Chapter 412: To Read
Moving toward the outskirts and away from Matsue Castle and Lake Shinji, they reached her home, tucked between two crumbling buildings. A small, dilapidated hut, barely holding together. The door was half-hanging off its hinges, and the roof looked like it could collapse at any moment.
"This is where we live," Yuna said quietly, her eyes downcast. "It’s... not much."
Kazi put his hands on his hips. "I like it! It reminds me of my own home." His ears perked up. "Your brothers—I can hear them."
"Ah, wait, just...what do you plan to do to them?" Standing here, she suddenly feared the worst again. That perhaps Kazi was a villain and this was a mistake.
Kazi turned to her, his smile warm and genuine, and those fears melted for a second time. "Sometimes, helping people leads to great things. You’ll see."
Kazi put a hand on the door and waited. With the slightest push it could have opened yet still he waited. Yuna didn’t understand fully, but something about Kazi’s presence made her feel at ease, even in the midst of all the confusion. He was a samurai. He had the clothes. He might be a foreigner yet somehow...he looked good. He looked devoid of evil. So, she went ahead and opened the door.
Seven boys were in a circle. In the circle were items. Rotten food, broken sheaths, pieces of steel, and other such forgotten trash. The door opening caused them to spring to their feet. No one was supposed to be here.
"S-sister...?" the smallest of the boys exclaimed. "Why are you back so early?"
"Iwari! Matsuura! You all...you’ve been thieving!?" Yuna stormed in. "Iwari! Matsuura! I said only you two could do it! You two are the eldest! Don’t drag them into it so soon!"
"Y-Yuna..." Iwari pouted.
"We agreed! This was an agreement! You lied! You broke your promise!"