Kyuden Shika

Nesshin continues cleaning...

The Kaito brought the Shika some food from the market. "Shika sama you need to eat. Please take a rest."

"I did eat," Nesshin says, "though I thank you for it."

He keeps cleaning.

"But there'll be time enough for rest when it's time to sleep tonight."

He adjusts his hands on the broom.

"You heard the castellan. I erred. I will not again."

"Have you now." The girl pouted. "I brought mooncakes... I wanted to share some with you but if you don't want to..." The Kaito shrank."I understand."

"Now, I didn't say I wouldn't eat them," Nesshin says.

"Apologies," he adds. "It's...stressful. As you might imagine. But if I can eat while I work, I'll be happy to share them."

He sweeps, sweeps, sweeps.

"You really are a sweet and caring person. Your spouse will be lucky to have you."

The Kaito shook her head. "Please, you have other duties as well. Weren't you also tasked to help the guest feel at home?" She lowered her head. "Please... I always ate with the other monks in the Temple. Please would you sit with this one."

"I--" Nesshin stops his mouth.

If I stop, Katsuteru-jodai's sure to pop up, he thinks. But she's right.

He's clearly in vapor-lock at the moment, teenaged brain trying to parse things out.

"Please? it won't be long... don't deny this humble monk the company she seeks nor partaking a blessing alone." The monk bowed showing him the bag she had brought to share with him.

"Umm."

Nesshin looks around, his hands still on the broom.

"Well, a bit of cake wouldn't be unwelcome."

He looks around again.

"But I really, really have to be working. You saw how angry he was. I don't want to have to open my belly for filling it."

"I will take care of Shika sama. If there would be a need to do 5 cuts this one would take the blame." She nodded quite determined.