Grandpa!

　When the serious Yuto looks at his grandfather, who couldn't even sense a sign of his presence, Sumazo looks at the direction Julian is in with his eyes behind the mask as if he were looking at everyday life.

'Oh dear, you've called in a great deal (.........). That's not a jutsu, but rather........... well, never mind.

　Somewhat farther behind Kazura, Kotone was looking up at her own brother in the sky with a thoughtful expression on her face.

''Brother.......why?''

　Kotone clutches the collar of her chest and continues to catch sight of Mizushige. But Mizushige is not looking at Kotone.
　It was as if Kotone was not an entity that Mizushige cared about.

　Before the fierce battle in this plaza began, Kotone was worried about Mizushige, who was supposedly in the middle of a big festival match, so she left Katsuzo and the others and headed to the area where Mizushige was.
　Then, running through the trees and deep into the bushes, Kotone was able to meet Mizushige.
　Kotone shouted at the back of her respected brother, Mizushige, whom she found.

''Brother, it's hard!　Right now, Shitenji was attacked by... what?

Kotone...?

　Kotone unconsciously stopped running to her feet when Mizushige turned around at Kotone's call.
　Because, she was surprised.
　There was Mizushige, who seemed to be enjoying himself wholeheartedly.
　He didn't raise his voice.
　It was ... a very innocent smile, Kotone thought.
　Kotone, who had been beside her brother for a long time, didn't remember seeing Mizushige's smile either.
　Kotone had always wanted to see her brother happy.
　You're going to be able to find out what you can do with it.
　Now that wish has come true.
　I know it wasn't just for me. Mizushige must have been happy about something else. But Mizushige's smile was there, the one I had hoped to see at some point.
　So surprised, he stopped in his tracks, trying to get closer to his brother.
　But........that wasn't the only reason why his feet stopped.

　

''Brother........?　Now, the enemy....

Enemies? What do you mean by enemies?　Kotone.

''Well that's why your brother must have noticed it too, right?　They're the ones who attacked this Shitennji!　The participants have been attacked without any distinction between the four temples!　Your brother could fight it off.

Hmm....

　The smile disappeared from Mizushige's face as she stared at Kotone.
　Kotone was not at peace inside, as the chill he felt from Mizushige earlier was still present.
　He was the only brother in the Sanzenin family that she respected and admired.
　He was creeped out by everyone in the house, and even his own parents shunned him, and he was the only one in the house.
　However, even under such circumstances, Mizushige was one of the most talented and most powerful men and women in the history of Sanzenin, including her feminine appearance, and she wore an atmosphere that attracted others, for better or worse, and in Kotone's eyes, she was a solitary being who never lost her nobility.
　It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what you're looking for. I was proud and happy to know that Mizushige was my brother, and the feeling of caring for such a brother was the last freedom I could give to Sanzenin.
　But.........now, unconsciously, Kotone stepped back half a step.
　Then, Mizushige's eyes narrowed in amusement.

''Ho........''

　Kotone had no idea what Mizushige's reaction meant, and it created a tension that she had never felt before.

'Kotone I am leaving Sanzenin. From now on I have nothing to do with Sanzenin. Tell them that.''

Yeah.

　Kotone's eyes widened and she stared back at her brother. However, he wasn't surprised by what he was saying. Because he had a feeling that at some point the time would come when Mizushige would say something like this.
　And he had also decided how he would respond when that time came.
　But I don't know why today, now.
　Mizushige had a lot of reactions that he hadn't had before since participating in this Great Festival of Shitenji.



　
　But still, I take half a step forward, half a step back, trying to say the answer I had decided to give if my brother had said this to me.

''Brother, then I'll go too...!

Don't do that.

　Before he could finish, Kotone received a response from Mizushige and stiffened his body.

'Your coming is of no benefit to me. Rather, it's a hindrance.''

....!

　Kotone looks bloodthirsty at Mizushige's words, which are not nibbling.

''Since this is the time, let's just say it, Kotone.

