When Sanemi said that he won't hold back, he really meant it.

"Two weeks of training with Shinazugawa-san and the worst injury I've suffered is a broken ribcage."

"Well, he does looks violent." Shinobu said while wrapping Yuna's arms with bandages.

In the past two weeks, Yuna has become a regular visitor at the Butterfly Estate, whether to be treated or to have a chat with Kanae and his sister, Shinobu. Sometimes a girl named Kanzaki Aoi talked with her while treating her injuries.

Yuna has taken a liking to Shinobu. They're only one year apart so it was easy to talk to her. Shinobu was a strong and independent girl. She would even scold her older sister if needed. Even though she rarely smiles, her face was still pretty.

If she was a boy, maybe she'd fall for her.

"... If my cousin was here, maybe he'd fall for you." Yuna said.

"Huh?" Shinobu raised a brow. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Nothing." Yuna shook her head. After Shinobu finished treating her wounds, which she got from her training with her master, Yuna thanked her.

"Hello, Yuna!"

Yuna turned her head to Kanae, who just walked into the room while holding a bag.

"Did you get hurt again from Shinazugawa's training? Oh my..." Kanae placed a hand on her mouth. "He really trained you hard, didn't he?"

"Anyway, this is for you." Kanae said and handed the bag to Yuna.

"What is this?" Yuna asked.

"New clothes for you." Kanae clasped her hands together, smiling. "You always wear black clothes so I thought it'd be nice if you wear brighter clothes!"

"... Um, thank you, Kanae-san."

Yuna stared at the bag in her hand. She can already imagine what the content was. She likes to wear black clothes since bright colors hurt her eyes.

"By the way, I have to go now." Yuna said, standing up from the bed.

"Already?" Kanae asked.

"Yes. I promised Uzui-san and his wives that I will stop by his house today." Yuna nodded.

"Oh, I see. See you tomorrow, Yuna!" Kanae waved at her.

"Thank you for the treatment and the clothes. See you, Kanae-san and Shinobu." Yuna bowed at them.

"Be careful on your way." Shinobu said before Yuna left.

Yuna walked out from the estate, greeting some girls that waved their hands at her. She walked through the road, heading to the Sound Pillar's estate, which wasn't too far from the Butterfly Estate.

The three Pillars, which are Wind, Sound, and Flowers, were the closest to Yuna. They always take care of her like their own family, maybe with an exception for the Wind Pillar. Coincidentally, their houses weren't far from each other, allowing Yuna to visit them all in one day.

"Good afternoon." Yuna said as she stepped into Uzui's house.

"Welcome, Yuna-chan!" Suma suddenly wrapped her arms around Yuna, greeting her with a wide smile.

"Come in, come in! We have waited for you!" She exclaimed, leading Yuna into the building.

"Hello, Yuna!" Makio waved her hand at her.

Yuna walked into the room. She blinked in confusion when she saw a feast on the table. She saw Hinatsuru walking out from the kitchen, holding a bowl.

"Welcome, Yuna." She smiled at her.

"Oh, you're here, Kisaragi!" Uzui popped out from the kitchen.

"Sit down, Yuna-chan! Let's eat together!" Suma grinned.

Yuna let Suma do anything to her. She made her sit down and gave her a bowl of rice along with a pair of chopsticks. Yuna's confused eyes were darting all around the room.

"I guess Tengen-sama didn't tell you." Hinatsuru chuckled. "We want to invite you for a lunch together today."

"Ah, I see..." Yuna mumbled. "... But why?"

"Now, why don't you eat first? Here, I made this one!" Makio placed some pickled radishes on Yuna's bowl.

"Well, think it of a surprise, Kisaragi. I bet Shinazugawa doesn't feed you properly." Uzui said as he sat down across from Yuna.

"I think the Wind Pillar is making her work as hard as a dog." Makio chuckled.

"... Well..." Yuna gave a small, tired smile.

"Yes, I do the cooking... Yes, I do the cleaning..."

"Oh my, was I right? I'm sorry..." Makio muttered with wide eyes.

"That's Shinazugawa for you." Uzui grinned. "Can't blame him though, he must've been busy with his duties."

Yuna nodded at Uzui's words. She knew that being a Pillar is hard. When the sun sets, Sanemi would leave to patrol his area. He returned around dawn and went to sleep. When he woke up, he proceeded to train Yuna until he departed for his mission again.

"Anyway, let's eat! Thanks for the flamboyant food!"

