57

.

"See? I told you we'd find them here!"

"Yes, I can certainly see that…"

Shiki turns around at the sound of the familiar voices, straightening from where she's leaning by the doorframe. She looks over just in time to see Tsumiki round the corner of the walkway, beaming brightly as she offers a sunny wave.

Kiyohira-sensei is standing right behind her.

The man looks… grumpy, and exasperated. But there's still an undercurrent of fondness beneath it all; no one is resistant to Tsumiki's natural charm and boundless cheer, it seems. Shiki finds her gaze drawn to another patch of graying hair on Kiyohira-sensei's head –had that been there the last time she'd seen him?– before drifting down towards her teacher's mechanical arm.

Kiyohira-sensei shifts, a casual movement that is undoubtedly intentional, for it perfectly hides the prosthesis beneath the voluminous billow of his yukata's sleeve.

"Shiki," he greets gruffly. "I heard you've found yourself some trouble as soon as you arrived in Kyoto yesterday."

"Hello, Kiyohira-sensei." Shiki is aware of what this looks like, but, "Would you believe me if I said that it's not my fault?"

The man regards her severely in silence for a moment, before sighing. "I… would. Given my experience, trouble always seems to have an uncanny way of finding you."

That's probably a fairly accurate description. Shiki isn't the type to go around looking for trouble –at least, she doesn't think so? Mischief does not come naturally to her personality. The only incident of intentional trouble-making that she'll admit to is the year when she'd snuck out to the regular festivities with the Fushiguro siblings during Obon.

"… It's good to see you again. I'm glad you were unharmed." The words are quiet, spoken in a low voice that's easy to miss. A heartbeat later, Kiyohira-sensei straightens and clears his throat roughly, "So these are your classmates, hm?"

"Yes." Shiki turns back around. Her classmates have both ceased their activities, Kinji no longer sprinting towards the wooden sword that Kirara had imbued with his cursed technique, and Kirara also ceasing the activation of aforementioned technique. There is a brief flicker of pink lines that glow brightly one last time, before fading away as Kirara cuts the flow of his cursed energy.

"Kiyohira-sensei, the two of them are the other first year students at the Tokyo school. Hoshi Kirara, and Hakari Kinji," Shiki gestures briskly towards each of her classmates in turn. "Kirara, Kinji; Gojo Kiyohira. He is–"

"Oh!" Kirara raises a loose fist and brings it down upon an open palm, making a soft sound of realization, "He's your teacher, right? The one who taught you how to use a sword, and is the best swordsman you know?"

Kiyohira-sensei stills briefly, and shoots Shiki a sideways glance. The edge of his lips fight the lines of that seemingly-perpetual scowl, eventually quirking up in a small, lopsided smile.

"'Best swordsman,' is it?" he asks her.

Shiki nods unhesitatingly. It's the truth. When it comes down to pure skill with a sword, she doubts that there's anyone who's a match for Kiyohira-sensei–

–prior to the loss of his sword arm. The hard limitations of a prosthetic limb are exceedingly difficult to overcome. But in Kiyohira-sensei's own words –there's more to the art of the sword than just picking one up and swinging it around. Physical technique is highly important, but it doesn't account for everything.

"Don't be a fool," Kiyohira-sensei huffs. The short exhale that escapes his lips is a quiet sound that almost resembles laughter.

That might just be Shiki's imagination, though.

"Then we'll simply have to agree to disagree," she responds calmly, unperturbed by her teacher's words.

Kiyohira-sensei shakes his head, but does not say anything more on the topic. Instead, his attention returns towards Shiki's classmates, who both instinctively straighten up beneath his gaze.

"So," Kiyohira-sensei starts. His searching look remains trained on the two boys, but there's no doubt that his words remain partially directed towards Shiki, still. "The three of you are already on a first-name basis with each other?"

"W-we are," Kirara answers, his answer firm despite the initial waver.

"Hmph."

… What does that mean? Shiki peers suspiciously towards her classmates, whose postures suddenly seem to be a little stiff, then glances up towards Kiyohira-sensei. However, she is unable to glean any hint of her teacher's thoughts, not from the stony, impassive expression that she's met with.

"I suppose you could've chosen worse," Kiyohira-sensei eventually mutters under his breath, which makes no sense whatsoever. "… So. Should I be encouraging you for your initiative in helping your classmates train even despite it being Obon, or should I be despairing at the influence that your assiduous diligence is having?"

