Wait..what!? (sanegiyuu)

chap 8

A few days later, Sanemi found himself standing in front of Giyuu's estate, a letter from the Master in hand(sorai read it for him)

He had been instructed to spend more time with Giyuu, to build a better relationship with him. Sanemi had initially scoffed at the idea, but something deep inside urged him to take this opportunity.

He knocked on the door, feeling a mix of apprehension and determination. When Giyuu opened it, his surprise was evident.

"Shinazugawa?" Giyuu said, his eyebrows rising. "I didn't expect you to actually come."

Sanemi grunted, holding up the letter. "The Master's orders. Thought I'd get this over with."

Before Giyuu could respond, Ren came running from inside the house. His face lit up when he saw Sanemi.

"Shinazugawa-san!" Ren exclaimed, throwing his arms around Sanemi's leg. "You're here! I didn't think I'd see you again so soon!"

Sanemi's expression softened as he looked down at the boy clinging to him. He awkwardly patted Ren's head, feeling a warmth spread through him that he hadn't expected.

"Hey, kid. Didn't expect to see you either," Sanemi said, a rare hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

Giyuu watched the interaction, his own emotions a mix of surprise and something deeper, a flicker of hope. "Come in, Shinazugawa-san.. i was just about to cook lunch."

Sanemi nodded, following Giyuu inside. Ren held his hand, chattering excitedly about everything and nothing all at once. Giyuu led them to the dining area where the table was set with a simple but inviting meal.

As they sat down, Ren eagerly took his place next to Sanemi, clearly delighted by his presence. Giyuu couldn't help but notice the ease with which Ren interacted with Sanemi, a bond forming that tugged at his heart.

"Master said we should try to get along better," Giyuu began, breaking the silence. "I appreciate you coming, Shinazugawa."

Sanemi nodded, focusing on his food for a moment. "Yeah, well, we'll see how it goes. The old man's orders are orders."

Ren looked between the two men, sensing the underlying tension but too young to fully understand it. "Shinazugawa-san, will you stay for a while? Can we play after lunch?"

Sanemi glanced at Giyuu, who gave a slight nod. "Sure, kid. We can play after lunch."

As they ate, the conversation was initially stilted, both men unsure of how to bridge the gap between them. But Ren's cheerful chatter slowly eased the tension, making it easier for them to talk.

"So, Shinazugawa," Giyuu said after a while, "what have you been up to?"

Sanemi shrugged. "The usual. Training, missions. Nothing much."

Giyuu nodded, taking a sip of his tea. "Thank you for... helping with Ren the other day. It meant a lot."

Sanemi looked at him, a flicker of understanding passing between them. "You don't have to thank me. Just did what anyone would do."

Ren finished his meal and looked up at Sanemi with wide eyes. "Can we go play now, Shinazugawa-san?"

Sanemi nodded, standing up. "Yeah, let's go, kid."