Volume 4 Chapter 4 Shouou Meets Tenhou's Mother
"Nice to meet you for the first time. I'm Tenhou's senior disciple, Sui Kaou. I hope you are doing well, Lady Kou."
Shouou clasped hands to my mother.
This is the reception room of the Kou family.
In the room are me, Shouou, and my mother.
Shouou and I came to the Kou family to ask for their help with the 'Heaven-Earth Guidance Technique.'
While we were here, Shouou wanted to greet my mother.
"Nice to meet you, Sui Kaou-sama. I've heard about you from Tenhou and Kairyou. Shin-sama also mentioned you in a letter."
In front of Shouou, my mother's eyes are shining.
"I've been wanting to meet you too. As a senior disciple, you are guiding Tenhou, right? Thank you so much for taking care of him."
"No, I'm the one who has been helped by Tenhou..."
"If you don't mind, please stay for dinner. If you are Tenhou's senior disciple, you are like family to the Kou family. We must welcome you."
"Um... Lady Kou."
"What is it, Kaou-san?"
"General Skybear also said the same thing. 'If you are Tenhou's senior disciple, you are like family to me too'."
"Well, Shin-sama too? It seems that Shin-sama and I are connected in heart."
Mother looked happy and clapped her hands.
"We must welcome Kaou-san even more. If you don't mind, would you like to stay over today?"
"Thank you very much, Lady Kou."
Shouou bowed her head to Mother.
"However, I must return to my master after I finish my errands."
"I see... that's too bad."
"I'm sorry to decline your kind invitation."
"It's no problem. Please visit again. I have many things I want to talk to you about."
"Yes. I also have things I want to tell you someday, Lady Kou."
Shouou straightened up and looked directly at Mother.
"When that time comes, may I have some time with you? I also want to... prepare myself properly and have Tenhou present when we talk."
"I understand. I look forward to that time."
"Thank you!"
After bowing, Shouou let out a relieved sigh.
Shouou had said, "Today is just a simple greeting."
It seems she will talk more with Mother next time.
Anyway, it's good that the two of them have become friends.
"How is Seirei doing?"
Seeing their conversation pause, I said.
"Actually, Shikei and I came to see Seirei. Is Seirei in her room?"
"Hakuyou will bring her right away."
"Hakuyou?"
"Seirei is preparing for socializing."
Mother smiled gently,
"That girl is doing her best. Thanks to Tenhou's guidance, she has become good at writing. Her manners are also very proper. Soon, it should be fine to leave the Kou family's social events to her. Today, she is preparing for that."
While we were talking about this, we heard footsteps.
Two sets of footsteps──Seirei's and Hakuyou's.
But Seirei's footsteps are quieter than usual.
They sound like a martial arts walk.
Martial arts and manners have some similarities.
Both involve interacting with others and getting into their personal space.
Martial arts is about defeating an opponent, while manners are about speaking to someone as an equal.
I can sense the martial arts in Seirei's walk because of this.
"...Excuse me. Mother Gyokushi."
I heard Seirei's voice.
A moment later, Hakuyou opened the door to the room.
Seirei, who was on the other side of the door, was dressed formally.
Her silver hair was tied up with a hairpin called 'Setsuenka.'
She wore a short top and a long pleated skirt.
Over that, she had on a light outer garment.
The sleeves were large and had slits for easy movement.
Every time Seirei moved her arms, the sleeves fluttered like wings.
"O-Oh, welcome back, brother. Welcome, Sui Kaou-sama."
Seirei bowed respectfully to me and Shouou.
I instinctively returned her bow.
"Seirei, what's with that outfit?"
"Mother Gyokushi and Hakuyou-san were having a meeting about the Kou family's social events. For the occasion... I was told it would be nice to wear the clothes that Mother Gyokushi wore when she went to the Ryuu Family to learn manners long ago..."
"It looks great on you, Seirei."
"You look beautiful, Seirei-sama."
"Thank you. Mother Gyokushi, Hakuyou-san."
Seirei shyly covered her mouth and looked at me.
"What do you think, Tenhou-niisan? Is it weird...?"
"It's not weird at all. I think it's really cute."
"R-really...?"
Saying that, Seirei covered her face with her sleeve.
Then, in a small voice,
"Um, um... How does it look from Kaou-sama's perspective...?"
"Y-yeah. Honestly, I'm surprised."
"Surprised?"
"...When Her Royal Highness from Souma Country came, I thought about it. Sou Shisui-sama is beautiful, but there are even more... extraordinary beauties close to me."
Sou Shisui is Shouou's older sister.
I've never met her, but I've heard she's incredibly beautiful.
"I thought so. I believe Tenhou's little sister will become even more beautiful than the princess of Souma Country when she grows up. I'm really... surprised."
"Thank you for your kind words, Sui Kaou-sama."
Seirei waved her big sleeves and bowed.
"I decided to work hard on my social skills thanks to you, big brother, and Sui Kaou-sama."
"Me and Tenhou?"
"I want to stand beside you, big brother."
Seirei nodded.
"So, I thought I have to do my best so I won't lose to you and Sui Kaou-sama, who is working with you."
"I see. If I could help Tenhou's little sister grow, that makes me happy."
"Because of Sui Kaou-sama, I can live with a sense of tension."
"Seirei-kun, you're amazing."
"No, no, I'm still not that great."
"That's not true. I think Seirei-kun is already a wonderful adult."
"Thank you. I'm happy to hear that from my brother's friend."
"It's not just me."
Shouou looked at me.
"Tenhou thinks you're a wonderful adult too. Right, Tenhou?"
"Yeah. Seirei has grown up. Really, she seems like an adult woman now."
"That's right. Tenhou should treat Seirei-kun as an adult woman."
"Yes. I agree with Shikei."
"...Thank you, big brother."
Seirei has become impressive.
I can be sure she won't turn into a villain like Ryuu Seirei from 'History of Swordmaster' anymore.
I mean, even Shouou, who was on the protagonist's side, recognizes Seirei.
"I will keep working hard so that you will continue to acknowledge me, big brother."
"Yeah. So, I have a favor to ask Seirei..."
I need Seirei to help me with guidance to heal my energy channels.
But the 'Heaven-Earth Guidance Technique' is a secret, so──
"Mother, can I borrow Seirei for a bit?"
"Sure. Let's continue our social meeting later."
"Thank you. So, Seirei, can you come to my room? Shikei too."
"Yes, brother."
"Okay. Tenhou."
I took Seirei's hand and led her to my room.
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