"..."
Listening to Kurama Yakumo's overly blunt words, Aoba couldn't help but press his forehead slightly, then pinched her cheek and asked, "Then can you still move around this afternoon?"
Kurama Yakumo didn't mind his actions at all. Instead, she nestled into his arms and gently rubbed her face against his palm.
Her tone was full of satisfaction and attachment as she said, "I can, but I feel like just lying in bed like this and hugging each other all day would be pretty nice too. As long as I can stay with you, Aoba."
She was easy to satisfy.
"…"
Aoba felt a bit helpless hearing how easily content she was.
'Is this what they call sage mode?'
"Then you're not planning to go take the wedding photos anymore?"
"Hm?"
Kurama Yakumo seemed to suddenly snap back to attention and said without hesitation, "We're going!"
But then her tone shifted, and the corner of her lips curled slightly.
"But…"
As those slightly alluring words fell, the Kurama Yakumo who had been limp like a puddle in Aoba's arms just half a minute ago suddenly seemed to regain her energy.
She sprang up in one motion, completely flipping the situation, her pair of brown eyes bright and lively again.
"Before that, one more time!"
"Wait, with your current condition, aren't you afraid you won't even be able to walk later?"
"It's fine, then you can carry me there."
"..."
———
Half an hour later, Aoba walked out of the room carrying a freshly cleaned Kurama Yakumo in his arms.
Arriving at the dining room, Yugito and Kin had already prepared lunch.
"Lord Aoba, Lady Yakumo, lunch is ready."
Kin spoke to the two with a slightly restrained tone.
"Hmph!"
As for Yugito, when she saw the two arrive, she just gave a cold snort and turned her face away.
But if you looked closely, there was a faint blush on both of their faces.
Clearly, they had vaguely heard some of the earlier noises.
However, the two of them had also thoughtfully prepared red bean rice for Kurama Yakumo.
"Thanks for your hard work."
Aoba placed Kurama Yakumo onto a chair, and when the latter saw the red bean rice, she also sincerely expressed her thanks to the two.
"Thank you."
"No, I should be the one saying thank you."
Kin said somewhat shyly.
Kurama Yakumo: "..."
Aoba couldn't help but laugh at the scene.
But just as he was about to sit down as well, Yugito, who had still been acting like a cold little cat a moment ago, suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist.
"Hm? What is it?"
Aoba looked at her in confusion.
He didn't understand what she was trying to do.
Facing his question, Yugito's expression didn't change. She still spoke in a cool tone, "You eat later. Come with me first."
"Huh?"
Not giving Aoba a chance to speak, Yugito had already pulled him toward the bathroom.
While dragging him along, she said, "The bathroom pipes seem to be clogged. Come take a look at what to do."
Aoba didn't react at first, 'If the bathroom pipes are clogged, as a ninja, you should be able to fix it easily. Why do you need need me…'
'Hm?'
'Wait, no, that's not right!'
Aoba immediately understood.
'Fine, for this kind of technical work, it really does seem like I have to handle it personally.'
'With Yugito being so clumsy, she definitely can't deal with it properly.'
"Ahem! Yakumo, you eat first. I'll go check it out."
"?"
But it wasn't just Aoba who was momentarily confused. Both Kurama Yakumo and Kin had question marks pop up over their heads as well.
After all, Yugito's serious, cold expression was pretty convincing.
But as a comrade who had been through thick and thin together with her, Kin, who deeply understood the chaotic nature hidden beneath Yugito's serious exterior, quickly figured it out.
After serving Aoba his rice, she immediately took off her apron and hurried after them.
"Lady Yakumo, please eat first. I'll go see if there's anything I can help with."
"..."
'Isn't that excuse way too lame?'
Kurama Yakumo couldn't help but roll her eyes.
After muttering quietly to herself, she just silently began eating her lunch.
It was just unclogging a bathroom pipe. For someone as experienced as Aoba, it was nothing more than an easy job.
In the blink of an eye, the three of them came back.
It just seemed like it had taken a bit of physical effort. Yugito and Kin were both slightly out of breath.
"That fast? The bathroom pipes are already unclogged?"
Kurama Yakumo had only taken a couple of bites of her meal when she saw the three return, and asked knowingly with a teasing tone.
"Ahem! It was nothing. Just a very simple job."
Aoba spoke with a straight face, spouting nonsense.
"Mm, Lord Aoba is very skilled in this area."
Kin thought Kurama Yakumo hadn't figured it out, so she helpfully explained from the side.
"..."
Now both of them were speechless, and Yugito looked at Kin like she was an idiot.
"D-Did I say something wrong?", Kin asked weakly.
Kurama Yakumo didn't get angry over it, but given the situation, she was definitely going to throw a small tantrum.
She directly slammed her chopsticks onto the table.
"Aoba, I don't have any strength left. I want you to feed me."
"..."
Aoba couldn't help but laugh, but he didn't refuse.
"Alright."
After agreeing, he took the red bean rice in front of her and brought it over to himself.
Feeling the gazes of Yugito and Kin, Kurama Yakumo's mood quickly improved again.
The two of them also finished their lunch early and went off to handle other things.
The smile on Kurama Yakumo's face grew even more smug.
After finishing lunch, the two of them rested on the sofa for a while before heading out together.
And just as she had said earlier, the physically weaker Kurama Yakumo was carried on Aoba's back to the wedding dress shop.
The shop owner, who had already seen all kinds of situations, was completely unfazed by this by now.
(End of the Chapter)