It takes Shiki several long beats to parse through the intent behind these words delivered in such a flat monotone. For some reason, Kiyohira-sensei does not seem particularly happy that Shiki and her classmates are in the training room together, although she can't fathom why it would be something that he finds displeasing. Considering the strict training regimen that Shiki had undergone, she would've thought that dedication to self-improvement like this would be something that he would support unhesitatingly…

… well, it doesn't matter. "Kirara is working out a binding vow for his cursed technique."

"Wow, what a way to just throw someone under the bus," Kinji mumbles.

"What bus?"

Kiyohira-sensei rolls his eyes. "The rituals for Obon are important, but this does not change the fact that Obon is still a festival. You invited your classmates to Kyoto so they could experience Obon, not continue training as you constantly do already at the jujutsu school."

Is this Kiyohira-sensei's way of tacitly telling them that they've been in the training halls long enough? But if he'd only just arrived in Kyoto, how would he know how long Shiki and her classmates have been here, working together on Kirara's cursed technique?

Unless…

Shiki looks over towards Tsumiki suspiciously. Her friend's response is a quick blink, before her eyes slowly drift away towards the side.

"I know that training is important for sorcerers," Tsumiki fidgets slightly. "But resting and taking care of yourselves is important, too!"

"Your concern is appreciated." But unnecessary, Shiki doesn't continue saying. Yuzuki had been very clear on this front in the past.

… To be honest, though, she doesn't entirely agree with her friend's advice in this moment. Because it's Kirara who suddenly felt inspired to work out a binding vow for his cursed technique; Shiki and Kinji are just here to offer a second opinion and keep an extra eye out for their classmate, instead of all three of them throwing themselves headfirst into training as Tsumiki seems to think.

However, experience has taught her that the wisest course of action is usually to take Yuzuki's advice, even if she can't entirely make sense of it.

Shiki decides to remain quiet.

In the meantime, Kiyohira-sensei's attention has turned onto Kirara. "… Binding vow, is it? I see. That's not at all uncommon among sorcerers, although you will need to be careful if you wish to maximize what you can gain from it."

Kirara nods, stiff awkwardness slowly beginning to seep out of his frame. "Yeah, I know. Um, Shiki was talking about it earlier, too."

"Show me."

Kiyohira-sensei briskly strides over towards the startled-looking boy standing in the center of the training room. Shiki leans against the doorframe and watches as her teacher slips into the role of an instructor again so naturally. It reminds her a bit of her own childhood, in some ways. The days when Shiki would practice swinging her sword over and over again in the courtyard even outside of her regularly scheduled lessons, when Kiyohira-sensei would more often than not 'coincidentally' pass by, and correct her movements without any prompting…

Kinji shuffles over to her side slowly. "Who is this guy?"

Shiki blinks, "Were you not listening during the introductions just earlier? He's–"

"No, like," Kinji waves his hand, "Yeah, I get that he's your old teacher. But the feeling that I'm getting from him… he's on an entirely different level than Takagi-sensei, right?"

Sharp instincts, this classmate of hers. For all that Kinji was prone to being loud and brash as a natural result of his personality, he was also surprisingly perceptive.

"He's the Gojo Clan's best swordsman," she responds simply.

"Better than you?"

Shiki looks away from where Kiyohira-sensei is explaining some detail to Kirara, lifting her gaze towards Kinji at that half-teasing, half-provocative curiosity. Her classmate grins back at her unabashedly, a smile that reveals his teeth.

… Right. This is the same boy whose first reaction towards feeling the pressure of Shiki's cursed energy had been excitement.

"Better than me," Shiki tells him mildly.

"Even with…" Kinji gestures towards his right arm. The same arm that has been replaced with a prosthesis on Kiyohira-sensei's body.

By itself, it would be a rude question. But Shiki is aware that it's not what her classmate is really asking.

"If you want a spar from Kiyohira-sensei," she says, "Then just ask him yourself. After he's done helping Kirara, first."

The boy's grin widens. "Of course, of course–"

"Of course not," Tsumiki suddenly breaks in. She shakes her head rapidly, holding her arms up in front of herself and crossing them in an 'x' for emphasis. "No more sparring! No more training! You guys are supposed to be taking a break!"

Kinji's expression freezes and cracks.

"… Right," he says, sounding slightly wooden. "Right… we're here for a vacation."

"Exactly," Tsumiki puts her hands on her hips, and turns to place the full weight of her disapproval on Shiki instead now that Kinji has fallen in line. "I'm glad we're all on the same page on this."

