"What do you mean you were out last night, Nao-sama? You promised to stay inside! And I made sure you were asleep inside your room the entire night!"

"Is that so..?"

"Yes." Yui replied. "As far as I know, you never left. Or did you tricked me?!"

Nao shook her head vigorously.

"Then...Is something the matter?"

Nao shook her head again before smiling.

"It's nothing." Was her simple reply before staring outside.

Yui frowned. "Honestly Nao-sama, what is troubling you. You rarely make that kind of expression." Nao simply hummed in response before closing her eyes.

It was in times of confusion that Nao would keep to herself so she could think properly. Sometimes, she would write to her brother, to ask advice since she knows that he always knows what to tell her.

'Kagaya-onii-sama, I've been having this weird feeling inside my chest. Something is not right.'

Nao sighed loudly before standing up and moving to retrieve her writing materials.

"Nao-sama, are you going to write to Kagaya-sama?"

Nao shook her head as she prepared the parchment.

"No. I'm going to write something to Himejima-san and Tomioka-san. I have a feeling that one of them would be able to tell me something. "

"Nao-sama! I can understand writing to Himejima-sama, but to the Water Pillar? What would he tell you? He's antisocial."

Nao giggled at the bothered look that was decorating Yui's face.

"Believe it or not. Tomioka-san gives me a lot of great advice. Although Kagaya-onii-sama would be able to give me one as well, Tomioka-san and I are friends. "Nao took the quill and dipped it on the ink. "Friends have a way of communicating with each other. It is completely different from the way siblings talk to each other and as great friends, we have a general idea of what the other is thinking."

"You remember, right? Tomioka-san... no... Giyuu-kun... Giyuu-kun and I always talked to each other when we were a bit younger. He's still stoic and distant back then but he's so much more than that. Giyuu-kun is such a nice person and he's saved me a couple of times before. "She then started writing as she continue to speak.

"Although Giyuu-kun has his own problems, he knows how and when to comfort me by merely staying by my side." Nao scratched her cheek with her index finger. "It's a bit embarrassing but other than Giyuu-kun and Himejima-san, I don't have any other friends." Nao left the fact that she found a new friend, Muzan. She hid this fact knowing that Yui would throw another pit since her handmaiden was ordered by Kagaya to keep Nao away from any male suitors or unknown males in general.

Nao was so not going to tell this secret in fear of the actions that her brother would make just to keep her inside the house.

There was enough trouble as it is knowing that their family is cursed.

Yui made a face. "Nao-sama, you need to make friends with females of your age. You're always surrounded by males! This is why Kagaya-sama always keeps a strict watch on you. You act way too recklessly like a boy!"

"Ehhh...Yui~But I'm not really into the lady stuff. Wearing a kimono this heavy all the time and having my hair styled in such a complex way everyday is hard enough as it is." She then twirled a stray lock of hair around her fingers.

"Maybe I should just cut my hair."

At her suggestion, Yui completely freaked out and shouted at her, asking her why she would even dare to cut such beautiful long hair?

"Nao-sama! Please be more considerate! You're a woman of the Ubuyashiki household! Caring for your hair is an absolute must! Kagaya-sama strictly told me that under no circumstances will you cut your precious hair!" Yui stubbornly said as she stared in a reprimanding way.

Nao could only sigh in defeat.

"If you put it that way, then I guess I cannot disobey my brother." Or so she says but the next day, Yui is horrified to see her mistress' long hair to be nowhere in seen.

"This appearance suits me better, don't you think? I look like my brother's female twin!" Nao declared as she stared at her hand mirror with awe, palming her face using her free hand.

She admired the way she looked so similar to Kagaya. It made her pleased with her appearance and also to the fact that she won't have to endure having to sit for too long just so someone could style her hair.

"Nao-sama....!" Yui wailed hysterically. "What have you done to your hair?! Your beautiful hair is gone!"

Nao chuckled. "Relax, Yui. It will grow back. Besides, I like it this way." She said, admiring her shoulder length hair with adoration.

During the night, Nao went to escape using her secret passage. She went to see the old lady from before.

"Ojou-san, you came."

Nao smiled gleefully. "Obaa-san, I miss you! Look! I changed my hairstyle!"

"You've cut your hair... "

Nao spun around and nodded. "Right? It looks good on me. I look so much like my brother now! It makes me happy!"

Suddenly, Nao felt a hand clamp on her shoulders and she shrieked in surprise, earning her a few questioning eyes.

"I knew it, it really is Nao-san. "

Plum red.

Nao's eyes widened. "Muzan?"

He smiled at her. "Nao-san has cut her hair. Why?"

She watched as his hand reached out to feel the tips of her hair, as if testing something.

"It's troublesome to have long hair."

Muzan hummed in amusement. "Is that so? Even though I like Nao-san's long beautiful hair, this also suits her."

"Uwaaaa... really?! You think so too?!"

He nodded which made Nao smile wider.

"That makes me happy! I styled it after my brother's hair! I want something to remember him by."

Muzan tilted her head and surely enough, he knows that she's talking about Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

He couldn't seem to understand why his Nao was that person's sibling. Why did it have to be Kagaya of all people? He would have preferred if Nao was born in a simple commoner family. It would have made things easy for him.

He really needed to get rid of that Ubuyashiki or else he wouldn't be able to keep Nao for himself.

"Yui says I look like my brother now. But female though. It makes me blush knowing that I can be as good looking as him!" Nao cupped her cheeks as she tried not to blush out of giddiness.

"I'm keeping it this way forever!"

Muzan chuckled at her actions before placing a hand on her cheek.

"I suppose Nao-san's decision should be respected. Although I preferred Nao-san's long hair, Nao-san's short hair is also appealing. It makes Nao-san look younger."

"Ehh--? Really? "

He nodded politely.

Nao laughed. "I guess it's fine but in case Muzan is wondering. I am already nineteen this year. I'm not that young anymore."

"Nao-san is still so young. I thought you were much younger though. "

Nao frowned. "Nooo! I maybe small but I'm an adult now!"

"Yes, yes. Nao-san is an adult. So please calm down."

Nao grinned at him and he extended his hand while she readily accepted them.

He gently gave their joined hands a light squeeze before he led her.

"Muzan, where are we going today?"

He continued to walk as Nao followed him.

"Anywhere. I simply want to be with Nao-san right now."

"A-Ah... I see..." Nao spluttered, cheeks heating up. "Then I... I'd like to do the same."

Another light squeeze was her only answer.