"Quit drinking? Who are you trying to fool after all this time?!"
Itsuki shoved the wine cup toward his master's lips again.
Shinjuro sniffed the cup, swallowed... and turned his head the other way.
"Master, just one sip."
"I said I'm not drinking!"
"Master…"
"Scram!"
"…You're literally still sitting here."
If he really didn't want it, he could've just walked off. But no—he just kept turning his head left and right like a stubborn kid. Itsuki stared at him, deadpan. He wasn't buying this act.
At the front door, Kanao opened it with her usual blank face and found herself staring up at two girls she didn't recognize.
…Oh. Definitely not Senjuro.
The two young women blinked in surprise too. Neither of them expected to be greeted by a little girl.
Shinobu, prepared to see a smelly, passed-out drunk, was completely thrown off by the sight of Kanao, who just stood there with a broom still in her hands, expression unreadable.
Kanae, on the other hand, stared a second longer. There was something familiar about this girl—something warm. Their hairpins, their eyes... it was strange, but nice. For a second, Kanae imagined what it'd be like to have another little sister. Someone like her.
But she quickly shook off the thought and put on a gentle smile.
"Hello there, little one. We're here to see Shinuro-san. Could you—"
She froze.
In the courtyard just behind Kanao, a black-haired and black pupile eye'd boy was pushing a wine cup into the face of a burly, red-and-yellow-haired man, who kept swatting it away like he was in denial. But he wasn't walking off. The two of them were arguing like a bickering married couple.
Yep. That red-haired man had to be Shinjuro.
Kanae blinked. What… was going on here?
"Old man! Stop dodging, just drink it!"
"You brat! When did drinking become the point of training?!"
"Pfft!"
"Quit laughing! You almost spilled it!"
"My bad, my bad! Look, I totally understand! This cup is filled with a disciple's respect. Please… accept it!"
"...Gulp."
"See? I won't even ask for a story today. Just enjoy it. Drink as much as you want!"
Shinjuro groaned. "Tch... you little punk. Fine. Can't do anything with you, can I?"
He looked annoyed, but the way he grabbed the cup and downed it made it very clear he wasn't that annoyed.
Kanae's smile twitched. Wasn't this man supposed to be a drunk? Why did he have to be convinced to drink?
Shinobu was equally stunned. "Sister… I think you were right. He has changed. But that kid's clearly broken."
Kanao, watching from the doorway, just tilted her head. What were they even talking about?
Back in the courtyard, Itsuki sighed in relief. Once his master got even a little tipsy, it was way easier to ask questions. He relaxed—then finally noticed the voices at the door.
Wait. That wasn't Senjuro's voice.
He turned his head.
And froze.
Two girls stood at the entrance. Sisters, definitely. The shorter one looked serious, with black hair tied back and a butterfly hairpin. She looked kind of scary. The older one had long, flowing hair, a gentle expression, and this calm vibe about her.
No way. It was Kocho Kanae and Kocho Shinobu.
He recognized them immediately from the anime.
Why were they here?
And why were they both staring at him like that?
Shinjuro noticed them too and grunted. "The Flower Hashira? Great."
He quickly figured it out. Probably a message from the Dojo Master, telling him to stop being a lazy drunk and get his act together. Classic. And of course, right when the kid was pestering him to drink.
Now he looked like he was on the verge of a redemption arc.
The four of them—Itsuki, Shinjuro, Kanae, and Shinobu—all stood there in awkward silence.
Except Kanao, who was just blinking.
Finally, Kanae stepped forward.
"Sorry to intrude, Shinjuro-san. We're—"
She introduced herself and Shinobu, explaining they'd come on the Master's behalf. Her tone was soft, polite, the way only someone like her could manage.
"Oh, Flower Pillar, huh? Come on in. You two," Shinjuro said, waving them inside.
He didn't sound super welcoming, but he wasn't telling them to leave either. That was something.
They entered the reception room. Itsuki and Kanao brought in tea and sat off to the side while Shinjuro sat at the head of the table.
The air got awkward fast.
Kanae tried to ease into conversation, but everything she said felt like it bounced off a wall. She glanced over at the kid sitting beside Kanao—he was pouring tea with that same cheeky smile she saw earlier.
She turned back to Shinjuro. "Is Itsuki your stepson?"
"No. He buys me drinks, I teach him Breathing. That's it. And the little girl is learning it from him, not me."
"I see… then—"
"Just say what you came to say. These two aren't strangers. It's fine."
Shinjuro cut her off. Not out of rudeness—it was just his usual no-nonsense style.
"Alright." Kanae nodded. "Then I'll get to it. Oyakata-sama sends his regards. He wanted us to check on your condition."
She passed along the message. Her words were gentle but clear. She talked about the Master's concern and hope that Shinjuro would find his fire again.
Shinjuro listened without interrupting, but his expression barely changed. He got it. The Master cared. Probably too much. He was young, still didn't really understand what it felt like to lose someone that deeply.
Shinjuro's mind drifted. After everything, all he wanted right now was to drink. Not talk about feelings.
He gave a quiet "Thanks," and looked away.
Itsuki watched the way his master's shoulders stiffened. He knew that look by now.
"Master, the Sake is still warm."
Shinjuro grunted. "Don't push it, kid."
Itsuki just smiled and pushed the cup over anyway.