Jitsu -A different story-

Several shelves stood in the surroundings, and some bottles of different colors that had small notes with what seemed to be their name were on said furniture making the surroundings have the necessary color to not be monotonous.

A slight characteristic aroma was felt in the place that surely came from those bottles or was simply the natural aroma of the place, but that made anyone feel a little curious about what was in those bottles.

Kurono hadn't even asked if he could go a little further as he let his legs take him near the shelves, his sight was caught by the same bottles that before, there were a few he could identify, but that wasn't the case with many others anymore as did not appear to be a marketed product or that he had heard of.

Kurono would have continued concentrating on all of this, but his attention had been diverted to a small counter with Ryo's figure behind it, so Kurono quickly approached to be greeted by his slightly animated voice.

"I can tell some questions are running through your mind." As Ryo said that, his hands were busy handling a small green bottle with some liquid inside it.

"Actually, I'd say a lot." Kurono laughed a little to himself since he acted too obvious, but that made him calm down since Ryo could surely answer his questions.

"The good news is that we have time for that, besides, I also have some questions for you since you're here." Kurono nodded to that, barely realizing that the two of them were alone, and it didn't seem strange to her that Ryo I still had some doubts about it. "But first, I hope you can appreciate this."

Ryo's words were not strange to Kurono since he had seen perfectly well how Ryo had taken a couple of special cups and then poured some of the liquid from the bottle into them at the same time that a smell that Kurono knew quite well reached his nose.

Kurono did not hesitate to take one of the cups and unconsciously began to analyze its content, from its somewhat mild smell to the slightly white color, and this only lasted a moment before Kurono brought the cup to his lips to start drinking which was obviously sake.

Kurono had opened his eyes a little more once the drink had crossed his throat, the flavor intensified every moment and it was impossible for him not to taste it, the last drop of the cup had crossed his mouth before leaving it again, but as opposed to a small compliment from him, Kurono frowned slightly as he was preoccupied with his own thoughts.

Ryo also started to taste his own cup, but his eyes were focused on Kurono, especially on his thoughtful expression, causing a small smile to appear on his face before he asked the question that was on his mind.

"And what do you think?" Ryo's question seemed incredibly easy to answer, but he had asked it specifically because he wanted to test Kurono a bit.

"This... It's Bodaimoto, isn't it?" Kurono's answer was not long in coming, and he was looking for Ryo's confirmation.

"Oh, it looks like someone has some experience. You're right, in fact, it's Bodaimoto." Ryo was actually surprised that Kurono guessed correctly, bodaimoto was basically sake made using an ancient method, so Ryo had pulled something difficult by his standards.

"The taste is somewhat different from what I tasted in the past, but I was still able to distinguish its characteristic flavor." Kurono had taken the bottle that was near Ryo to appreciate it better, but despite the label that said a name unknown to him, he already was pretty sure he hadn't been wrong.

"I was the one who made it personally, so I'm sure its taste should be something new to you." Ryo turned to look for another bottle that was on the shelf behind him as he started talking to Kurono once more. "By the way, Kurono… Is it alright if I called you that way?"

"Of course, Yotsuba-san. There's no problem with that." Kurono was starting to feel a bit strange due to Ryo's attitude, although he was grateful for the fact that it seemed like he was opening up to him a bit.

"I'd also be grateful if you weren't too formal with me... But now, remembering what I told you earlier, I have a few questions for you." Ryo kept moving until he came back with a red bottle and started pouring the liquid into it a new pair of cups. "What exactly are your intentions with Shizune?"

Ryo had finished lightly filling the cups with the new sake he had brought just as he finished with his earlier question which made the calm atmosphere from earlier heavy, although that was only the case for Kurono.

He was slightly surprised by the sudden question, but after thinking about it for a bit, it really wasn't strange, but still, Ryo wasn't going to let him answer that...

"Hahaha! I'm sorry. Don't pay much attention to me, I just wanted to see your expression." And that same attitude of Ryo had just taken Kurono by surprise once again. "I guess I just wanted to act like an overprotective father, clearly I'm not going to do it, Shizune no longer is a girl, although of course, I always look at her that way most of the time."

Ryo had a calm expression as if he was remembering good times that the passage of time had replaced with many more memories, but he couldn't keep doing that for long as it was Kurono's turn to interrupt him.

"Don't worry… Ryo-san, I said it before, but I want to give you my word that I will take good care of Shizune." Kurono said that as his serious expression returned to his face.

"Sigh… I don't need your word, you better show me that with your own actions, I don't want to regret entrusting you with my beloved daughter in the future." Ryo had closed his eyes a little before commenting that, and it seemed that he didn't want to prolong much that kind of talk, but it seemed like that would be resolved since Akio's figure arrived just at the right time.

"Looks like they started without me." Akio saw both Kurono and Ryo enjoying a drink, he had been late coming back because he had started cleaning right in the room where he found the cleaning tools.

"And we'll be done without you if you don't hurry to make those shelves shine." Ryo just ignored Akio a little, although it wasn't very unusual for him to do that, he actually felt quite comfortable sending Akio to work, and for his part, Akio didn't feel strange either, but he remembered that he didn't work there anymore.

He put down everything he had brought before then approached the counter and took his cup to try some, Ryo didn't say anything about that and just kept trying his own merchandise, Akio had also filled Kurono's cup with the new bottle. There was a simple feeling at that moment, and that was a pleasant calm that only they could appreciate.