His damaged organs were one thing, but bones always took time to heal.
Kanae could not keep pushing herself. She wanted to be there when Tetsu no Sosuke succeeded, but even if she would not think of herself, she had to think of their child.
She needed rest.
So she had to leave for now.
She slept soundly that night. The next morning, though, she went straight to the Sword Forging Shed without even eating breakfast.
Heat still billowed from the shed, and the sound of Tetsu no Sosuke hammering iron rang out without pause.
Yuichiro sat on the steps with his chin propped on one hand, his head repeatedly dipping. He had clearly reached his limit.
Shinobu Kocho, on the other hand, stood there as if she had not moved an inch.
Kanae went to her side. "Go get something to eat."
"Older Sister..." Shinobu Kocho glanced at her. "He's failed several times through the night."
"But he hasn't given up, has he?" Kanae said with a smile. "He must be making progress."
Kanae sent Yuichiro off to rest and Shinobu Kocho off to eat. Then she had Kiyo Terauchi bring her a cushion and a table. She laid out a simple breakfast and ate as she watched.
She wanted Tetsu no Sosuke to come eat something too, but whenever she saw how absorbed he was, she could not bear to interrupt him.
She sighed softly and rested a hand on her slightly rounded belly. "Look at him. Isn't your dad working hard?"
Perhaps it was coincidence, perhaps not. A faint tingling suddenly stirred inside her, as though the little one in her belly had given her a gentle kick.
Kanae froze, then a sweet smile touched her lips. "So you think so too."
Morning, noon, evening...
Kanae did