Horitake gazed at the flustered Shinobu Kocho, a playful smile curling his lips as he spoke:
"Shinobu-nee, I'm leaving tomorrow, so I came especially tonight to say goodbye."
Shinobu grew even more rattled, the Nichirin Blade in her hand trembling slightly.
"There are plenty of times to say goodbye! Why pick nighttime? You wouldn't happen to have some ulterior motive, would you?"
"Hmm? What motive could I possibly have?
At dinner just now, I announced I'd be leaving tomorrow, and all my little sisters were so reluctant to see me go—even Kanae expressed her reluctance. Yet you, Shinobu-nee, remained utterly indifferent. It broke my heart.
With no other choice, I had to come say farewell at night, didn't I?"
Shinobu pointed the tip of her Nichirin Blade at Horitake.
"Alright, you've said your goodbye. You can leave now!"
Horitake smoothly plopped down on the edge of Shinobu's bed.
"Isn't that a bit too cold, Shinobu-nee? I barely said two sentences, and you're already kicking me out? We haven't even poured our hearts out to each other yet. With this tense, blade-drawn atmosphere, how does it look anything like a proper farewell?"
Only after Horitake pointed it out did Shinobu realize she'd been aiming her sword at him the whole time. She immediately felt a twinge of embarrassment.
After a moment's hesitation, she sheathed the Nichirin Blade. Still, she remained cautious around Horitake.
"Horitake-san, if you have something to say, just say it directly. Once you're done, I need to rest."
Seeing Shinobu's reaction, Horitake knew he likely had no real chance tonight.
But that was fine. Strictly speaking, he and Shinobu-nee had only just become something a day ago. It was perfectly normal not to have an opening yet.
No opening meant no opening; taking advantage was a separate matter.
With that mindset, Horitake stood and approached Shinobu.
"Tomorrow, I'm heading out on a mission and leaving this place. Thinking it over, there's really not much to say.
But since Shinobu-nee and I have only just become something, and now we're parting so soon, my heart... it truly aches with reluctance.
I'm sure Shinobu-nee feels the same reluctance toward me.
To comfort you—and to declare my claim—I've decided to stamp you first, marking you as taken."
Shinobu's face filled with confusion.
"What do you mean by 'stamp'?"
Before she could react, Horitake strode forward with lightning speed. In the blink of an eye, he seized both her arms, pinned her against the wall, and leaned in close!
A gust of wind swept through, rustling the trees outside with a soft shaa shaa.
It was deep autumn; the breeze scattered falling leaves in a flurry, veiling all sight through the window and preventing anyone from peering inside.
At the same time, the whispering cascade of leaves muffled every sound within.
What happened inside? I don't know, and I dare not say. Please, dear readers, imagine for yourselves.
Anyway... it was just the stamping, right?
Shinobu's eyes flew wide open. Her mind gradually cleared from the daze as she realized what was happening!
Furious, she lashed out like a rabbit kicking an eagle, sending Horitake flying!
By sheer coincidence, Horitake hadn't closed the window when he entered.
And just as coincidentally, he sailed right out through that very open window!
Inside the bedroom, Shinobu leaned against the wall, her face flushed crimson with rage.
She pressed her lips together—whether in disgust or lingering savor, who could tell?
She wanted to curse him outright but held back, fearing she'd wake her little sisters. Instead, she slumped against the wall, huffing in silent fury!
Horitake, who had flown out, reappeared as if nothing happened. Perched on the windowsill, he grinned cheekily at Shinobu.
"The stamp is done. Now, Shinobu-nee, there's no escaping me."
Seeing her reach for her blade again, Horitake beat a hasty retreat.
Before vanishing, he tossed back one final line:
"I'll head out directly tomorrow, Shinobu-nee. I'll miss you while I'm away!"
With that, he vanished in a puff of smoke.
Left in the bedroom, Shinobu fumed with a tangle of urgency and irritation.
She wanted to chase him down and end him, but fearing the commotion, she could only sigh in resignation.
Leaning against the wall once more, she pressed her lips together again. To her shock, she realized... she was actually savoring the memory of what just happened!
"Shameless!"
Shinobu-nee wasn't sure who she was scolding.
She stormed over, slammed the window shut with a bang, locked the doors and windows, drew the curtains, and dove into bed with a plop, burrowing under the covers to stew alone in her sullen mood.
(Shinobu-nee, are you sure you're just sulking? Not secretly delighted, replaying it over and over?)
And so, with a heart tangled in complexity and quiet joy, Shinobu drifted into sleep.
For some reason, she slept deeply that night—profoundly, peacefully.
When she finally woke, she was stunned to see the sun already high in the sky!
"How could this happen!?"
Shinobu's internal clock was impeccable; she always woke naturally at the same hour each morning.
"Why couldn't I wake up today!? What on earth is going on!?"
In a rush, she washed up, fixed her hair, changed into her uniform, and bolted from the bedroom.
The moment she reached the work area, she spotted Koyuki hard at work.
Koyuki was busily carrying a basket of laundry to be washed. Seeing Shinobu rush in, she looked surprised.
"Eh? Lady Shinobu, it's rare for you to sleep in like this."
Shinobu felt a pang of self-reproach.
"I don't know why, but I just couldn't wake up this morning.
By the way! Horitake-san—is he already gone?"
"Yes, Lord Horitake left this morning. When he departed and you weren't there, he seemed a little forlorn."
"Why didn't any of you wake me? You should have gotten me up at breakfast."
Koyuki shrugged helplessly.
"Lord Horitake said you'd been exhausted from moving the Butterfly Mansion these past few days and deserved a little extra rest, even a lazy morning. So we didn't disturb you."
Shinobu clutched her forehead in distress.
She wasn't sure what she was distressed about.
Was it sleeping in? Or missing the chance to see Horitake off that morning?
Perhaps both.
At this point, there was nothing she could do. She grabbed a quick bite from the kitchen and threw herself back into the day's routine.
Come to think of it, why had the ever-punctual Shinobu suddenly overslept today?
Could it really be that Horitake's "stamping" last night had rattled her so much she slept longer!?
Probably not just that.
Don't forget—the night before last, Horitake and Rin's commotion had been so loud that Shinobu barely slept a wink.
Having lost sleep the night before, of course she made up for it last night!
No matter how you sliced it, Shinobu would ultimately pin the blame on Horitake!
What a pair of bickering lovebirds.
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