Aoi Kazama waved her hands frantically. "Don't mention it, really. I just did what I could. However, I do have a small request..."
Hearing this, Mr. Tokito spoke up immediately. "Please, feel free to speak, Miss Kazama! Whatever the request, as long as it is within our power, we will do our best to fulfill it!"
Seeing his solemn expression, Aoi wanted to smile but held it back. "Actually, it's not a big deal. I was wondering if I could stay at your home for a few days, if that's all right?"
"Of course you can!"
Muichiro happily circled around her, his little body clinging to her, his mint-green eyes filled with delight. "Yay! I love Big Sister Aoi."
Aoi squatted down, reached out, and ruffled Muichiro's soft hair, answering with a warm smile, "I love Muichiro too."
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Yuichiro standing nearby. The boy still had a tiny scowl on his face, his hands tucked behind his back, pretending not to care, but the envy in his eyes was impossible to hide.
Aoi couldn't help but smile, and she gently beckoned to him. "Yuichiro, come here."
Yuichiro's body went slightly stiff. He cleared his throat, attempting to appear calm, and shuffled forward in slow, tiny steps. He kept his little chin up, pretending to be casual, but obediently stood by her side.
Aoi reached up and ruffled his hair as well. "I love Yuichiro, too. You're sensible and thoughtful—a good older brother."
"I—I've always been a good brother, I don't need you to tell me." He turned his head away, but a faint blush crept onto his cheeks, and his ears turned completely red. His little hands, balled into fists at his sides, curled slightly. Despite his stubborn words, he looked absolutely adorable acting so tough.
And so, Aoi settled in with the Tokito family.
Days in the mountains were slow and gentle. Aoi soon integrated into the Tokitos' daily routine. Inside the humble cabin, the faint scent of medicinal herbs and the warm aroma of cooking food drifted daily.
One day, Aoi accompanied the brothers into the mountains to gather firewood. Seeing them carrying bundles of firewood heavier than themselves, she felt a pang of pity. They were only ten years old, yet they already bore the heavy responsibilities of the household. Truly, children of the poor matured early.
Aoi made a silent vow: once she returned to her time, she was going to spoil Muichiro with food. He was simply too thin.
However, a nagging thought occurred to her: why was Yuichiro absent in the future timeline?
Was it possible... something happened to him soon?
At that thought, Aoi's heart violently lurched. No, I absolutely cannot let anything happen to Yuichiro!
"Big Sister Aoi, what are you thinking about?" Muichiro tugged on her sleeve, breaking her reverie.
Aoi snapped back to reality, pushing down the surge of panic and dread. She shook her head. "It's nothing."
From beside them, Yuichiro suddenly flipped his sharp-tongued switch, saying flatly, "Walking while daydreaming... be careful you don't fall into the ditch and get filthy. Then we'd have to pull you out. What a pain."
Aoi's lip twitched. Now she knew exactly where Muichiro eventually learned how to be so stubborn with his words.
She reached out and pinched Yuichiro's chubby little cheek, firing back with a smile. "I know, I know. Our Yuichiro's little mouth is the sharpest. Are you actually worrying about me?"
Yuichiro's face turned scarlet instantly. A tingling sensation spread where she had pinched him. Flustered and annoyed, he slapped her hand away and took a half-step back, head still held high as he acted tough. "Who's worrying about you!"
Muichiro blinked his mint-green eyes, looking between his fuming brother and Big Sister Aoi's smiling face. His small hand tugged on Aoi's sleeve. "Big Sister Aoi, Brother is just bad with words. He is worried about you."
"Hey! What kind of nonsense are you sprouting!" Yuichiro instantly became frantic.
Aoi smiled fondly, watching the brothers squabble with each other.
After returning home, Aoi proposed to Mr. Tokito that she teach Muichiro and Yuichiro swordsmanship. Mr. Tokito immediately agreed with pleasure.
The two brothers exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with confusion. They had absolutely no idea about the harsh training they were about to face.
Early the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten and a thin morning mist still swathed the mountains, Aoi hauled the two of them out of bed. "Wake up! You are going to run ten laps around the mountain right now. No breakfast until you finish!"
Muichiro curled up deeper, rubbing his blurry eyes while whimpering. "Big Sister Aoi... just a little longer, please. It's not even light out."
Yuichiro also sat up with a frown, his hair disheveled from sleep, his small face still flushed with a post-sleep blush. "Ten laps? One trip around this mountain path is far enough! Ten laps is way too much!"
As he spoke, he reached to pull the covers back over himself, but Aoi clamped a hand firmly on his shoulder. The habitual tenderness was gone from her face; her eyes darkened as she reached out and flicked his forehead. "If you want to learn swordsmanship, first you train your endurance. If you can't even handle running laps around the mountain, how can you talk about swinging a sword or protecting your family? Get up now. Either you run, or you never learn."
Those words hit Yuichiro's sore spot. He clenched his fists, thinking about the wild beasts in the mountains, about needing to protect Father, Mother, and his brother. Ultimately, he grit his teeth and kicked off the covers, reaching back to pull up the still-lingering Muichiro as well. "Get up! Stop dragging your feet!"
Muichiro blinked his mint-green eyes piteously. Seeing Aoi's icy demeanor, he didn't dare try acting spoiled again. He obediently followed his brother to dress, and they went out to the mountainside behind Aoi.
The mountain path in the morning mist was slippery. The brothers' little legs moved quickly at first, running side-by-side. Before they had even finished two laps, however, both were panting heavily. Their pace gradually slowed, small faces flushed red, foreheads drenched in cold sweat. Muichiro leaned against a tree trunk, gasping. "Big Sister Aoi... I can't run anymore... my legs hurt..."
Yuichiro was also leaning on his knees, breathing in large gulps. The back of his shirt was soaked with sweat, clinging to his small back, yet he still grit his teeth and reached out to grab Muichiro's wrist. "Don't stop! If you stop, we really won't get breakfast. I'll drag you along!"
As he spoke, he pulled his brother forward again. Aoi followed just a few steps behind them, neither rushing them nor supporting them. Only when they looked ready to quit did she coolly command, "Keep going."
By the fifth lap, Muichiro couldn't hold back his tears, though he didn't dare make a sound. He simply bit his lip and let his brother pull him along.
Yuichiro's lips were pressed into a white line from exertion, but he never let go of his brother's hand.
Finally, having finished the tenth lap, the brothers collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath, lacking even the strength to lift a hand.
Muichiro huddled next to his brother, tears still on his cheeks, yet he forced his lips to curl into a smile at Aoi. "Big Sister Aoi... we ran."
Aoi nodded slightly. "Not bad. This afternoon we practice swinging swords. Head back for breakfast first."
Hearing this, the brothers responded with a listless "Oh," unable even to muster the energy to stand.
In the end, Aoi had to step in, grabbing one by each side to half-carry, half-drag the two little rice balls back home.