Shiki blinks twice rapidly, at the pointed edge to that tone. Instinct tells her that there's no fighting Tsumiki when she's in a mood like this. The response that she decides on is swift and decisive, "I have no objections."

Tsumiki arches an eyebrow. "No more running off to the training room?"

"No more running off to the training room," Shiki repeats obediently, which finally seems to appease the other girl. Regardless, Kinji still seems to remain cowed –the boy continues staring at Tsumiki with his mouth slightly agape.

"… Sorry," Tsumiki scratches her cheek idly, a slightly sheepish motion of embarrassment now that she has made her point. "I know, I shouldn't be so demanding like this, but… you're always pushing yourself so hard, Shiki. Obon is one of the few times during the year when you can take an actual break from fighting curses and what not, so… it makes me upset when you don't even seem to realize that you should be resting."

Considering the direction that things have been going this year, when Obon hasn't even officially started yet… 'restful' is probably the last descriptor that applies to the trip to Kyoto this time.

But Tsumiki has a point. Obon is intended to be a break for Shiki and her classmates, and training is most decidedly not conducive towards relaxing. But Kirara had been inspired, and Shiki hadn't thought too much about leading her classmates to one of the empty training rooms, especially not when Kirara was the one who'd requested it.

… On second thought, maybe it was Kirara who needed to listen to what Tsumiki was saying.

"You should repeat this to Kirara after Kiyohira-sensei is done teaching him," Shiki tells her friend.

"Wow," Kinji's voice is a mix between dazed and impressed. "It's amazing how badly you're missing the main point here, Shiki."

What? No, Shiki didn't think that she was missing anything…? … Tsumiki was just saying that sorcerers rarely had a chance to rest properly. So, it was important to actually rest when they were given the opportunity to do so, instead of getting sidetracked with training and other such similar obligations and activities. Right?

"You see what I've been dealing with?" Tsumiki's voice is complaining, but it's also clear that she's fallen into teasing, too. The girl reaches over and pokes Shiki on the arm, shaking her head fondly. "We're going to be trying on kimonos together after this, and I don't want to hear 'no' for an answer!"

"Wait, then what about me and Kirara?"

"Mm, you guys could also try on kimonos with us?"

"…"

Shiki is pleased that her friends are getting along well with each other.

Kiyohira-sensei and Kirara seem to have mostly finished up their discussion by this point. Kirara's head is slightly lowered, and it's clear that the boy is lost in thought, while Kiyohira-sensei waits patiently for him to think through whatever he is deliberating over.

"Limiting the number of things that I can tag with my cursed energy… I still think this is the right direction to head in," Kirara mumbles, and it's unclear whether he is talking to himself, or Kiyohira-sensei. Probably the former, if Shiki had to guess –sometimes Kirara likes to think aloud when he's attempting to make sense of something. "But for some reason, it still feels like there's something missing. Like, we've been testing things out earlier, and so far I've shaved it down to seven 'anchors,' but… it's still not enough."

"What's not enough?" Kiyohira-sensei prompts.

"The force behind it. The power in my cursed technique," Kirara frowns faintly. "It's stronger than it used to be, but… right now I'm still only limited to tagging smaller objects

"My advice for you," Kiyohira-sensei folds his arms across his chest, "Is to either add another element of restriction to your cursed technique, or provide formal structure for it in the form of 'ritual.'"

Kirara blinks, and looks up. "I think I understand what you're saying about adding more restrictions, but… 'ritual'…?"

"They're similar, but entirely different in nature," the older sorcerer is silent for a moment. "Restrictions… in your case, you might consider something like a time limit for your 'anchors.' Or, a specific order between your anchors that determines which ones attract each other, or which ones repel. These are all clear-cut limits that you can impose on your cursed technique."

"And rituals are different."

"Rituals are different," Kiyohira-sensei nods. "By providing an aspect of 'ritual,' you invoke 'history' and 'order' to strengthen your techniques. This diametrically opposes the 'destruction' and 'chaos' that composes the core of cursed spirits. Essentially, when you align yourself with a ritual that resonates with your nature, it provides direction for your techniques, which makes them easier to control –thereby increasing one's strength as a natural result."

"Uh…" Kirara scratches his head, "I'm not sure if I follow what you're saying, sorry."

"There is power inherent in performing rituals. For starters, why else do you think there's so much ceremony for Obon?" Kiyohira-sensei gestures vaguely around them. "It's certainly not because sorcerers have too much free time on their hands."

