"Awesome!"
The boy jumped for joy, but his feet slipped as he bounced about, and he tumbled straight off the boulder.
A figure flashed past. Instead of hitting the ground, he landed safely in someone's arms.
The woman sprang to the man's side. "Is that how you watch a child? Honestly, when a father looks after his kid, keeping him alive is apparently good enough."
She shot the man a fierce glare.
"I saw you nearby ages ago," the man said with a smile.
"Tetsu no Sosuke, could you pay a little more attention? I'm not getting any younger. Can I keep helping you look after your child every day?" Shinobu Kocho fumed. "And why doesn't my sister do something about you? Hmph. It's all your fault I still haven't gotten married."
"...How many years have I been urging you to get married?" Tetsu no Sosuke said helplessly. "Your nephew is already this big, and you're still single. How is that my fault?"
"Hmph. It just is!"
Shinobu Kocho glared fiercely at Tetsu no Sosuke.
"Auntie, Auntie, where's Mom!?"
The child looked up at her expectantly.
Shinobu Kocho gave him an exasperated look. "You ungrateful little thing. I've taken care of you since you were a baby, and the moment your parents show up, you forget all about me? Your mom is right behind me."
"Mom!"
The child spotted Kanae walking toward them.
He quickly held out both arms, wanting her to pick him up.
Kanae leaped over to them and took the child in her arms. Then she asked Tetsu no Sosuke, "How was the catch?"
"Another one!"
With a flick of his hand, Tetsu no Sosuke sent another large fish straight into the basket.
He stood, took Kanae's hand, and smiled. "Come on. Let's go home and have