After all the talking, the misunderstanding was finally gone.
Kagerou glanced at Shinobu again, only to realize that, somehow, she had already finished three plates of Monaka… and it still didn't seem like enough.
He could only shake his head.
With a quiet sigh, he raised a hand and called the stall owner over.
"Another order of Monaka, please"
Kanae turned to him immediately. "Rengoku-san, you don't have t-"
"It's fine," Kagerou said calmly. "I'm buying it because I want to. And I have money. So it's really fine"
"But-"
"I said it's fine, Kocho-san"
Kanae hesitated for a moment… then finally gave up.
She turned toward Shinobu instead.
"Shinobu…"
Shinobu looked up at her sister and immediately understood.
She turned to Kagerou and bowed her head slightly. "Thank you, Kagerou-san"
Kagerou smiled.
Before he could stop himself, his hand reached out and gently patted Shinobu's head.
"I can't help it," he murmured. "You're just too cute"
The words were soft, but unfortunately, Kanae heard them too.
Her gaze shifted.
Slowly.
Dangerously.
"Rengoku-san, yo-"
"Stop right there, Kocho-san," Kagerou cut in immediately, already knowing exactly where her thoughts were heading. "Please don't start another unnecessary misunderstanding"
Kanae paused.
"…Tch"
Kagerou let out a quiet sigh and turned his attention back to her.
"So," he said, changing the topic smoothly, "what are you planning to do now? Do you have any plans for the future?"
Kanae blinked, clearly caught off guard.
"Huh?" She tilted her head slightly. "I don't think we're close enough to talk about something like that. Not yet"
Kagerou raised an eyebrow.
"…Not yet?" he repeated, then a slight grin tugged at his lips. "Then how close do we need to be before I'm allowed to ask questions like that?"
"…!"
Kanae froze.
"Pfft~ sorry," Kagerou added quickly, waving a hand. "Just a joke. Don't take it to heart"
He laughed lightly, glancing at Kanae's faintly reddened face, then looked away, his gaze drifting to Shinobu just as the stall owner returned, placing a fresh plate piled high with Monaka in front of her.
Shinobu's eyes sparkled like stars.
"…But honestly," Kagerou continued, voice softer now, "meeting you here was really a stroke of luck for me"
Kanae blinked. "Why is that?"
"I don't know," he admitted with a small shrug. "I'm just… happy I met you again. Even if it was in a completely unexpected way," He paused, then added, glancing at Shinobu again, "…Very unexpected"
"…Is that so?" Kanae murmured, the words slipping out almost unconsciously.
After that, the conversation drifted to lighter topics.
They talked about small things. Trivial things. Things that didn't matter.
And without any of them realizing it, time slipped by.
"…Alright, Kocho-san," Kagerou said at last, standing from his seat. "It's time for me to go." He gave a small smile. "Once again, I'm glad we met. And this time... I'll make sure to say goodbye properly"
"Ahaha~ sure," Kanae replied as she stood as well. "And… thank you again for saving Shinobu. It truly means a lot to me," She smiled warmly. "Let's meet again, when the time is right"
"Thank you, Kagerou-nii," Shinobu said, bowing her head slightly.
"Kagerou-nii, huh?" He chuckled, then gently patted her head once more.
Shinobu didn't resist.
"That sounds nice," he said. "Then I'll see you later too… Shinobu-chan? Is that okay?"
"…I don't hate it," Shinobu replied.
"Ahaha~ I see," Kagerou said. "Then I'll call you that from now on"
He turned toward Kanae.
"And you," he added, hesitating for just a fraction of a second, "see you later, Ko-… Kanae-chan"
The moment the words left his mouth, he turned and walked away far too quickly.
"Y-!" Kanae didn't even have time to stop him.
She could only stand there, cheeks burning, watching his back disappear into the crowd.
"…That guy," she muttered, "he's really annoying"
But she was smiling.
A soft smile.
One that did not escape Shinobu's eyes.
"…You like Kagerou-nii, don't you, Onee-san?"
"Huh?! W-What?!" Kanae sputtered. "Ah-Ahaha! How could I like him?! I don't like him at all!"
She protested far too strongly.
Shinobu tilted her head.
"Huh? Then you hate him? That would be strange. He's kind… and handsome too"
"I-I didn't say I hate him!" Kanae snapped. "It's just... just- Ahh! Enough! Let's go home!"
--------
After leaving the duo of sisters behind, Kagerou leisurely walked down the road.
"…What a pair of cute sisters," he murmured.
He reached into his haori and took out his kiseru, only to realize that his tobacco pouch was empty.
"…Oh, fuck," Kagerou muttered.
He glanced back over his shoulder.
If he went back now, the chance of running into Shinobu and Kanae again was high.
Very high.
And that would be… extremely awkward.
He sighed.
"…I'll just buy tobacco tomorrow, I guess," he said, turning away and heading toward home.
---
When Kagerou arrived at the Rengoku residence, he stepped through the gate...
... And stopped dead in his tracks.
On the engawa sat his father.
His three little brothers.
And one more person.
A stranger.
The reason Kagerou froze wasn't just because of the unfamiliar presence.
It was the mask.
The person was wearing a mask.
And not just any mask... It was strange. Too strange to properly describe. The kind of mask that immediately made the situation feel wrong in a very specific way.
"…Huh?" Kagerou muttered.
"Look! It's Kage-nii!" Kyojuro shouted, pointing excitedly.
All eyes turned toward him.
"…Hello?" Kagerou said cautiously as he walked closer. "Who are yo-"
"Are you Rengoku Kagerou-san?" the masked figure interrupted, voice already carrying a sharp edge of irritation.
"…Y-Yes," Kagerou replied. "Do I know you?... Owe you something maybe?"
The man straightened.
"I am Haganezuka," he said. "The one who forged your blade, and..."
Kagerou blinked.
"…Oh"
Then Haganezuka suddenly raised his voice.
"A TANTO!! AND A FUCKING KISERU!! FOR RENGOKU KAGEROU-SAN!!"
He slammed the large bag on his back down onto the floor.
"…ARE YOU THAT RENGOKU KAGEROU-SAN?!!"
"Y-Yes! That's me!" Kagerou said quickly. "B-But why do you sound so angr-"
"In my entire damn life as a swordsmith," Haganezuka snapped, violently rummaging through his bag, "this is the FIRST TIME! THE FIRST TIME someone has ever asked me to forge a KISERU!!"
He pulled out three items and laid them out one by one.
"If it weren't for Oyakata-sama," he continued, shaking with fury, "I would NEVER have agreed to something this ridiculous! Never again! NEVER!!"
The engawa fell silent.
Shinjuro quietly sipped his tea.
Kyojuro stared with sparkling eyes.
Senjuro leaned closer to look.
Obanai did not blink.
Kagerou stared at the items… then slowly looked back up at the masked man.
"…So," he said carefully, "does that mean it's finished?"
Haganezuka's mask twitched.