Chapter 40

The return to Nagato had been more eventful than the rest of their descent. The moon was just beginning to rise when they entered the resthouse and Yukiko had accosted the two girls immediately about having foolishly continued their climb up the mountain after seeing the rockslide.

“And where exactly is Gakkun!?” Her scolding was still ongoing as she had pushed Kaede and Yurika into the dining room and was piling food onto trays for them. “I swear, you children are too reckless these days! I couldn’t imagine continuing up a mountain directly after seeing a rockslide, let alone being so close to it. You girls are an absolute mess! After you eat, I want you two to take a bath right away and then straight to sleep with you two! Seriously, where is that boy!? Leaving two girls alone in the dark… when he gets back, I’ll give him an even more firm scolding, you can count on that!”

The two girls’ attempts to explain were ignored as Yukiko scowled at them for not eating. She was also not pleased with the surprise guest that had come with them: the medium-sized, unfathomably dark dog that was on their heels when they so casually returned to Nagato.

“You also just bring home a stray!? How do you know it isn’t diseased!? Honestly, this sort of thing is what I’d expect out of your father, Rika! I thought you had more sense than that man.” Despite her comments, Yukiko had a bowl of rice and beef on the floor for the Hound, now masquerading as an actual dog, and was looking between the resthouse’s matriarch and the two girls.

Yurika shrugged her shoulders at him, still unsure why he chose to disguise himself when he could’ve remained hidden in their shadows.

“It’s easier if I can freely move about to protect you both. If I only stay in one’s shadow, I can only protect them if something happens.” The island girl didn’t appreciate that he was treating them like they were mere defenseless damsels but her grumbling fell on deaf ears.

Kaede, meanwhile, seemed oddly upbeat at getting a scolding from Yukiko. She was happily devouring the meal in front of her, humming slightly between bites. “You know you can tell her off, Kaede-chan…” Yurika whispered when her mother had left the room to check if Gakuto had returned yet.

“Hm? Why would I do that, Yurika-chan?” Kaede smiled brightly as she placed her chopsticks across the bowl before clapping her hands together in thanks. “Her getting onto us just shows she cares, right? Even if getting yelled at is unpleasant, it is nice to know she loves you!”

Yurika leaned on her hand, her eyes narrowed in annoyance. “I kind of hate that optimism of yours, Kaede-chan…” She sighed as Kaede tilted her head in confusion. “...though, I guess there’s a lot more to unpack from you saying that…”

“Oh, good, you two are done.” Yukiko said, entering the room once more, her scowl still present. “That boy isn’t back yet! The nerve… For now, you two hurry down to bathe and then off to bed with you both.” Yurika opened her mouth to argue but one glare from Yukiko shut it down and she quickly dragged Kaede out to the backdoor and down to the bathhouse.

“What am I going to do with those three…?” Yukiko said, turning to the dog.

The Hound, doing his best impression of an actual dog, whined up at Yukiko.

Kaede and Yurika had taken Yukiko’s wrath to heart as they quickly undressed and scrubbed down before sliding into the onsen’s waters. Both of them made an involuntary sigh of contentment as they stared up at the starlit sky.

The two sat in silence, enjoying the warm water and the view before Kaede brought her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them, looking down at the rippling water.

“I’m worried about Gakkun, Yurika-chan… I figured he would’ve found a way back to the village by now, but what if he’s too hurt to move?”

Yurika glanced at Kaede before turning her gaze up at the sky. “Gakuto is much too stubborn to stay in one place, even if he was hurt.”

Kaede released her legs, turning her eyes to Yurika, somewhat shocked. “You almost sound as if you’ve known him for more than a few days, Yurika-chan.”

Yurika turned to face Kaede, a small, melancholic smile on her lips. “I would hope not, since I met Gakuto eight years ago.” She brought her knees up, leaning her cheek against them.

“That makes sen–... What!?” Kaede cried out, jumping a bit in the water. “How!?”

Yurika blinked, shocked by Kaede’s outburst.

“Gakuto and Ryuta-san came here eight years ago and stayed around the island for several months. They stayed here, since my father and Ryuta-san were fellow apprentices in hitoden. There weren’t many children my own age around, so Gakuto and I played a lot, especially when our fathers were drinking…”

Yurika turned to face the water, her gaze focused on the past. “I’m not sure what happened after they left, or how he ended up as a guard in the Yuilen court, but it definitely seems like he doesn’t remember…”

“...that explains the conversation from this morning…” Kaede muttered, flashing back to breakfast, which suddenly seemed like it was several cycles ago.

Yurika’s gaze was still distant as Kaede scooped up some of the water and let it fall through her fingers. “You’re in love with Gakkun, aren’t you?”

Yurika turned bright red and jumped out of the water, startling Kaede. “W-what makes you say that!?”
“That look of longing you had this morning is the exact same as Sumire has for Jiro-san.” Kaede said, leaning away from the island girl. “They’re definitely in love, so I recognized it right away.”

Yurika stuttered, unable to make a coherent sentence as she sank back into the water, wrapping her arms around her legs and getting into a tight ball. “I didn’t think it was that obvious… R-right before he left, we promised to get married someday… I guess I’m the only one who took that seriously, since it was just a promise between children.”

Kaede had a slightly sad smile on her face as she looked out at the horizon. “I don’t think he forgot, maybe he just doesn’t recognize you. After all, you’re both much older now and Yurika-chan is quite beautiful, I doubt Gakkun has realized you are the girl from back then.”

“Kaede-chan, it’s not only th–”

Kaede turned to Yurika, blinking a couple of times before smiling mischievously, leaning her head on her knees. “Oh, no, I know that he has feelings for me, but he’s eventually going to have to let those go, Yurika-chan.”

Yurika’s eyes widened in shock, having thought that Kaede wasn’t aware of them. The oiran’s eyes went back out to the starlit horizon, a melancholic smile on her lips.

“I’m not allowed to fall in love. My family’s talent and craft belong to the Emperor and thus, I will go through life without a lover. That’s what happened with my grandmother and my mother. That’s why Gakkun will have to give it up, because I am never allowed to belong to another.”

Yurika looked down at the water, unsure of how to respond to such a depressing sentiment.

“That’s why…” Kaede said, quietly, her gaze still distant. “It would make me very happy if my two friends could be happy together. They can have the romance that I can never have.” She leaned back on her knees, giving Yurika a sublimely melancholic grin.

“So, Yurika-chan, you need to make it so Gakkun remembers who you are!”

Yurika’s eyes widened, realizing once again that she was no match for Kaede, but she understood that she didn’t have to be before she nodded, sliding closer to her friend and wrapping her arm comfortingly around the oiran as the two of them sat in the water a bit longer.