In the cave.

Senjuro who was drinking tea, around the fire with Giyuu, asked a question that burned his lips.

Senjuro: Do you live alone in this cave?

Giyuu looked at Senjuro in surprise and finally answered: When I want to be alone but most of the time I am with my Rumein family.

Senjuro: Rumein? But I thought you were a Kemonomimi. He looked at Giyuu with wide eyes.

Giyuu nodded and said in a weary voice: Yes, I'm a Kemonomimi, it's just that I was adopted as a baby by Rumein. But I consider them my family even if they are a little... heavy sometimes.

Senjuro: Heavy?

Giyuu sighed again and finally answered: I'm sort of the youngest of 20 brothers and 15 sisters. From a white-furred mother and a brown-furred father.

Senjuro spat out his tea in shock at the revelation. I can finally understand the meaning of his word heavy!

Giyuu says laughing with a not happy laugh: The worst my brothers overprotect me and my sisters except for three of them, treat me a bit like I was 5 years old! So you understand that I want to be alone sometimes.

Senjuro: Yes.

Giyuu seemed to have calmed down a little.

Senjuro: Alright.

And they keep on sipping their tea, saying trivialities.

To be continued