Behaviorist psychology claims that repeating an action for twenty-one days forms an initial habit. Forgetting it only takes interrupting it for a few days.
Even after being rejected to that extent—despite knowing he likely wouldn't go to the Ryougi estate again—Yuuki still stayed in his room, bare-chested, and used the short blade Shiki had wielded to complete his daily ten thousand swings.
Even as a real blade, it was still just a short sword. Compared to his weighted bamboo practice blade, it felt lighter—almost uncomfortably so.
But with Fujino at home, Yuuki couldn't exactly practice for long with the [Moonlight Greatsword]. It would be… alarming.
As the sun sank, the promised time arrived.
"Well? Does it look good?"
Fujino wore a brand-new kimono and spun lightly in front of Yuuki, asking shyly.
It was a cherry-pink furisode with embroidered sakura petals, paired with a soft pink hakama.
Though still in middle school, her body had matured compared to Yuuki's childhood memories of her. The warm tones made her look livelier, too.
Yuuki raised his thumb decisively.
"Ten out of ten! Kimono really are made for girls."
After that heartfelt praise, Yuuki felt a sharp, prickly stare from the side and immediately shifted his thumb toward the other person.
"Uh… although the color makes you look a bit older, you're ten out of ten too—ow!"
He took a merciless chop from Miss Tama.
"Young master, you mustn't tell a woman she looks 'old,' you know."
For once, Miss Tama had swapped out her usual maid uniform and wore a deep purple kimono. Her cheeks were faintly flushed as she scolded him.
"I said it looks older, not that you're actually old. Miss Tama, you're still young… right?"
"Using a question mark is even ruder."
"Miss Tama, I think women are still young before forty, but your age is honestly impossible to guess by looks. If you'd tell me your exact age—"
"Not happening."
Miss Tama rolled her eyes.
"And you have the nerve to talk about me? If I only saw your back, I'd guess you were forty-plus."
Fujino covered her mouth and giggled at their teasing. Then, by chance, her gaze fell to Yuuki's waist. She froze, her expression dimming slightly—before quickly returning to normal.
Yuuki's kimono was the one he bought a month ago when he visited the Ryougi estate—back when he bought Shiki a kimono and picked one up for himself at the same time.
Unlike Shiki's, his wasn't custom-made. It was off-the-rack—he just happened to see it in the shop.
A brown, roomy haori with no patterns, black inner layers also without pattern, and a gray hakama.
Whether out of decoration needs or sheer impulse, Yuuki had placed the short blade Shiki once used—Aoi-Crest Echizen Yasutsugu—into a leather scabbard and wore it at his waist. He told himself it gave him a bit more of an Edo-era swordsman feel.
Though since it was a short blade, it might look more like something a thief carried.
Truthfully, the color and style weren't his preference at all. He never intended to wear it. He'd only bought it because it reminded him of Kokutou.
Some part of him had thought that if he wore this, Shiki—or Fujino—might find it more pleasing than whatever he actually liked.
The result…
He'd overthought it.
When he got stuck trying to put on the kimono and had to ask Miss Tama for help, she'd stared at the outfit in shock.
It was clearly an adult size. Even with Yuuki's recent training making him less frail than before, at seventeen he still couldn't quite "carry" the look.
Miss Tama had worked desperately to alter it so it didn't hang absurdly wide on him, but even then, when Yuuki looked in the mirror, the mismatch felt so strong it bordered on comical.
It was embarrassing… especially since both of them had dressed up properly.
"It's… mature. Or maybe deep and composed… anyway, Fujino thinks brother's kimono looks nice too."
Even though Yuuki didn't think he'd shown his disappointment, his sister praised him at just the right moment.
"But, brother… do you really need to carry that?"
Fujino's eyes settled on the short blade at his waist. Yuuki reflexively brushed a hand along the scabbard and spoke awkwardly.
"I just grabbed it as an accessory. And it can protect me… but maybe I should leave it at home after all…"
"…"
"Oh—by the way. I remembered its name recently. It's called Aoi-Crest Echizen Yasutsugu. I think it's… expensive."
At the name, Miss Tama froze, staring at the blade as if she'd seen a ghost.
"Wait—Echizen Yasutsugu? That's an antique, isn't it?"
Value was one thing. But if it was old, and if it had once been held by someone famous, its "mystery" would be stronger. And since it had originally been a ceremonial blade, even without mana, it could break simple wards if swung recklessly.
Because she was strictly forbidden from entering Yuuki's room to clean, Miss Tama had no idea he owned something like this.
For an exorcist family, having convenient tools like that was normal—but Yuuki had been completely unrelated to those things before. Was it because he'd been too involved with the Ryougi daughter?
As Miss Tama thought quietly, Yuuki began untying the blade, while Fujino lowered her head.
She didn't recognize the sword, but during the Shirazumi incident, when she and Miss Tama went to the police station to testify and help Yuuki clear himself, Fujino had briefly seen Shiki holding that blade.
"Brother, if you want to bring it, bring it. But there are a lot of people at the festival. If it's visible at your waist, it might make others uneasy."
As she said that, Fujino took the blade from Yuuki and stepped closer—pressing herself lightly against his chest.
"Fujino…"
By the time Yuuki snapped back to himself, Fujino had already stepped away. She had carefully tucked the blade inside Yuuki's wide haori.
"There. That's better. Let's go."
…
Whether fireworks festivals, shrine fairs, or any other celebrations—opening day and closing day were always the most crowded.
They left around dusk. The trio—one man and two women—made their way out, reaching the pedestrian street leading to the fireworks area just as the sky fully darkened, drifting along with the crowd at an easy pace.
The fireworks grounds were the same area used for the festival fair, only about a twenty-minute walk from the Ryougi estate. That was why, last night, when Yuuki saw Shiki, the streets behind her had been packed.
If he hadn't chased after Shiki and had instead followed the flow of people, he would've reached this pedestrian street quickly—lined with temporary stalls selling candied apples, konpeitō, shooting games, goldfish scooping, even live animals…
Before the fireworks even began, it was already lively.
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