"I dunno, I thought it was mostly just because the clans liked being pretentious," Kinji mutters. Clearly not quietly enough, though, if the way that Kiyohira-sensei's brow twitches dangerously is any sign of things.

… Truthfully speaking, Kinji isn't exactly wrong. Shiki is quite certain that half the pomp and circumstance that's involved in Obon nowadays is a result of the Great Families progressively trying to one-up each other over the centuries.

"…" Kiyohira-sensei takes in a deep, steadying breath, and pointedly chooses to ignore the side commentary. "When it comes to cursed techniques, 'ritual' isn't necessarily defined only by incantations or hand seals. Names, for example. Or a fitting motif."

A slight pause. The man glances over briefly in Shiki's direction, before returning to the boy listening attentively to his words.

"I… once had a… friend… whose cursed technique was just minor water manipulation," Kiyohira-sensei starts slowly. "But by restructuring his cursed technique through a series of strict binding vows and invoking Suiten, not only did the strength of his cursed technique increase, the water that passed beneath his blade also gained a purification aspect to it."

That description…

It only takes a moment for things to properly click together in Shiki's mind. Jihei-san. The realization is sudden and jarring, because for all that Kiyohira-sensei and Jihei-san had been good friends who'd gotten along well with each other, Kiyohira-sensei doesn't talk about him very often. Not since Jihei-san's death, which Shiki suspects affected her teacher more than he lets on outwardly.

"Huh." Kirara makes a thoughtful sound, unaware of the underlying context in the information that Kiyohira-sensei has chosen to impart to him. "That's… does everyone do this kind of thing? Add some sort of ritualistic aspect to their cursed technique, I mean?"

"Several sorcerers do, although whether or not it's actually applicable to their situation also depends on the individual circumstances," Kiyohira-sensei explains. "And… while associating a cursed technique with another element like this can grant a boost in strength, it can also make the technique… rigid, and inflexible. In Jihei's case, it changed his cursed technique to the point where he literally couldn't break any of his self-imposed binding vows regarding his technique. Usually, the worst thing that can happen when a binding vow like that is broken would just be losing what was gained, but… for him, it wasn't even an option anymore."

"So it all still boils down to give and take, then. Weighing what you'd gain from it, in exchange for what you'd lose." Kirara is silent for a moment. "… Sounds exactly the same as the basis of how binding vows work."

"No power in the world comes free of cost," Kiyohira-sensei leans back with a sigh, "You should also keep in mind that if you do decide to apply this to your cursed technique… it doesn't necessarily have to be legends, or mythology. Choose something that resonates with you."

"… yeah. Okay, yeah, I think I know what I'm going to do now."

Kirara nods firmly.

There's no grand declaration, no sudden burst of light, no visual indicators in particular to signal the change that Kirara finally, finally decides upon. The boy closes his eyes, a slight furrow creasing between his brows from concentration–

There's a sharp ripple in his cursed energy. As if a stone has been thrown into the quiet waters of a still pond. Pink lines pulse and glow across Kirara's body, before subsiding once more.

A soft breeze brushes past the doorway, leaving behind a faint tingle over the skin and nothing else. Golden sunlight shines brightly across the wooden floorboards, warm and radiant. From the open window, the dappled shade from the nearby foliage darkens upon the ground.

… Nothing in the room has changed at all. Yet at the same time, for a single moment, there is something that's markedly different, still.

Tsumiki blinks, and casts a quick glance around herself. Although it's still summer, her hands come up to rest around her arms, as if to suppress a sudden shiver. "… Did I just miss something?"

"Not at all," Shiki tells her friend, just as Kirara opens his eyes once more.

"Congratulations," Kiyohira-sensei tells him. "How do you feel?"

Kirara slowly flexes his fingers. "I don't really… know…?"

"Use your cursed technique on me."

Kirara's head snaps up, "Eh? I-I don't–"

"You're a sorcerer who's just made significant changes to how they will be using their cursed technique from this day forward," Kiyohira-sensei cuts the boy off immediately. "Attack me. Get a feel for how your cursed technique will work from now on."

"… Okay," Kirara sucks in a deep breath, and squares his shoulders. He looks up directly, fearlessly meeting the older sorcerer's placid gaze. "Okay, then."

Cursed energy sparks, as Kirara activates his cursed technique once more–

Shiki blinks, as Kinji suddenly ricochets away from her with a startled yelp, barreling directly into Kiyohira-sensei –who, to his credit, manages to catch the suddenly-displaced boy, albeit not without his feet sliding back a good few inches on the wooden floorboards.

