48
Later That Morning – In the Backyard
You sat cross-legged on the wooden engawa, the warm sun brushing your skin while a breeze rustled the tall grass beyond the garden stones. Kyojuro walked out with two cups of tea, steam curling lazily into the air.
“Here,” he said, handing you one. “Senjuro made it. He insisted it be ‘perfect for you.’”
You took the cup, cradling it in your palms like it might shatter. “Aw, my little tea sommelier.”
Kyojuro sat beside you, legs stretched out and hands on his thighs. For a while, you both said nothing—just sipping tea, listening to birdsong and the gentle creak of the old wooden porch.
“You seem peaceful,” he said quietly.
You shrugged. “It's weird, right? After almost dying and all. I should be a mess. But... this place? It feels safe.”
“It is,” he replied. “At least, I want it to be—for you.”
You turned to him slowly, lips parted slightly. “That’s… sweet.”
He smiled that same blazing, unshakable smile, though softer than usual. “You’ve been through so much, Y/N. You always laugh it off, make jokes, act like you’re unbreakable. But I see it. The way you carry everyone’s weight... not just yours.”
You blinked at him. A gust of wind swept past, catching your hair and blowing a few loose strands into your face.
He reached over without thinking, gently brushing them away.
“I admire your strength,” he said, his voice quiet now. “Even the kind you hide.”
Your heart hiccupped.
“Kyojuro…”
He looked away slightly, cheeks tinted with pink. “You don’t have to say anything. Just—know that I see you. All of you.”
You exhaled slowly, the kind of breath that carries a thousand unsaid things. Then, quietly, you leaned your head against his shoulder.
“I’m glad I came here,” you murmured.
He didn’t answer—just shifted slightly to rest his head gently against yours.
And there you stayed. Two warriors. Two souls. Just… breathing in peace for once.
Time skip
You were lazily lounging under a shaded tree with Kyojuro sitting beside you, reading something boring, and Senjuro quietly watering the plants nearby.
You were just about to throw a rice cracker at Kyojuro for ignoring your hilarious jokes when—
Knock knock knock.
Senjuro wiped his hands and ran to the front. A moment later:
“Y/N-san! Nii-san! You have guests!”
You sat up straighter. “Huh? Who?”
Before Senjuro could answer, Mitsuri Kanroji’s cheerful voice rang through the air:
“Y/N-chaaan!!”
You barely had time to react before Mitsuri ran over and hugged you tightly, nearly tackling you into the grass.
“M-MITSURI! I’m still recovering, lady!!”
“Oh my god!! I’m so sorry!!” she gasped dramatically, helping you back up, but still holding your hand like you were her favorite plushie. “But I missed you soooo much! You look alive!!”
“Yeah,” you grinned. “Almost too alive.”
Obanai entered a moment later, quiet as always, arms crossed, only his mismatched eyes visible above his bandaged face. He gave you a small nod.
“Hey, Iguro,” you smiled.
“…You look better,” he muttered, looking anywhere but at you.
“Damn right I do.”
Kyojuro stood beside you now, eyes warm. “Thank you for coming, both of you.”
“Oh of course!!” Mitsuri giggled, then beamed at you again. “We even brought you snacks!!”
You cheered and clapped. “This is why you’re the best.”
Kyojuro cleared his throat. “Actually, I also made some tea and sweet dumplings earlier. Y/N hasn’t had anything sweet yet today.”
“I brought mochi!” Mitsuri chirped.
“I got her dango from the place she likes,” Obanai added flatly.
“…I made the tea myself,” Kyojuro repeated a bit louder, holding a fresh cup.
You blinked. “Are y’all trying to feed me or fatten me?”
“No,” they all said. But Obanai and Kyojuro definitely didn’t look at each other.
A Mini Picnic :D
A little while later, the four of you sat together in the backyard on a big mat, the snacks between you. Mitsuri was feeding you way too much sugar, Kyojuro kept making sure your blanket didn’t slip, and Obanai was silently shifting things closer to you like your personal shadow.
You leaned into Mitsuri’s side dramatically. “If I eat one more mochi, I’m gonna explode. Tell my story.”
“Nooo, then I’ll explode too! I’ve eaten four already!”
“Y/N, have some tea,” Kyojuro said gently, offering you a warm cup.
“I just poured her one,” Obanai muttered from your other side. “…It’s on your left.”
“Oh—uh—thanks??”
Mitsuri was braiding flowers into your hair now. “You look sooo pretty with flowers~!”
You winked at her. “So do you, Mitsuri.”
She turned pink. “Y/N~!!”
Kyojuro, smiling warmly, placed another blanket on your lap. “It’s gotten breezy.”
Obanai subtly adjusted your seat cushion.
You noticed none of it. You were too busy sipping tea and leaning into Mitsuri's hair like it was a pillow. “I feel like royalty.”
“You’re being treated like it,” Mitsuri giggled.
Meanwhile, the men were completely silent. A single spark of invisible, unspoken masculine tension simmered in the air. A battle of care, wrapped in casual kindness and shared glances.
Mitsuri leaned in. “We should totally do this again next week!”
“Yes,” Kyojuro and Obanai said at the exact same time.
You blinked.
“…Did y’all rehearse that or…?”
“Coincidence,” Obanai said, low.
“Just enthusiastic,” Kyojuro added cheerfully.
The flowers in Kyojuro’s backyard were in full bloom, colors swirling like paint across a canvas. You and Mitsuri sat on a woven mat beneath a tree heavy with white blossoms. A soft breeze rustled the petals, some of them falling gently into your laps.
“Senjuro really keeps this place looking pretty,” you said, brushing one off your sleeve.
Mitsuri smiled, carefully tucking her knees beneath her. “It’s so peaceful. I get why Kyojuro likes it here… You suit this kind of calm, y’know?”
You raised a brow. “Me? Calm?”
She giggled. “Well… not always. But when you’re like this, I mean it.”
You reached over and plucked a stray blossom from her hair. “You always say sweet things like that?”
She blinked, cheeks pink—but then just shrugged. “Only to people who make me feel comfy.”
You glanced over. “I make you feel comfy?”
She nodded, still smiling. “Mhm. Like I can breathe easy around you. You don’t expect me to be overly girly, or hide when I’m hungry, or pretend not to cry.”
That made your chest squeeze a little. You leaned back on your hands, looking up at the slowly darkening sky. “Guess that makes two of us. Being around you is just… easy.”
Mitsuri didn’t say anything for a moment. Then:
“I’m really glad you’re okay, Y/N. I don’t think I could’ve handled it if you didn’t wake up.”
Her voice was light, but her hand, resting near yours on the mat, trembled just slightly.
You didn’t grab it, just let your pinky finger bump hers gently.
“Hey,” you said. “I’m not going anywhere.”
She smiled at the flowers. “Good.”
From a window nearby…
Obanai sipped his tea without blinking. Kyojuro stood beside him, arms crossed. Neither said anything.
Senjuro popped his head in. “Uh… why are you two just staring outside like—?”
“Shhh,” both said at once.
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