After the satisfying lunch, everyone was served tea to wind down the meal.
Even the younger orphans—usually quick to grimace at the bitterness of tea—quietly drank their cups. If it was brewed by Shin, it somehow just… worked. A gentle balance of warmth and taste that suited even the pickiest palates.
Once the lunch chores were completed, Sakuya called Shin to the office.
Inside, Old man Shuu sat comfortably on the old couch, holding a cup of Shin's tea with both hands like it was a priceless treasure.
"This blend again… I could drink this every day," the old man muttered, eyes closed in contentment.
Shin entered silently, his footsteps barely audible. He sat down across from the old man, hands resting on his lap, posture straight but relaxed.
Sakuya remained by the side, observing.
"So," Old man Shuu's began, setting the cup down. "What do you know about dojos, Shin-kun?"
Shin tilted his head. "Dojo? Martial arts…? Like kendo or judo?"
"Exactly. Our family runs one. A proper dojo with deep roots," the old man nodded with a hint of pride.
Shin thought for a moment, his expression thoughtful.
"…Yaegashi," he said slowly. "I remember someone with that name. Yaegashi. Shizuku -san"
Sakuya's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
Old man Shuu laughed heartily. "You've met my granddaughter, have you? That's right—Shizuku is my pride and joy. Though I imagine she's more known for her calm swordplay than for sharing tea."
Shin blinked, then gave a small nod. "We met during a joint cooking class..."
"Well, I'm not here to drag you into anything. Just an invitation. Why not visit the dojo sometime? No pressure. You can watch, feel the atmosphere."
Shin remained quiet for a moment.
"...I haven't seen her in a while," he finally said. "Visiting a friend doesn't sound bad."
Old man Shuu's face lit up like a child handed a festival prize.
"Wonderful! I'll come get you tomorrow—before lunch," he grinned.
From the side, Sakuya squinted knowingly.
"Before lunch, huh…?" she muttered under her breath, clearly aware of Old man Shuu's real motivation.
"Well then," the old man stood, brushing off imaginary dust from his sleeve. "I'll be back bright and early. You'd better not ditch me, Shin-kun."
"I won't," Shin replied, almost inaudibly.
With that, Old man Shuu gave a bow, shared a few more pleasantries with Sakuya, and left the orphanage with an energetic wave—his steps lighter than when he arrived.
The orphanage settled back into its usual afternoon calm. Children returned to their reading corners, the garden shimmered under the sun, and Shin resumed his quiet routine.
________________________________
The next day arrived with quiet warmth and buzzing cicadas.
As promised, Old Man Shuu showed up at the Takagi Orphanage just before lunch. The timing, of course, was not a coincidence.
Old Man Shuu once again joined the meal with the children and staff. Like the day before, he ate with surprising vigor, delighting in every bite of the summer fare.
"I don't know what's in this rice, but it's got the taste of a festival," he muttered between mouthfuls, earning a stifled laugh from Sakuya.
After lunch and a brief rest under the garden shade, Shuu-jii and Shin prepared to leave.
As Shin slung a modest cloth bag over his shoulder, the old man raised an eyebrow.
"What's in the bag, lad?"
"Onigiri," Shin replied matter-of-factly, tilting his head slightly. "A gift. Sakuya-obasan said I should bring something when visiting a house."
Old Man Shuu let out a chuckle, clearly impressed.
"Hoooh… A proper young guest, aren't you? Mind if I carry it?"
Shin blinked once, then handed it over without a word. The old man took the bag with both hands, nodding solemnly—and then, with his back turned, whispered under his breath:
"Heh... I might just keep these for myself."
With that, the two set off under the afternoon sun.
—
The Yaegashi residence loomed ahead like something out of an old storybook—its sprawling estate hidden behind a weathered gate, tiled rooftops, and well-tended hedges. Shin slowed slightly, quietly taking in the scene.
A traditional Japanese house… the kind he'd only seen in books. Wide verandas, gravel paths, a koi pond just visible past the wall.
As they entered the gate, two attendants in subdued uniforms bowed deeply upon seeing Old Man Shuu.
"Welcome back, Master Shuuzō. It's rare to see you return during the day. And… who might this be?"
"Guest," Old Man Shuu answered simply, placing a firm hand on Shin's shoulder. "Behave accordingly."
The attendants bowed again, though they couldn't help but glance curiously at Shin's white hair and unreadable face.
Noticing the cloth bag in Old Man Shuu's hand, one of the attendants stepped forward.
"Shall we take your luggage, Master Shuuzō?"
But the old man shook his head, pulling the bag slightly behind his back.
"No need. I'll carry this one myself."
The two attendants blinked. For the former patriarch to insist on carrying something personally—especially when it was clearly light—was unheard of.
