Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Hey, no slouching!" Koga scolded, running a brush through Arisa's hair. She paused mid-stroke upon catching the latter's stubborn scowl in the looking glass. "You can't be making faces like that around Shina-sama. Remember how Hokyū-dono taught you to behave around guests."
Indeed, Shirobana Shina and her entourage had reached Amenoka-jima almost a week prior. She had been formally welcomed by Uzuki Misokatsu at the main shrine several days ago, but it had been decided long beforehand that the Takagishi family at Benigoi Village would host her during her time here. She was set to arrive that very evening, and both Takagishi siblings had rightfully been in quite a state all day, flying about to ensure that the household was in order and – in Koga's case – laying down some ground rules on basic courtesy to any remaining vocal dissidents to the arrangement... one of which was seated before her now, to state the obvious.
"But she isn't a guest," Arisa answered sullenly, playing with one of the decorative tassels on her obi. She continued to eye her own reflection with that vaguely critical air children were accustomed to assuming when projecting their anger to unrelated niceties. Her outfit was brand new, commissioned from Benigoi Village just for this occasion. The set had been hand delivered to the Takagishi residence late last week, wrapped in crepe and a furoshiki – a summer kimono of mulberry fabric with a faint damask patterning, golden sash, a matching fan, and a pristine pair of tabi socks.
It was a beautiful piece, but Arisa certainly didn't enjoy having to don it at that moment. The fabric smelled too stringent and new, felt too stiff and confining against her skin. She felt more like a doll than a girl wearing it. Shiori and Koga's old hand-me-downs were infinitely preferable.
Koga only thinned her eyes. She too was dressed in her best kimono, her makeup applied and hair already done up.
"She is."
"She isn't! She and the Fūgetsu... they're the reason why Suzume was sent away!"
"That isn't true and you know it. Shina-sama shouldn't be blamed for how we chose who to send." The warning in Koga's voice sharpened. "If you have any issues with the hostage selection, then you should bring it up with the lord instead of lashing out at those who hardly deserve it."
The little girl lowered her chin with another childish scoff. Suzume was still a sore subject for her, having departed a little over a month ago – hardly enough time for Arisa to emotionally prepare herself for the arrival of the Fūgetsu clan hostage. The dreaded day had come nonetheless, however – the world was cruel like that, always unheeding in the face of unwelcome change – and now she was expected to deal with it. It felt... no, it was unfair for her to be expected to take it all in stride!
The Fūgetsu had been the ones who'd demanded that Arisa be the one to go to begin with. Had it not been for that, Suzume wouldn't have had to have volunteered. Arisa didn't care what Koga said; as far as she was concerned, this entire nightmare was all their fault.
