Yoizumi brought meals to Shinobu, who was organizing documents in her room.
"Shinobu, it's time to eat."
"Thank you," Shinobu then realized it was already mealtime; she tended to forget when she got busy.
She put down the documents in her hand and sat at the table. Her lunch consisted of a small bowl of ginger tsukudani, a stir-fried seasonal vegetable dish, a pan-fried fish, and tofu soup.
"Are you full?"
Yoizumi sat beside her, quietly watching Shinobu eat.
"It's just right for me," Shinobu said with a smile, slowly chewing her food in small bites.
"Yoizumi, do you want some?" Yoizumi had been staring at her, making Shinobu a little self-conscious even while eating. She picked up a bit of ginger tsukudani and brought it to Yoizumi's mouth, asking.
He opened his mouth and ate it, frowning. Clearly, he was still unaccustomed to the taste, but he still swallowed it because Shinobu liked it, and he would try to accept it.
Chuckling at Yoizumi's expression, she finished her meal, leaving the dishes spotless.
"I'm full."
Putting down her bowl and chopsticks, Shinobu stood up, ready to continue working. Yoizumi followed beside her, thinking if there was anything he could help with. It was rare for her to have a break, and he didn't want it to be taken up.
"Is there anything I can help with?" Yoizumi followed closely behind Shinobu. Shinobu paused, and he immediately stopped as well.
"Let me think..." She took Yoizumi's hand, a beautiful curve gracing her lips, her eyes crescent-shaped, and her tone intimate.
"Just stay with me, Yoizumi~"
"Mm-hm," Yoizumi nodded. After that, he sat by her side, watching Shinobu intently.
Shinobu held a pen, writing and drawing, recording something on paper, occasionally searching through thick books on a wall of shelves to find data.
Yoizumi was not idle either. Shinobu asked him to organize and categorize, and he meticulously followed her instructions.
The two of them were busy all afternoon, and all the necessary documents were prepared.
"How is the research progressing?" Yoizumi asked after drinking the milk tea Shinobu had prepared for him.
Shinobu, who had been resting her eyes on Yoizumi's shoulder, answered only after Yoizumi fed her some black tea.
"Tamayo-san is very impressive. Thanks to her in many areas, we've been able to achieve breakthrough progress."
"Currently, the antidote is still in the development stage, and there are too many problems that need to be solved..." Shinobu opened her eyes, her dark purple pupils filled with worry.
"It's okay, we still have plenty of time," Yoizumi took her hand, his large palm easily enveloping her entire hand.
"If you need me for anything, just say so."
"I'm sorry, Yoizumi."
Staring at their clasped hands, Shinobu's sudden apology left Yoizumi puzzled, his tone filled with confusion.
"What?"
"When I first met you, I took so much of your blood..." Recalling that scene, Shinobu wished she could go back in time to stop herself from harming Yoizumi.
"I don't mind, because I promised Shinobu," Yoizumi didn't feel anything about it.
"Aren't you angry, Yoizumi...?"
"I won't be angry with Shinobu," Yoizumi tilted his head, leaning against Shinobu as well, their heads touching and shoulders pressed together, close to each other... "I'm returning to headquarters tomorrow." The two walked under the moonlight, strolling near the Butterfly Mansion. With this rare time alone, Shinobu wished time would pass slower and slower.
"Make sure to rest," he tightened Shinobu's outer jacket. When they left, he had also brought a red scarf. Just now, he noticed Shinobu sniffing, so he wrapped the scarf, which had been draped over his arm, around her neck in circles.
"Yoizumi, I can't see," her vision was obscured. Shinobu was wrapped up like a zongzi, her entire face enveloped by the soft scarf.
She raised her hand and tugged at the scarf, finally revealing half of her face. She cast a resentful glance at Yoizumi, who looked innocent beside her.
"Sorry."
Yoizumi ingratiatingly took Shinobu's hand and swayed it. The easily appeased little Kochou immediately laughed, her pleasant voice particularly clear in the silent snowy night.
"Yoizumi, I have good news to tell you," the bright joy in her lively purple eyes and the upturned corners of her lips hidden beneath the scarf all spoke of her happiness.
Influenced by Shinobu, Yoizumi couldn't help but relax his brows, gazing gently at the soft and lovely person before him.
"What?"
"Guess."
She wants to tell him, but also wants him to guess...?
Yoizumi thought for a moment, racking his brain, but couldn't think of anything, so he could only shake his head.
"The toxins in my body have completely dissolved, you know~"
She had waited until after dinner tonight to get tested, and only after receiving the result that the toxins had completely dissipated did she want to tell Yoizumi.
She stared intently at the person in front of her, not wanting to miss any of his facial expressions or details, but saw him only calmly nod.
"I know."
Yoizumi had noticed the subtle changes in Shinobu the first time he saw her upon his return.
Of course, he also knew about the toxins dissipating.
"You knew?"
"Yes, I see everything about Shinobu," he raised his hand and smoothed Shinobu's somewhat messy hair, which was hidden beneath the scarf, his cool fingertips brushing against her face.
"I'm very happy that Shinobu is healthy."
Yoizumi's voice was very soft, but Shinobu still heard the emotions contained within it.
Gently releasing Yoizumi's hand, she quickly walked a few steps forward. Shinobu looked up at the high-hanging bright moon, pulled down her scarf, and exhaled a puff of white mist.
"The night is so beautiful tonight."
Yoizumi followed her gaze. A few stars accompanied the moon, bright and dazzling. The next second, Yoizumi felt a chill on the top of his head and dazedly raised his hand to wipe away the white snow on his face.
"Let's have a snowball fight," Shinobu said with a smile, having successfully ambushed him.
"Okay."
Unwilling to throw cold snow at Shinobu, all of Yoizumi's attacks missed, while Shinobu's all hit.
Soon, Yoizumi became a snowman.
Shinobu is human and can get sick, but he cannot.
Shinobu's rare childlike side, Yoizumi thought... he would remember it for a very, very long time.
On the other side, Tanjirou and Nezuko, who were lieing on the railing, quietly peeked out.
Tanjirou looked at Yoizumi and Shinobu, who were having a snowball fight not far away, his eyes shining, his voice filled with uncontrollable relief.
"Yoizumi-nii looks very happy, that's great, right, Nezuko!"
"Mmm!" Nezuko, who had thrown white snow on Tanjirou's head, nodded her small head in agreement.
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