… That's a marked increase in the strength of Kirara's cursed technique. Even when they'd been experimenting together earlier, the most that Kirara had accomplished when tagging another person with their cursed energy was just forcing them to stumble over, as if they'd been yanked along for a brief moment by an invisible rope.

Kirara's mouth has dropped open. "I, uh… sorry…?"

"Apology accepted," Kinji groans, but the expression is swiftly replaced by a grin. "Damn, I wasn't expecting that. The next spar is going to be fun, isn't it?"

A small, answering smile flickers over Kirara's lips upon seeing his friend clearly unbothered. "I won't go easy on you."

"Ha! Bring it on," Kinji's voice gains a jovial, cocky edge. "So, what changes did you end up making to your technique this time?"

"Well, since 'ritual' is a thing, I just…" Kirara makes a vague gesture with his hands, "I felt like this would work. The underlying motif that I'm using is the Southern Cross."

"The what?"

"Oh, like the constellation?"

Shiki, Kinji, and Kiyohira-sensei all immediately look over towards Tsumiki at her response. The girl blinks in surprise at the sudden attention, and smiles guilelessly.

"Yeah, exactly!" Kirara brightens.

Shiki experiences a brief moment of confusion, "You're interested in astrology, Tsumiki?"

"Not exactly," Tsumiki laughs sheepishly, "It's more that 'horoscopes' come up a lot during conversation with the other girls at school, and I've been getting into it a bit recently. There are personality quizzes and little fortune-telling activities related to it, which makes it pretty fun."

"Is that so?" Shiki doesn't see the appeal. She knows what her own personality is like, and she also knows perfectly well what her own future holds –exorcising cursed spirits, just as so many other sorcerers have done so before her. And no doubt, there will still be many sorcerers who come after.

But Tsumiki seems to genuinely enjoy it. So, far be it for Shiki to voice such thoughts on something that her friend evidently finds joy in.

"Do you like horoscopes, Hoshi-san?"

For some reason, the innocent question makes Kirara tense slightly.

"I… yeah," he finally says, in a quieter tone of voice. "… Yeah, I do."

… Was this an improper question to ask? Surely not? Although Shiki probably wasn't very qualified to say anything conclusive on this front…

"That's great, then!" Tsumiki cheers. "No one else around here really seems to be interested in this, and Megumi has probably already gotten sick of hearing me chatter to him about it, so I'll finally have someone new to talk to! Um, only if you'd like to, of course."

Slowly, the tension seeps out of Kirara's frame through the course of Tsumiki's words.

"… I'd really like to, Fushiguro-san."

"Just 'Tsumiki-chan' is fine!" Tsumiki smiles warmly. Then, she darts forward a few quick steps, and pulls Kirara along by the perplexed boy's hands, "C'mon, there's an astrology chart that one of my friends showed me, and I was wondering if…"

Shiki stares after the receding forms of her friend and classmate, then turns around to where Kiyohira-sensei still has a firm grip on Kinji in the middle of the training room.

Kiyohira-sensei sighs, releasing his hold on the boy's collar. "I suppose that would be Tsumiki's way of subtly telling us that we should be getting out of the training room now."

… It is?

Kinji takes one look at her, and snorts. "Classic Shiki."

… She might not be able to understand what he's getting at, but it's clear that he's finding something hilarious at her expense. Shiki shakes her head.

"So that was your first classmate… a boy with a cursed technique that allows them to exert a 'pushing' or 'pulling' force upon multiple targets, now refined," Kiyohira-sensei murmurs, before his gaze cuts down towards Kinji. "… And what of you, young man?"

"Eh? What about me?"

"Your cursed technique. I don't believe it was included in any of the reports–"

"Right, because I don't have a cursed technique," Kinji answers easily, before freezing momentarily at the pointed look that Shiki gives him. "Uh, I mean… we still haven't figured it out yet. I'm working on it."

Kiyohira-sensei gives the boy a dubious look. "I have been informed that your guardian seemed to be very certain that you possess a technique. Has he not given you any hints, at least?"

Kinji shrugs as he reaches the doorway and steps outside into the sun.

"Higa-san doesn't know much, either," he responds. "Yeah, Higa-san has always mentioned it, but he's not actually a sorcerer himself, or anything. Both of us actually just thought that my cursed energy was my cursed technique for the longest time. Takagi-sensei said that was wrong after I enrolled as a student, though, so…"

The boy makes a helpless 'what can you do' gesture with his hands, fingers splayed out wide.

