Magoroku directed his gaze at me, the master of the house. Iruka sneered, seizing the opportunity, and I intervened. It was the usual routine. Unfortunately, no one would be pleased with Iruka's leftover bathwater, not just me. Can't you see the stray hairs from your ears and tail floating around? Try putting yourself in the shoes of the person who always has to clean up after you. Or better yet, clean up after yourself.
"Do as you please. However, you must gather your own hair, and then I'll go next. And after that..."
"I don't mind going last. Mari, is being third okay?"
Magoroku called out to the small figure sewing in the corner of the room. The blind girl responded to her brother's voice, smiling with her eyes closed.
"I don't mind being whenever is convenient for everyone. Please don't worry about me."
"All right, it's settled then. Now, Magoroku, prepare it quickly."
Upon hearing my command after hearing the considerate response from the selfless girl, Iruka swiftly removed her clothes without a trace of shame. She was nothing more than a feral brat.
"You... Magoroku, I'll keep an eye on the kitchen fire, so prepare the bath quickly. If you don't hurry, this idiot will catch a cold."
"Yes, I understand!"
Folding the scattered clothes, I made the request to Magoroku. In response, Magoroku added some firewood to the stove and headed towards the back of the kitchen. There was a Goemon bath behind the shed, utilizing the heat from the kitchen stove.
"With this amount, it should be ready!"
"Then let's go!"
"At least try to cover up a bit."
As Iruka attempted to leave the house completely naked, shaking her fat buttocks and breast through the window, I calmly threw a towel at her and she jumped in. Humans are adaptable creatures, and I have become accustomed to responding calmly to Iruka's actions.
...Wait, isn't this more like a parent's behavior towards a child?
'(*´∀｀*) And that's my little sister!!'
""There's no way""
As the voice echoed in my mind, I immediately retorted. I feel like I heard another retort from outside, but I'll ignore it for now. Please, stop talk to me directly in my head, even though I've sealed you inside the cage.
"Oh, Tomobe-san? Is something wrong?"
Mari, who was next to me, flinched at my sudden outburst. She looked up at me with a frightened and anxious expression.
"Ah, no... I was just babbling nonsense like an idiot. You don't have to worry about it."
"I see..."
Mari responded to my explanation, seemingly not understanding it well. Even though she doesn't understand, she can sense that I'm not lying from my tone of voice, so she's perplexed but accepts it.
"Oh, by the way... Is that Iruka's outfit?"
While paying attention to the source of the kitchen fire, I sat cross-legged and noticed the outfit Mari had been sewing. It was Iruka's black outfit. Upon closer inspection, there were also my clothes and probably the clothes of other servants piled up nearby.
The black clothes for servants is not uncommon to wear, as there are also rough tasks involved. However, it's not easy to request new clothing as they are not cheap. So, unless there is significant damage, we usually sew and mend them ourselves. Lately, Mari has taken on the task of gathering and sewing them.
"Don't push yourself too hard. Your body isn't strong enough."
"I appreciate your concern. However, it's just sewing, so... I want to be of some help to Tomobe-sama and Iruka-san, even if not as much as my brother."
She smiled self-deprecating smile. I respond silently, understanding that poorly chosen comforting words can sometimes disturb the other person's heart. At least, that's how Mari seems to be right now.
"I see. Just don't overdo it, okay?"
"Yes. Ouch...!?"
"What?! Are you alright?!"
Perhaps my words interrupted her concentration. Right after her response, Mari seemed to have pricked her finger with a needle. I quickly rush over to examine the wound. It was a little deep, and a few drops of red fell onto the floor.
"I-I'm sorry!! The blood, it might stain the clothes...!?"
"Calm down. It hasn't stained yet. Look, let's stop the bleeding."
Mari, who is sensitive to blood due to being a youkai, pales and panics, worrying about blood getting on the clothe. I calm her down and push the clothing aside. Then, I use the fabric to wipe and disinfect the cut on her finger. It may be exaggerated, but Mari isn't physically strong. It's better to be safe than sorry.
"I'm sorry... even though I'm the one who said...!"
"Don't worry about it. I shouldn't have said it from the side. Alright, the flow of blood has lessened a bit."
Once the bleeding has somewhat stopped, I apply cotton thread soaked in alcohol to the wound and wrap it with a bandage a few times. Then, I secure it with fasteners.
"You need to be careful not to get it wet in the bath. I'll let Iruka know."
"Yes..."
Mari responds with a slightly downcast voice to my words. It's a mixture of embarrassment for causing trouble and anxiety about being entrusted with the task by Iruka.
Due to being blind and having a weak body, Mari has had a hard time doing things like changing clothes or taking baths on her own. When she lived in the capital, her brother helped her, and after coming here, I often helped as well when asked. However, lately, I've been hesitant to do so, considering Mari's growth. Most of the time, I leave it to Iruka, especially when we're not on duty. It might be the biggest reason why neither I nor Magoroku can be too hard on Iruka.
