"Here, a letter he wrote to you." Seeing Kanae's wandering gaze, Makomo said nothing more and simply handed over the envelope hidden behind her back as though nothing had happened.
"Thank you."
Kanae took the envelope with movements that seemed leisurely but were actually hurried. Without minding that Makomo was right in front of her, she opened it and began to read.
After all, whether Kanzaki Kumo meant to or not, the contents of his letters to the two girls did not differ much.
Though his wording varied somewhat, they mostly consisted of everyday inquiries about their well-being, followed by accounts of how he had been doing and his thoughts on the amusing incidents or problems each girl had mentioned in her previous letter.
His plain words carried concern, and his feelings were sincere without any affectation. The only problem was that he responded to both girls this way, leaving them feeling both warmed and somewhat helpless.
A certain boy they held dear seemed a little greedy...
After reading the letter in her hands word by word, Kanae pressed it to her chest, closed her eyes, and took a few deep breaths.
In her last letter, she had told Kanzaki Kumo that something felt a little awkward when she used Water Breathing, preventing her from bringing out its proper power. She had also mentioned wanting to create her own Breathing Style, though she was unsure whether she could succeed.
Kanzaki Kumo's response was simple: faith, encouragement, and support.
There was little else he could do.
Although Kanzaki Kumo had created some techniques himself, he had only succeeded because he had a rough goal in mind, drew insights from studying other Breathing Styles, and had the help of those eyes of his.
He truly had no experience creating a Breathing Style