"Mikasa, this is a gift from Mom."
At some point, Yato had quietly walked up behind Mikasa, holding a piece of embroidery in his hands. I noticed the design immediately. It showed a calm lake with a flock of swans gliding across the water.
"Wow, it's so beautiful!" Mikasa's eyes widened as she looked at it.
Yato smiled and gently stroked her head. "Embroidery is part of our family's traditional craft. This piece is the finished work from what Mom taught you to sew before."
Mikasa nodded happily, then looked up at him with bright curiosity. "Can I embroider something this beautiful too?"
"Of course you can," Yato replied without hesitation.
The entire morning passed in celebration of Mikasa's birthday. Later in the afternoon, our family went down to the lake to fish.
"Keep your hand steady," Hank instructed patiently while standing behind Mikasa. "Don't let the rod shake too much, or the fish will get scared. Also make sure your shadow doesn't fall on the water. Hold the rod like this, it makes things easier."
Mikasa listened carefully as Hank demonstrated the proper posture.
I sat nearby watching them while keeping part of my attention on my own fishing rod.
"Jax doesn't even have to sit like that," Mikasa complained when she noticed my relaxed posture. Her legs swung back and forth in annoyance.
I smiled slightly. Just as I considered adjusting my posture, my bobber suddenly sank beneath the surface.
I grabbed the rod with both hands and pulled upward. A greenish perch, almost thirty centimeters long, burst out of the water, thrashing wildly at the end of the line.
"Hahaha!" Hank laughed loudly. He rubbed Mikasa's head and pointed toward me. "That's the third big fish Jax has caught today. If you were as skilled as him, Dad wouldn't need to correct your posture."
Mikasa puffed out her cheeks but quickly straightened up and focused on the water again.
"Alright." Hank dusted off his pants and stood up. He grabbed the shotgun leaning against a nearby tree. "I just saw a group of wild ducks land further ahead. Yato, you and Mikasa keep fishing. Jax and I will go see if we can hunt one."
He then looked at Mikasa again. "Fish properly. Dad will check what you catch when I get back."
"I know, I know!" Mikasa frowned, her eyebrows tightening in mock irritation. "Hmph."
Hank chuckled before walking over and patting my shoulder.
"Come on, Jax. Let's see which one of us can bring down a duck."
I nodded and set my fishing rod aside. After slinging my quiver over my back, I picked up my bow and arrows and stood up.
"Dad is cheating!" Mikasa suddenly protested. "Dad has a shotgun and Jax only has a bow. That's not fair!"
"It's fine," I said, waving my hand dismissively. "It's not a big deal."
Mikasa looked at me seriously. "Then you have to bring back something delicious!"
So that was your real goal, Mikasa.
"Don't worry," I replied with a smile before following Hank away from the lakeside.
As we walked into the trees, it became obvious that Hank had something on his mind. The wild ducks were probably just an excuse to get me alone.
What he wanted to say, I could not guess.
We walked two or three hundred meters in silence. Hank stayed ahead while I followed behind him. Just as I was thinking about asking him directly, he suddenly stopped.
He turned around and looked at me.
"Jax, did you feel anything strange this morning around dawn?"
I paused for a moment before answering carefully.
"I did notice something. Maybe Uncle should just say what he wants to say."
Hank placed both hands firmly on my shoulders and looked at me with a serious expression.
"Jax, do you know the history of the Ackerman family?"
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