Chapter 8: An Unexpected Visitor
On a day after winter had arrived, when the villagers were holed up inside from the cold, Gouki visited the village without warning.
His business had to do with inviting Rio to visit Homura and Shizuku in the castle once more, so Rio departed for the capital again. It had been several months since they last met, but there was none of the nerves from last time as Rio calmly took part in the secret meeting.
“I’m sorry for calling you here so suddenly, in the cold,” Homura said after they exchanged some simple greetings and took their seats.
“No, there’s no work to be done in the village during winter to begin with.”
“Come to think of it, the last time we met, it was the fall season. We actually wanted to meet you a little earlier, but there was still much business we wanted to finish tending to first.” Being unable to meet their grandson when they wanted to was saddening — Homura sighed as though to say just that.
“Thank you for taking the opportunity to meet me during such a busy time.”
“No, it’s fine. Besides, we had something important we wanted to discuss this time.” Homura looked at him with a somewhat questioning look.
“Something important?” Rio asked, adjusting his posture.
“Yes. It has to do with you getting your revenge,” Homura said quietly.
“What would you like to discuss?” Rio questioned with a slightly stiff expression.
“Hm. First of all, I detest Lucius too. Emotionally, I wish for nothing more than to assist you... But, as the king, I unfortunately cannot leave this kingdom.”
“I believe that was to be expected...”
“...And that is why I thought of preparing a small number of retainers to gift you. They will lend you their strength on behalf of Shizuku and I. Won’t you use them as needed?”
“Huh... Eh?” The bombshell Homura dropped took Rio by surprise, making him freeze on the spot.
“What do you say?” Homura asked again, warmly watching over Rio’s dumbfounded surprise.
“U-Umm, no, I couldn’t possibly...” Rio expressed signs of his disapproval, but Homura wasn’t about to back down just like that.
“I plan on assigning you a dozen or so retainers. They will be led by Gouki and Kayoko.”
“...And did the others agree to the two of them?” Rio nearly felt like clutching his head in his hands, but he endured it with his mind of steel and voiced his question, looking over at Gouki and Kayoko within the room.
“Naturally,” Homura confirmed. Gouki and Kayoko also vigorously nodded their heads, and Rio finally realized that Homura and Shizuku were serious.
“If someone as great as Lord Gouki disappeared from this kingdom, I believe the repercussions would be significant, to say the least...” Rio addressed the main issue in a roundabout way.
Gouki was renowned for being the greatest warrior of the Karasuki Kingdom. His strength was on par with an army of a thousand, and he had garnered great results and trust from the kingdom. For Gouki to abandon that and disappear without a trace, there would no doubt be an uproar within the kingdom.
“Worry not. The necessary arrangements regarding that have already been made — it’s the basics of politics.”
“...Is that so.”
Rio found himself at a loss for words, having been told so confidently that there was no problem. It was clear that they had considered their words carefully, so if he spoke without rationally forming his argument, he might end up sealing the deal.
“However, Lord Gouki has his family, not to mention the history of the Saga family and their public duties. What shall become of those?” Rio reasoned as he began his rebuttal.
“That is not an issue. The only ones to become your retainers from the Saga family are Gouki and Kayoko. Although, Komomo did say she will come along too, her being a retainer or not aside,” Homura said, glancing at Gouki and Kayoko.
“Yes. We will be bringing Komomo along, but my son and all the others will remain in this land. Thus, it shall not impede the continuance of the Saga family in this kingdom,” Gouki said in an unwavering tone.
“My destination — the Strahl region — isn’t a journey that can be so easily returned from. Lord Gouki alone may take several months to make the trip. There is a possibility you may not meet your family again.”
“As a warrior, one must always be prepared for the possibility of never seeing their family again when they venture onto the battlefield. This is no different,” Gouki said.
It was difficult to rationally argue against such views of life when brought up so instantaneously.
“No, but that isn’t the issue... How will you explain this to Lord Hayate and the others?”
“Though it may have been presumptuous of us, we have already explained everything to my son. Everyone has accepted it.”
“And that applies to the others accompanying us, too? Wouldn’t some of them feel reluctant to leave the kingdom?”
“Due to various circumstances, the others are all members of the undercover squad associated with my family. They have no kin, are devoted, and are all extremely skilled, so they shall not be a hindrance.”
“...However, there is no proof that that man — that Lucius is even alive,” Rio said, trying to convince Gouki not to accompany him.
“Sir Rio, this is an opportunity that we have yearned for for a long time. While our hatred for Lucius plays a large part of it, this is a once in a lifetime chance for Kayoko and I to fulfill the dearest wish we were unable to accomplish in the past. So, please, I beg this of you,” Gouki implored, bowing his head deeply at Rio.
With that, Rio finally understood. Gouki and the others weren’t coming along because they were ordered to, they were coming along because they wanted to. His clumsy logical arguments weren’t going to be enough to make them back down. But, even then, Rio had no intention of making Gouki and the others his retainers. It wasn’t a matter of logic — he just didn’t think he was strong enough to bear the weight of the lives of others. Which was why...
“I cannot accept your assistance. I appreciate the thought, but this is something I must do myself.” Rio could only reject Gouki and the others’ intentions.
“I see. So, it has come to this after all...” Homura groaned bitterly. It seemed he had predicted Rio’s refusal from the beginning. Gouki and the others didn’t seem to be too shaken, either.
“Rio... We hate Lucius just as you do, and we cannot rest easy until he bears responsibility. As we feel the same as you, we cannot allow you to shoulder all the burden of revenge by yourself,” Homura said hesitantly to Rio.
“That is... Even so — no. Furthermore, it is not that I wish to look down upon you, but Lord Gouki and the others wouldn’t be able to keep up with me.” Rio shook his head firmly.
“What... do you mean? The party consists of the finest warriors in my kingdom. I find it hard to believe that they will not be able to keep up...”
“This is what I mean...”
It’d be faster to just show them; they would have no choice but to back down at the utter gap in their abilities. With that thought, Rio willingly revealed one of the tricks he had up his sleeve.
As he spoke those last few words, Rio used his wind spirit arts. A breeze stirred in the room, lifting Rio’s body into the air. Homura and the others widened their eyes in mute amazement.
“Wha... A-Are you floating?”
“It’s not simply floating. I can move by flying through the air. And so, you won’t be able to keep up with me just by enhancing your physical body with spirit arts, since I can fly right over any obstacles.”
The hand that Rio revealed was incredibly effective; Homura and the others listened to Rio’s commentary in awe.
“...To think that wind spirit arts could be used in such a way... Gouki, you specialize in wind spirit arts. Can you do the same?” Homura asked. Gouki’s face twisted in frustration.
“...I cannot,” he replied.
So, this was the gimmick behind the extraordinary speed he showed during the sparring match. I see... Gouki realized with chagrin.
If it was just using wind to push his body from behind, then Gouki was capable of it, too, but he couldn’t use it in a real combat situation. If he made any sort of error in output force or direction, it would have conversely placed him in even greater trouble.
“Can you think of anyone else who can do this?”
“...No, I cannot. I myself am capable of creating a gust of wind and sending myself through he air, but when it comes to floating in the air with such stability...”
“Is that so... I understand. Rio, we will back down for now. But, please, would you keep this offer in the back of your head? You may change your mind before you depart.”
“...I understand.”
Though he doubted that would happen, Rio agreed.
The day after he declined the gift of retainers from Homura, Rio was staying at the Saga residence, just like the last time he was in the capital. There, Komomo had badgered him until he agreed to join her in training practice. Once their training had lulled, Komomo suddenly asked him a question.
“Will you be heading toward the far western lands, Sir Rio?”
“Yes, that’s right,” Rio nodded.
“Umm! I wish to accompany you, Sir Rio!” Komomo proposed without a moment’s delay. Her face had an expression of true purity as she looked up at Rio with a cheerful grin.
“...You can’t.”
Komomo’s puppy eyes held a charm that caused any person, regardless of gender, to fall for her demands, but Rio somehow managed to resist them.
“I can’t... no matter what?”
“No matter what.” Rio shook his head curtly.
“Aww...” Komomo puff her cheeks in a pout.
“Lord Gouki, please refrain from using your daughter as a means of temptation,” Rio raised as an objection, seeing straight through the instigator behind her. He turned to give an exasperated look to Gouki, who was watching the training take place from beside them.
“Hum, it seems I’ve been seen through.”
“Obviously. Even for Komomo, the journey would be far too harsh for a ten-year-old girl, you realize? Please, don’t be absurd.”
While there had been a precedent before, Rio chose not to mention Latifa.
“But Komomo has acquired the ability to enhance herself through spirit arts. The long road would be a good learning experience for her.”
“No, it’s not meant to be a learning experience...”
While the long and harsh journey may indeed be a good learning experience, the muscle-headed optimism of treating it as a training opportunity made Rio sigh. The fact that Komomo herself was ready and rearing to go left him at even more of a loss.
“At any rate, the only one who will be heading to the Strahl region is me.”
“...That is true. The earlier meeting showed just how resolute you are. If you are adamant that it is impossible, then we mustn’t insist on accompanying you anymore.” Gouki smiled wryly with a small shrug.
“Huh? Uh, right...” Rio was taken aback at how easily Gouki gave up. To be honest, he had expected a bit more resistance, which was why he couldn’t help but send an examining look Gouki’s way.
“Hm, what is the matter?”
“Ah, no. If Lord Gouki is fine with that, then I have no particular objections...” Fearing causing more trouble for himself, Rio refrained from asking any further.
“But it is a little lonely. We don’t have very many opportunities to meet you to begin with, so to think of you leaving for somewhere far away is... You’ll be returning to the village in a few days, yes?” Komomo hung her head as she expressed her feelings.
“Yes. Unfortunately, that is the case.” Rio nodded with a troubled expression.
“Then, when does that mean we can meet again?”
“Let’s see... That would depend on the availability of His and Her Majesty, but I believe the earliest would be next month...”
“After next month...” Komomo became even more gloomy.
“Komomo...” Rio looked down at Komomo with a conflicted expression.
“I... I wish to go to Sir Rio’s village,” Komomo whispered, looking up at Rio’s face.
“To... my village?”
“Yes. I wish to remain by your side. I’d like to have you train me more, and I want to know what the village you are living in is like.” Unable to hold back her tenacity, Komomo spilled all her desires.
While he couldn’t permit her to follow him to the Strahl region, if it was only as far as the village, then Rio didn’t mind at all.
“Well, there shouldn’t be an issue as long as Lord Gouki and Yuba permit it...” Rio muttered.
“...Hm. There are no objections on my side. I haven’t allowed her outside much ever since the kidnapping attempt, so it may be a good change of pace.” Gouki began to consider it optimistically.
“Huh? Can I really?”
“I do not mind. While I am not so sure about other villages, this is the village that Sir Rio is living in. Hmm... For now, I shall pen a letter to Yuba and discuss it with her,” Gouki said enthusiastically, walking from the training grounds toward the mansion to begin his aforementioned task.
“...I can go to Sir Rio’s village?!” Komomo asked Rio in delight.
“N-Not yet, it hasn’t been finalized...” Rio faltered and shook his head.
Was I a bit too hasty? he reassessed, but it was a little too late to wonder.
After that, arrangements were made in a flurry, and Komomo’s stay in the village was decided; it was for an extended period of time, along with her caretaker, Aoi. And as long as they had the time to do so, there was the added bonus of Gouki, Kayoko, and Hayate occasionally coming to visit.
Rio had a hunch that winter was about to get quite busy.
Several weeks later, Rio was walking through the village, showing Komomo around.
“It’s like a dream... Being able to come to Sir Rio’s village like this. The scenery is beautiful and the air is clear — I think it’s a wonderful place,” Komomo said with great delight.
“The capital is brimming with people, after all. You can’t enjoy this kind of scenery very often. I’m glad you find it to your liking, Komomo,” Rio replied with a slightly strained smile.
“If possible, I’d like to greet the people of the village... But there’s so many of them. Who would be best to start with?” Komomo said, looking around.
Many of the villagers remained indoors during the winter — no one went outside without a good reason to — but there were quite a few villagers around at the moment. The villagers were starving for entertainment, so they had probably gathered to have a look when they heard an upper-class figure was visiting the village. All the village’s attention was focused on the sweet sight of Komomo walking beside Rio with a smile, dressed in her favorite hakama.
“Shall we start with the other girls first?” Rio suggested, and they approached where the village girls were gathered.
“Hello everyone.”
“H-Hello, Sir Rio.” The girls returned Rio’s greeting rather nervously.
“I’d like to introduce this girl, who will be staying in our village for a while. Does everyone have a moment?”
“Y-Yes! That’s fine!”
“This is Saga Komomo, the little sister of Lord Hayate, who previously visited the village as a tax officer.” Rio introduced Komomo so that the surrounding villagers would be able to hear too.
“My name is Saga Komomo. I will be living in this village from today on. I’m very happy to meet you all — please treat me well!” Komomo put on an adorable smile and energetically introduced herself.
“S-Sir Hayate’s little sister? So she’s a lady... So cute...” When the girls laid their eyes on a real upper-class lady, they couldn’t help but gaze at Komomo in admiration.
“Oh my, thank you so much... But everyone here is beautiful, too,” Komomo said shyly.
The sight of her won over the hearts of all the village girls.
“U-Umm! How did you come to live in our village? May I ask what your relationship is with Sir Rio...?” One girl mustered the courage to ask.
“Sir Rio is my savior. He previously saved me when I was about to be kidnapped by some scoundrels in the capital,” Komomo replied, and Rio supplemented her answer.
“It was during the trip to the capital for village trade. Perhaps you remember it, Sayo? During that shopping trip...”
“Hweh... Ah! The girl from back then?” Sayo, who had been singled out by name, widened her eyes when she remembered what happened.
“Huh? What, what? What happened?! Tell us, Sayo!”
“Eeh? Umm...” Girls brimming with curiosity closed in on Sayo.
“Typical Rio. Constantly on his guard...”
“But like, isn’t this a chance for him to marry rich?”
“No way... Ruri already has the lead on us. We’ll never have a chance now.”
The other girls all whispered to each other, while the surrounding villagers also picked up on the situation and began to discuss it in amusement. Thus, the scene instantly grew noisier.
“What is everyone in an uproar about?” Komomo asked Rio beside her and cocked her head curiously.
“Haha... I wonder what indeed.” Rio’s dry laugh was drowned out by the noise.
“Ooh, L-Lord Rio. Whatever is the matter with all this fuss?” Hayate appeared along with Ruri and Komomo’s attendant, Aoi.
Rio’s heritage had already been revealed to Hayate, who hesitated briefly before addressing him as “Lord” in front of everyone. He widened his eyes at the sight of the villagers as they noisily chatted away.
“No, I was just introducing Komomo to the villagers...” Rio explained.
“Ahaha, it doesn’t seem like this fuss will die down any time soon,” Ruri laughed in amusement.
That night, a small welcome party was held in the village chief’s house for Komomo and the others.
The second day of Komomo’s stay in the village...
Hayate, who had originally come along with Komomo as an escort, had already departed for the capital in the morning. Afterward, Komomo walked around the village with Aoi.
Whenever they passed any villagers, she would enthusiastically greet them and engage them in a short conversation. At first, Komomo would be treated reverently because of the difference in her social status, but thanks to her cute appearance and friendly demeanor, the villagers soon opened up to her.
“I’m back!” Komomo greeted energetically as she returned to the village chief’s house with Aoi.
“Ah. Welcome back, Komomo.” Ruri, who had been sitting in the living room, stood up to meet Komomo.
“I’m back, Ruri. Is Sir Rio not here right now...?” Komomo asked, glancing around the room.
It seemed as though the two of them had become closer with each other since the night before.
“Rio went out to the village farms with Granny. Something about building a water wheel and waterway before the spring.”
“Waterway aside, what’s a... water wheel? Aoi, do you know?” Komomo asked.
