Here's an eel bowl.

　I walk into Kaede's private room with a bowl of eel bowl and hold it out in front of her as she sits quietly.

　Then Kaede stares at the bowl with a scowl.

　It's the same look as Kinugasa's. She probably thinks that the eel cannot be delicious when it is cooked anyway.

　But that's a big mistake. When you actually eat it, you'll understand that on your own.

"Kojiro, hurry up and have my portion........

Yes, sir.

　As I was gloating while looking at Kaede, I was urged to eat a bowl of unadorned rice by Mother, who was sitting next to me.

　As I thought, it seems that your mother also intends to eat unadon, as a matter of course. I'm sure she had Kaede tell her to eat it from the beginning so that she could eat the unadon.

　I can't help but think so when I look at my mother who is somewhat nervous.

　I've been thinking about this while I handed her the bowl of eel that I had prepared just in case.

　But Kaede, who is essential, just glares at the bowl and doesn't show any pretense of eating it.

'Come on, try the unadon.'

I understand.

　Kaede took the chopsticks and lifted the bowl of rice with a look of disapproval as I urged her to do so.

　When I removed the lid, steam rose up and the smell of fragrant unagi (eel) and thick sauce wafted out.

　I could see the beautifully browned eel with the sauce on its face, and underneath the eel, I could see the rice with the sauce soaked into it.

　Ah, after all, the smell of an eel bowl is explosive. Just smelling it makes me hungry.

　It's a magical scent that is different from other ordinary dishes.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find the right one for you.

I'm not going to be able to get it right.

That's right. Smells good, doesn't it?

　Kaede tightened her loose expression as she said with a grin.

''Well it's the taste that matters,''

　Hmm, that means the scent is good.

　My cheeks loosen up at my sister's obvious insistence.

　Now, the next step is the taste.

　I eat the unadorned rice bowl, give in to its deliciousness, and make her retract her earlier words.

　As I watch, anticipating such a future, Kaede takes a bite of the unagi and rice.

　Then Kaede's eyes widen.

'How do you like it?'

　Kaede asked with certainty, and Kaede slowly put down her bowl and chopsticks.

''--I.''

　Apparently, he couldn't even speak because of the deliciousness of the eel bowl.

''Hmm?　I can't hear you?

It's not good.

　When I asked again, Kaede answered briefly.

　I don't understand the meaning of the words Kaede said, so I ask again, making my voice snarl.

''What did you just say?''

That's why I said it wasn't good. This stuff is very inedible!

　Huh?　Did you say my eel bowl is bad?　That's ridiculous.

　I even tasted it when I made the eel bowl, but I'm sure it didn't taste particularly like that.

　Of course, compared to Al, things like the degree of cooking might be sweeter. I'm sure it was properly cooked and the surface was crispy.

　I'm going to try the bowl of eel that Kaede ate.

　It's the same unadorned taste as yesterday. The one that made Shogun Tsuyoshi-sama and your mother's tongue roar.

　Your mother, who is actually beside you, said, "You're lying when you say that unadon is not good, right? He has a dumbfounded look on his face, like.

'What part of this is bad!　It's true that I'm inexperienced and poorly made, but the surface is crispy and the meat is soft. The sauce and the rice go great together!

'Still, what's bad is bad!　Brother should be a swordsman rather than making this stuff!

　Something I finally wanted to do with all my heart. And they called it something like this.

　Calling my food bad is fine. It's also possible that my skills are inexperienced and that Kaede doesn't even like eels in the first place.

　But I couldn't forgive myself for making fun of the dish that my friend Al taught me.

''........Kaede, shut up.''

　The voice was so low that I was surprised myself.

　Hearing that, Kaede made a blatantly frightened expression. It wasn't her intention to take out such emotions on her lovely sister, but she couldn't control her own emotions right now.

　However, Kaede stoutly stated.

''Da, I won't shut up!　Your brother should be a swordsman!

''Either way, as long as you've given your sword back to Tsuyoshi-sama, it's impossible.

Then I'll go with you and apologize.

　Kaede's determined expression and words conveyed to me that she is deeply concerned as a sister.

　She is the most caring and compassionate sister in the world, even though she says harsh things.

　It's impossible not to be happy about that heart.

　But there are some things I can't give up either. If it's something as simple as that, I wouldn't have quit my job as a swordsman from the beginning.

I have no intention of returning to the castle.

Then it must be done. A duel.

　As he said this, Kaede stood up and said quietly.

　It was a look of determination, a resolve as a swordsman.

''If I win, I will have your brother return to the castle.

Very well. Then, if I win, you can retract your earlier statement and apologize.

　This is not a theory. It's like a clash of emotions between us.

　I want Kaede to bring me back to the castle and continue to be a swordsman.

　I want Kaede to approve of the nodding bowl.

　That's all.

　I've already quit as a swordsman without even having to fight a duel. You can run away from it, but that's just not a way to meet up with Al.

I'll allow you to fight. We'll use a wooden sword, and we'll play one game at a time.

　As me and Kaede glare at each other, Mother says sternly.

　There were grains of rice on its cheeks, and it looked like it had been eating unadon for a long time.

　I'm glad that he liked the unadon, but I want him to read the air a little more.



　◆



　I was to have a duel with Kaede, and I took my wooden sword and moved to the garden.

　Since this is the training ground used by the Inaba family, it is not as beautiful as the garden. There is no beauty here like a garden, only soft earth.

　When I got dressed and arrived, Kaede was already waiting for me.

