Yoizumi and Shinobu walked together down the street of a not-so-prosperous town, with very few pedestrians.
"After Miss Tamayo returned to being human, she opened a medical clinic here."
"It seems she's atoning for her past self, often treating the town's residents for free."
Shinobu explained to Yoizumi as she led him towards the clinic.
"Shinobu, have you been here before?" Yoizumi asked, seeing her familiar demeanor.
Shinobu looked up at Yoizumi, smiled, but didn't answer immediately. During Yoizumi's year-long coma, she had come here no less than 10 times... all to... find a way with Miss Tamayo to wake Yoizumi up.
This time... she wasn't alone anymore... gripping Yoizumi's large hand tightly, Shinobu lowered her eyelashes, her gaze falling to the ground.
Her steps were small and slow, and Yoizumi's were the same... She looked up again at Yoizumi beside her, only to meet his focused yet gentle gaze. Yoizumi was waiting for her answer, but if she didn't speak, he wouldn't rush her.
In those long days of going with hope and returning with disappointment... every urgent step... every heavy step... was now replaced by lightness.
Everything along the way was no longer blurry... "Yes... I come here often."
Shinobu replied with a smile.
"I see..." Yoizumi nodded knowingly, his golden hair fluttering in the wind. Yoizumi then carefully noted every detail along the way.
It seems Shinobu and Tamayo have become friends... He'll probably visit often now.
He needs to remember the way.
"We're here." Their steps stopped in front of a small house. Shinobu stepped forward and lightly knocked on the door.
Soon, that familiar voice came.
"Coming."
"Creak~"
Mr. Yushiro's familiar face appeared before Yoizumi and Shinobu. He hadn't changed much, still with that sour expression towards everyone except Tamayo.
Mr. Yushiro wasn't surprised to see them; he had received their letter of visit yesterday. Looking at Yoizumi, Mr. Yushiro turned his head away.
"Hmph! You finally deigned to wake up from your dream."
"You slept comfortably, but you made Lady Tamayo go through so much trouble." Mr. Yushiro said, crossing his arms impolitely.
"Mr. Yushiro~" Shinobu narrowed her eyes, her voice drawn out, soft, and containing a warning.
The gentle voice reached Mr. Yushiro's ears, and his temple twitched involuntarily.
Whenever this woman is like this, nothing good ever comes of it.
Mr. Yushiro was about to say something else, when the next second, a bouquet of flowers was handed to him. He stared blankly at the roses so close, his gaze slowly moving upwards, locking onto Yoizumi's calm, expressionless face.
Wh-what does this mean?
"For you," Yoizumi said very frankly.
..." Mr. Yushiro fell silent.
Biting his lip, his dark purple eyes staring at the roses in front of him, he raised a hand to mess up his dark green hair. Mr. Yushiro couldn't for the life of him understand why this guy was giving him flowers?!
He slept for over a year, did he break his brain?
After much thought, Mr. Yushiro only came to this conclusion.
"Don't you like them?" Yoizumi asked, a little confused, seeing Mr. Yushiro hadn't moved for a long time.
Mr. Yushiro raised his hand and forcefully slapped at the flowers, but Yoizumi dodged faster. Gritting his teeth, he pointed a finger at Yoizumi.
"You! Are you kidding me?!"
"What man likes another man giving him flowers?!"
Yoizumi heard this and recalled Mr. Yushiro's previous actions.
"But you clearly wanted them last time."
"Huh... I wanted to give them to..." Before Mr. Yushiro could retort, he heard Tamayo's voice from inside the house.
"Mr. Yushiro, why haven't you brought Miss Kochou and Mr. Yoizumi in yet?"
"Coming right away!" After immediately responding, Mr. Yushiro didn't bother to argue anymore. It was pointless to talk to this infuriatingly natural guy.
It would only make him angrier!
"Follow me."
Turning around, Mr. Yushiro's face was grim. Sure enough, after more than a year, this guy still annoyed him so much.
"Ara~ It seems Mr. Yushiro doesn't like them," Shinobu said with a smile, pulling on Yoizumi's sleeve.
"Hmm..."
Yoizumi frowned slightly in distress, pondering as he walked.
Does Mr. Yushiro still want Kochou's roses?
Well, there's no way... Yoizumi wouldn't give Kochou's flowers to anyone else.
"Miss Kochou and..." Tamayo, dressed in a white lab coat, appeared before them, her gentle, light purple eyes filled with a smile.
"Long time no see, Mr. