I truly couldn’t accept it; I knelt down and pounded the ground wildly.
Ya had absolutely no idea where my funny bone was, looking at me with a confused and baffled expression.
“Knock, knock, knock.”
After the deliberate knocking, the middle-aged man’s voice sounded, cold and detached: “I hope I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”
Senior Goto had arrived.
I finally managed to stop laughing with great effort, crawled up, and placed my hand on Ya’s shoulder, wiping the tears from the corners of my eyes. “I’m saying, ahem…”
Because I had laughed too hard, my voice was a bit hoarse. I cleared my throat. “Ya, don’t be so ridiculous.”
The legendary Sun Breath user being called a “male fox spirit”—I couldn’t help but wonder what expression the Demon King and the Hashira would have in the future if they heard this term applied to Tsugikuni Yoriichi. No, I couldn’t stop myself; just thinking about it made me laugh like a goose.
Rubbing my face, which had been contorted by laughter, I composed myself and went to welcome Senior Goto.
He pulled his tools in from outside. Seeing Yoriichi and Ya, he raised an eyebrow. “You two are a real help.” Having said that, he threw down his knives and axes. “If you’ve got nothing to do, go to the mountain and cut some wood and bamboo.”
“This is…” Ya asked.
I had told Ya about the expansion; once he knew, he felt much better and became incredibly proactive, as if he couldn’t wait to finish building the house in a single day!
“You must first apologize for your rudeness today.”
The laughing was over, but I hadn’t forgotten the important things.
In short, after Ya gave a half-hearted apology, he rolled up his sleeves full of fighting spirit. “Work is the only proof of a man’s true strength! Just you wait! I’ll be much more useful than that guy!” He pointed a thumb at himself, looking at Tsugikuni Yoriichi with provocation and launching a challenge.
Although his attitude wasn’t quite friendly yet, at least he likely wouldn’t resort to insults anymore.
So, I went to the kitchen to prepare food, feeling at ease.
By the time the chicken soup was stewed and I came out, Ya was standing before a massive pile of timber, arms dangling at his sides, face filled with frustration.
Goto half-squatted down. “It’s not just the quantity; this side’s cutting plane is flatter and cleaner. And… is it my imagination?” He glanced to the side. “Did you pick out the branches that grew better and received more sunlight?”
Tsugikuni Yoriichi nodded.
“Tsk, I’ve changed my opinion of you.” Goto stood up. “This counts as good material.” He said, using a double entendre.
“Damn it… it’s all because my arm is injured,” Ya said.
“In that case, let’s start the next round of competition,” Senior Goto hooked his lips into a smile.
Ya: “Bring it on!”
Tsugikuni Yoriichi: “…”
And so, Senior Goto tossed them two more saws.
Seeing this, I shook my head. With Senior Goto there, there was no need to worry about Ya making a scene, but was he starting to play around? He was clearly teasing Ya on purpose!
Yoriichi working was expected, but Ya, what exactly are you hoping to gain? I was left speechless.
Forget it, I’d better cook.
The three men of different ages were making a racket outside. Ya was shouting and yelling, occasionally interspersed with Goto’s guidance or sharp-tongued criticisms. After Goto turned to Yoriichi a few times to confirm he was okay, he went right back to staring at Ya.
A classic “foreman” face.
When I brought the chicken soup out, I smiled and said, “You’ve all worked really hard!”
“I haven’t really done anything,” Goto said, sitting down calmly to pick up his soup. He sniffed the aroma and took a sip.
Ya also consciously set down his work and came over, blowing on the soup and gulping it down. “It’s so good.” Then he started eating the chicken in the soup.
It seemed I didn’t need to ask him, so I turned to Senior Goto. “How is the taste?”
“It’s not bad.” His eyebrow twitched.
“That’s good, then please enjoy.” As long as it wasn’t poisonous, it probably counted as a compliment.
I looked at Yoriichi, who was still off to the side working earnestly on the measuring phase, and was just about to go over when Ya had finished drinking and eating. He took a step forward, alertly blocking my path.
He snatched the bowl from my hand. “I’ll deliver it!”
I hesitated for a moment, thinking it was a good chance to ease their relationship. “Speak nicely.”
