IT BLOSSOMS, hatori sohma [Fruits Basket]

Chapter Twenty Nine

Himawari and Yuki both blinked simultaneously, their gazes now fixed on each other. On the floor, Shigure was struggling to contain his laughter as he tried his hardest to suppress the urge to burst into a fit of giggles.

As Himawari descended from the upper rooms, Yuki had only entered the living room a few minutes afterwards. While the little girl engaged in conversation with Shigure, Yuki stood awestruck at the sight of her. Ryu had just finished covering Hatori with a blanket when she noticed Yuki's entrance from her spot in the living room.

"Oh, Yuki~!! Come meet your niece!" Shigure exclaimed in his usual annoying tone, causing Ryu to roll her eyes in response.

She then approached her daughter and stood next to her, nodding before saying, "I'll give a better explanation than this fool." Ryu shot a sharp glare at the adult before placing her hand gently on her daughter's head.

Yuki nodded and walked over, finally shifting his gaze away from the child, who was staring at him with a bright smile. Upon reaching the tatami mats and taking a seat, he listened as Ryu explained some of the truth, though she omitted the full truth about the memory dilemma. Instead, she described the situation as complicated, leaving the teen with the understanding that he'd learn more about it later on.

Himawari was the first to formally introduce herself, and then Yuki reciprocated the gesture. Once the customary exchange was over, they were left in an awkward silence, the only thing occupying their attention being the child. Fortunately, Kyo and Tohru soon descended the stairs, joining the group in the living room.

As Tohru entered the room, she greeted the group with a cheerful "Good morning" but froze in surprise as she noticed the child and Ryu. Her jaw almost dropped, but Kyo quickly intervened and closed it for her. Pleasurable exchanges were once again initiated, and by the midpoint, Himawari and Tohru had already embraced each other. In this case, it was more like Tohru smothering the child with affectionate hugs, to which Himawari had no objections, cherishing the warm embraces.

Thanks to Tohru's spirited nature, the tension surrounding the convoluted situation eased, allowing Ryu a sigh of relief. The teenagers, including Yuki, followed her lead and engaged in conversation with Himawari, acting as if things were perfectly normal. However, beneath the surface, they all knew the truth—it was anything but normal. Despite this, none of them dared to voice their thoughts aloud.

Ryu returned to her spot in the living room and practically flung herself onto the armchair, feeling a mix of emotions and exhaustion. Things were not going as seamlessly as she had hoped when she had decided to introduce her daughter, but at least for the moment, the situation had been handled without descending into pure panic and pandemonium.

"Mama!" Himawari's head shot up as she called out to Ryu.

Ryu turned to her daughter and smiled, before her little girl rushed over to her. Himawari's eyes sparkled with excitement, and Ryu recognized her "puppy face," an expression that nobody could resist, including herself. "Can I go to the lakeside with Uncle Kyo, Yuki, and Tohru?" the child pleaded.