𝙠𝙣𝙮, 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙄𝙄

02. Fire

"[name], let me handle it instead," Senjuro spoke out as he ushered [name] to the side as he started to prep the fire for roasting sweet potatoes. [name] then hummed in response as Muichiro soon came over to her side and handed her a wet cloth, so that she could clean off the dirt from her hands.

"It's a rare chance that everybody is back in the headquarters, I just wanted to recreate a particular memory I cherished," [name] explained as Muichiro was wondering why [name] had wanted to have a gathering around a bonfire and have some sweet potatoes.

Then he remembered, how kind [name] was to him.

And Muichiro watched [name] from the corner of his eyes. The way she would open her mouth to blow on the piping hot sweet potato before taking a bite from it. He soon lowered the sweet potato in his hand, and the next thing he knew, his hand was lifted.

"Eat?" [name] asked and Muichiro continued to eat as he realized [name] had lifted his hand. The older Pillars had noticed what had happened, and they couldn't help but gush at how adorable the scene was.

[name] then twitched her nose slightly as some of the burnt leaves floated up and tickled her nose lightly. She sneezed and soon shivered, feeling a haori draped over her frame. She then turned to look and couldn't help but smile when it was Obanai who had done it once more.

Just like back then.

"Thank you, Iguro-san," and [name] couldn't help but admire the look on Obanai's face for he longer had his mask covering the lower part of his face. And [name], found him to be perfection in her eyes.

"We are here!" Tengen called out and [name] smiled in response as she ran up to Tengen and his wives who finally came back after running errands to stock up their supplies at the Sound Estate.

"Tengen-nii-sama, nee-samas!" [name] called out and Hinatsuru's hand shot out and lightly patted [name] on the head. Her hand then guided down and soon cupped [name]'s cheek in her delicate hand, caressing it lightly.

"Beautiful," she whispered out, and [name] could only giggle in response.

"WE'VE BROUGHT THE SWEET POTATOES!" Kyojuro's voice was heard and [name] turned. Her dark blue ocean eyes widened at the amount of sweet potatoes that Kyojuro and Mitsuri had gathered, and she couldn't help but laugh.

She then went up to Mitsuri who placed the basket of sweet potatoes and tried to lift it. Her eyes widened as she realized how heavy it was, and both Kyojuro and Mitsuri could only laugh at [name]'s attempt in lifting up the basket herself.

[name] then huffed in response and rolled up her kimono sleeves and grabbed hold the sides of the basket once more. She then managed to lift it up with loads of grunting, and she pouts when the basket was taken away from her by Sanemi who then supported her by the back as she nearly toppled over.

"Oi, leave the heavy lifting to me," he muttered out and [name] pouts in response.

"I'm strong too!" she whined out and soon heard a chuckle coming from Tengen. She then felt the familiar warmth of his hand placed on her head and she turned to look up at Tengen. She then whined out when Tengen continued to pick her up easily, just like how he had always does.