"Then I'll head back to my room first."
Back at Butterfly Mansion, Shinobu was the first to let go of his hand, pushed open her door, and entered her room.
"Hmm, good night, Shinobu." Yoizumi stood at the door, his voice low.
"Good night~"
"Click."
The room door closed. Yoizumi held a bag of konpeito and senbei in his right hand. It was still early; Tanjirou should still be doing his Total Concentration training.
First, he would give the konpeito to Nezuko.
Sure enough.
Yoizumi returned to his room and found Nezuko rolling around on the floor. Upon seeing her older brother, she instantly stood up to greet him.
"Hmm~"
He squatted down and gently patted the dust off Nezuko's clothes with his free hand. He took a jar of konpeito out of the paper bag and placed it in Nezuko's small hands.
With her bean-shaped eyes blinking, Nezuko looked at the pretty konpeito in her hand, then at her brother, who was gently brushing away her stray hairs. Nezuko smiled and used her finger to pick a konpeito the same color as her brother's eyes, bringing it to Yoizumi's mouth.
Yoizumi opened his mouth and ate it. It had a faint fragrance and just the right amount of sweetness.
"Delicious, thank you, Nezuko."
"Hmm!" Nezuko excitedly held up the konpeito, as if she was also saying thank you.
After patting Nezuko's head, Yoizumi picked up the childlike Nezuko.
"Let's go find Tanjirou."
Tanjirou should be on the roof now. Jumping onto the roof, Yoizumi saw Tanjirou's diligent figure and did not disturb him. He put a finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture, signaling Nezuko to be quiet.
Tanjirou, maintaining Total Concentration Breathing with heightened mental tension, had his eyes tightly closed. Long, rhythmic breaths escaped his mouth.
Yoizumi carefully sat down beside Tanjirou with Nezuko in his arms. Nezuko was also well-behaved and did not disturb her brother's training. She lay on Yoizumi's shoulder, extending her small hands, pulling at his golden hair, intending to braid her brother's hair.
Ah… it's Yoizumi-nii and Nezuko's scent. They're so close to me… they've come to find me.
Tanjirou understood Yoizumi's meaning. Yoizumi-nii did not intend to disturb his training; he was just accompanying him with Nezuko.
He needed to work harder!
His family was watching! Kamado Tanjiro!
Yoizumi quietly accompanied Tanjirou.
Because her brother's hair wasn't long enough, Nezuko gave up on braiding it. She ran behind Yoizumi, stood on her tiptoes, and had already tied several small pigtails on Yoizumi's head.
Yoizumi was very cooperative, occasionally tilting his head to make it easier for Nezuko to reach his hair.
"Hmm~"
Nezuko put her hands on her hips and nodded at Yoizumi.
It seemed she was very satisfied with her masterpiece.
When Tanjirou opened his eyes, he saw Nezuko like this and dotingly patted her head.
"Is your training over?" Yoizumi asked.
"Yes, Total Concentration Breathing is becoming more and more proficient. It won't be long until I fully master it." Tanjirou smiled and nodded, his face showing obvious joy at his progress.
"You've worked hard." He placed the senbei in Tanjirou's hand. Yoizumi thought he must be hungry after training for so long.
"Wow~ Thank you, Yoizumi-nii!"
Tanjirou bit into the crispy senbei, chewing with puffed cheeks. Only when he was with Yoizumi would he occasionally show the childish side he should have.
"Tanjirou, can I ask you a question?" Yoizumi hesitated to speak until Tanjirou had finished a few pieces of senbei.
"Of course!" Swallowing the senbei in his mouth, Tanjirou waited for Yoizumi to speak.
"Why does my heart beat so fast for no reason, feeling numb, and my mood is also very strange?" He reached out and pressed his hand to his chest, as if that feeling still existed, an uncontrollable emotion spreading through his thoughts.
Shinobu.
Thinking of that name, his heart would always tremble, affecting his mind.
Looking at his palm, the soft touch of the girl's hand burned his palm. After letting go of her hand at the candy store, why did he say that?
He only remembered.
He didn't want to let go; he wanted to hold her hand a little longer.
Now his palm felt empty.
So did his heart.
This was not like him at all.
He closed his eyes, trying his best to suppress those unclear emotions, and his palm gradually tightened.
Heart beating fast? A numb feeling, and a strange mood?
Hmm… Tanjirou stroked his chin, thinking seriously, what was this situation?
Could it be… he was sick!?
No, no.
Yoizumi-nii was a demon; how could he get sick?
Tanjirou thought hard, his mind working furiously, and finally came to a conclusion.
He clenched his hand into a fist and tapped his palm.
"Go ask Miss Shinobu! Miss Shinobu is an excellent doctor; she'll definitely know!"
Yoizumi sighed. It was precisely because of her that he had become like this.
How could he say it out loud?
"I'll consider it." Yoizumi nodded.
"Yoizumi-nii, if you encounter any problems, just come to me! Although I might not be able to solve them, I will definitely find a way to help you!"
Facing Tanjirou's bright and lively smile, Yoizumi's lips curved slightly. After standing up, he reached out to Tanjirou and pulled him up.
"It's getting late; prepare to rest."
"Hmm!"
Back in his room, Yoizumi stood by the window, gazing at the moonlight.
The moon tonight was beautiful, and even the stars could be seen clearly.
Whoosh~ Boom
The sound of fireworks seemed to be right beside his ear, yet also coming from a distant place.
Why had he become like that?
Thinking carefully, that was not fear, but genuine disgust.
He detested this sound.
Some subconscious realization was telling him.
Whenever this sound rang out, something bad would happen.
Pungent and accompanied by a huge roar, it seemed capable of destroying all beauty.
His hand resting on the windowsill clenched, knuckles protruding, breathing heavy.
A sound that hadn't appeared for a long time resurfaced in his mind.
"Yoizumi, this is not the life you should have. I'm sorry, you must live."
The woman with long orange hair stood on a high tower, her golden eyes sadly watching him fall at high speed, until a huge roar overwhelmed the world.
"Plop…"
He cried again, once again because of this woman.
He wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes with his thumb.
Who exactly are you?
…"Good night, Shinobu."
"Phew~"
Leaning against the door, her body slowly slid down as if drained of strength, sitting weakly on the floor. Yoizumi's voice still lingered in her mind.
Just by having her name called, she had become like this.
It was clearly the most ordinary tone, yet Shinobu seemed to hear a hint of lingering affection in it.
A faint blush spread across her fair cheeks, and her pink fingertips squeezed the hand that had clasped Yoizumi's, pressing it to her forehead.
Her head was so hot, she felt dizzy.
Was that a genuine smile from you?
Was it?
She wasn't quite sure; she couldn't even clearly remember what she was like at that moment.
How could he ask her directly?
Yoizumi truly was a…
An out-and-out…
Big idiot!
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