“I do not. I have never heard of it, either.” Aoi shook her head regretfully.
“Apparently, a water wheel can automatically draw water and supply it to the fields,” Ruri explained, drawing on what she had heard.
Komomo nodded in awe. “Something that convenient... Sir Rio sure has extensive knowledge.”
“U-Umm. Excuse me!”
The voice of a visitor sounded from the entrance — it was Sayo’s voice.
“Huh, Sayo? Welcome... What’s wrong?”
“N-Nothing. I was nearby in the area, so... Are you busy?” Sayo spoke timidly as she looked around the room. When her blank expression met Komomo’s eyes, she faltered faintly, captivated by her cute face.
“You’re the one... that saved me along with Sir Rio, right?” Komomo asked with a tilt of her head.
“Huh? N-No. I just happened to be there...” Sayo denied in a fluster of hand gestures.
“You’ll get cold over there — come inside for now. Rio’s out with Granny right now, but I’ll pour you some tea,” Ruri said, inviting her inside.
“...Okay. Excuse me.” Sayo timidly stepped up to the living room.
“Hello again. My name is Saga Komomo. My attendant behind me is named Aoi. We’ll be staying in this village for a while, so we’ll be in your care.” They bowed to each other, before Komomo politely greeted Sayo. Aoi also bowed from behind her.
“I-I’m Sayo. It’s nice to meet you, Lady Komomo.” Sayo lowered her head with a nervous expression.
“There’s no need to be so formal... Please treat me like Ruri does,” Komomo looked troubled at being treated as though Sayo was afraid.
“I-I couldn’t possibly do that.”
“Ahaha, that’s just how Sayo is. Well, she’ll get used to it eventually,” Ruri said with a laugh.
“Aww, that’s a shame. By the way, how old is Sayo?”
“Umm, I’ll be fourteen in the new year. One year younger than Sir Rio.”
“Then, that would make you three years older than me. I hope we can get along.”
And so forth — the girls continued to chat amicably.
Then, after almost an hour of talking later, Yuba and Rio returned. “We’re back.”
“I’m home.”
“Welcome home!” Komomo adjusted her position to face them and got up to welcome them back with a smile.
“Thank you for welcoming us back, Komomo. I see that Sayo is here, too.” When he caught sight of Sayo sitting in the living room, his eyes widened slightly, and he lightly greeted her with a smile.
“Oh? Is Sayo here, too?”
“I-I’m intruding for a bit. Sir Rio, Lady Yuba.” Sayo timidly bowed to the two.
“Make yourself at home,” Yuba smiled brightly, welcoming her.
“Sir Rio, would you please assist me with training later?”
“Sure. We could even go right now, if you want?”
“Yes! Yes, please! Let’s get ready, Aoi.”
“Yes, Lady Komomo.”
Komomo nodded with pure delight, and returned to her room with Aoi. Rio’s lips turned up in a smile at the two of them, before going to his own room to get ready.
“It’s gotten much more lively with Komomo here. Rio isn’t bored, either, so it’s great,” Ruri said happily.
“...Yeah. That’s right. Sir Rio looks like he’s having fun,” Sayo agreed, her expression darkening with slight sadness.
Thus, their busy time together passed in the blink of an eye — before they knew it, Komomo had been in the village for a whole month. The new year had just started, and early into the year, the Saga family — Gouki, Kayoko, and Hayate — visited the village in secret.
Facing each other in the living room of the village chief’s house, Gouki greeted Rio on behalf of his family. “Sir Rio, we wish you a very happy new year.”
“Happy new year. I’m honored to have you visit during such a cold time.”
“This is nothing. The changing seasons will not impede our path to you, Sir Rio. We would swim through an icy lake to reach you, if need be.”
“...I’d appreciate it if you didn’t push yourselves too hard,” Rio said with a wry smile.
“Ahaha. Rio, you really are royalty,” Ruri laughed with exasperation.
At present, the only ones in the house were those who knew of Rio’s circumstances, with Gouki and the others acting like Rio’s retainers. It made Rio seem like an untouchable existence. Even the normally sociable Komomo was respectfully quiet today, remaining behind Gouki and Kayoko.
