"Huh?!"
The moment Mitsuba finished speaking, before Michikatsu could even react, Amei subconsciously exclaimed and hurriedly said:
"W-what are you talking about, Little Sister Mitsuba? Master Yoriichi, he, he couldn't possibly..."
"It's fine, it's fine, elder brother is actually very free, you completely don't need to worry about that, Amei!"
"That's not what I meant! What I mean is, my family is actually doing fine... really fine!
A-and I'm just an ordinary geisha, how could I trouble Master Yoriichi... ugh!"
Before Amei could finish her words, Mitsuba directly reached out and lifted the bangs covering her cheek, revealing the swollen bruise beneath her long hair.
"Your face has been beaten like this and you still say you're fine, Amei, you really can endure..."
"No! I, I just..."
Hurriedly breaking free from Mitsuba's hand to cover her cheek again, Amei subconsciously looked toward Michikatsu.
Only to see that Michikatsu, who had been silent all this while, was now nodding and opening his mouth to speak:
"Very well. Since you have this idea, Mitsuba, then Miss Amei, tonight I shall follow you home and have a proper talk with that husband of yours."
"Huh?!"
Seeing that Michikatsu had actually agreed, Amei was completely stunned.
"How could Master Yoriichi follow Little Sister Mitsuba in this nonsense, my family really..."
"There's no need to worry."
Before Amei could finish, Michikatsu turned to look at her, his face stern, and spoke seriously:
"Since Miss Amei helped Mitsu... helped me earlier, it is only natural that I now repay you.
This matter is settled."
Actually, when Mitsuba spoke just now, Michikatsu had already perceived her purpose.
His eccentric younger sister seemed to want to use the opportunity of helping this young woman before them to make him change as well?
Although Michikatsu didn't quite understand what purpose this served, as he had said before, he acknowledged that he owed Mitsuba.
Therefore, as long as it wasn't something excessively unreasonable, he wouldn't refuse.
This matter before him was the same.
Since Mitsuba wanted him to do this, then he would try doing it...
"Ugh..."
Looking at Michikatsu's firm, unyielding gaze, Amei didn't refuse further, only lowering her head silently, her face on the verge of tears.
What to do...
She had originally only wanted to borrow some money from Master Yoriichi to repay her husband's gambling debts, how had things suddenly come to this...
She clearly hadn't wanted this kind and humorous Master Yoriichi to see her terrible side...
"Well then, elder brother, I'm counting on you for everything?"
Seeing the matter completely resolved, Mitsuba finally stood up, smiling as she patted the dust off her clothes, and said:
"I'll head back first. Contact me if anything happens."
"..."
Thus, after Mitsuba left, Michikatsu followed Amei as they left the red-light district together, heading toward her home.
"Um, Master Yoriichi..."
Throughout this moonlit journey, Amei's steps were slow.
"Actually, you really don't need to follow Little Sister Mitsuba in this nonsense, my family really..."
"Miss Amei, no need for further words. Just lead the way."
"Ugh..."
Walking and stopping, she still occasionally tried to persuade Michikatsu to abandon his plan of following her home.
Though she never succeeded once.
And no matter how much Amei tried to slow their pace, the journey home would eventually reach its end.
When that small wooden cabin at the alley entrance ahead appeared in their field of vision, Amei—who had been nervous and anxious the entire way—finally calmed down at this moment.
"Master Yoriichi, please wait outside for a moment, I... I'll go inside first to check."
"Very well."
With Michikatsu's gentle nod, Amei stepped forward to her own door. She took a deep breath, then reached out and pushed open the door.
"I'm home..."
"Why are you back so early today?!"
Before Amei's voice faded, an irritable male voice rang out from the dark interior.
"Didn't I tell you to entertain several more wealthy clients, to not return until at least morning? Huh?!"
Hearing this reprimand, Amei's body subconsciously trembled.
But thinking of Michikatsu standing not far behind her at this moment, she still summoned her courage and spoke:
"Today, there was something..."
"Something?! What could be more important than earning money?!"
From the darkness inside, a skinny male hand suddenly reached out, grabbing Amei and pulling her into the house.
Taking this opportunity, Michikatsu—quietly standing not far away—finally clearly saw the man's appearance.
Ordinary features, emaciated physique—the kind of thinness caused by long-term malnutrition from irregular meals.
Oily and disheveled hair, unkempt beard, red-rimmed eyes covered in bloodshot veins—clearly someone who had long immersed himself in gambling dens.
Not noticing Michikatsu nearby, inside the house, the man continued questioning Amei with that irritable voice.
"What? Don't tell me you earned money from some wealthy client... Where's today's money?! Hurry up and give it to me!"
"I, I didn't receive my wages tonight..."
"What did you say?! Bitch! You dare come back without earning money?!"
"Ugh!"
Inside the house, the sound of a slap suddenly rang out, followed by the dull thud of someone falling to the ground.
This made Michikatsu outside slightly frown, subconsciously placing his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist.
"I, I really didn't receive any money, but I found a gentleman willing to lend me money... but this gentleman requires, requires meeting you first..."
"Huh? Meet me?"
Only at this moment did the man inside finally notice Michikatsu standing outside the door.
"Eek?!"
Seemingly frightened by Michikatsu's astonishing height and the sword at his waist, the man subconsciously retreated two steps, falling on his rear to the ground, and questioned with a terrified expression:
"W-who are you?! What are you doing standing at my door?!
H-hurry up and leave! Or believe me, I'll immediately call the magistrate's office to arrest you!"
"I am Miss Amei's... friend, Tsugikuni Michikatsu."
Michikatsu spoke in a deep voice.
He stood just outside the doorway, first glancing at Amei who had been slapped to the ground, then shifting his gaze to the man paralyzed with fear on the floor, not concealing the disgust in his eyes in the slightest.
"What Michikatsu or whatever... this is my house! You hurry up and give me... wait!"
As if suddenly realizing something, the man's gaze swept back and forth between Michikatsu and Amei.
Especially after seeing the man's handsome face, he seemed to suddenly understand something, his expression instantly twisting.
"Bitch!"
Rushing forward to close and lock the door, the man grabbed the rolling pin from the cutting board nearby, striking Amei—who had fallen to the ground—again and again with vicious force, while continuously cursing:
"I knew it! Cheap woman! I fucking knew it! I knew you'd hook up with other men sooner or later! I knew it!"
"I didn't! Master Yoriichi just..."
"Shut up! You cheap woman! You actually dared to bring a wild man into my home! Bitch! See if I don't beat you to death! I..."
"Enough!"
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