"So… yeah. He's actually a good guy!"
We all stare at the half-corpse.
Katsui Shibata lie face-up on the dirt, covered in dirt like a worm, breathing so shallowly that I have to check if his ribs are still moving.
"...He wanted this. In my defense."
Their jaws remain dropped.
No one spoke.
Finally, Hideyoshi comes running out, clearly prepared to shout.
"Katsui! You Scoundrel, stand dow—"
He sees it.
The shattered ground. The broken trees.
And the body.
"..."
He doesn't move.
Slowly, carefully, his gaze lifts to me.
"...You," he says quietly. "You beat him? Who are you?"
His hand drifts toward the wrapped weapon at his side.
Not threatening.
But not casual either.
Before he can grip it, Mikan grabs his arm.
"Wait," she says, breath tight. "Lord Hideyoshi. Stop."
He stiffens.
Her fingers tremble, but she doesn't let go.
"That's… that's Furutsu's youngest."
The words fall strangely heavy.
Hideyoshi blinks once.
Then twice.
"Oh."
Just that.
His stance loosens. His shoulders drop. Whatever edge lived in his eyes folds away.
"...Brother-in-law?" he asks, cautiously polite.
"NO!" Mikan snaps instantly, face blazing. "NOT LIKE THAT!"
A dark aura appears once more as Nashi gives a deathly smile.
He bows towards her.
"Apologies. Reflex."
He hurriedly walks out towards Merun, exhales and looks down at Katsui with a disappointed look in his eyes.
"You know him?" I ask.
He snorts.
"Unfortunately."
He rubs his forehead.
"Katsui Shibata is… a childhood friend."
"But he's a piece of shit?" I offer.
"He doesn't mean to be," Hideyoshi corrects. "Crass remarks. Poor timing. Boundary-blind. He says unforgivable things without thinking."
He pauses.
Then adds, quieter—
"But he's of a pure heart."
I tilt my head.
"And you know this because?"
"Because his mother is a good woman."
…That's it?
Hideyoshi notices my look and sighs.
"Good roots make good fruit." he says.
He glances at the unconscious noble.
"But sometimes, the growth can be bad due to another one's hand."
"...Anyway, can you please take care of him for now?" He asked the parents.
"No problem.. it's the least we could do."
Budo cracks his knuckles.
He lifts Katsui like a bundle of straw.
He groans weakly.
"…Save me…" Katsui mutters.
"Yup, we will. Stop whining."
"Forgive us for being rude, but if Merun had lost, things would have been way different." Nashi added.
They carry him home.
Hideyoshi turns back to us.
"I think the village chief's feast is now ongoing," he says. "You should attend with me!"
"Parents?" Mikan asks.
"They'll follow, let's go!" I reply.
We walk.
"So, Merun, It's impressive that you defeated Katsui.. how did you do it?" Hideyoshi asks.
Mikan also perked her ears, eager to listen to my reply.
"Well... we had an understanding about a misunderstanding," I reply, "plus he went easy on me!"
"You know he is among one of the most powerful Noble Martial Apprentices right? As well as a candidate to become heir of Kinzoku?" Hideyoshi reveals, unconvinced.
"I don't think he would have allowed himself to be beat to... whatever state you left him." Hideyoshi mused.
"He underestimated me, is all." I laugh cheekily.
For now, he looks satisfied... I think.
The village path is lit by hanging lanterns.
Villagers bow down when they see us... this is how nobility is here huh?
And to think these bastards tried to rally a mob to lynch us.
Let's just say they were lucky father had the heart to share the knowledge.
I turn to Mikan, and she's smiling.
Sigh... you forgive too easily dear sister.
As we walk further, I decide it's my turn to ask questions.
"…So who are you exactly?" I ask.
Hideyoshi hesitates.
"Well... I'm Hideyoshi Toyotomi!" He shouts.
"Yeah, we knew that about 30 minutes ago." I say.
He makes a weird look on his face, then leans closer.
"I'm on the run.", he whispered.
Mikan stops walking.
I nearly trip.
"...From what?"
He smiles thinly.
"My family."
That answer somehow explains everything and nothing.
"Alright... I don't know why you had to make us accomplices of your crime, but still, who are you?"
He seemed to ignore my question, and instead smiles.
"This is my first festival," he adds. "Ever."
I glance at him.
I guess… that explains the stiffness. The politeness feels rehearsed. The way he keeps looking around like he's trespassing. Somehow though... I don't doubt the fondness he has for MIkan.
Mikan swallows as Hideyoshi holds her hand gently.
Hmmmm suspicious.
We keep walking anyway.
———
The feast finally wound down slowly.
Villagers leave in pairs. Laughter thinned. Plates emptied.
But the fire stays lit.
So do we.
Three of us sit in a loose circle.
A wine jug between us.
Hideyoshi drinks cautiously at first.
Then less so.
Since I'm curious by nature and a menace by choice, I go and refill his cup.
This went on and on, until Mikan finally picked up on my plan.
She hesitates.
But then refills it too.
We secretly laugh at what we're doing. We're truly siblings!
Eventually, his Squire physique had faltered.
Hideyoshi grew loose. His face was pink. He laughed louder. Talked more.
"—Divine Arsenal is easy, reaaaaally easy," he slurs. "The first stage is familiarity."
I lean in.
"With weapons?"
"Mmm." He nods. "Martial Apprentice only. You make it an extension of your body. Once you truly remember how it feels, you can overlay it with your weapon to strengthen it. You can even use your weapon without a weapon. doyougetwhatimsayin?"
…That explains Katsui's sudden surge in strength when he got his weapon.
He rambles.
About tutors. About expectations. About how strict his upbringing was.
"Master Iaiashin cheats at cards," he whispers conspiratorially.
Mikan giggles.
This person is truly a flower who grew in a greenhouse!
Eventually, his tone shifts.
"The family hierarchy," he mutters. "Toyotomi. Niwa. Shibata. Takigawa."
"Everyone hates me," he adds cheerfully. "It fuels their Divine Arsenal."
"What about you? What do you hate?" asks Mikan.
His eyes seem to drift away.
He drinks.
Harder.
Then—
"I miss my mother."
The fire pops.
"My whole martial drive… is to find her."
"She was cast away by my family due to her peasant status."
"My rage... is simple. I am angry at my family for pushing her away."
"No matter how good her life is here, it shouldn't be better than being with her own son."
His gaze drifts to Mikan.
"That's why I noticed you. You remind me so much of her."
Mikan freezes.
He leans closer
"I see you."
He puffs his lips out.
I block his face with my hand.
"Not so fast, bucko."
He laughs.
Then collapses sideways.
Asleep.
Snoring.
Mikan kept blushing, to my dismay.
"Are you sure about this one Mikan? He seems to have deeply ingrained mommy issues."
"Shut up".