Chapter 88: Kanao: Am I Getting Another Older Sister?
Compared to the startling revelations about the Upper Ranks and the Eternal Paradise Cult, the intelligence Kanae later shared about Lower Rank Four was hardly worth mentioning. The only mild surprise for the others was learning that even a member of the Twelve Kizuki could be so utterly cowardly.
Once the Hashira Meeting concluded, Kanzaki Akira began his routine recovery training. Before he started, however, he slipped out for a short while.
Not long after, he returned to the Butterfly Mansion under the puzzled and surprised gazes of its residents, carrying a thick stack of envelopes.
"So many letters? Who are they from?" Makomo asked, her heart giving a strange little flutter as she eyed the dozen or so envelopes in his arms.
"A friend I met a while back," Akira explained. "She's not part of the Demon Slayer Corps, so she can't use the Kakushi for deliveries."
"Male or female?"
"Female."
"Is she pretty?"
"She's quite cute."
Akira answered Makomo's rapid-fire questions with complete honesty. After their heartfelt confession session, he felt no need to hide anything from them.
"How old is she?"
"About the same age as Shinobu."
"Sigh..." Makomo's shoulders slumped. She turned to exchange a look with Kanae and Shinobu. As if on cue, the three girls let out a long, synchronized sigh of weary resignation.
Kanao, who had been standing quietly to the side, tilted her head. "Brother," she asked with a face full of innocence, "am I about to have another older sister?"
"Ah, well..."
Staring into Kanao's pure, questioning eyes, Akira felt momentarily at a loss for words. Her simple question had caused the gazes from Makomo and Shinobu to turn dangerously sharp, their expressions screaming a clear threat: 'If you dare lead such an innocent child astray, you're dead!'
Even the ever-gentle Kanae had a flicker of something complex and unreadable in her eyes.
Enduring the combined weight of their stares, Akira braced himself and met Kanao's gaze. "That's right," he said, a faint smile touching his lips. "In a little while, there will be four older sisters taking care of you together. Are you happy, Kanao?"
"If Brother is happy, Kanao is happy," she answered without a moment's hesitation.
For a split second, Akira thought he saw a different emotion flash through Kanao's guileless eyes—something so fleeting and complex that he couldn't be sure it was an emotion she was even capable of having.
"Then," she continued, "can Kanao see the letters that sister wrote to Brother?"
Just as Akira was moved by her unreserved trust and affection, her follow-up question sent a jolt of alarm through him, feeling like thorns pricking his back. He didn't need to turn around to know that the glares from the other three girls now conveyed a single, unified demand: 'We want to see, too.'
"Of course, no problem," Akira conceded, knowing resistance was futile. He could only surrender gracefully. "In fact, I'll need your help figuring out how to reply properly."
The letters, naturally, were from Mitsuri.
She had written the first one a week after they parted ways. But because the regular mail service was so slow, by the time it arrived, Akira was accompanying Kanae to pay respects at his family's grave. Afterward, he had been completely absorbed in his recovery, pondering his future, and enjoying the rotating care of the girls. He had nearly forgotten that Mitsuri might write to him, only remembering today.
Meanwhile, Mitsuri, having received no reply for an entire month, had sent another letter.
A week later, another.
Two days after that, another still.
The postmark on the last letter was from yesterday, bringing the grand total to eighteen. A little over four months had passed since Akira had last seen her. The interval between the first two letters was a month, but it had steadily shrunk to a week, then to a few days, and finally, to one letter per day.
When the staff at the postal station had handed him the thick stack, a heavy feeling had settled in his chest. He didn't even need to read the contents; the ever-shrinking time between each letter painted a clear picture of Mitsuri's emotional state—from eager expectation to disappointment, then to anxiety, insecurity, and finally, a self-doubting obsession that compelled her to write every single day.
If he was right, there were probably a few more letters already on their way.
The group relocated to the study. Kanao settled comfortably in Akira's lap, while Shinobu and Makomo flanked him on either side. Kanae, ever gentle, leaned softly against his back. And so, one man and four women, each with a whirlwind of complex feelings, began to read.
"Brother Kanzaki, seeing your handwriting is like seeing you in person."
