Meiji 45 (1911) — Late Summer
Kai — Age 16
Butterfly Estate → Outskirts Mission
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1. The First Injury (Again)
Kai knew something was wrong the moment Shinobu didn't knock.
She never skipped the knock.
She slid the paper door open just enough to peek in, eyes glittering with something far too entertained to be medical concern.
"…Kai."
He didn't look up from the ledger. "If this is another sprain, I'm leaving the estate."
"It's not a sprain," Shinobu said sweetly.
Kai exhaled. "That's worse."
Mitsuri's voice followed immediately, bright and delighted. "He says it's a muscle imbalance today!"
"…Of course he does."
Kai closed the ledger slowly, carefully, like a man putting distance between himself and violence.
"Send him in," he said calmly. Too calmly.
---
Obanai Iguro entered the room like a tragic hero.
Bandaged shoulder. Slight limp. Expression carved from suffering itself.
"I was injured during patrol," he said stiffly.
Kai gestured to the mat. "Sit."
Obanai did.
Kai inspected the shoulder.
No swelling.
No discoloration.
No tension.
Nothing.
Kai stared.
"…You slept on it wrong," Kai said flatly.
Obanai's visible eye narrowed. "You're saying I injured myself in my sleep."
"Yes."
"That's ridiculous."
"So is this," Kai replied, releasing the shoulder.
Mitsuri sat nearby, chin in her hands, openly watching now.
"Ohhh," she murmured. "So this one's not even creative."
Shinobu leaned against the wall, smiling like a cat who'd knocked over a priceless vase.
Kanae, seated by the window, observed quietly—eyes sharp, already sensing something deeper shifting under the surface.
Obanai stood. "If this estate cannot provide adequate treatment—"
Kai met his gaze.
Still calm.
Still polite.
"Then you are welcome to leave."
Silence.
Obanai didn't move.
"…Wrap it," Obanai said.
Kai did.
Firm. Efficient. Short.
Too short.
"There," Kai said. "Next."
Obanai stared at him.
Mitsuri blinked.
"…That's it?"
"Yes."
"…You didn't even scold him," Mitsuri whispered.
Kai stood. "I am at peace."
That was a lie.
---
2. The Escalation Begins
Two days later.
"Heat exhaustion," Shinobu announced.
Kai pinched the bridge of his nose. "…It's seventy degrees."
Obanai lay on the mat again, this time with a damp cloth on his forehead.
"I overexerted," Obanai said.
"You walked," Kai replied.
"It was uphill."
Mitsuri snorted into her sleeve.
Kanae smiled faintly.
Kai examined him.
Perfect vitals. Steady breath. No strain.
"…Drink water," Kai said.
"I already did."
"More."
Obanai sat up. "…You're dismissing me."
"Yes."
"…Why?"
Kai paused.
Just for a fraction of a second.
Enough for Kanae to notice.
Enough for Shinobu's smile to sharpen.
Enough for Mitsuri's curiosity to finally ignite.
"…Because," Kai said evenly, "you are not injured."
Obanai's jaw tightened. "Then why am I here?"
Kai met his gaze.
"…That," he said calmly, "is the mystery."
---
3. Mitsuri Realizes the Truth
That night, Mitsuri sat beside Kanae on the engawa, legs swinging gently.
"…Kanae?" she asked softly.
"Yes, Mitsuri?"
"…Is Obanai… being weird?"
Kanae smiled into her tea. "Define weird."
Mitsuri frowned. "He keeps coming back. But he's not hurt. And he looks mad when Kai doesn't… I don't know. Notice him?"
Kanae glanced inside, where Kai was reviewing reports, brow furrowed in concentration.
"…Do you remember," Kanae said gently, "how people used to look at you before you learned to stand tall?"
Mitsuri blinked. "…Like I didn't belong."
Kanae nodded. "Obanai looks at Kai the way someone looks at something they don't understand—but can't ignore."
Mitsuri's eyes widened.
"…Wait."