　At this time, a shockwave of great power colliding from the plaza in front of the heavyweight seat passed between the two of them, and Mizushige turned his head in the direction of the plaza.

''Kotone you were as trivial to me as any other human being. You have no way, no strength, no courage, no urge to go against your home. So, you don't even look into your weak heart, you just rely on me, a small existence that relies on me, a stronghold, to protect your last bit of self-respect. They create a false image of me as a convenient falsehood, as if I were their only hope for their unhappy lives.

"...and...?

　Mizushige turned to Kotone again.

'It's really crap. It's not even worth picking up. That's you, Kotone. There's no way that you, that you could ever be by my side.''

　He didn't raise his voice, nor did he have any inflection.
　There is no change in his expression, as if Mizushige is reporting the facts in a matter-of-fact manner.

''Ah........ah.''

　Kotone is astonished and her body and legs begin to tremble. She doesn't even have the right perspective, only tears begin to flow.
　Her brother was everything to her. That's what he thinks.
　The words said by that brother, without any emotion, made Kotone's heart ache beyond her imagination.

'And yet........brother, I.......I want to be on your side.......'

That tells you that you don't know yourself. It's like saying, 'You don't know your place in life, and you don't know this water weight.'

....

　Even though Kotone is only talking, she can barely stand up, and her mind is spinning so fast that she can't see up and down in her field of vision.
　Mizushige's eyes, unsure if she understands or is not interested in Kotone's situation.

'Kotone, are you having a hard time?　To remain in Sanzenin. To be rejected by me. Then, with a final act of mercy, I'll let you go.

　As he said that, the wind spirits began to gather around Mizushige.

''Kotone, if you return to nothingness, it will be easier for you. If being alone is so painful, then I will help you. ''Kotone, my foolish sister. This must be one of the endings you wanted.

　Instantly, the wind spirit controlled by Mizushige changed shape into a transparent blade. Mizushige raised her right hand and tried to swing it down at Kotone, who was stunned and unable to move.
　Despite the fact that she is about to put her own sister in her hands now, Mizushige's expression is quiet and without a single point of hesitation.

''Kotone-chan, where are you!　Hey, look for the freaky mask!　Yeah?　What are you doing, are you going to whistle with your fingers?

　Suijuana's wind blade popped and disappeared at the same time as Akihana's voice came from behind the bushes.

''Ho........Looks like a terrifying person has arrived.

　Mizushige stared at the area around his right hand where his wind spirit art had blown away, and then shifted his gaze to Kotone.
　Kotone, who still seemed to have lost her ego, just stood there. She remained like this even when Mizushige had almost taken her life.
　Mizushige disappeared from the scene without saying anything more.

"Kotone you stopped approaching me when you found me, and then you took half a step back, fearing me and keeping your distance. I don't hate that you.
　A breeze rustled in Kotone's ears as she was stunned and self-conscious.

''........Huh?''

　Kotone looked up as if she was huffing and puffing.
　I don't know if it was my imagination or if I'm just hearing things.
　For a moment, the only thing that remained was the strange sensation of being whispered to by Mizushige, as if she had been shown her heart.
　Then Ten-chan, who was wearing an autumn flower and a joking mask and carrying a hero, appeared.

''Ah, there he is!　Thank God you're okay!　Yeah?　Kotone, what's wrong?　What's going on?　Are you okay!

　Noticing Kotone's tear-stained cheeks, Akika was surprised and worried as she placed her hands on both of Kotone's shoulders.
　It was that slight human skin, but it seeped into Kotone, and little by little she regained her strength in her heart.

''Akika-san... what are you doing here?''

'What are you talking about?　We can't leave Kotone alone in this dangerous place!　That's why I came after you right away. Kotone, I'm surprised you're faster than I thought, already.

　Seeing Akihana's relieved face, Kotone's heart burned and she hugged Akihana.

''Wha!　What's going on?

Thank you.........Akika-san.

　Beside him, Ten-chan was looking in the direction of the square.

''Was that man trying to kill his own sister... no, I don't know...''

　Tenchanko, Sumazo muttered softly.