With those words, Horitake finally released Shinobu's hand.
Shinobu yanked it free, stepping aside. Seeing the red handprint on her pale skin, she bristled, baring her teeth at Horitake like an angry kitten.
Horitake couldn't resist teasing her. "Shinobu-nee, this isn't your usual style. Even when I tick you off, you're supposed to stay graceful and composed."
Shinobu froze, quickly masking her unladylike reaction and restoring her poised demeanor.
She shot Horitake a subtle glare before turning to the five girls. "Alright, enough fussing over Horitake-san's nonsense. You all need to rest. The Butterfly Mansion just moved, and there's a lot of work to do tomorrow.
"I should rest too. The Pillars' Meeting is tomorrow."
At Shinobu's command, the five girls dutifully headed to their rooms.
After a moment's hesitation, Shinobu felt a lingering unease.
It wasn't like her, but she approached Mitsuri and, with a complicated expression, said, "I'm sorry."
Mitsuri shook her head, unbothered. "It's fine. I don't blame you. That's just how Horitake-bro is, right?"
"Exactly, exactly!" Horitake chimed in, stepping over. "I'm the worst kind of scoundrel. Please, you two lovely ladies, have mercy on me, okay?
"Alright, it's late. We should all get some rest."
Horitake, wary of the two reaching some agreement or sparking a conflict, jumped in to cut them off.
Shinobu sighed. "Fine, I'm off to rest. You two should too."
With that, she headed to her room.
Horitake, feeling a bit sheepish, turned to Mitsuri. "So… Mitsuri, don't you have anything you want to ask?"
Mitsuri smiled at him. "Nothing to ask. Shinobu's my good sister—now and always, right?"
A bead of sweat rolled down Horitake's forehead.
Good grief, talk about a double-edged remark.
Who said Mitsuri was clueless or ditzy?
She wasn't naive—she was wise beyond her years, playing the fool. She seemed to lose out, but in truth, she saw everything clearly, always responding with the most natural, perfect, and justified reactions.
Yet that very naturalness, that perfection, made Horitake feel even guiltier.
After a moment's thought, he realized he had nothing to make it up to her—except to convince (or rather, comfort) her! It was the best, most direct approach!
Grinning, Horitake took Mitsuri's hand. "Come on, let's go rest."
Mitsuri instantly read the smile on his face and let him pull her back to their room.
That night, louder disturbances than the previous evening kept Shinobu awake.
The noise level the night before? She could ignore it and sleep.
But tonight's volume was enough to disrupt her rest.
Worse, Horitake and Mitsuri had controlled it perfectly—just loud enough to bother Shinobu but not the five younger girls!
Shinobu, sleepless and fuming, saw this as Horitake's deliberate provocation!
But what could she do about it? Go confront him?
If she went over, it wouldn't be revenge—it'd be joining in. Not retribution, but serving herself up on a platter.
It'd be like delivering meat straight to the wolf's jaws!
Shinobu knew full well that if she went, she'd get dragged into the mess. With Horitake's shamelessness and audacity, he'd absolutely be the type to "get on the train first, buy the ticket later."
Furious, Shinobu buried her head under her pillow, hoping to muffle the noise and calm her mind enough to catch a nap.
She had no choice—the Pillars' Meeting was tomorrow, and she needed to attend in top form.
So… was Shinobu in top form for the meeting?
The answer was no.
The next day, before the Pillars' Meeting began, eight of the ten Pillars gathered early at the Ubuyashiki residence. They stood on the white pebbled path before the meeting corridor, waiting for the others, Yoyoi's arrival, and the start of the meeting.
Among them was Shinobu, visibly drained, her energy lackluster.
Sanemi Shinazugawa, eyeing the nearly identical Ubuyashiki residence, rubbed his white hair, grumbling with frustration. "The headquarters moved! Such a huge deal, and I didn't know a thing! This is… such a failure!"
He'd meant to say "absurd" but rephrased out of respect for the Lord.
Though he didn't say it outright, the other Pillars understood. Big brother Kyojuro Rengoku, ever spirited, laughed to reassure him. "Shinazugawa! No need to be so upset! It was an emergency, and notifying far-off Pillars like you wasn't feasible. It's only natural!"
Obanai Iguro chimed in softly, "That's true, and we get the logic, but it still stings.
"Right, Tomioka?"
Tagged yet again, Giyuu Tomioka stood apart from the group, facing a different direction as always. The stoic man said flatly, "It was an emergency. Secrecy was needed. Not informing us was normal."
His demeanor was exactly why people found him irritating. Obanai let out a frustrated "Tch."
Himejima Gyomei, clutching his prayer beads, chanted silently, embodying the image of an unshakable monk.
But a two-meter-tall, muscle-bound monk? Even a Buddhist guardian deity would pale in comparison.
Then, Tengen Uzui noticed Shinobu's condition. "Kocho, what's wrong? You've got dark circles under your eyes. Didn't sleep well last night?"
Shinobu blinked, surprised. "Eh? I have dark circles?"
"If you look closely, yeah. What happened?"
Shinobu recalled the previous night, her lips twitching.
How could she explain this? She couldn't.
Just as she was about to brush it off with an excuse, the culprits responsible for her state appeared!
Horitake arrived with Mitsuri in tow.
He waved cheerfully at the eight Pillars. "Yo, everyone! Been a while, huh?"
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