Yōsuke turned around and looked warmly at Kochō Kanae.
"I like you two as well. And also Hakuji, Koyuki, Gyūtarō, and Ume. To me, all of you are my most precious family."
Kanae felt an unexpected pang of disappointment in her chest—something she herself hadn't realized until that moment. Composing herself, she asked brightly,
"Master, you mention them often, but I've never met them. Could you describe them to me?"
"Hakuji… he's a little stubborn. Loves fighting strong opponents, and dreams of making the martial art passed down from his master—Soryū—famous throughout the world. He seems hard to approach, but when it comes to protecting those he cares about, he'll risk everything without hesitation.
Koyuki is Hakuji's fiancée. Her personality is somewhat like yours—easily flustered, cheeks reddening when shy. She's very gentle.
Gyūtarō and Ume are brother and sister who only had each other to rely on. For Gyūtarō, his little sister is his entire world. Since it was Hakuji who saved them, Gyūtarō especially likes tagging along with him. To me, he's a good older brother. Though… he has a bad habit—he's always scratching at his face without realizing it. I've warned him many times, he always promises to stop, but in the end, nothing changes.
Ume's personality is similar to little Shinobu's—lively and playful. Thanks to Gyūtarō's protection, she's been able to keep her innocence. She loves to stick by my side, hardly leaving me for a moment.
When the four of them left, the one I worried about most was Ume. She cried and cried when it was time to go."
As Yōsuke described them, his face was filled with a gentle smile, every word carrying his deep longing for those far away.
Resting her chin in her hands, Kanae's gaze grew hazy.
"How wonderful it would be… to meet them someday~"
"You'll have the chance," Yōsuke reassured her. "You and Shinobu are my disciples. That makes them your seniors. I'm sure you'll get along just fine."
That night, Shinobu returned from a full day of exhausting training, but instead of collapsing into bed, she burst into the room with excitement.
Clinging playfully to Yōsuke's arm, she pleaded,
"Master! The nearby town is holding a fireworks festival tonight. Please come with us!"
Kanae, smiling softly at the scene, made no attempt to stop her sister—because she too wished to go, and to see the fireworks together with Yōsuke.
"Alright, alright, stop tugging. I'll go," Yōsuke said with a helpless smile.
"Yay! Master, you're the best!"
Shinobu hopped in place with joy, then ran to the wardrobe and pulled out three sets of yukata, handing one each to Kanae and Yōsuke.
Yōsuke chuckled, gently tapping Shinobu on the head.
"So this was your plan all along."
Shinobu puffed up her cheeks adorably.
"It wasn't! I already wanted to go with Master last year!"
But last year, Yōsuke hadn't cared about human festivals. He had slipped away to tend to his own matters. The sisters, who had been so eager to invite him, could not find him anywhere. They went to the fireworks festival alone, but without him, the fireworks had felt empty, their brilliance leaving them strangely unmoved.
This time, Yōsuke placed his hand gently on Shinobu's head.
"Alright then, no more sulking. I'll go with you this time."
When Yōsuke changed into his yukata, the sisters' eyes widened in awe. The pure white fabric, adorned with cherry blossoms, accentuated his noble aura, making him look like an elegant young lord of striking beauty.
The sisters, too, seemed transformed when they donned their own yukata.
Kanae appeared more graceful and refined than ever, her hair falling softly against her delicate features. Under the moonlight, her eyes shone brilliantly. As the breeze lifted the hem of her kimono, she seemed utterly captivating.
Shinobu tied her loose black hair back with a ribbon. Dressed in a floral-patterned yukata with a square pouch tucked into the obi at her back, she clopped along in pale wooden geta—her every step irresistibly cute.
Yōsuke smiled.
"Come to think of it, this is my first time attending a fireworks festival. Strangely, I feel a bit excited."
Shinobu immediately took his right hand in hers, her eyes sparkling.
"I promise you won't be disappointed, Master!"
Silently, Kanae slipped her hand into his left, staying close by his side.
"Then let's go."
Hand in hand, Yōsuke walked with the sisters to the town, where the annual fireworks festival awaited.
The festival—also known as the summer festival—was a beloved tradition. Each year on this day, people donned their finest yukata and gathered in celebration.
Before the fireworks show, the bustling streets overflowed with stalls and games, the atmosphere lively and joyous.
"Ah! It ripped again?!"
Shinobu frowned down at the scooping net in her hands, another hole torn into it.
"Shinobu, you need to slow down," Kanae chided gently. "If you rush, of course the net will break."
Her cheeks puffed in frustration, Shinobu muttered silently that she would catch a goldfish this time—so she could give her pet goldfish "Fugu" a companion.
In the end, she walked away from the stall beaming, clutching a small fishbowl. But it wasn't because she'd caught one—the stall owner, pitying her after so many failed attempts, had simply given her a goldfish.
That didn't dampen her spirits in the slightest.
The festival grounds were overflowing with people. Yōsuke led the sisters through the lively crowd, basking in the joyful atmosphere.
When midnight struck, signaling the start of the fireworks display, the three of them went up to a viewing platform and joined the countdown with the surrounding crowd.
"Three… two… one!"
Boom!
Brilliant fireworks shot into the sky, exploding across the black canvas of night in dazzling cascades, like emerald tassels unfurling in the heavens.
Yōsuke's eyes stayed fixed on the spectacle, unwilling to miss even a moment.
When the fireworks bloomed in the silent night sky, they painted it in seven colors—so breathtaking that one forgot the noise of the explosions, forgot the silence of the night, and even forgot that the beauty lasted only until its inevitable end.
The brilliance of the fireworks was fleeting, but the memory remained, etched deeply in the heart.
The entire town seemed to swell with joy, the festival reaching its peak under the radiant display.
Kanae and Shinobu leaned gently against Yōsuke on either side. For the sisters, this moment—the night sky lit with fireworks, and their master by their side—was engraved into memory, eternal and unchanging.
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