“My mother was royalty, but I am not. I don’t actually want you to be that formal toward me...” Rio said in a disconcerted manner, looking at Gouki and the others.
“From our point of view, you are no doubt someone to be respected. Naturally, we cannot so bluntly disregard your will, but we will exert our utmost effort to moderate ourselves...”
“...I am aware of that. However, please treat me normally in front of the villagers.”
“Of course,” Gouki nodded deeply.
“...Incidentally, Komomo hasn’t been causing you any trouble, has she, Sir Rio?”
“No, she’s been a very good child. Miss Aoi has been accompanying me for her training practices, too. She has been a great help.”
“That is... good to hear. Thank you very much for agreeing to our selfish demands. We have caused much trouble for Lady Yuba and Lady Ruri, too.”
“No, we’re grateful to receive the support you have provided the village as compensation. While our village may have nothing, I hope you can leisurely enjoy your stay here,” Yuba said graciously.
“I’m really happy to be friends with Komomo, too.” Ruri shook her head with a smile.
Gouki bowed his head to Yuba and Ruri. “We are most grateful. For now, we plan on staying for about three days.”
“In that case, I’d like to give my new years greeting to His Majesty Homura and Her Majesty Shizuku, so if it isn’t too much trouble, could I accompany you on your way back?” Rio proposed.
“O-Ooh! Is that so? We were actually hoping to ask you to head on over for a visit, Sir Rio, if I may so humbly say. His and Her Majesty would surely be delighted.” Gouki smiled broadly.
He had actually been indirectly asked in advance by Homura and Shizuku, who had wanted to see Rio, so Rio’s proposal was quite the timely offer.
After that, they pleasantly chatted for a while, and the Saga family’s life in the village began. There were already rumors spreading among the villagers of the visitors, but because of Komomo, there wasn’t as much of a commotion as last time when they heard it was the Saga family.
During their stay, Gouki took Hayate and Komomo out to go hunting, sparred with them two-against-one, and fully enjoyed many outdoor activities. Three days passed in no time.
On the morning of their return to the capital, eight people of various ages and genders were gathered before the village chief’s house. Rio stood with the Saga family members being sent off, while Yuba and Ruri stood on the side doing the seeing off.
“Lady Yuba, thank you for your hospitality. It has been a long time since I’ve enjoyed myself so fully,” Gouki said, thanking Yuba with a bright smile on his face.
“I’m glad to hear that you had fun. Thanks to your assistance, our stocks of preserved food have greatly increased.” Yuba shook her head with upturned lips.
Beside her, Ruri was saying goodbye to Rio and Komomo.
“Rio, make sure you protect Komomo. Komomo, be careful on your way home.”
“Got it. I’ll be back soon.” Rio nodded calmly.
“I’ll be fine! I’ll protect Sir Rio too!” Komomo agreed enthusiastically.
“Lady Ruri, please rest assured: my father and I will guarantee Sir Rio’s safety,” Hayate said to Ruri, having been listening from nearby.
“Geez. Rio’s strong enough not to need protection, so make sure you protect Komomo instead, Sir Hayate,” Ruri replied with an exasperated face.
“I-Indeed. However...”
“Ruri’s right. She’s your precious sister, so please protect her instead of me.”
Being told to prioritize Komomo by both the person that occupied his thoughts and the person he ought to protect, Hayate was at a loss.
“Hmph, I’ll be the one to protect Sir Rio, then,” Komomo pouted, sulking.
Once Rio and the others left for the capital, the village fell silent.
“It became so much quieter all at once. I hope Rio and Komomo come back soon,” Ruri murmured as she sipped at her tea in the living room of the village chief’s house.
There was practically no work to be done in the morning during winter, and with many of the villagers still asleep, Ruri had mostly been hanging out with Komomo and Rio. Now that the two of them were gone, loneliness welled up within her.
“If you’re like this now, what are you going to do when Rio really leaves the village? Lady Komomo will return to the capital when Rio leaves the village, too,” Yuba said with a wry smile.