...The problem is that Mari is anxious because neither her brother nor I go on trips anymore.
(Mari seemed quite anxious when she asked about the reason...)
Perhaps because she has been blind since birth, Mari doesn't seem to have much shame about exposing her skin. Rather than embarrassment, it seems more like a high level of trust in the other person when she asks for help with bathing or changing clothes.
(But still, it's awkward for me to handle where to look.)
I can't imagine taking advantage of someone's ignorance or lack of self-awareness to satisfy base desires. Especially when it comes to a girl whom I consider as family. I'm not that corrupted. I understand Mari's anxiety, but I want her to understand that.
"Let's take a break soon. You'll be taking a bath and eating soon anyway. If you get too absorbed, you might end up stabbing your finger again."
"Yes... I'm sorry..."
Mari, who is still apologetic in response to my instructions. I smile wryly and ruffle her hair.
"Umm..."
"I'll help with the others' share too. Well, the servants are always short-staffed. We can't handle the miscellaneous tasks either. My subordinates were grateful too, you know? It's a job well done."
"Yes..."
Mari, the blind girl, responds with a slightly embarrassed tone. It's not flattery but rather my sincere feelings and the truth. Truly, we, the servants, are severely short-staffed here...
"Oops, I forgot!"
Suddenly, the tranquility of the calm moment between Mari and me was abruptly interrupted by the door swinging open with great force. And to make matters worse, it was accompanied by the loud voice of a fool.
"Hey, Iruka, be careful not to spill the hot water!"
Iruka must have quickly submerged in the bath and immediately turned back around. Coming back without properly drying off, Iruka entered the room, dripping water onto the floor. Hey, I gave you a towel, at least dry yourself properly and cover up.
"What's up? The guy who loves long baths seems unusually quick. "
"I'll be back soon, so don't worry about it. But more importantly, I forgot something... here."
"Hmm?"
It seems Iruka had forgotten something and started rummaging through the shopping bags from the village. And when Iruka found it, she threw it towards me.
"Hey, hey, don't throw things. ...Wait, a Hina doll?"
I received the item in my hand while feeling exasperated by Iruka's careless actions. It was a wooden carved doll... a 'Hina doll' that fits in the palm of my hand.
"This is also part of the compensation for the trouble I caused last time. Remember? Your birthday is coming up soon, right?"
Probably referring to the compensation for the previous year's Namahage incident. As for the birthday...
"When did you find out?"
"Before I ran into you. Suzune and I were chatting in Hotoya Village. I think it was a custom from across the sea, if I recall correctly."
"I see."
My sister remembered it quite well. With that thought in mind, I glanced at the wooden Hina doll in my hand. Celebrating birthdays, especially for individuals without any notable fame, is actually rare both historically and culturally. Even in Fusō-kuni or modern-day Japan, except for Shichi-Go-San (a ceremony for children of specific ages) and Genpuku (a coming-of-age ceremony), birthdays are not particularly celebrated.
From my memories of my past life, I quietly performed the act of celebrating birthdays, which is undervalued in this country, for my siblings, even if it wasn't anything significant. Usually, it involved treats like wild strawberries or biwa fruit and occasionally a small toy...
"I see. You remembered."
Because of my age, I only gave to my younger siblings, but it was satisfying to see them so excited and happy. And above all, I was delighted that my sister remembered my birthday. It was a bit embarrassing, and without thinking, my eyes became moist...
"Wait a minute. This is worth at most 30 mon, right? Are you trying to use this cheap trick to get away with your usual mischief?"
"Tch!"
"I knew it! Whoa, it's cold!?"
"Kyaa!"
As I was about to express my gratitude, I realized Iruka's cunning intention and started questioning her, but she clicked her tongue in response. Water droplets soaked into her wolf ears and tail were blatantly flicked towards me. It was a behavior reminiscent of a soaked animal shaking itself dry.
"Hmm, da (bleh)!"
Seizing that opportunity, Iruka hastily fled back to the bathtub from the door. She snickered and ran away as if mocking me.
"That d*mn girl...! Mari, wipe yourself with this."
Being partially soaked myself, I reluctantly took out a towel and wiped my face, offering it to Mari as well. Then I sighed.
"What a ridiculous guy."
Complaining like that, I glanced at the wooden Hina doll in my hand once again. For some reason, a smile appeared on my face. When I talk to her, all the challenges and problems I bear seem insignificant. In reality, my position in the Onitsuki family, or even as a 'human,' can be described as walking on thin ice...
"Truly, what a ridiculous guy..."
The words I pondered for the second time unintentionally seemed to have a slightly softer tone, which was unexpected...
