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Kanae was more than happy when she saw Aoi. Hayami had thought she would have gotten upset that she brought the young girl back without permission, but the flower hashira laughed at the idea of her getting angry.
Today would be another day of Hayami training to become Gyomei's tsuguko, and long gone was the nurse dress she normally wore. Before she took her leave for the mountains where they usually trained, Hayami waltzed into the kitchens to get herself some food in her system.
Much to her surprise, Aoi was using the kitchen counter to make the delectable onigiri. Hayami watched as the young girl struggled to shape the rice, she smiled softly as Aoi proceeded to frown at the rice sticking to her fingers.
"Good morning, Aoi-chan" Hayami greeted softly as she walked towards the younger girl, Kanae had happily helped Hayami bathe her on the day both she and Gyomei came back to the butterfly estate, she was dressed in a pink yukata and now had her quite long black hair up in pigtails, with two blue butterfly hairpins slipped into both sides.
Aoi jumped, even at the soft voice Hayami spoke to her with, she was still surprised. "Good morning Hayami-san!" she greeted back, her voice much louder than usual.
Hayami laughed quietly at the response of the younger girl, "I see you are making onigiri, did your mother teach you how to make them?" Hayami questioned, only then did she realize she had brought up Aoi's parents.
The ginger-brown-haired girl widen her eyes at her words before bowing slightly at Aoi, "my apologies, I'm sure you are still uncomfortable talking about them" Hayami spoke, recalling the day she found Aoi.
"N-no! It's quite alright Hayami-san. . please don't bow!" Aoi said frantically as she gestured for Hayami to raise her head.
"I only helped my mother once or twice. . so I am not quite skilled at shaping the onigiri. . ." Aoi continued as she stared down at the rice stuck to her small fingers.
Hayami nodded in understanding before taking some rice into her own hands, "shall I help you then?" she questioned, Aoi's eyes seeming to light up at her words, a small smile forming on her own lips.
"I would love that, Hayami-san!" she replied enthusiastically.
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There were several issues with becoming Gyomei's tsuguko. For one, Hayami is not able to use the Kusarigama weapon he uses. And throughout the times she practiced sparring, Hayami had used a wooden katana. To resolve this conflict, Kanae lent Hayami a light-pink nichirin sword. One that she has used during her training.
