Muichiro's father patted Yuichiro on the shoulder. "Yuichiro! Don't be so rude. This young lady saved my life. My foot slipped while I was gathering herbs, and I nearly tumbled off the cliff. It was only thanks to her intervention that I'm standing here now."
The suspicion on Yuichiro's face didn't fade much, but he pressed his lips together and managed a tiny, muttered "thank you." The sound was so thin—like the faint hum of a mosquito—that it was nearly impossible to catch if one wasn't listening closely.
Aoi Kazama waved her hands frantically. "No need for thanks, really! It was just a small thing."
She couldn't help but let her gaze drift back to Muichiro. The boy stood with his eyes downcast, his fingers idly fiddling with the hem of his robe. Standing beside the prickly Yuichiro, he looked incredibly soft and precious, not saying a word.
Sensing her gaze, Muichiro finally looked up. His clear, mint-green eyes were like rain-soaked glass, dazzlingly pure.
He didn't speak; he simply stared at her for a few heartbeats before suddenly shrinking back behind Yuichiro. His ears, however, were tinged with a soft pink. This big sister is so strange.
Noticing his brother's discomfort, Yuichiro immediately shot Aoi a sharp glare, as if warning her to stop staring at his sibling.
He reached back to pull Muichiro closer to his side. "Father, Mother keeps saying she's cold."
At those words, the smile on the father's face dimmed. "Yuichiro, you and Muichiro find a set of clean clothes for this lady. I'm going to go brew Mother's medicine."
Yuichiro pursed his lips. Although he still looked reluctant, he didn't argue. He grabbed Muichiro's wrist and turned to lead the way into the inner room.
Seeing Aoi standing still, he furrowed his brow further, his tone carrying a sharp edge of impatience. "What are you just standing there for?"
Aoi snapped out of it and replied with a quick smile, "Nothing! I just spaced out for a second. I'm coming."
She followed the brothers into the inner room.
The house was small but kept meticulously tidy. Yuichiro pulled a set of clean clothes from a cupboard and handed them to Aoi. "These are my mother's. Wear these for now."
Aoi took the garments and smiled warmly. "Thank you, Yuichiro."
Yuichiro's ears turned red. He looked away, his voice remaining stiff and gruff. "Just hurry up and change so you don't catch a cold."
With that, he yanked on the arm of the still-curious Muichiro and marched back out.
Watching the two boys disappear, Aoi looked down at the cotton fabric in her hands. I can't believe the person I saved was Muichiro's father... and I never even knew he had a brother.
She changed quickly. When she stepped back into the main room, she heard the low murmur of voices.
Yuichiro, looking like a tiny, serious adult, was sternly teaching Muichiro how to stack the charcoal to make the fire burn brighter.
Hearing footsteps, both brothers looked up simultaneously.
Aoi offered a friendly smile. "Hello again. My name is Aoi Kazama. If you don't mind, you can call me Big Sister Aoi."
Muichiro let out a shy, soft whisper. "Aoi-neechan..."
Yuichiro cleared his throat, his expression softening just a fraction, though he still maintained his guarded air. "I am Yuichiro Tokito. This is my younger brother, Muichiro."
Aoi sat down by the charcoal brazier, the warmth immediately seeping into her chilled limbs.
Watching Yuichiro's serious demeanor, she couldn't help but smile. "Yuichiro, you're very good at taking care of your brother."
Praised so suddenly, Yuichiro's ears turned beet-red. He stiffened and snapped back, "I—I'm just doing it because he's clumsy! I don't want him getting charcoal ash everywhere!"
Muichiro pouted slightly, mumbling, "I am not."
"Cough! Cough, cough!"
A fit of hacking coughs erupted from the inner room—a jagged, strained sound that made one's chest tighten in sympathy.
The light faded from Muichiro's face instantly. He scrambled to his feet and ran toward the inner room. "Mother!"
Yuichiro's brow furrowed deep with worry as he followed at a brisk pace.
Aoi stood up and hurried after them.
The light in the inner room was dim. Mrs. Tokito lay in bed, her face so pale it was almost translucent. The force of her coughing made her frail shoulders tremble violently. Their father sat by the bedside, gently patting her back, his face a mask of helpless anxiety.
Seeing the woman in such pain, Aoi felt a pang in her heart. She immediately called out in her mind: System! System! Are there any medical skills in the shop? I need to exchange points!
[Ding! Requirement detected. The Shop offers "Basic Acupuncture." Once mastered, the host can precisely stimulate acupoints to relieve symptoms of cold, cough, and body chills. Effectiveness is doubled when used alongside herbal medicine. Cost: 1,200 Mission Points. Current promotion includes a free set of silver needles. Confirm exchange?]
Exchange! Do it now! Aoi replied without hesitation.
A surge of warmth flooded her mind. Complex charts of acupoints, needle techniques, and medical taboos became instantly clear, as if she had been practicing the art for years.
She stepped forward and spoke to the father. "Mr. Tokito, I studied under an old healer for a few years and know some acupuncture. It might help ease your wife's symptoms."
The father froze in surprise, then reached out to grip Aoi's wrist, his eyes filled with desperate hope. "Truly? Then please, I beg you! I'll try anything if it makes her feel better!"
Aoi asked the father for help, carefully propping Mrs. Tokito into a semi-reclined position. She retrieved the silver needles provided by the system and passed them through the candle flame to sterilize them.
With the acupoint maps clear in her mind, she centered herself. She took a needle, aimed it at the Feishu point on the woman's back, and with a deft flick of her wrist, inserted it perfectly. There wasn't a hint of hesitation or amateurism in her movements.
As the needle settled, Mrs. Tokito let out a soft sigh. Her previously tensed shoulders began to relax, and her ragged breathing grew steadier.
Muichiro watched from the bedside, hardly daring to breathe. He stared at the shimmering silver needles with wide, nervous eyes until he saw his mother's brow smooth out. Only then did he let out a tiny breath of relief, looking at Aoi with eyes full of pure admiration.
Yuichiro stood nearby, his hands clenched tight. The suspicion he had held for this stranger had been completely washed away by worry and burgeoning hope.
Within fifteen minutes, the mother's breathing had stabilized completely. A faint hint of color returned to her cheeks, and leaning against the headboard, she drifted into a peaceful sleep.
Aoi removed the final needle and turned to give instructions to the father. "Her blood and qi have been smoothed out, and she's fallen asleep. Let her rest for as long as she needs."
The father nodded repeatedly, his eyes brimming with tears. "Thank you... thank you so much, Miss Kazama. You are a lifesaver for our family."