Disclaimer: I'm so sorry for the delay! During Sunday my capstone group was in a big crisis and this crisis lasted the whole week. We managed to bypass a hurtle. And then exams punched me in the face... It was a tough week. But today I had time, so I decided to work on this chapter. Ehem, thank you for waiting. All credit goes to Shingo Nanami and フクロウ. Enjoy!

過保護

Overprotected Child

Kasane x Three Idiots

Part Three

"Why wasn't Niwa-san born as a woman? Such a waste~."

"I don't know. Ask my mother."

Since then Toukichirou has been repeating his questions to Gorouza. He was quite disappointed that Gorouza was a man.

"Even if I were a girl, I would rather die than become your wife."

"Dear me no~, telling me to die like that…"

"I'm actually serious."

Gorouza calmly smiled as he said this, but there seemed to be some black mist enshrouding behind his back.

"Ahaha…"

Figuring out Gorouza's state of mind, Toukichirou quickly formed a smile.

S-scary.

This person's temperament was calm, but deep in his gut he felt that man held something far darker than the lord himself…!

Terribly afraid, he kept a fair difference from the group.

"Goodness, for you to make a move on a sleeping girl, that's seriously low of you…!"

Kuranosuke snorted out with an indignant 'hmph!'.

"It's normal for a guy suddenly to think of wicked thoughts at these kinds of situations! Doesn't happen to you guys!?"

"..."

As Toukichirou emphasis on the last part, Gorouza and Kuranosuke unpleasantly kept silent as cold sweat ran down their face.

Inuchiyo only gave him blank look and tilted his head, not quite understanding his words.

"She's making such a cute expression when she's sleeping, anyone would…"

Saying this, Toukichirou's reached a hand toward Kasane's cheek; the girl was currently being carried by Inuchiyo.

"Ouch."

"Can you not touch Kasane-dono? ...If you touch her, she might become pregnant."

With a smile, Gorouza indicted a direct refusal towards Toukichirou, the latter ambiguously made a troubled smile as he shrank away.

"Nobunaga-sama… we have returned."

Standing before Nobunaga's room, Gorouza formally announced themselves.

Though no answer came from the room, Gorouza fearfully opened the door.

"...You idiots! ! !"

As soon as the door opened, the loud lecturing roar befell before them; everyone except the sleeping Kasane drew away.

"I won't reprimand you for returning this late at night. However, answer me why did you three idiots to leave your work behind to nonchalantly follow this woman!"

In the middle of the room with the obviously enraged Nobunaga was the usual, stone-faced Ikeda.

"M-my apologies…."

Gorouza shamefully bowed his head, the others followed his lead.

"We were worried for Kasane-dono… unable to deal with the situation, we followed after Kasane-dono… Kasane-dono doesn't know of this! The fault lies upon us…!"

As Gorouza and the others implores, Nobunaga let out a heavy sigh.

Though his brow was still crinkled, it seemed like he was trying to soothe himself.

"...Well, isn't it fine. My lord made Tenrou follow after Kusanagi-dono."

"Katsusaburo…!"

"Eh? Nobunaga-sama did?"

Nobunaga frowned and glared at Ikeda.

Kuranosuke raise his voice, surprised by this revelation; the three of them unknowingly blinked.

"Just as I thought, that bird was Tenrou."

Toukichirou sighed, "Hah~, to think that Nobunaga-sama was the one…"

"...Katsusaburo, you act as if this was no concern to you, however don't expect me to not notice you frequently wandering around the castle gates today."

"...! …. …."

Ikeda briefing glanced at Nobunaga before diverting his gaze in a flash.

"What~, so everyone's just worried over little missy."

Toukichirou made a funny laugh.

Nobunaga narrowed his eyes at Toukichirou.

"Why is the monkey here with you."

"Well, I just happen to bump into little missy while she was shopping."

"...Why is that girl sleeping."

"Well~, due to some circumstances she unexpectedly drank some strong liquor and passed out..."

Though he sent out a suspicious glare to the man, Nobunaga faintly snorted and returned his attention to the three idiots.