"It has been a long time since we last met. I wonder how you are doing? Are you eating well? I remember Brother Kanzaki has a very large appetite, so I'm a bit worried you might be going hungry."
"I have some good news! I can already perform those movements you taught me very skillfully, and I really can control my strength better now. I don't have to be so cautious when I'm around my family anymore."
"By the way, after Father heard about you, Brother Kanzaki, he didn't hesitate to find me a gymnastics teacher from the big city."
"She is a gentle and beautiful older sister, she speaks so nicely and has a great personality, ~~I really like her~~. Teacher Hirano is very dedicated to teaching. With the movements you taught me as a foundation, I'm learning very quickly. The teacher often praises me for having great talent."
"Also, Shota still picks on Hikaru occasionally, but he's actually just playing with his little brother more than anything. He doesn't really mean to bully him; it's just that because he's young, he doesn't know how to control himself and almost made Hikaru cry."
"Chinatsu and Ai-chan are still better. They are well-behaved and sensible, it's just that Ai-chan doesn't like to talk much, ~~even though our whole family has quite cheerful personalities~~."
"Lastly, um... when will you be free to come to my house to play, Brother Kanzaki? Mitsuri misses you a bit."
"Not especially much, just... just a little bit. If you're busy, then never mind."
"Wishing you good health."
"Kanroji Mitsuri"
The first letter ended there. The contents painted a picture of a very simple, earnest girl. The subconscious thoughts she had written down and then crossed out only served to highlight the closeness she felt toward Akira.
"She really is a 'fri-end', huh~"
"Calling you 'Brother Kanzaki'over and over, how affectionate~" Shinobu purred, her voice dripping with saccharine sweetness. "Didn't you say this Miss Kanroji is about the same age as me? Perhaps I should start calling you'Brother Kanzaki'or'Brother Akira' too?"
Before the words were even fully out of her mouth, both Makomo and Shinobu reached out from either side, their fingers finding and pinching the soft flesh on Akira's waist.
"Hiss—stop, stop, stop!" Akira yelped. "She and I are really just friends right now! We've only met twice! It's just that Mitsuri's situation is a bit special..."
He hastily begged for mercy, all while flicking his eyes toward Kanao, who was tilting her head innocently as she watched the three of them "interact." He then launched into a brief explanation of Mitsuri's circumstances, leaving everyone present stunned.
Her hair color changed because she ate too many sweets? Her strength was so immense that she accidentally broke a friend's hand? She couldn't make a single friend because her hair, appetite, and strength were all considered abnormal?
And most, he just happened to pass by and comfort a little girl crying under a bridge, and ended up becoming her only friend? They only met twice and she already brought him home to meet her family?
Facing the incredulous gazes of Makomo and Shinobu, and Kanae's look of amused helplessness, Akira quickly unfolded the second letter.
"Let's just keep reading what she wrote," he said, desperate to change the subject. "She must be getting anxious since I haven't replied for so long."
For the moment, their attention shifted back to the letter in his hand.
"Brother Kanzaki,"
"How have you been lately? Are you very busy? Why haven't you replied to Mitsuri?"
"My gymnastics progress is very fast. Teacher Hirano praised me as the best student she has ever taught. I'm so happy."
"To support my studies, Father and Mother bought many props for me. Even Mother has become a bit interested and occasionally learns a few things with me."
"Shota has been a bit better recently; he picks on Hikaru less often."
"Ai-chan still doesn't like to talk much."
"I also... am still thinking about you, Brother Kanzaki."
"If it's because you're busy, it's okay to reply later. Mitsuri can wait."
"Just, please definitely don't ignore me, okay?"
"Mitsuri only has you as a friend, Brother Kanzaki. You promised you wouldn't abandon me, right?"
"So, please find time to write back to me, okay? Even if it's just one sentence, or even one word."
"Kanroji Mitsuri"
After he finished reading the second letter, before Akira could even let out a sigh, a pinch even harder than the last locked onto his waist.
"Ohoho—it hurts, it hurts! Have mercy!" he cried out, squirming. "There are still so many letters left! Let's just finish them quickly so I can reply to her!"
"Hmph!" Makomo and Shinobu let out a light, synchronized snort and finally released their grip.
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