After nodding, Kanao looked toward Shinobu Kocho with some concern.
Shinobu Kocho smiled. "Go on. I'm fine."
Only then did Kanao nod again.
Tetsu no Sosuke was heartened. What Kanao had endured as a child still haunted her, keeping her from opening her heart.
That didn't mean she had no emotions or feelings. She had simply buried them deep inside without even realizing it.
Kanae had taken a more hopeful view. She believed Kanao would someday meet someone who could help her let down her guard completely. But even now, the girl had already taken a rare step forward.
After chatting with Kanao for a while, Tetsu no Sosuke took out a box and set it on the table.
"It's finished."
Tetsu no Sosuke smiled. "Your sister adjusted the lining herself to fit you."
"You've got the nerve to bring that up?" Shinobu Kocho blushed. Remembering how her brother-in-law had asked her such an embarrassing question in front of everyone made her bristle all over again.
Then she opened the box. At the sight of the thoroughly battered-looking Armor Vest inside, her expression twitched.
"At least it goes under my clothes. Otherwise, I'd never want to leave the house wearing it."
"As long as it works, who cares what it looks like?"
Tetsu no Sosuke glared at her. "You've seen what this thing can do. It's powerful! I'll show you how to reload it later, so you don't use it once and have to come to me every time because you can't put it back together."
"So now that you've won my sister over, you want me to keep my distance from you two?"
Shinobu Kocho huffed, then asked, "What's this thing called? You can't just call it an Armor Vest. That sounds awful."
"It needs a name too?" Tetsu