"D-demon?"
"Exactly. Demons who can only roam at night, surviving by devouring humans."
As he spoke, Michikatsu raised his hand. Under Amei's disbelieving gaze, he condensed a blade from his own flesh and blood in his palm.
Watching this scene, while still in shock, countless minute details that Amei had deliberately ignored during the past period all surged into her mind at this moment.
Why, though Master Yoriichi appeared completely normal, did he always claim to suffer from a strange illness and never walk under sunlight...
Why, at any time, did Master Yoriichi never eat or dine before anyone...
Why, on occasional nights, would Master Yoriichi quietly leave alone and stealthily return before dawn...
So that's how it was. If this were the case, then all those past abnormalities seemed to make sense?
"For decades past, I was living alone in a cave, painstakingly researching swordsmanship.
That night, I followed that Lord's suggestion and decided to go to the red-light district to find Mitsuba, who was investigating certain matters there at the time..."
"That night..."
Instantly realizing which night Michikatsu was referring to, Amei was startled, her eyes widening wide.
Wait, so before that night... Master Yoriichi was actually Little Sister Mitsuba in disguise?!
"And so, through a series of coincidences, pushed by Mitsuba, I inexplicably got involved in Miss Amei's affairs, then inexplicably moved into this town with you.
Although none of this was my original intention at first, to be honest, during my time living here, the people of this town have indeed given me an experience I never had before...
During my time living here, for the first time I felt the sensation of being alive.
This is something I had never felt during the past hundred years."
The blade in his hand dissolved. Michikatsu raised his head again to look at Amei before him and spoke earnestly:
"Amei, I am very grateful to Mitsuba for arranging all this for me, very grateful to those warm people of this town, and very grateful for your companionship during these days...
I think, perhaps I too can try, as Mitsuba said, to walk toward my own new beginning...
It's just that this worthless man of mine ultimately still cannot do as Mitsuba does, casually hiding his identity from those around him...
So, I have thought for many days. I still do not wish to conceal this from you any longer. I want to tell you the truth, and ask whether you would be willing to become a demon... like me?"
At this very moment, the second round of fireworks for tonight rose quite appropriately at this instant, illuminating the night sky above the two of them.
Amei subconsciously raised her hand to cover her mouth. She raised her head blankly, looking at this man who had saved her life and pulled her out from the mire.
Tears glistened in her eyes. Under Michikatsu's waiting gaze, she almost without hesitation nodded her head heavily.
"Mm, I am willing."
"..."
The fireworks festival was indeed a night very suitable for confessions.
"Sister Mitsuba! Please marry me!"
"Little brat, confessions at the fireworks festival should be reserved for someone you'll truly like when you grow up, understand?"
"But the person I like most is you, Sister Mitsuba!"
"Cut it out. This rattle-drum is for you. Hurry home and sleep. If you keep talking nonsense, I'll add extra practice for you at the dojo tomorrow!"
The fireworks festival was about to end. Waving away that little brat who proposed to her several times every day.
Mitsuba stretched lazily, and together with Sumire—who was covering her mouth and giggling beside her—followed the surrounding crowd on the journey home.
"Mitsuba, that child really seems to like you very much..."
"He's just a child of a few years, what could he understand of romance?
Nothing more than seeing a pretty older sister with a good personality and wanting to cozy up to her... Let's go, we should head back too."
"Huh? Aren't we waiting for your elder brother, Mitsuba?"
Sumire asked puzzled.
She hadn't seen Mitsuba's elder brother Michikatsu throughout the entire night. She had thought that after the fireworks festival ended, the siblings would return together...
"No need to wait. Elder brother and the others have already gone back first."
When Sumire asked about this, the corners of Mitsuba's mouth rose again with a meaningful arc.
"Oh my~ after all these years, I truly never expected that my rigid elder brother would finally experience 'an old tree blooming'~
Mmm, truly not in vain of my painstaking planning for so long..."
Through the consciousness communication between demons, Mitsuba had just learned that Michikatsu had already told Amei the true identities of their sibling pair, and also wanted to transform Amei into a demon.
Perfect! Absolutely perfect!
Everything was developing exactly as she had anticipated!
From the moment she arranged for Michikatsu and Amei to live together, Mitsuba had been anticipating this day!
Now... it had finally arrived!
Her elder brother Michikatsu—whose mind in the past contained only "Yoriichi and swords"—was now finally trying to take that first step to change himself and walk toward a new life!
When she learned this news, Mitsuba was so pleased she was almost moved to tears!
Elder brother Yoriichi, can you see this?
Over forty years after your departure, I have finally found an opportunity to change Elder brother Michikatsu...
Elder brother Michikatsu is finally no longer solely obsessed with catching up to you...
All of this is truly wonderful!
Now looking back, Mitsuba was infinitely grateful that on that night in Osaka Castle over forty years ago, it was herself who encountered Elder brother Yoriichi.
Otherwise, if it had been Elder brother Michikatsu, even if he had luckily survived under Elder brother Yoriichi—who harbored no fighting spirit—
he would certainly have been deeply wounded by the chasm-like gap between himself and Elder brother Yoriichi, and from then on completely fallen into endless jealousy and hatred toward Elder brother Yoriichi, unable to extricate himself...
Yes, fortunately it was her, that prevented this worst-case scenario from occurring.
Fate is sometimes so wondrous.
A tiny change, a chance encounter, can very likely completely alter the course of the future...
In any case, no matter what, Elder brother's matters are now finally heading in a good direction.
As his younger sister, she can finally not worry so much.
As for the future, let Elder brother grasp it for himself...