The Swimming Butterfly (Giyushino Fanfic)

Chapter 9

𝚃𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚘𝚔𝚊 𝙶𝚒𝚢𝚞

The air had begun to chill, dog Kocho beginning to stay more indoors, preferring the warm rooms to the cold yard. I too, recovering from my broken arm, began to stay indoors more often, working and training in the limited space available.

Every now and again, she would go crazy, jumping all over the futon and scratching the hardwood floor, but most of the time she rested in my lap, drooling all over my pants and haori. She was a welcome presence despite her flaws, keeping me company for the first time after I had lost Sabito, Makomo, and my sister.

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I was resting in my kotatsu letting my feet warm up underneath the wonderful invention when a knock came from the door. 'That's odd... I rarely get visitors.' Wary of the individual at the door, I refrained from opening it, instead enjoying the warmth from the kotatsu. Five more rapid knocks sounded from the door before they abruptly stopped. I heard a loud crash from the back of my house, forcing me to leave the machine to investigate.

I opened the sliding door, revealing a disheveled Kocho smiling widely at me. "Ara ara Tomioka, you know the proper thing to do when someone knocks at your door is to open it right."

"How did you jump over my hou-" My question was interrupted by her walking right in, heading towards the kotatsu. Inwardly groaning, I quickly brewed some tea, bringing it to the kotatsu. Kocho already made herself comfortable, eating one of the mandarins I had left on the table to enjoy later.

Talking the seat across from her, I waited for her to start rambling and teasing me. Instead of immediately annoying me, she instead inspected my home, slightly squinting her eyes at the things that weren't quite her taste. After a few minutes of scrutinizing every inch of my home, she finally opened her mouth to speak, her bright smile still plastered on her face.

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𝙺𝚘𝚌𝚑𝚘 𝚂𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚘𝚋𝚞

"So... I heard that you started to live with a girl. Where is she now?" I looked around, only to not find any evidence of a girl dwelling in Tomioka's humble home at all. He stayed silent, munching on a slice of a mandarin. After he finished chewing, he washed it down with some of the tea he had poured out for us.

"She probably sleeping in my futon. She really likes resting in it or my lap." Shocked, I almost spat out my tea, barely stopping myself in time from covering the floor and kotatsu with green tea. 'They're already in that kind of relationship? Is he really such an immoral man? She must be a vulgar woman and a real idiot.' "If you want, I can wake her up and let you guys meet. You two are... very similar." For a split second, the corners of his mouth flinched upwards. 'He must really love this woman if he smiles from only thinking of her...'

"Wait here for a moment. I'll go get her, but close your eyes first."

"Wait why do I have to cover my eyes?" Ignoring my question, Tomioka got out of the kotatsu and walked down the hall, turning left at the very end. Annoyed, I closed my eyes, reluctant to see the vulgar woman that captivated his heart. After a few minutes of waiting, I suddenly felt a fur rub up against my leg.

Shocked from the presence, I shrieked and latched onto the closest thing I could find. Looking down, I saw a little dog, jumping up and down. Taking four deep breaths, I tried to calm my self down. The first thing I noticed after calming down was the fabric I was holding in one of my hands. Confused, I turned my head, only to find myself latched onto Tomioka, legs gripping his waist, one of my hands clenching the back of his haori, the other clasping one side of his face.