"Kunikuzushi"

Puppet

The sleepover wasn't as rough as you assumed it to be despite how difficult it took for you to fall asleep. Yashiro Commission's headquarters was thankfully rather peaceful, if not for the passing citizens traveling to Grand Narukami Shrine.

Albeit the room you stayed in was beautiful and chic, there was a dramatic and melancholy feel to the atmosphere. Your eyes were heavy and groggy; the apparent aftermath for thinking strange thoughts during your slumber. If not for the shuffling of feet from the Kamisato Clan's keepers from outside your room, you would have happily cradled yourself back to sleep.

In truth, you weren't feeling all that great. Your body still felt heavy but not as harsh as the previous date. It was your legs which burdened you the most despite having trained yourself for so many years.

Kaedehara's friend was nowhere within view, so you assumed he stayed true to his word and took off for some fresh air in the area. When you arose from your cushion, it didn't occur to you that you had been crying in your sleep. The cushion was stained with recently fallen tears while the last of the waterworks slowly trickled down your cheek.

You sighed.

You weren't particularly sad at that current moment in time, but you were no doubt distraught.

Even after a couple of necessary morning stretches, your body still ached and pained you. Sad, you slumped right back under the covers with a thud. A fast-approaching pair of footsteps sounded as if they were coming your way, until the door slid open and Thoma entered with a face full of glee.

"Morning-! Oh-" He noticed you had tried hiding under the covers and took a couple steps closer to clarify if you were awake or not.
"Good morning," responding from beneath the covers only made your words sound like a mumble to Thoma, "I'm sorry, my gloom might pass onto you should you see me how I am right now."

"It's fineeee, I'm sure!" His upbeat personality didn't seem to affect you as it normally would have.
"I heard some scuffling and came right over in case you needed anything."

The only thing on your mind right now was breakfast and a bath. And it was if Thoma read your mind in an instant as he insisted he'd prepared anything you desired as long as you were under the care of the Kamisato Clan.

"I'll warm up a bath for you after you have something to eat," Thoma walked by your side and set down a tray of food. You could smell the delicacies through the covers but remained firmly in place. "Make a left once you're out of this room and the baths are right there for use. Enjoy!"

"Thoma?" You called for him before he set a quick pace to leave, "Thank you. Thank you so much for your kindness." You quickly rubbed away any tears and alien objects from your face before raising your body from the sheets to bow.

Thoma grew flustered, not expecting the sudden show of gratitude from somebody he thought was still half asleep. "Please, it's no trouble at all. I'm happy to help out where I can." He waved goodbye and left you to your thoughts.

The building remained full of life but outside the nearby window provided nothing but an eerie silence.

You ought to take up Thoma's kind offer in that bath, so you quickly finished the gracious light meal before heading over to his location. Your body could definitely use a good soak and being under the care of the Kamisato Clan meant that there would certainly be a bath rich for the prestige.

Yet somehow, what should have been a gentle and relaxing soak had erupted into a mindful bath of your loitering thoughts. Once again your mind drifted onto thinking about none other than the one and only Kuni. A painful reminder at which Yae commented that he was known to be a puppet. You had always argued against it regardless of the facts provided to you, however you decided to think about it from a different approach.