The summer dawn is brief, yet beautiful.
Under that leaden-blue sky, there exists a blurred realm of humanity that mirrors the dimness of twilight. When the outlines of the world grow hazy and non-human entities can be seen, it is known as Oumagatoki—the Hour of Meeting Demons, the Hour of Solitude.
Ume had been secretly pricking up her ears, listening to the conversation between Gyutaro and Izumi Kiyokazu. Being a girl of sensitive intuition, she naturally understood her brother's intent. He was helping her test Kiyokazu, gauging whether the young man truly considered her someone he needed to protect from the bottom of his heart.
Upon hearing Kiyokazu's answer, Ume's fingers tightened around the edge of the water ladle until her knuckles turned white. The reflection in the clear surface of the water vat revealed a face flushed with a deep crimson glow.
Every word of the exchange between her brother and Kiyokazu drifted into her ears. As her gaze wavered, she felt as though she had plunged headlong into her very own summer dawn.
Before Kiyokazu had answered, Ume's heart had been in her throat. She was terrified of hearing hesitation. She feared that this budding emotion—as fragile as the dim light of a firefly in a summer night—would be easily extinguished by the harsh winds of reality, especially at a life-or-death juncture like this.
In Yoshiwara, stories like these were so common they were swept into the trash, unmourned and unnoticed. A courtesan tying a lock of hair around a patron's finger was often nothing more than the empty wish of a deluded woman. Ume was afraid; she feared she would end up as just another cliché in a tragic tale.
But when Kiyokazu's reply came clearly, her heart finally found its anchor.
His answer was plain, devoid of flowery rhetoric or even a formal promise, yet every word that left his lips felt like a steady boulder settling firmly upon her heart.
"I am not 'alone' as Master Rengoku describes..." "Regardless of what she thinks, I personally don't believe I am..." "To lack the courage to admit that would be nothing short of cowardice..."
He acknowledged her. It was as simple as that.
In the face of impending death, Kiyokazu had explicitly drawn her into the circle of those he meant to guard. He didn't offer an irresponsible confession; instead, he responded with a much heavier, more resolute sense of duty and accountability.
"I will knock both of you out..." These words made Ume's heart thrum violently. A mixture of intense shyness, deep worry, and an indescribable sense of peace swirled together in that moment.
He understood her brother's testing, and he had offered the most sincere response possible. He had even thought further and more thoroughly than her brother, showing a firmer resolve. A man's charm is often found in his ability to solve problems—even if his decisions seem "cold" at first, a moment's reflection reveals them to be the best choice after long deliberation.
He opposed her brother joining the fight so that, should the worst happen to the rest of them, her brother would still be there to protect her and take her away from Yoshiwara.
When she heard Kiyokazu's final "That's how it's going to be," Ume could almost picture his expression. He would be pursing his lips, his gaze sharp and unwavering—much like the Nichirin Sword he had just accepted, still stained with drying blood.
When she heard her brother tell Kiyokazu to come over, Ume couldn't suppress a surge of secret joy. She knew that when her brother spoke those words, it meant he truly accepted Kiyokazu. He accepted him... as a brother-in-law...
What on earth are you thinking, Ume?! ⁄(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄!!!
Terrified that Kiyokazu would see her burning face, she hurriedly lowered her head, scooped up a ladle of water, and began to drink as if she were parched. Even in summer, the water in the vat retained a refreshing chill.
Only after the icy sensation momentarily dispersed the heat in her cheeks did Ume dare to set the ladle down. Even so, she looked at Kiyokazu timidly as he approached.
As he reached her side, Ume held the water, trying her best to make her voice and movements seem natural. She lowered her lashes slightly and spoke softly to the young man who had stopped before her.
"What... what are you doing here? Are you thirsty too? I'll get you the ladle!"
Ume wanted to pretend she hadn't heard the conversation. She knew her brother's temperament; although he had essentially acknowledged Kiyokazu as his... brother-in-law, he was likely still feeling a bit awkward about it. Besides, they had only known each other for a few days. They couldn't move too fast... otherwise, she'd seem like an immodest woman.
Kiyokazu looked at the flustered Ume and saw through her thoughts instantly. He knew she must have overheard them. But since she didn't want to point it out, he wouldn't either. She had her reasons, and respecting her was the most fundamental requirement of loving her. Someone who cannot even offer respect doesn't truly know love; they are merely projecting their own self-love onto another's body for their own satisfaction.
Kiyokazu took the ladle from Ume and said with a touch of helplessness, "Your brother suddenly decided he wants to bathe, so he asked me to help fetch some water. Ume, where is the firewood kept? Is there enough left? It's not too cold out, but your brother has only just begun to recover. He'll catch a cold if he uses cold water."
Listening to him, Ume's entire attention was seized by the words "at home" and "the firewood at home."
Home?! Is he... is he already thinking of us as a family?! What a... what a frivolous man! No, I have to calm down!
"The firewood... it's piled up in that corner over there. There should be enough. I'll go boil some hot water. You... you... you just get to work!"
As she spoke, Ume hurried toward the house.
Watching her flustered departure, Kiyokazu couldn't help but feel a bit amused. But perhaps feeling that leaving so abruptly was rude, Ume stopped halfway and turned back.
She kept her head down, twisting the hem of her clothes with both hands, her eyes peeking toward him.
"Um... do you want some hot water? If you do, I'll boil extra for you. An old woman once told me that drinking hot water is better for replenishing your strength."
That is how people are; in front of the one they like, they always find ways to create topics or show care. Under the influence of such internal drive, even long-forgotten memories become vivid.
Faced with the girl's pure and innocent affection, Kiyokazu found himself a bit overwhelmed. He instinctively looked away, yet couldn't bear to fully avert his gaze. He simply gave a low reply:
"Yeah."
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