Kanzaki Kumo acted on his idea at once and wrote to Shinjuro Rengoku. After receiving a reply confirming that he was free recently and informing Kagaya, he prepared to set out early the next morning.
"Uncle Zemu, Aunt Delia, Shinobu, I'll leave the Butterfly Mansion in your hands for now."
"Hmph, as if you ever handled anything around here." Shinobu Kocho pursed her lips and retorted without a shred of restraint.
"My, my, it is the 'Butterfly' Mansion, after all, not the 'Kanzaki' Mansion." As Kanzaki Kumo spoke, he reached out and vigorously ruffled Shinobu Kocho's hair several times, nearly undoing her carefully arranged bun. Even the mint-colored butterfly hair clip with purple edges at the back of her head came a little loose, provoking Shinobu Kocho into angrily swatting his hand away and glaring at him.
Seeing how even Kanzaki Kumo and Shinobu Kocho's casual interactions had become much more intimate than before, an inscrutable light gleamed in the Zemu couple's eyes.
"All right, I'm off. I'll be back in a while." Ignoring Shinobu Kocho's waving little fists, Kanzaki Kumo said goodbye to the three of them.
"Take care on the road."
Kanzaki Kumo did not know whether he was imagining it, but he kept feeling that Butterfly Zemu, a doctor who had always been steady and mild-mannered, seemed to be looking at him with a faint hint of murderous intent.
I must be imagining it, right? Uncle Zemu and I usually get along pretty well. Besides, how could a scholarly, artistic young man have murder in his eyes? I'm imagining it. I must be.
Kanzaki Kumo muttered inwardly as he strode briskly toward his destination.
That night, the Zemu couple discussed something in their bedroom.
"You've noticed it too, haven't you?" Butterfly Zemu began, his tone somewhat complicated.