They all ate together. The three women's cookings tasted great. Yuna watched them interacting with each other as she ate. She smiled, feeling warm by watching them. Actually, she even felt like a daughter eating lunch with her father and his three wives.

No matter how she looked at it, it sounded wrong so she stopped imagining things like that.

After they finished eating, Yuna offered to help in washing the dishes and she was rejected. They didn't let her do anything so she sat on the room, feeling somewhat guilty.

"What's wrong?" Uzui asked.

"I feel bad for not helping out." Yuna said.

"Don't worry about that. Today's a special day for you, isn't it?" Uzui tilted his head.

"What's special?"

"... Are you serious? Even Shinazugawa- Oh." Uzui's mouth turned into an o shape, before smiling.

"Just forget about what I said. So, how's it going with Shinazugawa?" Uzui asked.

"My ribcage has finally healed yesterday." Yuna said and she held out her bandaged arms. "And these are today's injuries."

"... You have it rough, don't you..." Uzui shook his head.

"Well, Shinazugawa is one flamboyant harsh man. He needs to learn how to be gentle." Uzui said.

"He's nice." Yuna said.

"That's not enough... Maybe he'll change if he finds a sweetheart..." Uzui trailed off. He let out a smirk.

"So, what do you think about Shinazugawa and Kochou? Are they a thing?"

"Are they?" Yuna's eyes widened.

"Are they?"

"They are?"

Yuna blinked at him, quite taken aback by the new information. Aside from the shock, her chest felt heavy for some reason.

"I should congratulate them later." She said and Uzui laughed.

"No, no, I mean-"

"Yuna-chan! This is some mochi for you!"

Suma suddenly came into the room holding a big box of mochi. She chirped happily at Yuna, wishing her a healthy life and many other good things. The other two women joined in, patting her head.

"Thank you, Suma-san, Makio-san, and Hinatsuru-san." Yuna bowed at them. "So, what is actually-"

"Oh, look at the time." Hinatsuru said, looking at the clock on the wall. "You should return now or the sun will set soon."

"We can accompany her!" Suma said, still holding Yuna.

"Oh, it's fine. I can return by myself." Yuna quickly said.

"Really? We can take you back, you know." Makio said.

"Thank you, but I can't bother you all anymore... Then I should be going now. Thank you for the food, it was really tasty." Yuna smiled.

"See you later, Suma-san, Makio-san, Hinatsuru-san, and Uzui-san."

They all watched Yuna walking away while holding a bag and a box.

"What a sweet girl." Suma grinned, placing her head on Hinatsuru's shoulder.

"She's really mature for a thirteen years old." Hinatsuru said.

"She's strong! And she'll grow up even stronger!" Makio smiled, turning to her husband. "Right, Tengen-sama?"

"... Well... I just hope Shinazugawa won't kill her for a misunderstanding..." Uzui muttered.

Yuna arrived at Sanemi's house after thirty minutes of walking and the sun has already set. She could see Sanemi's figure inside the house.

"I'm back, Shinazugawa-san." Yuna said as she walked into the house. He replied with a simple grunt.

"Here's some mochi from Uzui-san's wives." Yuna said and gave the box to the young man.

"Why are you giving me this?" Sanemi asked.

"You like sweets, don't you?" Yuna asked and Sanemi glared at her.

"Oh by the way, I fully support your relationship with Kanae-san."

This time Sanemi's jaws dropped to the floors.

"My what?!"

"You and Kanae-san. You know, stuffs like that. Uzui-san told me--- Yes, I am sorry, please excuse me."

Yuna ran away from Sanemi before he could strangle her. If looks could kill then maybe she would've been dead.

"... Is it true though?" Yuna asked, peeking from behind the doors. "Are you really in a relationship with Kanae-san?"

"Of course not! I already told you not to trust Uzui!" Sanemi yelled.

"Then, do you have any intention of courting her?"

"STOP ASKING SUCH DUMB QUESTION AND GET YOUR ASS HERE!"

Yuna pursed her lips tightly. The fact that Sanemi is not in a relationship with Kanae somehow made her feel relieved. But it still doesn't mean he's not interested in her, right? Kanae is a good person but why does she feel uneasy?

Ah, it's probably because Kanae-san is such a good person that she doesn't deserve Shinazugawa-san as a lover.

Yuna nodded to herself, she's relieved that Kanae wouldn't have to deal with a feral like her master.

Walking out from her hiding place, Yuna spotted a bowl of miso soup on the table. She raised a brow, it was rare for him to cook by himself.

