Chapter 27 A Rapidly Developing Relationship

Tashigi was fooled by Mr.

Kaguya into staying at the small courtyard for two days.

Over these two days, Mr.

Kaguya made up all sorts of stories to fool this simple-minded Female Marine.

The relationship between the two of them also drew closer rapidly during these two days.

Two days later, Tashigi left the small courtyard reluctantly.

They agreed that she would come back to visit Mr.

Kaguya during her next week off.

“Stop staring, she’s already far away~”

Nami, overcome with jealousy, gave Mr.

Kaguya’s arm a hard pinch.

“What are you pinching me for?”

“Hmph, do you have your eye on that Female Marine?”

“Hmm?

You noticed?”

“Hmph, your thoughts are written all over your face!”

Nami turned around huffily, her orange hair swaying slightly in the sunlight.

Nojiko chuckled softly from the side and handed her a cup of freshly brewed flower tea.

“You should learn from Nojiko; look at her, she’s not jealous at all.”

“Why would I be jealous?

I’m not anyone to you anyway~”

Hearing this, Nojiko gently set down her teacup, a flash of mischief in her eyes.

“Ah, so it’s not that you’re not jealous, you were just waiting for me here.”

Since Nojiko is already waiting so impatiently, then I’ll make you someone to me.”

Mr.

Kaguya directly picked Nojiko up and walked toward the house.

Nojiko’s body stiffened when Mr.

Kaguya suddenly picked her up.

Although she had already made her feelings clear, suddenly reaching this step still made her face flush crimson.

She subconsciously wrapped her arms around Mr.

Kaguya’s neck and buried her face in his shoulder, her voice as thin as a mosquito’s buzz.

“Quickly, put me down…

Nami is still watching…”

Nami froze on the spot, the teacup in her hand nearly slipping.

She watched the back of Mr.

Kaguya carrying her sister toward the room, her cheeks turning bright red instantly.

“Hey!

You guys…

in broad daylight…”

Before she could finish, the bedroom door shut with a “thud.”

The courtyard suddenly became quiet, leaving only the rustling sound of the wind through the leaves.

Nami stood there dazed, the flower tea in her hand having long since gone cold.

She bit her lip, her heart filled with a mixture of emotions.

On one hand, she was happy that her sister had finally gotten her wish, but on the other, she felt an indescribable sense of loss.

Just then, an exclamation from Nojiko came from inside the house, followed by waves of melodious, enchanting celestial music.

The tips of Nami’s ears turned red instantly.

She stomped her foot and turned to leave the courtyard.

But just as she reached the gate, she couldn’t help but look back at the tightly closed door and sighed with a complex expression.

“That idiot…”

She muttered softly, her fingers unconsciously twirling the ends of her hair.

Sunlight spilled through the gaps in the leaves onto her face, casting a pattern of mottled light and shadow.

Nami took a deep breath, and as if she had made a decision, she suddenly turned and walked back into the house.

A week passed quickly.

Tashigi came to the door once again.

This time, for some wicked purpose, Mr.

Kaguya did not choose to interact at home.

Instead, he took Tashigi to town for a stroll, discussing matters regarding Famous Swords as they walked.

The two Sisters, Nami and Nojiko, were very sensible and did not follow along, staying home to continue their cultivation.

Walking on the wide street, Mr.

Kaguya proactively took Tashigi’s hand.

Tashigi’s hand trembled slightly, but she did not pull away.

She lowered her head, a faint blush rising on her cheeks, and the eyes behind her glasses shimmered with a shy light.

“Um…

Mr.

Kaguya, your hand…”

Her voice was so quiet it was almost inaudible.

“I’m just afraid you’ll get lost; you can’t see the road clearly with those glasses.”

Mr.

Kaguya casually made up an excuse.

“How could I not see the road clearly with glasses on…”

Tashigi grumbled softly, yet she allowed him to hold her hand.

The shops on both sides of the street were filled with a dazzling array of goods, and pedestrians came and went, but her attention was entirely occupied by the warmth coming from his palm.

“The Strawberry Cake at this dessert shop is very famous.”

Mr.

Kaguya suddenly stopped and pointed at the exquisite pastries in the display window.

“Want to try some?”

Tashigi looked up, the glass reflecting their tightly held hands, and her heart suddenly skipped a beat.

“O-Okay…”

She answered stutteringly, feeling her face get even hotter.

Under the warm lights of the shop, Mr.

Kaguya carefully pulled out a chair for her.

Tashigi clumsily adjusted her glasses and took small bites of the cake, unaware that cream had gotten on the corner of her mouth.

“Right here.”

Mr.

Kaguya suddenly leaned forward, his thumb gently brushing past her lips.

Tashigi froze entirely, her breathing even stagnating for a moment.

“Th…

Thank you…”

She lowered her head in a panic, her fork unconsciously tracing circles on the plate.

The sunlight outside was just right, making the tips of her ears turn bright red, like ripe cherries.

Mr.

Kaguya propped up his chin, watching her flustered appearance with great interest.

The melodious sound of an accordion drifted from the street, adding a bit of romance to this ambiguous atmosphere.

“Mr.

Kaguya…”

“Just call me Kaguya.”

“Kaguya…”

“Yeah.”

“Kaguya, do you really not want to join the Marines?”

The benefits in the Marines are really good.”

“No, I plan to visit a grandmaster of the sword.

If I were in the Marines, I don’t know how many years of hard work it would take to have a chance to learn advanced swordsmanship.”

“But…”

“Don’t worry, even if I don’t join the Marines, I’ll come to see you when I have time.”

“Who…

who wants you to come see them…”

Tashigi’s voice grew smaller and smaller, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt.

Sunlight spilled through the glass window onto her flushed profile, outlining a soft silhouette.

Mr.

Kaguya chuckled and suddenly reached out to take off her glasses.

The world instantly became blurry, and Tashigi frantically reached out for them.

“Wait, I can’t see…”

“This is better.”

Mr.

Kaguya’s voice was suddenly right next to her, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe.

“Anyway, right now, you only need to look at me.”

Tashigi felt like her heart was about to leap out of her chest.

She didn’t know what was wrong with her, as she had only spent a short time with Mr.

Kaguya.

But she had somehow fallen for him for no reason.

While training at the Marine Base this week, she would always think of Mr.

Kaguya.

So much so that as soon as her holiday began, she came to find him.

And inviting Mr.

Kaguya to join the Marines was partly because she knew his strength was quite good and joining the Marines would provide him with excellent training.

On the other hand, she simply wanted to be closer to Mr.

Kaguya and spend more time with him.

In her blurry vision, Mr.

Kaguya’s face gradually approached, and she subconsciously closed her eyes.

At the moment of contact, Tashigi’s eyelashes trembled gently.

She had never experienced such a wonderful feeling, as if an electric current was spreading from her lips to her entire body.

Mr.

Kaguya’s hand gently cradled the back of her head, deepening the kiss.

The laughter of other customers in the shop and the bustle of the street seemed to fade away, leaving only the sound of their intertwined breathing.