"I see," Kiyohira-sensei nods. "Not ideal, but…"

"Hey, I've already gotten this far with just my fists, right?" Kinji laughs. "If I can figure it out, then that's great, but I figure that it's not worth losing any sleep over."

Kiyohira-sensei stares blankly at Kinji for a long moment. Clearly, this particular line of thought is one that's near-foreign to him. Because Gojo Kiyohira is a sorcerer who was born and raised within the Gojo Clan, and so it only stands to reason that the prospect of so carelessly overlooking something as important as one's own cursed technique is akin to madness.

But Kiyohira-sensei does not push the topic. Does not push, does not press, and instead only nods again. Slower, this time, but the motion is a touch more deliberate.

Shiki peers up curiously towards her teacher, "What are you thinking?"

Kiyohira-sensei gives Kinji a contemplative look, then turns towards Shiki. Instead of giving her a proper response, though…

"Tokyo was a good choice for you," he says simply.

.

.

The first day of Obon dawns upon them swifter than expected.

There have been no further incidents with the Kamo Clan in the meantime, thankfully, but Shiki knows that it's not time to relax yet. Araya is a slippery opponent, after all. The only time that she'll truly be able to feel at ease is when she's finally holding his decapitated head in her hands and his body rests in pieces at her feet from having its lines severed.

"… Excuse me, 'decapitated head?'"

To the side, Megumi buries his face into his hands, making a pained sound. "Trust me, you don't want to know. From what I can gather, it's probably a Gojo thing."

Kirara blanches. "A Gojo thing? So you mean the entire family is like this?"

"Trust me," the younger boy's voice is muffled. "You don't want to know."

Shiki glances towards Kinji, ignoring the boys' dramatics. "Is it considered rude to talk about decapitation during Obon?"

Kinji returns her placid look with one of alarm, "Why are you asking me? Also, you're the one who brought it up in the first place!"

"Oh." Shiki thinks about it for a moment, then shrugs. "Araya is already supposed to be dead. It's probably fine."

Obon is a festival meant to honor the dead. Shiki does not think of Araya as someone who needs to be honored, but he most certainly needs to be dead.

Satoru-niichan pokes his head into the room, "Man, you guys are pretty energetic today, huh? I thought I heard someone screaming from all the way down the hall just now. What's got you all so worked up?"

"Decapitation," Shiki answers promptly.

Satoru-niichan blinks. "… Huh. Is that what's popular among the kids at jujutsu school nowadays? Times sure change, don't they?"

Kinji's hands slam down on the table, and Shiki automatically makes a grab for her teacup before the tea can spill over from suddenly being jostled like that. There's no saving Megumi's cup of tea, though. "That is not what we were talking about!"

The older sorcerer laughs, "Yeah, I know. I'm just pulling your leg."

At that, Kirara makes a mortified squeak that sounds distressingly similar to air leaking out from a balloon. The way he sinks down to the ground and deflates is rather reminiscent of it, too.

Shiki looks from Kirara to Kinji, and then lastly to her too-pleased cousin, who smiles like a mischievous cat. Which confirms her rising suspicion that this is all completely intentional on Satoru-niichan's part. Her lips part in a sigh, but somehow it's followed by a soft little smile that's impossible to suppress.

Satoru-niichan's smile widens.

"Anyways," the white-haired young man clears his throat and claps his hands together. "There's going to be a bunch of boring stuff going on today, yadda yadda ya… Shiki needs to be there for the grave-visiting and initial pacification ceremony later, but aside from that, there's not much that you guys need to worry about. Oh, and make sure you don't set anything on fire, alright?"

"On fire–?"

"Or, at least be quick enough to put it out before you're caught," Satoru-niichan winks. "Now, I've got other things to be taking care of ten minutes ago, so I'll be off now! See you all later!"

Her cousin proceeds to sweep out of the room in a whirlwind, leaving nothing but silence in his wake following his departure.

Megumi eyes his spilled tea, then gives Kinji a baleful look. Kinji does not appear to notice it in the least.

"… So, why did your cousin even drop by here in the first place?"

Well. The answer to that is obvious, isn't it?

Because Satoru-niichan wanted to check in on them. Because he wanted them to also see him, to have a visual reminder that no matter how busy or how preoccupied he might be, Shiki and her friends would be his foremost priority.

Because Shiki is his favorite cousin.

… Satoru-niichan is her favorite cousin, too.

"Maybe," Shiki says ponderously, "Because Satoru-niichan is also interested in decapitating his enemies?"

The room promptly dissolves into chaos once more.

.

.

…

.