"Yoizumi, why do you seem so unfazed?" Shinobu asked softly, taking a small bite of the steaming rice under Yoizumi's gaze, chewing slowly.
"Because I believe Shinobu and Tamayo can definitely do it."
Yoizumi took out some of the ginger pickles Kanzaki Aoi had asked him to bring earlier, placed them on a plate, and pushed them towards Shinobu. Yoizumi's expression was natural, without a hint of joking. The success of the potion seemed like a matter of course to him.
"So much confidence in me, huh?" Shinobu felt a significant burden lift from her shoulders, and she relaxed a little.
Yoizumi nodded without hesitation, his sapphire eyes full of a smile.
"Shinobu is just that amazing."
"Hehe~" With a light smile, Shinobu picked up a piece of ginger pickle with her chopsticks and put it into Yoizumi's mouth. Yoizumi was a bit surprised but still obediently ate it.
The spicy taste of ginger in his mouth made Yoizumi frown slightly. He closed his eyes and, after a difficult swallow, he coughed lightly and smacked his lips.
This made Shinobu cover her mouth and stifle a laugh.
Indeed, Yoizumi, who gets bullied but doesn't fight back, was the most fun.
After lunch, Shinobu asked Yoizumi the reason for his visit that afternoon.
Upon learning it was about Yoriichi Tsugikuni's doll, she nodded in understanding.
"Ubuyashiki-sama's children are different from any other children I've met," Yoizumi said, a little confused as he recalled the five children.
Hearing this, Shinobu sighed softly. As children of the Ubuyashiki family, their living environment forced them to be more mature than their peers.
Her fingertips tapped lightly on Yoizumi's hand, Shinobu pursed her lips and looked at Yoizumi.
"Yoizumi, when you come to headquarters, you can bring them some sweets to share. They'll be happy."
Yoizumi turned his arm that was resting on the table, palm up, and easily enveloped Shinobu's hand in his. Feeling the warmth of Shinobu's hand, a subtle curve appeared on Yoizumi's lips.
"Mhm, I understand."
Slowly returning the grasp of the hand holding hers, Shinobu looked up at Yoizumi beside her with her purple eyes, and very directly, she caught the joy in the depths of his clear eyes.
"Yoizumi, you won't be using the human-transformation potion right now, will you?"
"Mhm." His breathing technique still relied on this demon body. Yoizumi had to admit that if he returned to being human, his chances of winning would be cut in half, or even more.
The seed Kibutsuji Muzan had personally sown years ago had now successfully borne fruit.
It remained to be seen whether Kibutsuji Muzan would pick and consume the ripe fruit first, or if Yoizumi would be the first to destroy him.
Shinobu was not surprised at all, just a little regretful.
The wait to see Yoizumi return to being human might still be a very long time.
Standing up and pulling their clasped hands, Shinobu turned her head, her beautiful eyes curving into a faint smile, and she said affectionately in her pleasant tone,
"Let's go, Yoizumi~"
"Tanjirou and Nezuko are waiting for you to come back."
Yes... his younger siblings were waiting for him to come back... "Mhm."
Holding the long-awaited potion in his hand, Yoizumi's normally calm heart inevitably quickened a few beats. He carefully put the potion away.
Looking at Tamayo beside him, Yoizumi lowered his head and thanked her.
"Thank you, Tamayo."
Tamayo slowly shook her head, saying humbly in a gentle tone,
"It's also thanks to Yoizumi-san's blood and Kochou-san's cooperation. This is everyone's collective effort."
"Yoizumi-san, please go quickly. Say hello to Tanjirou and Nezuko for me."
Shinobu walked up to Yoizumi and reached out to smooth the stray hairs on his forehead.
"I still have to report to Ubuyashiki-sama, so I won't go back to Butterfly Mansion with you."
Yoizumi bent down slightly, lowering his height to make it easier for Shinobu to reach him, and softly acknowledged her.
But before that... Yoizumi raised his hand, placing his palm on Shinobu's right cheek, and leaned in for a quick, light kiss that landed on her temple.
"I'll come find Shinobu again tonight."
After speaking, he smiled gently at Shinobu and instantly vanished from the spot, giving Shinobu no chance to react.
Huh?
Yushiro, standing nearby, let out a silent gasp of surprise. So natural and practiced like this, and you said you couldn't!
"Ara~" Tamayo covered her face and chuckled softly.
Shinobu's face turned red, and she turned her head, her ears, exposed to the two demons' gazes, a faint pink.
There are still people here... Yoizumi, you idiot... "Beast Breathing, Second Fang: Slice and Dice!"
With a violent clash between wooden swords, Zenitsu's blocking wooden sword snapped directly. Zenitsu's eyes widened, and he shouted loudly,
"You have two swords! That's totally unfair!"
"The current Zenitsu is the enemy, it's reasonable for me to use two swords!" Inosuke retorted, chasing Zenitsu with two wooden swords.
Zenitsu ran incredibly fast, dodging Inosuke's slashes with tricky and bizarre movements.
He had participated well in Kanroji-san's training!
"Go, Zenitsu!"
"Go, Inosuke!"
Tanjirou, watching the fight, cheered them on with clenched fists.
"Hm?... Yoizumi-nii's scent has appeared!" Tanjirou suddenly caught Yoizumi's scent. Looking in the direction the scent came from, he saw his older brother. Tanjirou walked a few steps to Yoizumi's front.
"Yoizumi-nii! You're back."
"Tanjirou, come with me."
"Huh? Oh, okay." Tanjirou didn't expect Yoizumi-nii to have something for him as soon as he returned, so he obediently followed his older brother.
The two returned to Yoizumi's room together. Yoizumi took out the Mark-suppressing potion and handed it to Tanjirou.
What is this?
Tanjirou looked at the potion in his hand with confusion, the slightly red liquid reflecting his puzzled face. Tanjirou looked up at his older brother, only to see his older brother's rarely serious expression.
"Drink it."
Hearing this, Tanjirou didn't hesitate at all. He opened the stopper and drank the liquid. After all, his older brother wouldn't harm him, and if Yoizumi-nii told him to drink it, he must have a reason.
Yoizumi stared at the red Mark on Tanjirou's left forehead, asking with concern,
"Tanjirou, how do you feel? Is there anywhere you're uncomfortable?"
The medicine didn't taste bad. Tanjirou touched his warm chest. This feeling... it was like... mm...
Tanjirou's crimson eyes suddenly lit up. This familiar feeling.
It was exactly the same warmth that Yoizumi-nii transmitted to him when he healed him.
Reassuring... and warm.
Just like being bathed in sunlight.
Warm all over.
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