Realization hit her like a dropped tray.
"…WAIT."
She slapped her hands over her mouth.
Shinobu, passing by, paused. "Oh. You figured it out."
Kanae smiled. "Welcome."
Mitsuri's cheeks flushed bright pink.
"He's—he's jealous? Of Kai?"
Shinobu shrugged. "Among other things."
Mitsuri peeked back inside.
Kai looked up then—met her gaze—and smiled softly.
Not sharp. Not guarded.
Just him.
Mitsuri's heart did something strange.
"…Oh," she whispered.
---
4. The Mission (Brief, Annoying, Inevitable)
The assignment was simple.
Investigate a rural shrine. Suspected demon presence. No confirmed kills.
Kai read the notice.
Obanai stepped forward immediately. "I'll accompany."
Kai did not look up. "No."
Silence.
Ubuyashiki's messenger blinked. "…Both Hashira are assigned."
Kai closed his eyes.
"…Of course."
---
The demon died in under thirty seconds.
It never stood a chance.
Kai didn't even draw his blade fully.
Obanai struck with surgical precision—efficient, controlled, flawless.
They worked well.
Too well.
And that annoyed Kai more than anything else.
"You don't hesitate," Obanai said quietly as the body disintegrated.
Kai wiped his blade. "Neither do you."
"…You avoid me."
"Yes."
"…Why?"
Kai stopped.
Turned.
Looked at him fully for the first time in days.
"…Because," Kai said calmly, "you keep coming to the estate pretending to be injured."
Obanai stiffened.
"…I am not pretending."
Kai stepped closer.
"You are not sick. You are not hurt. And you are wasting medical resources."
"…I—"
"And," Kai continued evenly, voice low, "you are making Mitsuri uncomfortable."
That landed.
Obanai's breath hitched.
"…I would never."
Kai held his gaze.
"…Then stop."
Silence stretched.
"…You don't understand," Obanai said finally.
Kai exhaled slowly.
"No," he agreed. "I don't."
---
5. Barely Holding Back
Back at the estate.
Obanai showed up again.
This time—
"…Insomnia," Shinobu announced.
Kai froze.
"…I am leaving," he said, standing abruptly.
Kanae caught his sleeve gently. "Kai."
His jaw was tight.
Very tight.
"I am going to lose my temper," he said quietly.
Mitsuri watched with wide eyes—then stepped forward.
"…Iguro."
Obanai turned immediately.
"Yes?"
"…Why are you really here?"
Silence.
Heavy. Thick.
Obanai's hands clenched.
"…Because," he said stiffly, "…when I see him, I feel like I am always one step behind."
Kai blinked.
Mitsuri's breath caught.
"…He walks like the sun doesn't burn him," Obanai continued. "Like the world expects him."
Kai looked away.
"I don't."
"…You don't see it," Obanai snapped. "That's worse."
Shinobu's eyes widened slightly.
Kanae said nothing—but her gaze softened.
Mitsuri stepped closer.
"…Iguro," she said gently, "you don't have to hurt yourself to be seen."
Obanai's shoulders shook.
"…I wasn't trying to," he muttered.
Kai exhaled.
Long.
Slow.
"…Then stop coming here unless you are truly injured," Kai said quietly. "Not because I dislike you."
He looked back at him.
"But because this place is for healing—not avoidance."
Obanai nodded stiffly.
"…Understood."
---
6. Aftermath — Girls' Amusement
The moment Obanai left—
Mitsuri collapsed onto Kai's arm laughing.
"Oh my gosh—Kai—he was pining!"
"I was not—" Kai protested weakly.
"You were!" Shinobu grinned. "Completely oblivious."
Kanae smiled warmly. "You handled it kindly."
Kai sighed. "I handled it barely."
Mitsuri squeezed his arm. "…You're really popular, you know."
"…Please don't say that."
She laughed harder.
Outside, wisteria swayed gently.
Peace returned.
Mostly.
But some tensions—
Some eyes—
Wouldn't look away so easily.
---