"...As you wish, Master."
With a casual hum, Old Man Shuu led Shin through the walkway toward a separate building behind the main house—a wide, open structure with sliding doors and wooden flooring polished by years of training.
The Yaegashi Dojo.
As they approached, the muffled thud of wooden swords and sharp exhalations of training echoed faintly through the walls.
"Well then, Shin," Old Man Shuu said, placing a hand on the door, "Let's see if the rhythm of this place suits you."
And with that, the doors slid open.
________________________
The sliding doors opened with a soft shhk.
What greeted Shin was a space that seemed pulled from a historical painting. The Yaegashi Dojo was a pristine, traditional training hall—tatami floors worn smooth by generations, wooden racks lined with bokken and shinai, and the sharp cadence of breath and sword strikes echoing through the space.
Voices rang out as a small group of trainees moved through their drills under the eye of an older mentor.
The first to greet them was a tall, imposing man with sharp features and a disciplined posture—Shizuku's father, Yaegashi Kaito.
He eyed Shuuzō with a disapproving frown."Father. Where have you been disappearing to? You skipped lunch again today—yesterday too."
Shuu-jii waved a hand airily."Just stretching my legs. Don't fuss over an old man."Then, before his son could retort, he added with a grin:"Give the boy a tour, will you?"
Yaegashi Kaito sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose before turning to Shin. His gaze sharpened slightly, noting the white hair and the way Shin's bangs hung low over his eyes—giving him a strange mix of softness and eerie detachment.
"I'm Yaegashi Koichi . Welcome to our dojo."
Shin bowed slightly."Takagi Shin. Thank you for having me today."
Before the tour could begin, Shin's eyes drifted across the dojo—toward a pair of familiar silhouettes.
One was a girl just finishing a sword swing, sweat on her brow and focus in her gaze. The other, beside her, was a boy with neatly combed hair and a practiced stance.
Shizuku and Kouki.
Shizuku spotted Shin first. Her expression shifted from concentration to surprise, then to a faint spark of irritation.
"Shin?" she called, already walking briskly toward him. Her wooden sword still in hand.
Her father's brow twitched."Shizuku—your stance—"
"I'll fix it later," she replied over her shoulder, already halfway across the dojo floor.
Stopping in front of Shin, she crossed her arms.
"It's been over a month. Why didn't you tell me which school you were going to?"
Shin blinked."I forgot."
Her brow twitched."You forgot?"
"Mm. Sorry."
Despite her annoyance, she seemed oddly relieved. Then Shin added, almost as an afterthought:
"I brought a gift. Onigiri. The old man Shuu has it."
Old man Shuu, who had been standing quietly nearby, perked up and promptly turned on his heel.
"Right! The gift. I'll just… uh… make sure it's stored properly!"With surprising agility, he slipped out of the dojo like a shadow.
Shizuku sighed and turned to her father."Dad I'll show Shin around, okay?"
Yaegashi Koichi frowned, clearly torn between dojo discipline, family courtesy—and the sight of his daughter so casually approaching a boy he didn't recognize.
His gaze flicked from Shizuku to Shin, lingering a moment on the boy's pale hair and unreadable expression. He crossed his arms, voice calm but pointed.
"Shizuku. You're in the middle of training."
"I know," she said, not quite meeting his eyes. "But I'll take responsibility."
Koichi's brow furrowed deeper. He let out a quiet breath, the kind that carried both resignation and calculation.This boy… He doesn't talk much, but something about him is off. And not in a bad way.
"Fine," Koichi finally said, his tone measured. "But don't skip your practice for too long."
After a brief pause, he gave Shin a sidelong glance, narrowed his eyes slightly, and muttered:
"...And you—don't get too friendly with my daughter."
Shin blinked, tilting his head slightly—clearly not understanding what he meant.
"Dad!" Shizuku yelped, her face turning red. Without missing a beat, she gave her father a light smack with her wooden sword.
"That was unnecessary!"
Koichi coughed into his fist, pretending to look elsewhere.
Flustered, Shizuku turned quickly toward Shin. "Come on, I'll show you around."
But just as they were about to walk away, another voice called out behind them—
"Hey, Shin!"
It was Kouki. Having just finished his own drills, he spotted the two and jogged over.
"Didn't expect to see you here! Visiting the dojo?" he asked brightly, then without hesitation added,"Mind if I come along? I'll help show you around too."
Shin gave a small nod."I don't mind."
But Shizuku's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
"It's fine," she said with an overly calm voice. "But don't get in the way, Kouki."
Kouki blinked, then grinned—entirely missing her tone."Of course not!"
The three of them walked deeper into the dojo, with Old man Shuu's quiet laughter echoing somewhere in the background as he "hid" Shin's gift with suspicious glee.