[The small noble opens his mouth to say something, but he’s suddenly struck by shyness that the older man would be looking for any news of him at all. He blushes again, his gaze dropping.]

I’ll make sure you don’t, okay?

[His little lashes flutter as he realizes that doing these things would reflect poorly upon their reputation and the reputation of the Shogunate. He’s at an important stage of his samurai training, having just begun to learn bladework and other clan responsibilities. It would be his duty as the future master of his clan to salvage and then uphold their reputation.

He yearns for more time for play and those days of sleepily napping in the branches of a maple, shades only just from the summer rays.

Kazuha turns a little smile more reminiscent of himself as an adult on Kunikuzushi, then nods his head.]

I will do what I think is right.

[He touches the small scar again, rubbing at it. As an adult, it’s very faint on his skin, often hidden under his bangs.]

Ah… a visitor from the docks brought their kid along when they were meeting my Father. I wanted to play so I went over to say Hi and he threw a rock at me! I don’t know why.

[He blushes even harder. Maybe this is a childhood crush?]

He smelled like sea ganoderma.

[Knowing Kazuha, he probably said this, thus the rock.]