He had only been away for a few months, yet the people here no longer recognized him... It was rather awkward.
Big Hammer started romping around the moment he came through the door, sniffing here and there, probably searching for traces he had left behind before.
"So it really is you, Lord Hammer Pillar."
A familiar voice rang out. He looked up to see Goto walking toward him, saying as he approached, "That girl just hurried off toward Lady Insect Pillar's courtyard, shouting something like, 'Lord Hammer Pillar is here! What do I do?' I thought I might run into you on my way out. How have you been?"
"Long time no see."
Seeing a familiar face put Tetsu no Sosuke in quite a good mood. "I've been well. How about you? Where are you headed?"
"I'm helping deliver a letter from Lady Insect Pillar," Goto said.
Tetsu no Sosuke's eyes immediately lit up. He furtively hooked an arm around Goto's neck. "Who's that girl writing to? The Water Pillar?"
"Huh?" Goto froze for a moment, then shook his head. "The Love Pillar. Why?"
"...Oh." Tetsu no Sosuke immediately lost interest, then asked, "Has she ever written to the Water Pillar?"
"No," Goto said, puzzled. "They hardly interact at all. Why would she write to Lord Water Pillar?"
"...All right, all right."
Tetsu no Sosuke felt a little dejected. As the saying went, men and women should marry when they came of age. Granted, it seemed a little early to bring that up now. After all, Shinobu Kocho was probably only eighteen this year, not yet old enough to marry. But... she was eighteen. Shouldn't she be dating by now?
"Come to think of it, even dating might be a little early."
Tetsu no Sosuke rubbed his chin, feeling that