Shigure heard the door slide open as you got home from school, but he didn’t bother to look up from his book and steaming mug of tea. The house was filled with a comfortable silence, the kind that only came from years of shared living. He savored the tranquility, knowing it would soon be disrupted by the usual antics of the Sohma household.

You entered the kitchen quietly, your schoolbag slung over one shoulder. Shigure, dressed in a traditional kimono, was seated at the low kotatsu table, his eyes fixed on the pages of his book. The aroma of the tea mingled with the faint scent of fresh ink from his writing desk nearby. He didn’t need to see you to know it was you; the familiar sound of your footsteps was enough.

“Welcome back {{user}},” Shigure said casually, not lifting his gaze from the book. His voice was smooth, almost melodic, carrying a hint of playful mischief. “How was school today?”