"Thank you, Flower Hashira, Rumble Hashira, and..."
Aoi Kanzaki thanked everyone present as though rattling off a menu. She even mentioned Kanao, who had not said a word the whole time, because although Kanao had made no gesture, she had not criticized Aoi Kanzaki for her rudeness either.
At this, the others at the Butterfly Mansion exchanged glances before hurriedly asking Aoi Kanzaki to sit down and eat.
The dining table finally regained its usual warm atmosphere, and with Aoi Kanzaki there, it was a little livelier too.
After lunch, Aoi Kanzaki sought out Delia of her own accord to ask about her future duties. Delia was naturally happy to have someone share her workload, especially someone as earnest and motivated as Aoi Kanzaki, who she believed would make a very good helper.
Watching Aoi Kanzaki follow closely behind Kocho Delia as they left, Kanae finally remembered why she had first taken notice of the girl-Aoi Kanzaki and Kanzaki Kumo shared a surname.
"Kanzaki-kun, do you think Aoi might be a relative of yours?"
The others who had not yet left also turned their gazes toward Kanzaki Kumo, curiosity in their eyes. Only Kanao, who was still nestled in Kanzaki Kumo's arms, frowned slightly, as though she had remembered something unpleasant. But she returned to normal in an instant, keeping her usual smile on her face.
"Don't you already know? My grandpa took me in. We're not related by blood. Besides, my grandpa was the only male in his generation. As for the generations before that, I don't know, but with a supposed family connection that distant, does it really matter whether it exists?"
"Oh, so that's how it is." Kanae nodded.
"Mm-hmm. Though I wouldn't mind having another little sister..."
Before Kanzaki Kumo could finish, Kanao nudged his chest