He grinned. “Leave it to me.”
He walked over full of confidence, and then,
“Hey! What are you doing? Stay away from me!” Kamimura held the bowl, jumping backward.
And Yoriichi simply made the movement of picking up a wooden board.
He also felt a bit cowardly; the shadow from yesterday was simply too large!
“Stop threatening people!”
He finally remembered his task. “Here, Megumi made us soup, so I’m bringing you a bowl while I’m at it.”
“Thank you.” Tsugikuni Yoriichi said to him.
“It’s just leftovers, don’t get any wrong ideas; I’m just bringing it over because I was coming anyway.” I don’t know what expression Yoriichi had, but after hearing his thanks, Ya sounded very uncomfortable and deliberately fierce.
Face to face.
Yoriichi looked at him with a sincere smile.
Ya couldn’t keep it up: What is up with this guy? Is he incapable of feeling anger? At least make a fierce face! This makes him look like a total villain, doesn’t it? Didn’t he sneak in while I wasn’t here and steal Megumi? Damn it, damn it, damn it… stop looking at me with those pure, innocent eyes! It’s like they’re reflecting my own ugly expression. Come to think of it, did I really handle this poorly? I feel so guilty…
After his chain of psychological activity ended, he turned his head away in embarrassment.
After that, I could visibly see Ya’s spirit waning little by little.
Part of it was the desperate fact that he couldn’t beat Yoriichi at anything; the other part was that Yoriichi was simply too much of a “good guy”! Whether Ya lost his temper, insulted him, or even physically attacked him, it was all meaningless… because Ya couldn’t win.
Ya had a defeated look on his face and stopped finding faults with him. To be precise, it was Senior Goto who started finding faults with Ya.
But no matter what was said to him, as soon as he saw Yoriichi beside him, his fighting spirit was immediately reignited.
“I won’t lose to you.”
Senior Goto knocked him on the head. “Focus, will you? You’ve got the direction wrong again. Is this that hard? My eyes truly cannot leave you for a second.”
“That hurts, old man!” Ya cried, holding his head.
Goto remained expressionless. “Wasn’t it you who said you wanted to finish everything today? At this rate, you won’t be done in your next life.”
Ya: %$&…
Tsugikuni Yoriichi turned his face to the side, then turned it back.
Because of the progress comparison, Goto quickly noticed something and said coldly, “It seems Yoriichi feels pity for you and wants to go easy so you can win! I suppose losing from start to finish is quite embarrassing.”
“What!” Ya widened his eyes, immediately rushing over to grab Yoriichi. “Are you looking down on me! Let me tell you, whether it’s work or anything else! I’ll earn it myself! If you dare to go easy on me, I’ll take Megumi away immediately. A man like you is not worthy of Megumi!”
There was a subtle change in Yoriichi’s eyes. Although he didn’t know how Ya’s words were connected, but…
“Fine.”
Even though he knew it wasn’t logical, a strange thought emerged: I absolutely cannot let him take Megumi away.
“Then it’s a deal!”
Ya was full of fighting spirit.
Yoriichi was forced to ignite his own fighting spirit.
Goto: “Mm, youth is truly wonderful.”
I washed the dishes and looked out the window once more.
Seeing that the two of them could stand together and talk, I couldn’t help but smile with relief.
As expected, working together really is quite an effective way to improve feelings! Although Ya started with impure, competitive motives, the overall result was good. I hope the two of you especially you, Ya! don’t keep the air so thick with gunpowder!
Are you trying to audition for a villain role, or what?
Plentiful work always makes time seem short. I tidied up the house, and by the time the sun slanted to the west, work for the day was done.
Even a perfectionist like Goto had to say, “I admit my judgment was flawed; he is the most talented artisan I have ever seen. Are you interested in learning carpentry? …As for Ya, can you make sure he doesn’t come tomorrow to cause trouble?”
Me: Thank goodness Ya went to solve some personal business.
After seeing Senior Goto off, Ya returned.
He said: “I admit he can do a bit of work, but he’s still a little worse than me.”
I glanced at the sky and nodded perfunctorily.
He said sheepishly: “Since the house isn’t built yet, do you want to come to my place…”
Bang, I closed the door.
