"So that's what happened…" Shinobu nestled in Yoizumi's arms, her eyes closed, quietly listening to Yoizumi recount everything that had occurred in the Swordsmith Village.
She raised a hand and stroked Yoizumi's head, her voice filled with undisguised praise.
"Yoizumi did very well~"
"But!" She poked the soft flesh of Yoizumi's cheek with her finger, a hint of displeasure in her eyes, "You troublesome fellow, how dare you run out into the sun like that!"
"It's a good thing nothing happened, otherwise, I wouldn't let you off."
Looking down at Shinobu, who was angry because of him, Yoizumi's arms around her tightened slightly, and he rested his chin on Shinobu's head.
"Because I want to be with Shinobu at all times."
"You…" Hearing such words unexpectedly once again, the single word 'you' lingered on her tongue for a long time without any clear meaning emerging.
What was going on recently?
Yoizumi was showering her with one flattering remark after another. Had he really become enlightened?
Or had he secretly gone to study up on this while she wasn't paying attention?
After a while, Shinobu decided to turn the tables. She gently broke free from Yoizumi's embrace, turned around, and placed both hands on Yoizumi's shoulders, pushing him backward.
He looked up at Shinobu in confusion, not understanding what she wanted to do, and instinctively braced himself to keep from falling.
"Shinobu, what's wrong?"
Even though she herself was terribly shy, the clear eyes of the person beneath her were completely transparent, as if no emotion could sway their calm.
It wasn't fair at all. Her emotions were so easily influenced by Yoizumi.
She also wanted to see and experience a special side of Yoizumi.
"Hey~ Yoizumi." Her face drew closer and closer, Shinobu's face growing larger and clearer in Yoizumi's eyes. At a distance of only two fists, Yoizumi could easily see every detail of the silver butterfly on Shinobu's chest by just lowering his gaze.
"Why do you want to be with me at all times?" Her soft voice carried a hint of inquiry.
"Shinobu doesn't want me to?" Yoizumi didn't answer immediately but instead asked a rhetorical question.
"…I do." The wooden brain circuit was indeed different. Shinobu paused for a moment before responding.
"As long as Shinobu wants me to, I will stay with you." Yoizumi's expression was serious, as if he was discussing something extremely solemn.
After recalling his memories, he began to understand that if certain words weren't spoken in time, there might not be another chance.
If he couldn't express it, then he would do it.
In any case, he wouldn't miss it again.
As for not wanting him to, that answer was simply not within Shinobu's consideration.
It was Yoizumi's almost declarative attitude that couldn't help but make Shinobu's heart flutter.
He's disturbed her again! No!
Shinobu's hands, resting on Yoizumi's shoulders, slowly clenched his clothes. She forced herself to calm down, trying to suppress the slight tremor in her voice.
"You still haven't answered my question."
Why?
Yoizumi asked himself.
The answer was very simple… His heart was constantly beating for Shinobu.
Because… "Because I like Shinobu."
He moved Shinobu's hand to his chest, allowing Shinobu to feel his heartbeat.
Beneath Yoizumi's calm exterior, the most turbulent honesty was revealed, beat by beat, in Shinobu's palm.
It turned out… she had already won… The heartbeat transmitted from his palm was so intense.
His specialness was constantly revealing itself to her… Shinobu slowly tightened her hand pressed against Yoizumi's chest, wrinkling his clothes, but he didn't mind at all.
His focused and unwavering gaze fell directly on Shinobu's face, as if nothing could make him look away.
How could the person being assailed by such fervent emotions be completely unaware?
Shinobu had long since fallen apart. If she didn't pull away, she feared she wouldn't be able to bear it.
She buried her head in Yoizumi's shoulder, her whole body feeling limp and powerless, all her weight pressing down on Yoizumi.
Yoizumi bore her full weight, gently embracing Shinobu. Then he felt a sharp pain on his shoulder. Before he could react to why Shinobu would bite him, Shinobu's kiss covered his lips first.
Yoizumi, with his eyes open, saw the trembling eyelashes of Shinobu's tightly closed eyes.
As Shinobu retreated, the soft touch on his lips disappeared. Shinobu lowered her head slightly, her eyes faintly glistening with moisture, her cheeks a fiery red, a stark contrast to her fair skin.
"Idiot, you're supposed to close your eyes when you kiss…" Shinobu said this very softly. Yoizumi nodded and leaned his face closer.
"Understood. Let's do it again then."
"Mmm…"
Obediently, Yoizumi closed his eyes and precisely kissed Shinobu's lips.
Her hands, clinging to his shoulders, tightened again, further messing up Yoizumi's clothes.
(Just kissing, nothing bad happened…)
…Because Shinobu's return wasn't just for rest; she also had to organize some documents to take to headquarters, so Yoizumi left first.
As he reached the corner, Yoizumi's keen senses already detected Inosuke hiding there.
The moment Inosuke darted out, Yoizumi grabbed his mask and flung him backward. Inosuke, losing his sight, crashed into the wall. Yoizumi, with his hands on his hips, confidently declared as if nothing had happened.
"As expected of someone I, the great me, favor, you found me so quickly!"
"I'm over here." Yoizumi reminded Inosuke, who was speaking with his back to him, and casually pulled off his mask.
With his vision restored, Inosuke looked at the pristine white wall in front of him and pointed at Yoizumi with a serious expression, "You actually switched the wall's position when I wasn't looking!"
"Is there something you need?" Yoizumi asked, a little helpless.
"Fight me!" That hateful charcoal wolf didn't invite him along, making him miss the chance to kill an Upper Rank and become a Hashira!
Yoizumi stared at Inosuke's hair for a long time, making Inosuke uncomfortable.
"What do you want?"
"Help me with something, and I'll fight you."
"What kind of help! Bring it on!"
"…"
"What the hell!"
"Isn't this the same hairstyle as that woman?!"
Inosuke yelled, furiously holding up a mirror and looking at his reflection, which had the exact same hairstyle as Shinobu.
Yoizumi nodded in satisfaction. Indeed, it wasn't his problem. Inosuke's hair was about the same length as Shinobu's, so Yoizumi had easily managed it.
Now he could tie Shinobu's hair.
Yoizumi thought.
"Let's fight now." He said to Inosuke, who was still frantically pulling at his hair. Inosuke immediately stopped worrying about his hairstyle.
"Bang!"
Agatsuma Zenitsu, who had witnessed the entire process nearby, walked over to Inosuke, squatted down, and poked the fallen Inosuke with a wooden stick.
"You're not allowed to sleep here, get up now."
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