“That’s right... Aah, it’s so lonely,” Ruri grumbled with a sigh.
“Why don’t you go talk to the village girls? You’ve only been with Rio and Lady Komomo lately, so you haven’t seen them much, right?”
“Well, everyone’s been holing themselves up indoors too, but I guess so. I haven’t spoken to Sayo lately, either... All right, I’ll be back later!” Now that that was decided, she went to visit Sayo’s house.
“Sayo, you here?” Ruri dropped by Shin and Sayo’s house, knocking on the front door as she called Sayo’s name. A slight commotion could be heard inside the house.
“R-Ruri? What’s wrong?” The door opened quietly but swiftly, revealing Sayo.
“Y-Yeah. I was wondering if you wanted to have tea together. Are you busy right now?”
“Nope. I’m free right now, so it’s fine.”
“Then, could I come in for a while? I haven’t spoken to you lately, after all.”
“Yeah... That’s fine, but... Umm, is Sir Rio out right now?” Sayo looked around as she timidly asked for Rio’s whereabouts.
“Aah, yeah. He’s gone to the capital with the rest of Komomo’s family,” Ruri said with a sigh.
“Is that so...” The tone of Sayo’s voice fell dejectedly.
“Sayo?” Ruri tilted her head curiously.
“Ah, erm, come in! Just be warned: my brother’s lazing about after eating, so it’s a little messy. I’ll get the tea ready right away.” Sayo invited Ruri inside and hurried into the house.
“Well, if it ain’t Ruri.” Shin was lounging about in the living room.
“What do you mean by that? Some greeting.”
“Nothing. You just haven’t shown your face around here for a while. What happened to Rio?”
“Rio’s gone to the capital with the Saga family.”
“Oh. I see... So that’s how it is.” Shin nodded in understanding, then glanced at Sayo as she prepared the tea, diligently extracting the tea flavor with boiled water.
“You should help Sayo out more, since it’s just the two of you living here. You’re making her do all the chores, aren’t you?” Ruri said tiredly, making Shin frown unhappily.
“...Shut up. Are you my mother?”
“That would be Sayo, not me.”
And so on. Ruri went back and forth with Shin until Sayo came over and poured tea for the two of them.
“The tea’s ready. Here you go.”
“Sayo really is a good girl, unlike you,” Ruri muttered earnestly.
“And you, too,” Shin replied sarcastically.
Ruri laughed. “I know that already, sheesh. Aah, it’s been a while since we did this. It’s so calming.”
“Hm.” Shin snorted in dissatisfaction.
“Thanks, Sayo. And while I’m at it, you too, Shin,” Ruri said gratefully.
“What’s with you all of a sudden?” Shin stared fixedly at Ruri with suspicion.
“No, it’s just that I suddenly got lonely with Rio and Komomo gone. There’s a lot less opportunity to see everyone during the winter, so I just really wanted to see Sayo,” Ruri explained.
“There are times like that, yeah. I understand how you feel...” Sayo whispered her agreement.
“Right? That’s why I was starving to see you. There!” Ruri said, suddenly hugging Sayo, who sat beside her.
“Ahaha. It’d be nice if Sir Rio came back soon,” Sayo said, smiling embarrassedly.
“Yeah. You’re right. But he said this time it might take a little longer than usual.” Ruri pouted unhappily.
“...How long until he comes back?”
“He said it might take a month.”
“A-A month... That long...” Sayo’s expression darkened.
“Apparently there’s a lot of stuff that needs to be sorted out over there,” Ruri mumbled.
“I-I wonder what Sir Rio is doing over there,” Sayo questioned in a slightly high-pitched voice. She waited for Ruri’s answer nervously.
“Hmm... Apparently someone connected to the Saga family once knew Rio’s parents or something.”
Ruri blurred the facts with a troubled expression. After all, she couldn’t reveal the truth.
“What? Rio was actually born somewhere nearby?”
“Eh, I don’t know about that. Rio said he’s been traveling for years now.”
Shin’s sharp observation made a cold sweat run down Ruri’s back.
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