula, have you been eavesdropping on us this whole time!?"
Zuko demanded.
After they had entered the house earlier, Azula had left on her own, and they had no idea where she had gone. They had not expected her to suddenly appear now, and they did not know how long she had been there.
"Oh, please. Don't flatter yourself, Zuzu. You're not Father or Grandfather. What secrets could you have that would be worth eavesdropping on?"
Azula spread her hands disdainfully.
So you mean you've eavesdropped on your grandfather's and father's secrets?
Kahn promptly lowered his eyes to his nose and his nose toward his heart, pretending he had heard nothing.
"So, how about letting me join?"
As Azula spoke, she revealed an innocent smile.
For a moment, Azula's appearance left Kahn a little dazzled. When she acted normal, she really was very cute.
But Zuko, who knew Azula's true nature, did not fall for it. He refused decisively:
"No, I'm not playing with you!"
"Is that what an older brother should say to his little sister? Suspecting a little sister who just wants to play with her big brother for no reason? Are those the manners Mother taught you?"
Azula put on a show of looking hurt, leaving Zuko red-faced with anger yet speechless:
"You! Anyway, I don't agree!"
Kahn, however, found it novel to watch. Azula's behavior really was unusual. Neither her sharp tongue nor her acting was anything like that of a little girl her age.
Azula then looked at Kahn. Unable to avert his gaze in time, he met her eyes.
Suddenly, Azula seemed to think of something. An inscrutable meaning flickered in her eyes as she stared at Kahn and said:
"I think, since your friend is a guest in our home, why can't we let him decide?"
"What do you think? Kahn? That's your name, right?"
After saying that, she even gave Kahn a "friendly" look.
Huh? What the hell does this have to do with me?
Kahn had been perfectly content watching the fire from the opposite bank, only for the flames to suddenly spread to him, making him inwardly bemoan his bad luck.
And Azula, what's with that look on your face and in your eyes? Are you signaling me? Or threatening me?
You're threatening me, aren't you!?
Looking at her seemingly ill-intentioned expression, he silently grumbled:
Who on earth taught this kid to manage her expressions? Looks like she learned how to botch it instead.
However, after considering it for a while, he answered:
"Sure."
Before you continue