Kanao Tsuyuri

Once they pooled the surnames each of them had come up with, everyone felt a little strange.

Butterfly Zemu and Kanae in particular looked at Shinobu Kocho's three surnames, then at her smug expression, and did not know what to say for a moment.

Whether in looks, personality, or even talent, Shinobu Kocho resembled Zemu greatly.

Shinobu Kocho was highly gifted in medicine. Her medical expertise had now even surpassed that of Kocho Delia, who had spent years practicing medicine alongside Zemu, making her firmly the second-best doctor at the Butterfly Mansion.

Although she had a bit of a prickly streak that hid her affection, she was generally more easygoing than her older sister.

But Butterfly Zemu had never expected his younger daughter to inherit his "hopeless at naming" talent as well.

Kanae Kocho was more like their mother, Kocho Delia, just as gentle and serene, and just as attentive to detail.

While everyone gathered around those surnames, staring at one another, the door to the next room finally opened. Kocho Delia, her eyes slightly red, carried Kanao into the room where everyone was gathered.

When they had first entered the house, Kanzaki Kumo had handed Kanao to Kocho Delia and asked her to give the girl a physical examination.

Moreover, although he had not seen them himself, Kanzaki Kumo believed Kanao probably had quite a few bruises or wounds inflicted by that pair of scum, and this would give Delia a chance to treat them.

Delia's eyes were red now because she had seen the injuries of all sizes on Kanao's thin little body. Combined with Kanao's vacant gaze, they had filled her heart with sympathy, and she had practically applied the medicine while wiping away tears.

"Thank you for your hard work, Aunt Delia." Kanzaki Kumo stepped forward to take Kanao.

"This child... she suffered so much before..." Kocho Delia shook her head slightly, simply watching Kanao, her voice trembling a little.

"Yes, but her life will definitely keep getting better from now on, right?" As Kanzaki Kumo spoke, he gently rubbed Kanao's little head. The corners of the mouth of this girl, who had shown no emotion from beginning to end, seemed to lift ever so slightly.

But the movement was so slight that even Kanzaki Kumo's eyes had almost failed to catch it.

At that, he could only sigh inwardly. Kanao's past really had been too bitter, leading to her lack of emotion. Only sustained care and deliberate guidance over the years to come could change that little by little.

Without saying anything more, Kanzaki Kumo carried Kanao into the room and set her on the table where the eleven surnames were laid out.

Kanzaki Kumo had originally wanted Kocho Delia to write a few as well, but after looking at the surnames Kanae and Makomo had written, she said that all the ones she had wanted to write were already there, so he had to leave it at that.

"Kanao, all of us came up with these surnames for you. How about choosing one of them as your surname?"

Kanao met Kanzaki Kumo's eyes for a while, then lowered her head to look at the characters on the table, which she could not yet read, and hesitated for a moment.

She really wanted to share Kanzaki Kumo's surname, but she did not know how to say it. Having barely spoken since birth, she found even opening her mouth difficult.

After looking at the eleven completely unfamiliar surnames on the table, Kanao raised her head to look at Kanzaki Kumo again. Unfortunately, the emptiness in those eyes was too profound, and even Kanzaki Kumo could not fully understand what was in her heart.

"Don't be nervous. This is the first choice you're making for yourself. Just follow your heart," Kanzaki Kumo gently encouraged her.

Everyone present knew that Kanao could not read yet. How could people who had made her life so miserable possibly have taught her to read?

But that did not affect her choice. In a sense, choosing this way truly meant choosing by feel.

After Kanzaki Kumo finished speaking, Kanao lowered her head again, her little hand moving back and forth over the eleven surnames. Yet although her gaze seemed to sweep over the surnames, she was actually still watching Kanzaki Kumo.

She noticed that whenever her little hand passed over a certain surname, a flicker appeared in Kanzaki Kumo's eyes. Though it was very faint, after several attempts, she was certain she had not imagined it.

Finally, she pointed her little hand at that surname.

I can't read these characters. I don't understand the meaning behind this surname, and I don't know who wrote it. But since you want me to choose it, I'll choose it.

That was Kanao's inward whisper.

Kanzaki Kumo was the first to step forward, gazing into Kanao's eyes with a smile, his gentle tone carrying a measure of solemnity.

"Then your surname from now on will be Tsuyuri. From today onward, your name is Kanao Tsuyuri."

Although it was not the "Kanzaki" she had hoped for, Kanao felt no disappointment, simply because this was what Kanzaki Kumo wanted her to choose, and that was enough.

"From now on, Kanao Tsuyuri will also be a member of the Butterfly Mansion. Kanae, Shinobu, I'll be troubling you to look after her from now on. After all, she's a girl, so there are some things it wouldn't be convenient for me to do."

"Of course, no problem."

"Don't worry, Kanzaki-kun."

This time, Shinobu Kocho answered even faster than Kanae. Having always been the youngest, she could finally experience what it felt like to be an older sister.

The others naturally understood why Shinobu Kocho was so eager, but they merely smiled without saying anything and turned to discuss the arrangements for Kanao.

Although she was already nine, she clearly needed to learn everything, from the most basic life skills to reading and writing later on. They needed to discuss how to divide those responsibilities, which also involved their existing work schedules.

By the time they finished discussing it, it was dinnertime.

During dinner, Kanao sat right in Kanzaki Kumo's lap. Her tiny body hardly interfered with his eating, and he could feed her a bite now and then as well.

Kanae and Makomo sat on either side of Kanzaki Kumo, competing to feed Kanao.

And so, with the three taking turns feeding her, Kanao's little cheeks bulged with food. Even though her eyes still showed no emotion, she looked a little cuter.

Poor Shinobu Kocho had just thought she could be an older sister, only to be pushed aside by the two older girls moments later. Throughout the meal, she occasionally let out indignant little huffs at those three who were "picking on someone younger."

Yes, in her eyes, Kanzaki Kumo, who held Kanao in his lap, was also one of those "picking on someone younger."

Even if she, Shinobu Kocho, was small and holding Kanao while eating would be inconvenient, she was willing to let Kanao eat her fill first. Why couldn't they let her hold her?

Butterfly Zemu and his wife sat across from them, watching this heartwarming scene with smiles on their faces.

Although coming to the Butterfly Mansion had originally been a choice made with unease and resignation, life here seemed quite good so far.

A heartwarming dinner ended amid everyone's cheerful chatter and laughter, until Kanzaki Kumo set down his bowl and said evenly, "Makomo, since your injuries have healed, special training starts tomorrow."

"Huh-?"