I close the gate as I walk towards the Butterfly estate, it was nearby so it wasn’t much of a trip. Kanae was kind enough to invite me to stay at her estate for the time being until my estate was finished building.
“Haru-san!”A voice whisper-yell at me.
Wondering where it came from I look about before catching Kanae motioning me to come towards her.
“Wha?—”
She drags me in without a word.
“Okay, so you know how you met my sister before?”
“Um yes?…”I remember back to the day where I bumped into her.
“Okay, so I need you to come with me for breakfast now.”
“Eh?why?”I tilt my head as I look at her.
“She wanted me to introduce you as I lost a bet between us.”
“Ah okay..I guess I can eat right now.”
“Great!”She quickly takes my hand and drags me to the dining room.
‘I am being dragged like a rag doll…’I accept my fate as she continues to drag me until we arrived.
“Morning everyone!”Kanae greeted the people who were present.
“Look who I got today!”She presents me in my half tired state.
“I hope I am not disturbing anyone..”I nervously look around.
Four other girls besides Kanae’s sister was eating when we came.
“Oh! Your the one Shinobu-san was talking about!”A black-haired girl points at me.
“Aoi!Shush!!”
They giggle as I walk towards Shinobu.
“I already got a fan huh?”I tease as I sat next to her.
“I—No!”Her face was flushed red due to embarrassment.
I struggle to hold back my laughter as Aoi got me a portion of food.
“Wow looks great Aoi-chan!”
We then started to eat, fluffy rice with grilled salmon and miso soup. My stomach growls in response as I took off my mask.
The others stopped in their tracks and faced me.
“…what?” I notice the sudden quiet and looked about.
“N-nothing..”Shinobu turned her head away when I caught her stare.
I confusedly pick up my chopsticks and started to dig in.
“Were you that surprised by my face?…”I ask while chewing.
“Ah yes…sorry about that Haru-san, it’s just that no one here had seen your face after all.”Kanae replied with a gentle smile.
“Your eyes have a nice fade of red in them..”
I could hear Shinobu mumble to herself. I chuckle as we continue to eat.
I excuse myself as we finish eating. Having almost no knowledge of the estate, I wanted to go check out the place. I aimlessly walk around the estate with my mask sitting on my upper right as I stop at the patio.
‘Mm, it sure is peaceful here..’I sat down on the patio as I listen to the sounds of nature around.
After a minute or so, I could feel a stare at me so I turned around to find the source.
I catch a glimpse of a fleeting sight of purple hair as it ducks away from my view. I sigh as I call out to her.
“Kocho-san, I saw you.”
I waited for a bit until she poked out shyly as she got caught.
I smile at her and pat the flooring next to me.
“Sorry..I just wanted to talk to you but I didn’t know how..”
She sat down next to me as I hum in response with my eyes closed.
“Did you need something from me?”
I bathe in the warm sunlight as I wait for her answer.
“I..I wanted to know if you wanted to hang out with me?”I turn to look at her as she looks away from me.
“Mm, sure if I am free..”I gently smile at her as I pat her head.
“I should go now, I look forward to your choice of outing.”
I walk towards the village from yesterday after leaving the Butterfly estate. The sun shines at me as I stroll about in the village.
‘Oh, there’s the orphanage!’
I walk up to the door and knock on it. I could hear footsteps as the door slides open.
“Ah, Haru-san!Come in!”She makes way for me to slip in.
“Where are the children?”I look about, not hearing any source of noise.
“They are currently napping, would you like to talk to me instead?”
“Sure I don’t mind.”
We talked for what seems like ages until I could hear chatter from a room.
“Oh seems like they are up!”She gets up with a groan.
“I am getting too old for this.”She chuckles as we make our way over.
“Everyone, Haru-san is here.”
“Yo. How’s everyone?”I wave my hand as I scan the room.
Bunch of other kids with the five that I met before.
They greeted me back as the younger ones ask me to join them in playing.
“Hey, Haru-san?”Mako asked.
“Hm?”
“Why do you wear that mask?”
I stop in my tracks as I stop chasing a kid around.
“Uh well…”I scratch the back of my head.
“I don’t really like people seeing my face?”
“Plus it helps mask my emotions when fighting!”I playfully ruffle his hair.
“Hey!”He gave an irritant look before puffing his cheeks at my action.
I giggle as I sat down, the others soon follow suit.
“But I guess you can see my face if you beat me in a fight.”
“No fair! You’re trained while we’re not!”Kazemi pouts at me with his arms crossed.
“Haha, How old did you think I trained to become a Hashira at age 13?”I smugly look at him under my mask.
“You’re 13 years old?!?!”Everyone shouts at me.
“Yes I am..still interested to be adopted by me now?”
“Now we definitely want to!”
I hold back my laughter while looking to the side.
“You still need granny’s permission.”
“Who said I wouldn’t allow?”She then walks in with snacks.
I slightly jump at her sudden appearance.
“You mean it!”I excitedly got up.
“Only if they really want to, I can tell they would have a better time with you than being cramped up in here with me.”She smiles softly at the children.
“You could always come with us, you know?”I whisper to her as the children eat.
“I am too old to look after them, it’s time to let them move on.”
“I will take good care of them then.”I look down at them happily chatting.
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