"Sister, are you going back to your room or...?" Kanao asked softly, pulling on Shinobu's swaying body.
Her entire face was flushed, her eyes hazy. Shinobu's head was slightly bowed, and her speech was a bit slurred, but she still walked forward, towards the place she went to day and night.
"Yoizumi... I... I need to find... him."
Watching her sister, who could barely walk steadily, determinedly head towards Yoizumi's room, Kanao felt a pang in her heart.
Just when her sister had finally opened her heart, it closed again when Mr. Yoizumi fell into a coma... Her sister had reverted to her old self.
Shinobu stumbled ahead, and Kanao's eyes widened, ready to rush over and support her. But Shinobu precariously steadied herself against the wall, her slender body leaning against it, making her appear so delicate.
"Sister..."
With Kanao's excellent eyesight, she clearly saw the exhaustion and... vulnerability her sister usually hid behind her smile.
The fleeting hint of grievance on her face, amidst her drunken haze, seemed almost like Kanao's imagination.
But she had truly and distinctly caught it.
This wasn't weakness... Kanao understood.
Her sister just needed a place to land.
A place where she could finally rest.
Raising her hand, she supported Shinobu's slender wrist. Even though her sister was older than her, her figure was even more petite.
Kanao didn't know why... she suddenly felt like... crying?
Her eyes seemed to be filled with an inexplicable sourness, and her throat felt dry and swollen, all telling Kanao that she wanted to cry for her sister... something she could never do before.
"Sister... I'll take you."
Holding her sister's hand, just like when they first met.
Her sister had held her hand and led her away from a hellish existence. From then on, she would no longer suffer pain, she would have a beautiful name, pretty clothes, delicious food, and she wouldn't need to constantly observe and guard against a fist that might strike at any moment.
Now she didn't need to rely on a coin to make decisions.
She wanted her sister to be happy, to be joyful.
So... so... please, Mr. Yoizumi.
Please return to my sister's side.
"We're here, Sister," Kanao said, pushing open the door. In the dark, dim room, he was still in a deep sleep.
Her hand was released, and she watched her sister stagger to Yoizumi's side, like a tired bird returning to its nest, dependently curling her entire body into his embrace.
Kanao didn't want to look anymore. She pursed her lips, exited the room, and closed the door, plunging the already dark room into complete blackness.
Her curled-up body trembled slightly. Shinobu seemed to feel cold, and she tried to press her body closer, and even closer, into Yoizumi's embrace.
Her crimson cheeks pressed against Yoizumi's chest, Shinobu sniffled, her hands clutching his shirt with an insecure grip.
Her hazy purple eyes shimmered with tears, and her voice was tinged with bitterness.
"Yoizumi... it's so cold."
She rubbed her forehead against the person beneath her, seemingly displeased by his lack of reaction, her dark purple hair falling messily across her face.
"Yoizumi... why aren't you... holding me?"
"..."
"Why aren't you... talking?" She raised a finger and poked Yoizumi's face, tilting his head to the right.
"Don't... don't you dare turn away!"
Forcefully straightening Yoizumi's head, Shinobu sat on his waist, cupping his cheeks with both hands, and looked down at the person with closed eyes.
Her muddled brain froze for a moment, her purple pupils trembled, and her eyes filled with tears. Her thumb caressed his face, and her hoarse voice held a hint of apprehension.
"Yoizumi... why aren't you looking at me?"
Her waist bent little by little, her frail back even showing the outline of her bones, the shape of her shoulder blades very distinct.
Her forehead rested on Yoizumi's forehead, and the butterfly necklace on her chest hung down, landing precisely on Yoizumi's lips. The plain silver ring engraved with [Shinobu] reflected Shinobu's now red eyes.
Tears blurred her vision, and Yoizumi in front of her became indistinct.
"Didn't you say... you wanted to see me?"
Leaning weakly on Yoizumi's shoulder, her tears wetting his clothes, Shinobu murmured softly.
"Liar..."
"I hate..."
She couldn't say it... she couldn't say she hated Yoizumi.
She liked him... she loved him... she couldn't be without him.
"Mitsuri... and Iguro... got married."
"What about you?"
"When will you... come to marry me?"
"Yoizumi..." Shinobu hugged Yoizumi's arm, her body curling into a ball once more, holding his hand, her fingers intertwined with his.
"Please wake up..."
"Please marry me..."
In her hazy consciousness, Shinobu fell into a deep sleep, unaware that Yoizumi's fingers had twitched.
The person who had been asleep for one year and three months, his eyelashes fluttered, and his usual sapphire eyes stared at the familiar ceiling of the Butterfly Mansion.
Yoizumi slowly turned over, reached out and embraced Shinobu's body, holding her tightly. His voice, just awakened, was still a little hoarse.
"Okay..."
"Ugh..."
Yoizumi tried hard to open his eyes, wanting to control his blurry vision.
Ah... the smell of alcohol on Shinobu... so much... Shinobu... Yoizumi closed his eyes again.
Yoizumi, who had been awake for barely ten seconds, fell into a coma again... Shinobu slowly opened her eyes, finding herself in Yoizumi's embrace. She was a bit dazed at first, taking a while to recall what happened last night.
She sighed softly, closed her eyes, and leaned her head back on Yoizumi's chest. Wait!
Sensing something was off, she suddenly opened her eyes wide.
Why was Yoizumi lying on his side and holding her?!
Could it be...? Shinobu suddenly didn't dare to look up. Her violently pounding heart was relaying her current feelings.
Stiffly, she slowly raised her head, then, seeing clearly, her eyes fell with disappointment.
She... had been mistaken... Yoizumi was clearly still in a coma.
"Ugh..." A soft hum, unexpectedly reached her ears. After a year and three months, that familiar voice once again came from above her head.
"Shinobu..."
She looked up in disbelief, meeting his clear sapphire eyes that reflected only her. Shinobu's breath hitched, fearing it was just her imagination.
Glancing at the sky outside, a bright smile appeared in Yoizumi's gentle sapphire eyes.
"Good morning... Shinobu..."
Shinobu's embrace was Yoizumi's response, an embrace as if to melt him into her very bones.
Yoizumi blinked, feeling Shinobu's trembling and the dampness on his neck. His expression softened, and he raised his arms to hug Shinobu back.
Ah... Shinobu had lost so much weight again... Had she not eaten well?
Had she not rested well?
Had she not taken care of herself?
...In the end, all his concern condensed into one sentence.
"Shinobu... don't cry."
"I'm here."
Shinobu could no longer suppress her soft sobs and cried uncontrollably, like a child who had found a lost and precious treasure.
"Yoizumi..."
"Yoi... zumi!"
Yoizumi gently stroked Shinobu's head, repeating over and over.
"Shinobu, I'm here."
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