- At the market.
Shinjuro walked through the busy street, both hands occupied with heavy shopping bags. Even so, it still wasn't enough. There was one last place he needed to visit.
After a few more minutes, he slowed to a stop in front of a familiar shop.
It had been a long time since he had come here himself.
Back then, it was usually Ruka who handled these errands… and after her, Kagerou had taken over without complaint. But now, Kagerou wasn't in the condition to go out, and Shinjuro couldn't exactly send Kyojuro or the others.
This was a sake shop, after all.
"…Tch"
With a small click of his tongue, Shinjuro pushed the door open.
*Tring*
A small bell chimed softly as he stepped inside. The scent of alcohol immediately filled the air, rich and sharp, carrying the warmth of aged sake soaked deep into the wooden shelves and floorboards.
"Welcome-" the shopkeeper greeted out of habit, but paused when he recognized the customer. "Oh! Rengoku-san! Long time no see!"
"Oya-san(Boss)," Shinjuro replied with a small nod, setting one of the bags down to rest his arm. "You're still as energetic as ever. I thought you would've retired by now and passed this place on to your grandchildren"
The old man let out a tired sigh, shaking his head.
"Ahh, those youngsters… they'd rather run off to big cities like Tokyo than stay in a quiet town like this," he said with a wry smile. "At this rate, I'll be running this shop until the day I die"
He glanced around the shop briefly before continuing, his tone turning more nostalgic.
"…If only I had a grandson like Kagerou-kun. Speaking of him, why isn't he here? Isn't it usually him who comes to buy your sake? Not that I mind seeing you, of course, but there's just something different about that boy. Polite, steady… a good kid, really, but-"
"Oya-san," Shinjuro cut in before the rambling could continue.
This was exactly why he usually sent Kagerou. It wasn't that he disliked the man, but once he started talking, it was hard to stop him.
"Kagerou's fine," Shinjuro said simply. "He's just feeling a little unwell. No need to worry." He paused briefly. "Give me the usual"
"Ah, I see…" the shopkeeper nodded, concern briefly crossing his face. "I hope it's nothing serious. That boy works too hard sometimes"
He turned and moved toward the shelves behind him.
"I'll get it ready. Just give me a moment"
As the old man busied himself, Shinjuro shifted his weight slightly.
"…It's nothing serious," he added after a moment, almost as an afterthought. "Just… youth problems"
"Oh?" the shopkeeper said as he returned, placing a neatly wrapped bottle on the counter. "Is it about love? Did he get rejected or something?"
Shinjuro snorted faintly.
"…It's more complicated than that"
He reached into his sleeve and placed the money on the counter.
The shopkeeper chuckled as he accepted it.
"Well, that sounds about right," he said. "For the Rengoku family, things like love are never simple"
Shinjuro's hand paused for just a fraction of a second.
"I still remember the day you came here," the old man continued, a nostalgic smile forming. "You looked like you were heading into battle… all because of that arranged marriage"
He shook his head lightly, amused by the memory.
"And look at you now"
There was no immediate response.
Shinjuro simply picked up the bottle.
"…Give him time," the shopkeeper added more gently. "That boy's too mature for his own good. He'll figure out what he needs to do"
For a moment, Shinjuro said nothing.
Then, the shopkeeper reached under the counter and pulled out another bottle, this one shaped differently, its glass slightly darker.
"Here," he said, placing it in front of Shinjuro. "Take this too"
Shinjuro frowned slightly.
"…What's this?"
"Wine," the old man replied. "Something from the West. A friend brought it to me"
Shinjuro didn't reach for it immediately.
"I can't just-"
"Just take it," the shopkeeper waved him off. "It's good quality, but honestly, it's not really suited to our tastes. Consider it my thanks for being a loyal customer all these years"
He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice with a knowing look.
"…Drink it with Kagerou-kun"
Shinjuro's gaze shifted, just slightly.
"I think he's old enough to share a drink with you," the old man added with a small grin. "Though it's a bit ironic, considering he's been carrying a kiseru long before reaching adulthood"
Silence lingered for a brief moment.
Then...
"…Alright," Shinjuro said at last, picking up the bottle. "I won't refuse"
He adjusted the bags in his hands.
"…Thank you"
The shopkeeper simply smiled, watching him as he turned toward the door.
And for a brief moment, as the bell rang again.
*Tring*
... t almost felt like time had quietly overlapped.
Past and present, standing in the same place… just a little different.
---
- At the Rengoku Residence.
Since Shinjuro left, Kagerou had not moved from his spot on the engawa.
He sat there in complete stillness, back resting against the wooden pillar, one knee drawn slightly up, the other stretched out. The kiseru remained loosely held between his fingers, its ember long since dimmed.
From a distance, he looked almost like a statue.
Unmoving.
Unresponsive.
As if something inside him had quietly... stopped.
The garden before him swayed gently with the breeze, leaves rustling, sunlight shifting across the ground.
Kagerou noticed none of it.
Then...
Soft footsteps.
"Kage-nii…"
Senjuro's voice came carefully from the side, gentle as always, as if afraid to disturb something fragile.
Kagerou's eyes shifted slightly, his focus returning just enough to acknowledge the presence beside him.
"…Hmm?" he hummed, turning his head lazily toward his younger brother.
Senjuro hesitated for a brief moment before speaking again.
"…Can you check if I'm ready to learn your Smoke Breathing?"
That seemed to reach him.
A faint change flickered across Kagerou's expression.
"Ahh…" he exhaled softly. "I did promise you, didn't I?"
Senjuro nodded.
"Hmm"
There was no excitement in Kagerou's voice, but there was no refusal either.
"Alright," he said, shifting slightly as he straightened up just a little. "Come. Sit here with me"
Senjuro immediately moved closer and sat beside him without hesitation.
Kagerou glanced ahead for a moment.
Then, without turning...
"And you two," he added lazily, "stop hiding and come over"
A short pause.
Then...
"Ehehe~"
Kyojuro stepped out from behind one of the wooden posts, grinning brightly, with Obanai following behind him at a slower pace.
"How did you know we were hiding, Kage-nii?" Kyojuro asked, clearly impressed.
Kagerou didn't even look at him.
"Your breathing is rough," he said flatly. "I could hear it from a mile away"
Kyojuro blinked.
"Is it that bad?"
"…Sigh," Kagerou let out a quiet breath, finally glancing at them. "Just come sit down"
Kyojuro immediately obeyed, dropping down beside Senjuro with his usual energy, while Obanai sat a little further to the side, posture straight, eyes attentive.
For the first time since morning…
Kagerou moved.
Not much.
Just enough to shift from stillness into presence.
The kiseru lowered slightly in his hand.
His gaze steadied.
"Alright," he said, voice calm, quieter than usual. "Let's see how much you've understood so far"
And though the weight in his chest hadn't disappeared.
For now…
He set it aside.