"Were you eating?" She asked.

"That's for you."

"... Huh?"

Yuna looked at Sanemi, who was putting the mochi away. She looked back at the miso soup.

"You made this for me?" She asked and he replied with another grunt.

"That's unusual... I don't even know you can cook." Yuna muttered, sitting down behind the table. She was still full from the lunch at Uzui's house but she couldn't possibly refuse something Sanemi has already made for her.

"You asked for it, didn't you?" Sanemi asked.

"Did I?" Yuna tilted her head, taking the bowl in hand.

"You said you wanted to eat miso soup on your birthday."

Yuna froze at his statement. She looked at Sanemi, who was walking toward her. He sat down across from her and placed his cheek on his palm, leaning on the table.

"What?" He spat.

Yuna recalled how Uzui said that today was a special day to her. She didn't realize that today was her birthday.

She remembered how she told her aunt to make her a miso soup on her birthday. It's not like she likes miso soup or anything, it's just so her aunt will be alive on her birthday so she could spend it with her.

Yuna brought the bowl to her lips and she gulped down the soup. She lowered her bowl, hanging her head down.

Sanemi watched as something dropped into the bowl. He would've thought it was drool if he didn't know it was tears.

"... How bitter."

An irk mark appeared on Sanemi's head.

Yuna brought back the bowl to her lips and emptied the bowl. She placed the bowl on the table, looking down so her bangs would cover her eyes.

If someone ever ask what her favorite food is, she'll answer miso soup from now on.

"So did you tell everyone that today's my birthday?" Yuna asked, turning around so her back faced Sanemi. She grabbed the bag Kanae gave to her while rubbing her eyes.

"Kind of."

"No wonder everyone gave something to me today..." Yuna muttered as she unwrapped the bag.

Sanemi tilted his head to look at the contents. He saw a few pieces of clothes with flower embroideries on them. There were some colors he couldn't see since he was partially color blind.

"Does everyone think every girls like flowers or what?" Yuna stared at the pink kimono in her hands with a smile.

"What? You don't like flowers?" Sanemi asked.

"Not really." Yuna said and Sanemi hummed. He stared at the back of her head for a while.

"... But you use that hairpin everyday."

Silence enveloped the room. Sanemi kept staring at her while Yuna was pursing her lips tightly, puffing her cheeks.

"... Shut up..." She grumbled, thanking herself for not facing Sanemi. She wouldn't want him to look at her face now.

"Anyway, happy birthday." Sanemi said.

Yuna smiled. Even though her aunt has passed away and her cousin was far away from her, she still has someone beside her. Someone that she holds dear.

"Thank you."

"It's time to give my present to you." Sanemi said as he stood up. He grabbed his blade, which was leaning on the walls and strapped it onto his belt.

"You've already given me so many things so-"

Yuna stopped talking when she felt Sanemi grabbed her collar and raised her up from the floors. Yuna looked at him as he dragged her behind, a rope dangling on his arm.

"Shinazugawa-san, what are you doing?" Yuna asked when Sanemi dragged her out from the house.

"Giving your birthday present."

"... What do you have for me?"

Sanemi glanced at her for a second.

"Demons."

"W-what?"

"I'm going to teach you how to kill demons without a nichirin blade. Don't worry, I survived so it's only natural if you survive too."

Yuna stared at him with wide eyes and mouth.

"... Are you crazy?!"

"What did you say, brat?!"

"Sorry- I mean- What kind of training is this?! How can I kill demons without a nichirin blade?!"

"Quit yapping! And stop moving around!"

The two bickered for a while until Yuna let him drag her into the forest. She sighed, wondering why she decided to become his disciple in the first place.

"Maybe Uzui-san was right..." Yuna muttered.

"What did he say?" Sanemi asked.

"He said that you need a sweetheart so you'll learn how to be nicer."

He grabbed her neck and choked her.

Back at Sanemi's house, his crow dropped a piece of paper on Yuna's futon. Something was written on the paper.

Happy birthday.
Stay healthy always.
I hope you survive Shinazugawa-san's training. I feel at ease, knowing you're with someone strong and kind like him.

Boy, if only he knew his cousin was on verge of dying because of this strong and kind someone.

__________

I just saw an Instagram post which said that Sanemi will get his own, what, light novel? Something like that.

So, if there's anything in this story that doesn't match the light novel, I will try to fix and rewrite it.

Anyway, sorry for grammar and typing mistakes! Thank you for reading!^^