The world was finally peaceful.
Because of Ya’s obstruction today, I didn’t have a chance to talk to Yoriichi at all. Now that it was just the two of us, I let out a breath and smiled at him. “It seems I haven’t said it to you yet today—thank you for your hard work.”
“It was not hard.” he answered.
So well-behaved.
I pressed down the hand that wanted to ruffle his hair and looked at the crowd in the room behind him.
Because of the renovation, the wooden board he usually slept on had been taken away, and the space had been occupied, so,
“Tonight, you’ll probably have to squeeze in with me.” I said, spreading my hands.
While we were “sleeping together,” we actually had our own separate bedding, just positioned closer together. Of course, I absolutely trusted Yoriichi.
He gave me the feeling of someone who would remain unmoved even if a world-class beauty stood naked in front of him; what did I have to worry about?
Night arrived, and the moon rose above the window.
After I came in, I quickly blew out the lamp. The room plunged into darkness. I couldn’t see, so I felt my way slowly from the corner and crawled into my quilt.
I had pretty much gotten everything I needed to know about him over the last few days, and my long-held desire to unburden myself had been somewhat alleviated.
I yawned. I didn’t plan on talking today, just sleeping quietly, since we had to start work early tomorrow morning.
Yoriichi should get a good rest too.
“Yoriichi, good night.” I closed my eyes after saying it, but I didn’t wait for the response I expected.
After a while, listening to the soft, gentle breathing so close by, I opened my eyes and turned my head, looking at him with some confusion. I felt vaguely that he hadn’t fallen asleep.
“Are you not going to sleep yet?” I asked.
“Ya seems to hope that you will become his family,” he said.
I was a little surprised in my heart; he actually took the initiative to chat with me today?
…He had noticed, but he just naively thought Ya wanted to be good to me, and he probably didn’t understand the underlying meaning of it all, right? Otherwise, he wouldn’t have asked.
“Family? Well, he does have that in mind,” I answered vaguely, “because we’ve known each other since we were children; we’re very familiar.”
“But he does not like me. Megumi, will you become his family?”
…Could it be that he was worried I would leave him behind? Although it couldn’t be heard in his tone at all, it wouldn’t be surprising if he had such thoughts.
On the surface, compared to Yoriichi, I had more reasons to become Ya’s family, I couldn’t help but drift off.
Before Yoriichi appeared, I had indeed had this thought.
Not the family bonded by the kinship Yoriichi spoke of, but another kind—entrusting myself to someone else.
There was no better candidate; if not him, then maybe him? I had persisted long enough, and Ya wasn’t half bad!
These thoughts popped up one after another; it was as if a cunning devil were blowing air into my ear, whispering for me to give up.
Then came the wavering, wavering constantly like a falling mountain.
However, “Thank goodness Yoriichi appeared.”
I didn’t think that way anymore, and I clearly understood that what had sprouted in the depths of my heart was merely the meanness and cowardice born from loneliness and solitude.
A mean scheme to exploit others; a cowardly attempt to escape reality.
If I hadn’t resisted the temptation and had foolishly agreed, then I would have betrayed two regrettable lives. It was predictable; in the end, it would just be tasting the fruits of pain, because Ya was not the person who could walk into my heart.
“I, appeared?”
I laughed silently in the darkness. He was probably still lingering on his attachment to familial affection in his heart. As for love… well, that should fall under a knowledge blind spot, right?
I wanted to ruffle his hair again. Although I was past the age for that, he was so cute.
“I once had that thought.” I admitted without hesitation. “But that was incorrect; it was your arrival that allowed me to become firm once again.”
“Why was it incorrect? Was it because Megumi does not like him?” he asked softly and perplexedly.
“This…” I pulled the quilt.
“You will understand naturally in the future. I will not leave you for the time being. Sleep now, we have to get up early tomorrow.” I said softly.
Yoriichi would meet someone he liked in the future, too, wouldn’t he? And then he would understand.
“Mm.” he responded.
Even though he was answered that way, but… he reached out and pressed his hand over his heart.
Why, exactly, was it so uneasy here?
For the time being, he chewed on these three words in his heart.
When would it be?