"Oh, right, the flower."
Whenever Yoizumi was about to head to headquarters, he would first use Blood Demon Art: Instant Shadow to pick the freshest Purple Rose for Shinobu.
He had promised Shinobu last time that he would bring her a flower every time he went to see her. Although Shinobu said there was no need, and that her room had no more space, Yoizumi could always see the genuine joy on Shinobu's face whenever he brought her a flower.
Today, he also needed to discuss the enhanced activity serum with Tamayo, so Yoizumi headed to headquarters even earlier than usual.
After another encounter with Yushiro, who was guarding the entrance, to his surprise, Yushiro was the first to nod and greet Yoizumi this time.
Yoizumi raised an eyebrow, a little surprised. Seeing this, Yushiro crossed his arms and spoke, clearly displeased.
"What? Surprised?"
"Mm."
"Hmph! If it weren't for Lady Tamayo telling me to get along with you, I wouldn't bother with you!"
"Oh."
Yoizumi nodded indifferently, but this attitude annoyed Yushiro even more.
"You're just 'mm-hm' and 'oh-ing' me. Would it kill you to say a little more?!"
"What an attitude!"
Yushiro frowned, gritting his teeth.
Say a little more?
Yoizumi lowered his gaze and thought for a moment, remembering that he wanted to ask Yushiro about Tamayo's preferences. So, Yoizumi calmly looked at the furious Yushiro beside him.
"Does Tamayo have anything she likes?"
"..." Strangely, Yushiro suddenly fell silent. Then he grabbed Yoizumi and pulled him away.
Once they were far from Shinobu and Tamayo's laboratory, Yushiro gritted his teeth, even baring his sharp fangs, characteristic of a demon. His vertical pupils were filled with malice, and his face was contorted with rage as he leaned close to Yoizumi.
The veins bulging on his face snaked across it, showing his current mood.
"What are you plotting?!"
"Don't you dare approach Lady Tamayo!"
Yoizumi didn't understand why the other party suddenly became so agitated just by asking about Tamayo's preferences. And hadn't he told him to speak more?
Now that he had spoken, why was he unhappy instead?
Indeed, communicating with anyone other than family and Shinobu was so difficult... "I just want to know her preferences, that's all."
"No ulterior motives."
Yoizumi's words, to Yushiro's ears, were no explanation at all!
He said he had no ulterior motives! He was already trying to find out Lady Tamayo's preferences!
Yushiro glanced at the rose in Yoizumi's hand, his eyebrow twitching violently. He couldn't possibly be thinking of giving Lady Tamayo flowers too, could he?!
Don't even think about it!
Yushiro unexpectedly lunged to snatch the flower from Yoizumi's hand. Yoizumi, being much taller than Yushiro, immediately raised the rose high. This demon had been obsessed with his rose last time, and he didn't expect him to try to grab it directly this time.
He pressed down on Yushiro's shoulder with one hand and held the rose high with the other, preventing Yushiro from touching it.
The bastard's grip on him was so strong that he couldn't move. Yushiro let out a humiliated growl.
"You won't seduce Lady Tamayo!"
Seduce?
Yoizumi, who didn't understand what that meant, tilted his head in confusion.
"This is for Shinobu. If you want one, go pick it yourself."
Seeing no sign of lying on Yoizumi's face, Yushiro calmed down, mainly because if this continued, his collarbone would be broken by this thoughtless demon.
Now that he had calmed down, Yushiro also had time to think.
That's right, how could this demon, whose mind was full of that malicious woman, suddenly fall for Lady Tamayo?
No!
Lady Tamayo was so beautiful and wonderful, it wouldn't be strange for him to like her.
Just as he was about to engage in a battle of his own thoughts, Yushiro shook his head, casting aside those distracting thoughts. Suppressing his displeasure, he patiently asked,
"Why do you want to know Lady Tamayo's preferences?"
"She helped me a lot. I want to thank her."
"..." Yushiro's mouth twitched. Shouldn't he have said this from the very beginning?
After a long pause, Yushiro turned around and walked towards the laboratory. Despite his reluctance, he still told Yoizumi,
"Black tea. Lady Tamayo likes black tea."
"Lady Tamayo drinks only the best. Don't try to fool her with rubbish."
Yoizumi stared at his back, blinked, and then suddenly spoke.
"Do you like Tamayo?"
Yushiro, who was still walking, instantly froze, stopping in his tracks. His body trembled, and his head slowly lowered. He clenched his sleeves tightly, his entire face flushed crimson. He stuck out his neck but couldn't utter a single word to refute Yoizumi for a long time.
Because...
How could he possibly say he didn't like Lady Tamayo?!
He couldn't bring himself to admit it either!
He guessed right.
Staring at Yushiro's beet-red face, Yoizumi thought thoughtfully, "When did this happen?"
"N-None of your business!"
After Yushiro, red-faced and walking awkwardly, left Yoizumi's sight.
He was very agitated...
Yoizumi glanced at the sky. It was almost time for his appointment with Tamayo. As Yoizumi walked back, he saw Yushiro eagerly asking Tamayo if there was anything she needed help with.
Yushiro, who had been rejected, looked a little disappointed, but upon seeing Yoizumi, his expression turned to one of warning.
Yoizumi, who was being subtly glared at by Yushiro, didn't pay much attention.
Tamayo didn't notice the inexplicable undercurrents. She smiled and nodded at Yoizumi.
"Mr. Yoizumi has arrived."
"Then let's go over there and talk."
"Alright."
Seeing this, Yushiro wanted to follow but was stopped by Tamayo. The resentful Yushiro's unwilling gaze, like sharp knives, repeatedly stabbed Yoizumi's back.
Damn it!
Although he knew it was serious business, it didn't stop Yushiro from adding another entry about Yoizumi to his grudge list... "This is the enhanced activity serum." Tamayo carefully took out two test tubes and handed them to Yoizumi.
The rose-colored liquid glowed with a dark red luster under the moonlight. Yoizumi's indifferent expression showed no change, his fingertips lightly caressing the smooth glass vessels.
Tamayo's delicate brows furrowed slightly. As its developer, only she knew how arduous the journey had been, and she was, of course, aware of the risks involved.
Tamayo sighed and said in a low voice,
"Mr. Yoizumi, there are some things I must tell you."
"Neither you nor I know its side effects, but it can indeed make you stronger."
"To prevent the situation from becoming uncontrollable, I advise against easily taking the second dose in a short period."
"Of course, it would be best if there was no need to use the serum at all."
Lowering his gaze in silence, Yoizumi looked at the rose-colored liquid in his hand and responded softly,
"Mm, I understand."
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