Chapter 52: Kukaku Shiba

Despite being one of the Four Noble Houses, the Shiba family residence was by no means luxurious; one could even say it looked no different from an ordinary home.

Shiba Kaien usually lived in the division barracks. Since he managed the entire Thirteenth Division single-handedly, he did not return home very often.

"Kukaku, Ganju, I'm back!"

A series of hurried footsteps immediately sounded from the inner rooms.

"Big brother!"

A black-haired boy, who looked quite young yet possessed a rather sturdy build, rushed out first with a face full of joy.

"Big brother, why are you back?"

This was Shiba Kaien's younger brother, Shiba Ganju.

Shin looked thoughtfully at the boy before him.

Noticeable right away, Shiba Ganju immediately shifted his gaze to Shin, his expression settling slightly: "Big brother, who is this?"

"This is Tachibana Shin, a friend of mine. He's visiting our home today."

Hearing this, Shiba Ganju shed his fidgety demeanor at once. Acting very sensibly, he bowed slightly to Shin: "Hello, Shin-kun."

"Hello."

Shin offered a simple greeting in return.

"Where is Kukaku?"

"She's taking a nap. Didn't Sister-in-law come with you?"

Shiba Kaien knocked Shiba Ganju on the head. "She has work to keep her busy, and we aren't even married yet. Why do you keep thinking about having her come to our house?"

Rubbing his head, Shiba Ganju muttered softly, "You two are living together even without being married."

"What did you say?" Shiba Kaien raised his hand again.

"Nothing, nothing! I'm going to call elder sister!"

With that, Shiba Ganju scurried back into the inner rooms in a flash.

Shin could not help but chuckle at the sight.

This family was quite interesting; the daily atmosphere here must be full of liveliness.

Shiba Kaien laughed as well. "My younger brother's temperament is just a bit too rash."

"I think he's just like you—authentic and full of genuine spirit. Very interesting."

Shiba Kaien raised an eyebrow at those words, the corners of his mouth curving upward.

"Come on, let's go inside."

The two of them passed through the entryway. The moment they stepped into the living room, a sharp, angry female voice rang out from within.

"Ganju, have you grown tired of living?!"

"No, Big Sister, we have a guest!"

"What kind of damn guest? Throw him out! Tell him we're not open for business today!"

"Big Brother is back, too."

Listening to the voice, Shin felt his brow twitch. To be honest, one of the main reasons he had actively requested to visit Shiba Kaien's home was precisely because of Shiba Kukaku, wondering if he could somehow reap some favorability rewards from her.

Yet the personality she displayed was somewhat beyond his expectations—her temper seemed even more explosive than he had imagined.

Before coming in, Shin had noticed a sign hanging by the entrance of the Shiba estate that read "Firework Sales." For a venerable member of the Four Noble Houses like the Shiba family to be running such a common peddler's business—anyone who saw it would certainly be surprised.

Clutching one side of his face with a pitiful expression, Shiba Ganju emerged from the inner bedroom.

Right behind him came another figure, looking listless and letting out a yawn. Although her hair was disheveled, Shin still found his eyes lighting up.

Despite being Shiba Kaien's younger sister, the young woman before him already possessed the air of a fiercely mature older sister. Having just woken up from a nap, she wore only a white sarashi wrap across her upper body, paired with a white side-slit miniskirt below. Her healthy wheat-colored skin, tall and well-proportioned frame, and firm muscle lines were brimming with a sense of strength and vitality.

However, because she had just woken up, her expression at the moment was quite foul. She dragged her feet and cast a sweeping glance toward the living room, immediately locking eyes with Shin.

The two of them stared at each other for a moment, and Shin blinked.

Thud!

For reasons unknown, Shiba Kukaku suddenly kicked outward, sending Ganju crashing to the floor, before swiftly turning around, heading back into her room, and slamming the door shut with a loud bang.

Shin: "..."

Kaien: "..."

Ganju: "╥﹏╥"

Finally unable to hold it in, Kaien rubbed his forehead in helpless frustration and said, "Please excuse this spectacle. Have a seat."

After Shin took his seat, Ganju dusted off his backside and stood up—evidently long accustomed to his eldest sister's domestic violence—and proactively went to pour tea for their guest.

Before long, Shiba Kukaku pushed the door open and walked out once again. This time she was properly dressed, having added a short red vest over her white sarashi wrap, along with trousers on the bottom.

Even so, her expression had hardly improved, presumably still plagued by lingering morning sleepiness.

[Shiba Kukaku]
[Favorability: 3]

Tch!

Perhaps because they might run into each other frequently, Shin had come here simply hoping to secure the 10-point favorability reward from Shiba Kukaku. Now, it seemed, that would not be so easy.

The look Shiba Kukaku cast toward Shin clearly conveyed: Who is this brat?

Shiba Kaien made the introduction once again: "Kukaku, this is my friend Tachibana Shin. He's currently a student at the Shinigami Academy."

"Hello, Miss Kukaku," Shin greeted politely.

Shiba Kukaku sat opposite Shin and took a sip of the tea Ganju had poured, merely lifting her eyelids. "Are we that close? Just call me Miss Shiba."

Shin: "..."

*Hiss*, so prickly?!

Subsequently, Shiba Kukaku looked toward Shiba Kaien. "How did a student from the academy become your friend?"

Given that her older brother was the lieutenant of the Thirteenth Division, logic dictated he shouldn't have much contact with these cadet-level Shinigami.

Shiba Kaien was usually a very casual and carefree person, but seeing his younger sister adopt such an attitude in front of an outsider, he could not help scolding her slightly, "Kukaku, you are being too rude!"

Shiba Kukaku merely rolled her eyes at him, looking as though she hadn't taken his words to heart at all.

At that moment, Shin intervened, "It's fine. Miss Shiba is simply being true to herself. After all, it was my sudden, uninvited intrusion—I should be the one feeling apologetic."

Hearing this, Shiba Kukaku glanced at him without uttering a word.

[Favorability: 4]

Shin breathed a silent sigh of relief inwardly. *Good, good, she's a normal person after all!*

Feeling somewhat humiliated and realizing he possessed zero authority as the eldest brother, Shiba Kaien said, "Shin will be dining with us today. You two go get things ready."

Turning to Ganju nearby, Shiba Kukaku commanded, "Go make dinner."

Facing his eldest sister, Ganju could only meekly reply, "Yes," before retreating from the living room.

Having finished her tea, Shiba Kukaku stood up as if preparing to leave.

"Where are you going?"

"The fireworks from last time aren't finished yet. Call me when dinner's ready," Shiba Kukaku dropped the words without looking back.

Looking apologetic, Shiba Kaien said to Shin, "Kukaku has a hobby; she's deeply fascinated by fireworks."

Smiling warmly, Shin replied, "That's wonderful. I enjoy watching fireworks very much myself."

Meanwhile, Shiba Kaien was roaring internally: *How humiliating! Truly humiliating!*
*I shouldn't have brought this kid home!*
*What on earth possessed this boy to insist on being a guest at my house?!*

Shin glanced sideways at Shiba Kukaku's departing back. When he had just mentioned liking fireworks, Shiba Kukaku's stride had visibly paused for a split second.

[Favorability: 5]