Chapter 9: Dinner
After 15 minutes both Yuu and Shizuka were sitting outside the dojo covered in sweat, Shizuka looked like she was fully exhausted.
"You have really improved," Shizuka complimented Yuu since he seemed to be improving at a tremendous rate, it has been only been over 3 years since he started kendo, and yet he could toe to toe with her who has been doing it for over 20 years now.
"It is because I have a good teacher," Yuu shook his head and he wasn't lying about it, he knew next to nothing about kendo and kenjutsu but Shizuka was a great teacher who thought him everything about it.
"Stop with the praises I already know I am great," Shizuka laughed as she waved her hand but she was stunned as...
"W-what are you doing?" Shizuka saw Yuu grabbing her wrist with a serious expression, her face heated up as a slight blush appeared on her face.
'Is he going to ask me about the reason why I am behaving like this?' Shizuka calmed herself down as Yuu was looking at her palms and he suddenly looked up into her eyes.
"Shizuka-nee you always talk about taking care of our hands during a spar, but why didn't you see your own hands were swollen," Yuu had a reproachful look which shocked Shizuka for a bit.
"Well, Something like this is normal," Shizuka rubbed the back of her head as she had forgotten to check her hands today and truly the swelling wasn't something to freak out about.
"No, wait here I'll get an ice pack," Yuu stood up and ran into the dojo, there was a small refrigerator there and it had ice packs there.
'This surely is a first,' Shizuka smiled softly as she saw Yuu applying the ice pack to her hands, he brought her a towel to wipe the sweat on her face.
After a few minutes when Yuu seemed to have relaxed since the swelling wasn't that bad he sat down next to Shizuka again.
"Hey show me your hands," Shizuka didn't even wait for Yuu's response and took his hand observing it for any injury. She had used quite a lot of strength in her blows and Yuu had defended for the most part so his hand might be worse, at least it should be that way.
Yuu didn't resist and let Shizuka look since there was nothing.
"Your hand isn't even affected like always, Looks like karate training did wonders for you," Shizuka sighed since she knew it would be this way.
'His hand is very rough compared to mine,' Shizuka traced Yuu's palm with her fingers feeling how different it was, She had calluses as well but her hands were still slender and soft unlike Yuu's.
'It is much bigger than mine as well,' She laid her palm on his to see how much bigger his hand was than hers, but even if it was rough and big, his hand had a certain warmth and softness to it.
Shizuka seemed to have lost in her thoughts and continued to touch Yuu's palm, the latter didn't even move letting her do as she pleases as she examined his hands.
It was quite a tranquil time that eased the uneasiness in Shizuka's heart as the setting sun cast an orange hue on them. It was very peaceful.
"Oh my, what is happening here?" But the silence didn't last long as the sudden voice prompted the two to look up and see Yuuka.
"I thought Yuu and Shizuka-nee were supposed to be training," Yuuka grinned mischievously.
"I was just checking if there was any swelling on his hand," Shizuka coughed without breaking her calm act.
"You have been looking for the swelling for 5 minutes?" Yuuka said cracking Shizuka's calm expression making her blush slightly in embarrassment.
'You just arrived,' Yuu was amazed that Yuuka's lie worked on Shizuka which also showed how much she was focusing on his hand to ignore her surroundings.
"Shizuka-nee you act too cute for your ag- Ah damn," Yuuka partway realized her mistake and turned around running away as Shizuka ran after her.
"Damn you brat, I am still young," Shizuka was sensitive about her age if you still can't catch on to that.
'I don't understand why she thinks that way,' Yuu was just confused as to why Shizuka who was just 29 would be that sensitive about her age. He knew a few people weren't any different from children and they were near Shizuka's age.
Yuu shrugged since he knew that talking about this would yield no result, so he went back to the dojo to place the ice pack into the fridge and took Shizuka's vest and tie back since she forgot before closing the dojo.
Walking inside the house Yuu saw Yuuka holding her head and it seemed like she got her punishment as Shizuka looked at her with her arms folded.
"Both of you take a shower the food is almost ready," Kyouka who walked out of the kitchen looked at both Yuu and Shizuka who were sweaty.
"Yes, Oba-chan just a minute," Shizuka addressed Kyouka quickly before taking her clothes from Yuu.
Kyouka was Shizuka's maternal aunt, and Shizuka has been living with the Tachibana family for 5 years now for some reason.
Yuu and Shizuka went to take a shower in the bathroom on the second and first floor respectively. As Koharu helped Kyouka with placing the food on the table, Yuuka just stayed seated at the dining table using her phone.
Yuu quickly took his third shower of the day, changing into a black t-shirt and brown sweatpants and going down to the dining room.
"Come and sit down fast or the food will go cold," Kyouka smiled softly as Yuu quickly sat down. Yuuka, Shizuka, and Koharu were already in their seats, they were waiting for him to come.
The table was filled with different dishes, Karaage that seemed to be divided into two one with red sauce and one normal side, Miso soup with prawns and tofu, teriyaki salmon fillets, chicken and vegetable yakitori, with a cup full of rice in front of everyone.
Kyouka and Koharu really tried to make a feast and it seemed to work since the others looked hungry, especially Yuu and Shizuka.
"Thank you for the food," After the prayer, everyone started to eat. Yuu and Shizuka went for the karaage with red sauce since it was made for them especially since both of them liked spicy food.
Yuuka steered clear of that one going for the salmon fillet while Kyouka started with the miso soup and Koharu ate the yakitori with a satisfied smile. The five ate their food with small talk in between laughing and enjoying the meal.
"Hey Yuu, did you decide on your next manga?" Yuuka who was sitting on Yuu's right looked at him with excitement.
Of course, his family knew he was a Mangaka, and leaving Kyouka out the other three family members were quite a big fan of it as well. Especially...
"Yes, which one are you going to do next? Is it going to be Demon Slayer or Record of Ragnarok?" Shizuka had read a few chapters of these two and she liked them a lot. As Attack on titan was ending she wanted to read more of the ones she mentioned. She read a few chapters that Yuu kept in his room and liked them quite a bit.
"I like the demon one more," Yuuka pointed out.
"Leaving that aside, I am very excited for the end of Attack of titan, But if Mikasa is left alone… Hoho... It is going to be a war, How can you leave behind someone who wants to marry you, It isn't easy to find a partner," Shizuka's mood switched as she laughed dangerously while murmuring, Yuu avoided her eyes with some nervousness.
"Hehe," Koharu smiled bringing Shizuka and Yuuka's eyes to her. They were confused at first but then realization hit them.
"Masaka, (A/N: always wanted to use this,)" Yuuka was shocked to the core as Shizuka was trying to control herself.
"Sorry, I got curious and read it, Tehe~," Koharu hit her head slightly.
"This isn't fair, do you know how hard it was for me to stop myself," Shizuka's mood seemed to drop, she was holding on even while knowing that she could easily read it just by going in Yuu's room.
But she held on to reading it when it was released officially and this happened.
"So, that is why you were late in the morning," Kyouka smiled looking at Koharu who seemed to panic.
'She did catch on after all,' Yuu coughed as Kyouka was looking at him.
"Anyway, I came early today home to prepare a feast because Yuu completed his second Manga," Kyouka said.
Yuu remembered that Kyouka had done something similar when he finished Death note, and it wasn't at the release of the last chapter but when he completed the last chapter which was two weeks before the official end.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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