Kubo answered her warmth with a great big smile of his own.

"What kind of soldier? What's your lord like? My father taught me how to shoot, but he only got to teach me once, and I haven't had a bow since. Do you mean I could just go borrow one from the armory?"

This was news to Kubo! This was exciting! Not that he was likely to get as good as his father at archery without further instruction, but he could still practice. If he could still practice what his father had taught him at all, that was a new way to stay connected to his memory, without the Obon festival to pray at.