　Kaede is quietly meditating with her eyes closed.

　I wonder if she is simulating the upcoming battle.

　It's a good idea to have a good time with your friends. I've lost count of the thousands and tens of thousands of times we have practiced against each other.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find out each other's habits and moves very easily, so tactics and reading each other will be important.

　When I came and reached a position about ten meters away, Kaede opened her eyes there.

　Kaede quietly held the wooden sword in both hands.

　You'll be able to get a good idea of what you're looking for. I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this.

　But that's the same thing here. This is the one time I won't lose.

Are you ready?

　As I too held up my wooden sword, my mother, a witness, called out from the edge.

　Kaede and I nodded quietly in response.

''Then begin!''

　Amidst the tense atmosphere in the rehearsal room, Mother's sharp voice rang out.

''Dehyaaaahhh!''

　Kaede was the first to make a move. She closed the open distance in the blink of an eye and slashed at me.

　Thrusts, kesa-slashes, right kirigami, and basic techniques that were drilled into her from a young age.

　These are basic movements that everyone handles as a matter of course, but when used by Kaede, who is also an expert, they become incredibly fast and sharp, a must-attack.

　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one.

　But I'm not an ordinary swordsman. And I knew that Kaede would attack me that way.

　It's the one who taught her that series of attacks.

　It's impossible not to understand the advantages and disadvantages of your technique.

　I'm not going to be able to get the best out of it.

　Then I extend my legs to where Kaede is trying to regain her stance with a blank stance.

''Whoa!''

　Then Kaede caught on to it and fell forward.

''d*mn!''

　However, Kaede reacted immediately and stood up to avoid being chased.

　Her nose is red from being hit hard, and her cheek is still covered in sand.

　When you see your sister like that, you want to call out your concern, but you can't do it because you are currently in a duel.

　Kaede slashes at me again, not caring about the sand on my cheek.

　Having seen through it all, I dodge them with a paperweight and catch them with my wooden sword only where it's minimally necessary.

　These delicate evasive maneuvers are troublesome because they use nerves, but I can't say that just today.

'W-why?　We're usually able to hammer away at each other more...

'I'm sorry, Kaede. I'm serious today.

　In an actual match, I have a 60 percent chance of winning and Kaede has a 40 percent chance. It's almost the same as 50-50.

　However, that is only for the practice in the castle.

''You're saying you're serious today.......you're saying you're not usually serious!

Yeah.

　It is a fact that there is still a strong sense of discrimination against women, no matter how strong they are.

　If they continue to beat Kaede up in training, there will be questions about female swordsmen.

　Even with the support of Tsuyoshi and the Inaba family, discrimination against women swordsmen is still strong.

'You may be a sloppy brother, but I thought you were more serious than anyone else when it comes to swords!

　Hearing my words, Kaede lashes out in anger mixed with some disappointment.

　The more pissed off Kaede gets, the straighter and simpler her swordsmanship becomes.

　I've understood that habit since I was a small child, and I disrupted the pace by closing the distance from us.

　I did the same thing by putting my foot on Kaede as she moved and tried to slash at me.

　Although Kaede is rolling on the ground, she still gets up instantly.

　Do you want me to be a swordsman to that extent? Do you affirm that I should be a swordsman? I'm happy to see my sister, who is an older brother, expressing such straightforward feelings.

　But there's one thing I can't give up. I will quit my job as a swordsman, make delicious unadorned rice bowls, open a restaurant and spread the word to Kagura.

　That's what I swore to my friend. You can't just stumble into a situation like this.

　I aim to swing my wooden sword at the point where Kaede raises her arm to do an upper-level slash.

　Perhaps because I was struck the moment my grip wasn't strong and firm, Kaede's wooden sword flew far away and fell to the ground.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

''That's one.''

　When I hit a solid one, Kaede let out a polo tear from her eyes.

''Ugh, ugh........''

What's going on?　Was it pretty painful, by any chance?　Or did your face hurt when you fell and hit it!

　Suddenly, my sister's tears make me puzzled.

　After all, even though it was a duel, would it have been too much to roll them over and over again?　But if I kept ducking all the time, the stubborn and stubborn Kaede wouldn't be convinced, so why should I have done it?

'No, it's not. It doesn't hurt.

I'm sorry, I should have cut you some slack. I'm sorry I didn't mean to be a jerk to you.



'No, that's not possible. The duel is mine to win.

　As expected of me, even though I am weak to my sister, I can't just listen to that.

　Or rather, I was the one who won the duel.

''Enough, big brother ahoy!

　When I said it once and for all, Kaede shouted that and ran off.

　When I saw her sad looking back, I wanted to run after her, but there was no way I could do that now.

　As I stand there, your mother comes over to me.

'Kaede has been chasing your back all along. And I'm sure she was happy to be able to stand in line in the castle.

Yes, I knew that.

　For a long time now, Kaede has only followed my back, and she seemed to enjoy hitting up with me very much.

　I also enjoyed the time I spent with Kaede.

　Her innocent smile saved me many times when the pressure of the Inaba family and your mother almost overwhelmed me.

　I was so proud to be the head swordsman of the castle with my brother and sister.

　But I couldn't stay there as I found a new path and a new faith.

　I want to complete that bowl of eel rice that Al taught me, and I want to share the same excitement with someone else. I want to make people smile.

　So this time I want to make Kaede smile when she eats the eel bowl.

　You may spend some time being disillusioned with her, but eventually I will make the best unadoncells in Kagura.

　And at that time, I want to be an older brother for her to be proud of again.