Disclaimer: As usual all credit goes to Shingo Nanami and フクロウ. Enjoy!

過保護

Overprotected Child

Kasane x Three Idiots

Part One

"An errand?"

Having been called in early in the morning, Kasane kneeled before Nobunaga.

"It's been a considerable time since you came to this castle. You should already go out shopping on your own."

"Ha…"

He scolded her in his usual foul-tempered expression.

Kasane chimed in ambiguously.

"The items are written done here. This is all the money you need. You won't have any change left. So don't you dare spend it on anything useless."

"I wouldn't do that!"

"Stop wasting your time here and get on going."

With this, Nobunaga ushered her out of his room and closed the door on her.

Having been thrown out, she cursed at Nobunaga in the bottom on her heart.

(...Geez~, he's so self-centered….)

But, well she didn't hate shopping.

It's not a bad thing that she would be able to go out of the castle, just staying here all the time made her restless.

"Oya, Kasane-dono. What did my lord call you in for?"

Just as she walked under the roofed passage, she found the three idiots.

"I was given an errand!"

Kasane happily smiled.

Hearing those words, Gorouza and the others frowned.

"An errand… but aren't we going with you?"

"Well then, shall I make preparations to go out?"

"Yay! The town, town!"

It seems that the group of three were also planning to come with her; Kasane began to panic.

"I was told to do this errand alone. I'm sorry."

"Eeh~."

Inuchiyo responded with a miserable tone.

Since Nobunaga ordered her to go all alone, if the others were to tag along, she knew he was going to say something about it.

She was fine with him getting angry at her along, but then recalled what happened when she first met him; this was the guy that punched Gorouza and the others in a rage after letting her out of the prison.

She didn't want a repeat of that.

"However, Kasane-dono isn't used to this area…"

"Who knows what kinds of problems a lone girl like you wind up in."

"I'll be fine! If I ever get in trouble, I'm confident I'll be able to fine!"

Kasane puffed out her chest while they worried over her.

Kasane was pretty sure she was stronger than the ordinary guy, so if she ever gets caught up by something, she might be able to handle it.

"Then I'll get going!"

Saying this, Kasane waved her arm and left the group.

Watching her leave, Gorouza and the others couldn't find a way to force themselves to go with her.

If they were to do that, a certain lord will go 'you fools!' And raged down on them.

"...Still I'm worried."

"I-I'm not worried one bit! That woman!"

Gorouza's face clouded up with worry; Kuranosuke pretended to be disinterested,but he kept taking quick glances in the direction where Kasane ran off to.

"Katane is cute after all… It'll be alright if a weirdo doesn't picks her up."

Inuchiyo muttered.

Hearing this, Gorouza and Kuranosuke both stiffened like a rock.

"Y-you're right, Kasane-dono has an unexpectedly cute face, and she's wearing that short kimono, and she's abnormally defenseless… a man in the village wouldn't possibly leave her alone…!"

With glazed eyes, Gorouza began to shake all over.

In response to him, Kuranosuke snorted out a 'hmph'.

"Don't be stupid. We're talking about that flat-chested, unalluring masculine woman here, there's no need to worry about her."

"I can't just stay here. Let's follow after her."

Kuranosuke became bewildered by Gorouza's sudden suggestion.

"A-aren't you an idiot!? I'm absolutely not going with you, alright!"

"It's not like I'm forcing you to come with me. I will go by myself."

"Then I'll go too! I don't want Katane to get caught up with a strange guy!"

Inuchiyo followed after Gorouza.

Kuranosuke just huffed out a 'Hmph!' as he watched them leave.

"That idiot woman's just going out on an errand at the village just outside the castle! Are every one of you just idiots!?"

Cursing, he kicked at the pillar.

That girl had no sex appeal, not to mention she was overly trusting of people.

If someone were to say 'I don't feel well please take care of me' and bring her along to an inn it'll be a cinch to do…..

….. ...

"...I thought you weren't going to come?"

"S-shut up! ! I just changed my mind, that's all! !"

Though he said all that, Kuranosuke came along in the end; Gorouza and Inuchiyo gave him weird looks.

Kuranosuke completely ignored their gaze.

Hiding in the back, the three of them watched after Kasane.

Kasane was happily exploring all the open stands.

She would occasionally look down at the paper and buy something.

Making sure they were a certain distance away, so that she wouldn't notice, the group of three followed after her.

If one were to look at them, they would see three grown men secretly sneaking around; truthfully it wasn't a pleasant sight.

"Let's see, one more thing left…"

"So? How about we go out for a cup of tea~."

"Hm?"

Kasane raised her head and looked around the area, hearing a familiar voice.

When she turned to her front, she spotted someone she knew up ahead.

"You're a bother!"

"Aah…! That's…"

The owner of the voice was flatly rejected by the woman, his shoulders drooped.

Kasane blankly watched with round eyes.

"Toukichirou-san!"

"Uu… My heart is so broken that I'm hallucinating little missy's voice… I sure want to see her. But Nobunaga-sama..."

"What are you doing here?"

"Ah~ah, if only I could see her somewhere away from the castle… well anyplace away from Nobunaga-sama would be great. But I'm kinda scared. When I try to invite little missy over, Nobunaga-sama… even though he acts so indifferent when I do this to his little sister, Ichi-sama… Well Ichi-sama wouldn't possibly look in my way."

"...Why are you talking to yourself?"

"...Hn?"

"... …. ..."

"...Li-...Little missy? ! !"

Finally realizing Kasane's presence, he raised his voice in surprise.

"Why is little missy in a place like this!?"

"Tono-sama actually sent me on an errand."

She showed him items in her arms.

"...And the group of three are?"

Toukichirou glanced around looking for Gorouza and the others.

It seems that he sees her as part of the set.

"Tono-sama ordered me to go shopping alone."

"...Heh….."

Toukichirou weirdly chimed in after a pause.

The guys that stuck to Kasane at all times weren't here, plus Nobunaga, who always managed to separate them wasn't.

In other words, the time was now to take this chance encounter; there were no obstacles in his way.

"Little missy! !"

"Y-yess!?"

As he suddenly grabbed onto both of her shoulders and looked straight at her, Kasane bewilderedly glanced up.

"Would you like to tour this village with me?"

"With Toukichirou-san?"

"Yes! I know this place pretty well, and I think it might be good to take a break before returning to the castle! I just thought, if little missy would like to accompany my trifle rest…."

"Right now…"

Her lord had ordered her to go out shopping along.

However she managed to accidentally meet Toukichirou, so even if he accompanies her afterward, surely they weren't doing anything 'together'.

Besides she bought most of the stuff he asked for, if it's this much then he shouldn't be so angry.

"By all means!"

"You're right. Sounds good! Let's go look around together!

…...Yes! !

In response to Kasane's answer, Toukichirou made a guts pose in his heart.

"Then let's hurry at once! Ah, I'll hold onto your stuff!"

"Eh? Ah, thank you!"

After receiving her shopped goods, Toukichirou took Kasane by the hand and happily pulled her along.

TBC

Yep the three idiots, especially Gorouza, are protective parents. If you guys don't know, parent's in Japan send out their children to do errands on their own. Of course the first errands are planned very carefully and there's plenty of shows in Japan that show the little kids attempting to shop for lunch or something. It's very cute. So... yeah. Nobunaga sent out baby Kasane out into the world and the three moms are too worried to sit still.

Well, sorry that's it for now. I hoped everyone enjoyed this chapter and until next time I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable week!