░『Zephyr』░(KNY OC STORY/ KNY OC X KNY-OLD/DISCONTINUED)

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟷𝟿: 𝚂𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝙳𝚊𝚢

Once again waking up restlessly, Fukurō stumbles off the bed, slipping her samue clothing onto herself. A comb runs through her hair, stopping at the small knots caught in the strands. All while doing this, she practices Total Concentration Breathing. Maybe a bit more help will put her a few steps ahead. And she'll practice. Just as she did last night, and yesterday, and the night before, and the week before... Some sacrifices must be made, after all. 

She slaps her face quickly, 'Wake up, Fukurō! Get ready for another day of training!' She ponders, smacking herself a bit more lightly a few more times, just to wake up internally. 'Don't mess up today, or everything Obanai tells you will be true!" Feeling more prideful, she walks towards the door with confidence, only to slump back down. 

".. Nope. Muscles too sore." She mutters under her breath.

Walking into the kitchen, her eyes lock on to a certain object taking place in the centre. It was some sort of instrument. A flute? "That's your gift. It's a Shinobue*." Sanemi lifts his head from the knife in his hands, mid-way into chopping up spring onion. "... for.. Your birthday. It's today, isn't it?" He didn't seem so sure, although trying to look confident.

"..." She nods, a wide grin spreading on her face, eyes squinting as she tries to contain her excitement. Suddenly, all of her words come out at once, fumbling over eachother, "ARIGATŌSHINAZUGAWASAMATHATSVERYKINDOFYOUTODOANDIMFOREVERINYOURFAVOURFORSUCHAGIFTDOYOUKNOWHOWTOPLAYANINSTRUMENTONCEAGIAINARIGATŌILIKEITVERYMUCH!" Her feet carry her to the table, snatching the Shinobue* quickly but carefully. She wouldn't want to damage such a valuable gift, especially from someone she looks up to so much.

Covering the holes of the Shinobue* with the pads of her fingers of both hands, she blows into the blow hole.

FWEET!

Fukurō hides her face in her hands in embarrassment as Sanemi snickers, trying to hold in a laugh from her messy effort at playing a note. "Pfft— The person I got it from said to blow sharp and straight air, and to cover some holes with the pads of your fingers, and some with your joints. Try again." Fukurō fixes the position of her fingers, and tightens the corners of her lips as she blows in the Shinobue* for the second time. As she plays, an echoing whistle-like tone rings through the room. A feeling of satisfaction and amazement washes over her as she does, looking back at Sanemi with twinkling stars in her eyes. "Arigatō!" She thanks him again, "I promise to give you something as good as this for your birthday!" The statement makes Sanemi sigh, and he ruffles the top of Fukurō's head. "That doesn't matter. Gifts are only special if meaningful, right?"

"Right!"

* * *

Mitsuri carries the carefully wrapped kimono* in her hands, a bright red ribbon tied around the kimono* in a bow. Idly humming along to the tune of a flute from afar. Who was playing that flute anyways? Welp, she wouldn't trouble herself with it. Even if there were a few long pauses between notes, and a squeaky shift in the note values, it was still pretty nice. It was like the musicians at the festivals she would often visit, just uh— a bit less professional!

She continues to hum, making her way to the Wind Mansion as the folded up letter stays in her pocket.

"Kanroji-san!" Fukurō exclaims, rushing over to Mitsuri, "How was your mission? Was it easy? Was it hard? Did you go alone?" Tapping her fingers on the wood of the Shinobue* impatiently, a bright gleam shines on her face. She definitely missed Mitsuri's mercy.