"Patter."
Snow rolled off the eaves and scattered upon the ground. The lively laughter of young girls echoed through the Butterfly Mansion.
"Mr. Yoizumi, take this!" A snowball flew straight at Yoizumi. The child didn't have much strength, and Yoizumi dodged it easily.
Taking advantage of a rare holiday, the three children pestered Yoizumi to play a snowball fight. Though it was called playing "together," Yoizumi didn't fight back. Despite their best efforts, the girls couldn't touch him with a single snowball.
Shinobu sat by the edge of the eaves, holding a cup of steaming tea. Her magnificent purple eyes were filled with a gentle smile as she watched the scene before her with amusement.
She lowered her head to take a sip of hot tea, her soft voice carrying a tone of concern.
"Don't play for too long~"
"You'll catch a cold."
"Yes~" x3
Xiao Qing, Sumi, and Naho responded obediently.
"And what about Yoizumi's answer?" Yoizumi, who hadn't expected to be addressed as well, was momentarily dazed. A snowball landed on his head, accompanied by the happy cheers of the children and Shinobu's low chuckle.
Yoizumi understood that this was Shinobu's mischievous side.
A gentle smile couldn't help but appear on his indifferent face. His blue eyes looked toward Shinobu with amusement as he softly replied.
"I know."
As the snow fell heavier, Yoizumi and the girls returned to the house. Shinobu called for Kanao and Kanzaki Aoi, instructing them to take Xiao Qing and the others for a good bath to prevent catching a cold. Watching their retreating figures, Shinobu turned back to look at Yoizumi.
She raised her hand to gently brush the fallen snow off Yoizumi's clothes. Yoizumi cooperated by lowering his head to make it easier for Shinobu to reach.
After brushing the fine snow from his blonde hair, she took Yoizumi's hand. Feeling the cold touch, Shinobu handed him a cup of hot tea.
"Drink some tea, then go take a bath."
"Mm." Yoizumi obediently finished the tea. His cold palms warmed up against the heat of the teacup. He had grown somewhat accustomed to the bitter taste.
His no longer cold palms gently wrapped around Shinobu's hand, and they returned to their room together.
While Yoizumi was bathing, Shinobu received a letter. Glancing at the familiar and incredibly exaggerated handwriting, she knew immediately that it was sent by a certain unreliable person.
After all, back when she and Yoizumi first got married, they had received no shortage of letters from this fellow.
Looking over the letter, Shinobu already had a rough guess. Calculating the time, it should be about right.
Sure enough, after scanning the contents of the letter, Shinobu sighed softly, a smile appearing in her eyes. Hearing movement behind her, she put down the letter, picked up a towel she had prepared, and walked toward Yoizumi.
Water droplets trickled down from the tips of his hair. His blonde hair hung limp, and his skin had a healthy flush from the hot water. Hearing Shinobu call his name, Yoizumi walked to her side while drying his hair.
Pulled by Shinobu to sit on a chair, his vision was suddenly obscured by a soft towel. Feeling the gentle movements of Shinobu's hands as she dried him, Yoizumi lowered his head slightly and closed his eyes.
"Just now, Mr. Uzui sent a letter."
"Mm," Yoizumi responded softly.
"His baby was born a few days ago, and he's invited us to visit."
Hearing this, Yoizumi opened his eyes, his blue gaze filled with a touch of joy.
It was good news.
"Let's go see them together," Yoizumi looked up, took Shinobu's hand, and spoke with a smile.
...
"Cute!"
Upon arriving at Uzui Tengen's estate, they heard a booming voice. Yoizumi and Shinobu shared a smile; it was Kyoujurou.
"Mr. Rengoku hasn't changed a bit."
"Kyoujurou has always been like this. It's good."
After a knock on the door, it opened a moment later. It was Suma.
"Miss Suma, good afternoon."
"Ah, it's Miss Shinobu and Mr. Yoizumi. You're here!" After greeting them with a smile, Suma shouted boisterously toward the inside of the house.
"Lord Tengen! The guests are here! Ow, that hurts!" Just as she finished speaking, she was flicked on the head by Makio.
"Keep it down. Hinatsuru just fell asleep."
Clutching her head with teary eyes, Suma responded in a low voice.
"This way, please." After scolding Suma, Makio looked at Shinobu and Yoizumi with a smile and led them into the house.
"You've arrived." As a first-time father, Tengen now wore a gentle smile, his dark red eyes resting softly on the infant's small face.
"Congratulations, Mr. Uzui. It's a very healthy child." Shinobu looked at the baby on the bed, who had inherited Uzui's hair color and Hinatsuru's eyes.
Yoizumi stared at the child, who was holding up small hands and grasping at the air as if trying to catch something. For a moment, he found it quite fascinating.
Tengen extended a finger, and the child immediately grabbed it. Tengen smiled triumphantly, his tone filled with joy.
"Well? Isn't my child born flamboyant?"
"Umu! Very lively!" Kyoujurou said seriously, lowering his voice.
Yoizumi looked at the child's wrinkled little face, then at the smile on Tengen's face, and eventually nodded.
Seeing this, Shinobu covered her mouth and chuckled, secretly leaning into Yoizumi's ear.
"Newborn babies are all like this."
"They'll look better after a while."
"Hey, hey~ I can hear you," Uzui Tengen said with his arms crossed, sounding slightly annoyed.
"Is the baby a boy or a girl? Does she have a name yet?"
Ignoring him completely, Shinobu stepped forward and gently touched the baby's soft cheek.
"It's a girl. As for the name... naturally, it has to be the most flamboyant one."
Suddenly meeting Uzui Tengen's eyes, Yoizumi looked confused, not understanding his meaning.
"Uzui Ayayuki... flamboyant, isn't it!"
With a smile on his lips, Tengen stared into those eyes as pure as blue sapphires and said every word clearly.
Yoizumi glanced out the window; the ground was covered in white, a vast expanse of snowy landscape.
It was indeed flamboyant.
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