Hearing her speech, Meyumi forgot everything she'd been thinking and wanted to say, mouth agape in surprise at the skinny black-haired girl. She couldn't believe her ears. The timid little girl, called little more than a "flea" yesterday, had suddenly gained immense courage and confidence.
"Wh-what happened to you? Why... did you change? How is that possible overnight?!" Meyumi asked.
"When I became his wife, I felt something inexplicable... I can't explain it, but now I feel better than ever in my life..." Makoto said. Freed from vast complexes and fears, she could finally speak without stuttering and express her opinion without fear.
Something clicked in Meyumi's head, and she sank into thought. Everything happening to her in the last day felt like a dream. Events unfolded so fast she feared not influencing them in time.
Finishing getting ready, Makoto roused the lost-in-thought Meyumi, and both girls headed to the dining room, where everyone, including Noriko, had gathered.
"Good morning, master," Meyumi said meekly, heading to her seat, to which Kenshin just smiled and nodded.
"Good morning," Makoto said with a joyful smile, nearly breaking into a run upon seeing Kenshin. She went straight to him and kissed his cheek, surprising everyone present.
"You trained her fast," Noriko noted without her characteristic rasp. Hitomi treated her duties extremely professionally and had eliminated the defects from the improperly healed larynx last night.
"Noriko, I'm asking you to express yourself more gently," Kenshin said, looking into her single eye.
"And I'm asking for a new leg and eye that you promised me!" she declared, not averting her gaze.
"And you will get them. Maybe not today, or even in a month, but you will. On the condition that you become a member of my family," Kenshin said calmly. He had wanted to postpone this conversation, but decided not to beat around the bush, since among all those present, the only "outsider" was Meyumi, and her opinion meant absolutely nothing to him.
"You're asking for something impossible at the snap of your fingers. I can't instantly start considering you a brother, and these," she nodded toward the other girls, "sisters. I can pretend that you all mean a lot to me, but you can read minds..." she said, shaking her head. More than anything in the world, she hated beating around the bush and scheming, which was why she said exactly what she thought.
"I understand that perfectly. And still, I suggest we discuss this later, and for now, let's eat," Kenshin said, and once again ordered food for everyone.
During breakfast, Noriko couldn't hold herself back again and pounced on the food, even though Kenshin had mostly ordered salads. She couldn't care less about the sidelong glances, as long as no one tried to take the food away from her.
Makoto and Meyumi were much more restrained and tried to maintain an appearance of propriety. Nevertheless, Makoto's behavior at breakfast was marked by greater boldness and a touch of childish impudence. She wasn't at all shy about asking about various things that interested her, shocking Meyumi sitting nearby time and again.
"Kenshin, why don't you sleep with your wives?" Makoto asked with interest, putting a spoonful of yogurt in her mouth and squinting contentedly.
"Ahem..." Kenshin flushed, while everyone else giggled quietly.
"What makes you think that?" he asked gently.
"You refused to sleep with me when Kasumi suggested it. I heard everything!" Makoto declared, recalling the events of the previous evening.
"Yesterday you were too tired and needed to rest properly," Kenshin said with a sigh, rubbing his temples. He really didn't want to continue this conversation, which threatened to go too far.
"So can I sleep with you tonight?" she asked delightedly, looking at him with her shining brown eyes.
"Ahem... The thing is, tonight Kasumi is sleeping with me," Kenshin replied, quickly coming up with an excuse. He had completely forgotten about his focusing ability, as in communicating with his wives, he tried to maintain a traditional style of interaction.
"No problem, I don't mind yielding this opportunity to the little one," Kasumi said with a light chuckle, giving Kenshin a foxy look.
"Thank you, Kasumi!" Makoto said joyfully, and kicking her legs, continued to savor the incredible yogurt. She was completely content and happy, projecting her warmth onto those around her.
Kenshin could only sigh and resign himself. He wasn't a fool and understood perfectly well that sooner or later he would be forced to make Makoto fully his own, but he planned to put off that day as long as possible so that the young girl could restore her health and enjoy a carefree life.
After the delicious breakfast, Makoto happily kissed Kenshin on the cheek and ran off with Kasumi to the recreation room. She loved her new life insanely, and this new feeling of absolute safety.
Kenshin, in turn, ordered Meyumi to go to the recreation room to socialize a bit, while he himself, with a tense head, went to Noriko's room to finish discussing her situation.
"I understand you might get angry, but I don't want to hide anything from you, and I know you value straightforwardness in people," Kenshin said, closing the door behind him.
At that moment, Noriko was sitting in a leather armchair, propping her stump on the armrest, and looked at Kenshin entering the room with interest. She wasn't at all shy about showing him her underwear and mangled leg. She had long suppressed all instincts for reproduction and paid no attention to physiological differences between men and women.
"I'm listening," she said calmly, staring at him unblinkingly with her single eye.
"What I'm about to tell you has its pros and cons. And I'll accept any reaction from you. Just know that no one here wishes you harm, and I very much want to one day enter this room and meet a beautiful, completely free of hatred Nakayama Noriko," Kenshin said calmly, staring without blinking at the mutilated, disfigured woman. Far from seeming ugly to him, she seemed rather an unhappy woman who had never known love.
"Stop speaking in riddles and playing the role of a perfect prince. I won't fall for that nonsense!" Noriko declared discontentedly. She was irritated by these lofty speeches that had nothing behind them but empty hot air. She valued much more those who were like her father – the only person for whom this strong-willed woman still shed tears.