"...That's enough for today. Hurry up and send her back to her room, you all should go back to your chambers as well."

"Ah, here, this is all the items Nobunaga-sama requested from little missy."

Nobunaga firmly took the items and thoroughly checked through them.

"It seems you've managed to get all of them."

"Ah, and little missy has a souvenir for everyone. If you didn't eat it soon, it would get bad, so I'll hand this all to you in place of little missy."

"Souvenir?"

Toukichirou handed each person a sweet, including Nobunaga; everyone frowned with confusion.

Opening the small parcel, they found an adorable confection wrapped underneath.

"Wah-! Such a pretty confection!"

"So that idiot woman?"

"Indeed, this is her thanks for all the times you've taken care of her… She's such a good child,"

Toukichirou shyly smiled.

Nobunaga enigmatically glanced at the sweet.

"...She could have bought something for herself. She's such a benevolent girl."

"Did you say something? Nobunaga-sama."

"Not. Don't bother."

Lightly brushing off Gorouza's question, he chased the group out.

"...You may leave, get out."

"Y-yes…! Excuse us!"

Everyone respectfully bowed before leaving his room.

Nobunaga sighed before glancing down at Kasane's gift.

"..."

He then chomped it all down in one bite.

The sweet flavour seeped into his mouth.

"...Goodness… it's sweet*."

Nobunaga blankly muttered to himself.

"As expected, our lord got angry."

Inuchiyo said as they walked down the corridor.

"It couldn't be helped. It was our fault after all."

"Well it was worth sticking close to her."

Saying this Kuranosuke glowered at Toukichirou.

"Dear me~, please no make such a face! Please?"

Toukichirou tried to pacify Kuranosuke, but the latter's gaze turned colder.

"Return to your room. We'll take responsibility in sending Kasane-dono off to her room."

"No! Though it was an accident, I was the one that got little missy drunk, so I shall take responsibility and bring her to her room and…"

"...Your ulterior motives are showing slant eyes! !"

Kuranosuke chased him off, shooing him with his hand.

"Uuu…. Okay…. Then I'll take my leave here…"

Now unable to send her off to her room, Toukichirou drooped his head as he split off from the three idiots.

Though he looked pitiful, they felt no sympathy for him.

"Now then, we should quickly go to Kasane-dono's room and left her properly sleep."

"...Even so, to think that she would buy this small sweet for everyone… it's typical of her to do that."

Kuranosuke dandled the sweet in front of him as he frowned.

"She's such a good child."

Gorouza softly smiled at Kasane.

"It's delicious~."

"W-when did you eat yours?"

"We should also dig in."

Saying this, Gorouza popped in the sweet into his mouth.

"It is certainly delicious."

Observing Gorouza's cheerful smile, Kuranosuke ate his sweet in one bite.

"...Well, it's good."

He chewed as he said this.

"Such an adorable expression. I would like to eat Kasane-dono more than the sweet."

Gorouza gently stroked Kasane's cheek, Kuranosuke gazed at him in shock.

"...HA! ! ? What are you saying, Gorouza? !"

"Dear me, don't make such a frightening expression. I was merely joking."

As Kuranosuke frantically objected in to Gorouza's comment, the latter amusingly laughed.

(T-this guy...)

Kuranosuke narrowed his eyes at him.

Gorouza just returned his usual, bright smile.

"...Whether Kasane-dono returns home or if she chooses someone, I hope that we all stay together as a group."

"I wanna be with Katane forever~."

"...Hmph."

Kuranosuke softly snorted as he glanced the other way.

(Well…. For the time being, the four of us altogether, isn't that bad)

*dunno if this was intentional or not but the 'sweet' or 甘い can also mean generous.

I hoped you enjoyed this story, it's very sweet. I've really enjoyed the relationship between Kasane and the three idiots in the manga and it was sad to see them separate at the end. Alright everyone, this is the last chapter I will for on until my school ends. So... around mid May.

My next update will be in 10 ways on the last arc! So until next time, I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable month!