"Tasty!"
The loud voice echoed through the small noodle shop. Regular customers were already used to this orange-haired young man's boisterousness, and only a few cast strange glances his way.
Kyoujurou bit into a piece of crispy tempura, his eyes shining with startling intensity. His heroic sitting posture and eating manner made Uzui Tengen, sitting beside him, let out a disparaging snort.
Uzui Tengen's dark pink eyes looked at Yoizumi, who was quietly eating noodles directly across from him. He swirled the sake cup on his fingertips before draining it in one gulp.
Putting down the cup, Uzui Tengen raised his hand and snapped his fingers, drawing Yoizumi's attention.
"You're a real tough one to get a hold of, like some great Buddha statue."
Uzui Tengen rested his chin on one hand while using the other to toss a piece of mixed tempura into his mouth, speaking to Yoizumi.
In the three months since the wedding ended, he had invited him no less than five times, and only now had he finally managed to get him out.
Every time, the reply consisted of only a few unflashy words.
[It's not allowed~ Uzui-san.]
Flashy as he was, he didn't even need to think to know who had written it.
"After three months of being lovey-dovey, Kochou finally saw fit to let you out."
"Is that so? I see Yoizumi quite often!"
Kyoujurou put down his chopsticks and nodded to the shopkeeper for another bowl as he spoke.
Uzui Tengen's brow twitched. So they were only guarding against him alone!
"Was that really necessary?"
"..."
Meeting Yoizumi's clear eyes, which were the same as always, Uzui Tengen sighed softly and turned his head slightly, letting out another breath.
It seemed they really did need to guard against him.
"You shouldn't always be so submissive to Kochou. You should have your own ideas, shouldn't you?"
"Shinobu's thoughts are my thoughts," Yoizumi responded frankly, his tone naturally calm.
Uzui Tengen shook his head, rubbing his forehead. This guy would probably be like this for the rest of his life, and no one could change him... Oh... Kochou could... What an incredibly flashy airhead.
"The last time the three of us were together was nearly two years ago..." Uzui Tengen poured himself another cup of wine and sighed. Last time, it was more like a farewell banquet than a meal. Back then, he had been prepared to die in the battle against Muzan, even if the curse of the Mark was broken.
Now, pouring a cup for Kyoujurou as well, Uzui Tengen set down the wine pot and picked up the teapot. His usual nonchalant expression now appeared solemn.
He filled the teacup eighty percent full and pushed it toward Yoizumi. A smile curled Uzui Tengen's lips. His loose white hair seemed to shimmer with iridescent colors under the light, his bold smile full of high spirits.
"Let's have a drink... friend."
Yoizumi glanced at the tea in front of him. Although he didn't like it much, hearing Uzui call him a friend, he picked up the cup. There was a reason he had been allowed out by Shinobu today.
That was... Yoizumi's sapphire eyes looked calmly at Uzui Tengen across from him, and then he spoke softly.
"Uzui, happy 25th birthday."
"Umu! Happy birthday, Tengen!" Kyoujurou said with a laugh, the three cups clinking together with a crisp sound.
After drinking the tea, Yoizumi took out a box. This was a birthday gift he and Shinobu had prepared together. Uzui Tengen's forehead protector had been broken in the Infinity Castle. Yoizumi had originally wanted to give him a new one, but then he thought that Uzui probably didn't need it anymore.
Something like a shackle—if it's broken, then so be it.
So Yoizumi and Shinobu had discussed it and bought a pink gemstone.
"You really gave me quite a flashy gift~"
Tengen held the sparkling gem and smiled.
"This is my gift." Kyoujurou enthusiastically pulled out a small wooden sword and nodded with a serious face.
"Isn't Tengen's child about to be born?"
"So I carved one by hand."
Holding the small wooden sword that wasn't even as big as his palm, Uzui Tengen looked at Kyoujurou helplessly. Who gives a baby something like this? What if his child was a girl?
"Child? Born?"
Hearing these unfamiliar terms, confusion flickered in Yoizumi's eyes.
What did Kyoujurou mean?
"Uzui, do you have a child?"
"Congratulations."
Hearing Yoizumi's question, Kyoujurou let out an "Ah" and spoke.
"Yoizumi, you didn't know?"
"Tengen's child is already seven months along."
"Seven months..." "Why didn't you bring it last time?" Yoizumi was still very curious about what Uzui's child would look like.
This time, it was Kyoujurou who was confused.
"Didn't you see them at the wedding, Yoizumi?"
"I did?"
In Yoizumi's consciousness, he hadn't seen a single infant from start to finish.
Realizing that the two were not even on the same page, Uzui Tengen slowly lowered his head, trying hard to suppress his laughter, his lips twitching uncontrollably.
"It's fine. When Mrs. Uzui gives birth, we'll go see them together!" Kyoujurou patted Yoizumi's shoulder and said.
"What does 'give birth' mean? Aren't children delivered?"
"?" At Yoizumi's matter-of-fact tone, Kyoujurou's eyes widened. His hand, which was eating, suddenly stopped, and he looked like he had fallen into deep thought.
Meanwhile, the table kept shaking. Uzui Tengen was laughing, his trembling body causing the table to vibrate, and the rippling tea reflected two dazed faces.
Kyoujurou hesitated for a moment, but just as he was about to speak, Uzui Tengen suddenly covered his mouth. He looked at Tengen in surprise, not understanding why the other man was stopping him, only to see Tengen wink at him while playing along.
"Right, right... children are delivered."
He wasn't going to say anything out of turn this time, lest that Kochou woman cause trouble for him again.
Besides... Yoizumi actually didn't know... This was a bomb Kochou had planted herself.
Naturally, she had to be the one to detonate it... Watching Yoizumi's departing back, Kyoujurou turned back to Uzui Tengen and asked in confusion.
"Why didn't you explain it to Yoizumi?"
"Eh~ Kochou said not to tell him. It has nothing to do with me."
"Besides... this is quite interesting..." Butterfly Mansion.
Shinobu, who was watering herbs, immediately called out softly when she saw Yoizumi return.
"Yoizumi, welcome back."
"Yes, I'm back."
Naturally taking the watering can from Shinobu's hand, Yoizumi glanced toward the gate. Shinobu caught his gaze and looked where he was looking, but saw nothing, so she asked.
"What are you looking at, Yoizumi?"
Yoizumi met Shinobu's gaze again, his clear voice speaking words that surprised her.
"Shinobu, Uzui has a child."
"Where is ours?"
"Is it because we aren't loving enough?"
"So the Crane hasn't delivered one yet..."
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