"Lady Shinobu, a letter from Mr. Kyojuro has arrived." Early in the morning, Kanzaki Aoi found Shinobu with a letter and handed it to her.
"Kyoujurou's letter?" Yoizumi subtly pushed the teacup in front of him a little further away.
Shinobu, of course, noticed Yoizumi's small gesture and couldn't help but chuckle. After opening the letter and glancing at its contents, she placed it in front of Yoizumi, pushing the teacup back as well.
"Mr. Kyojuro wants to see Yoizumi~" With a beautiful curve of her lips, Shinobu elegantly picked up her teacup, took a sip of tea, then gently set it down. Resting her head on one hand, her beautiful purple eyes were full of mirth.
"This tea was personally made by me. It took a lot of effort... Is Yoizumi perhaps looking down on me?"
Staring at the dark red tea in the cup, Yoizumi swallowed, then looked up at Shinobu and gently shook his head.
"No..."
The smile on Shinobu's face widened. Anyone could tell she was being mischievous, but the person facing her was Yoizumi.
Yoizumi would tolerate all of Shinobu's whims... He closed his eyes and drank the tea. The fermented, smoky aroma and the bitter taste of the tea filled his mouth. Yoizumi's eyes twitched, and his usually expressionless face wrinkled into a frown.
A pastry was offered to his lips at just the right moment. Yoizumi looked over to see Shinobu still resting her head on her hand, leisurely extending her left hand, a delicate, pink fingertip holding a pristine white pastry.
"Come... Ah~" Shinobu's mouth slightly opened, making a pleasant sound.
Lowering his gaze to the pastry at his lips, then looking at the beautiful smile on Shinobu's face, Yoizumi obediently opened his mouth and leaned in to eat the pastry Shinobu offered. The sweet taste diluted the bitterness in his mouth.
"Is it delicious?" Shinobu watched Yoizumi's expression. When he ate something he liked, his brows and eyes would unconsciously lift a bit, revealing an expression that Shinobu found extremely adorable.
"Delicious."
He had eaten this before, but the taste felt different... Had it been too long since he last had it?
Or had Kanzaki Aoi changed the preparation method in the past year or so? Yoizumi just felt that this pastry particularly suited his taste.
"That's wonderful~" Shinobu clasped her hands together. It wasn't in vain that she woke up early to specifically make it for Yoizumi. She hadn't had a chance for Yoizumi to taste her cooking before... "This was also made by me~"
Facing Shinobu's direct gaze, Yoizumi remembered how Tanjirou sometimes looked at him with such eyes when he wanted praise... A gentle, subtle light flickered in Yoizumi's clear sapphire eyes, and his clear, moist voice carried a hint of intimacy.
"Shinobu is amazing..."
Hearing the answer that pleased her, Shinobu, in good spirits, picked up her teacup. The tea moistened her lips. Yoizumi looked at Shinobu's glistening lips and the slight curve at the corners.
After a moment of thought, his fingertips gently tapped the teacup. Then Yoizumi took a small sip. As expected, he still couldn't get used to the bitter taste of the tea... However... Yoizumi slowly closed the distance between himself and Shinobu, tilting his head slightly to look at her. His clear blue eyes simply stared at Shinobu. Seeing that Shinobu made no move and her expression gradually became puzzled, Yoizumi finally spoke.
"Shinobu, aren't you going to feed me anymore?"
Her eyes widened slightly, then a smile gradually appeared in their depths. Shinobu picked up a pastry and brought it to Yoizumi's lips... "This is..." Yoizumi looked up at the plaque inscribed with 'Rengoku' and heard Kyojuro Rengoku's familiar, resonant voice from inside the house.
"Not enough force!"
"Your grip on the sword hilt isn't tight enough!"
Indeed, no matter how many times he heard it, he could never get used to Kyoujurou's volume.
"Mr. Kyoujurou has opened a dojo."
"What do you think, doesn't it suit him well?" Shinobu stood beside Yoizumi. This was her first time here too.
"Yes, Kyoujurou is very suited to be a teacher." Yoizumi held Shinobu's hand and walked up the steps. Before they even reached the large door, a slightly childish voice rang out.
"Ah! Miss Kochou."
Senjuro, holding a broom, immediately put it down upon seeing Shinobu and walked in front of the two, bowing slightly to greet them.
"Mr. Yoizumi, you've arrived. My elder brother has been talking about you constantly."
"Please follow me."
"Thank you, Senjuro," Shinobu said softly.
"Not at all..." Senjuro led the way, speaking as he went.
"My elder brother has been very excited ever since he heard the news of Mr. Yoizumi waking up."
Recalling his elder brother's behavior yesterday, Senjuro couldn't help but smile. After hearing the news, his elder brother's eyes lit up astonishingly, and he almost ran to the Butterfly Mansion that very day.
Their family is having a reunion; what would you do by running over there now?
It was only after Father punched him on the head that he managed to calm down.
Leading the two to the reception room, Senjuro offered them each a cup of barley tea.
"I'll go call my elder brother over. Please wait a moment."
Staring at Senjuro's retreating back, Yoizumi averted his gaze from the hair that was identical to Kyoujurou's.
"They really do look alike."
"Mr. Kyoujurou and Senjuro both resemble Mr. Shinjuro," Shinobu said, closing her eyes and taking a sip of barley tea. Barley tea was quite nice this season.
"I heard that Mr. Kyoujurou's mother, Lady Ruka, was a very dignified and beautiful person."
"Is that so..." Yoizumi took a sip of barley tea, his expression normal. This one wasn't bitter.
His appearance took after his father, his personality... "Yoizumi!"
Before Kyojuro was even seen, his voice had already arrived. The door was abruptly pushed open, and Kyojuro's gaze locked onto Yoizumi. He quickly stepped forward and firmly placed his hands on Yoizumi's shoulders.
His orange-red pupils scanned Yoizumi completely, and his already upturned eyebrows lifted a few more degrees.
"It makes me so happy to see you!"
His personality couldn't possibly be like his mother's, could it...? Yoizumi found it hard to imagine that the dignified and beautiful woman Shinobu spoke of would have this kind of personality.
Smiling, Yoizumi looked at Kyojuro and said softly.
"I'm also very happy to see you, Kyoujurou."
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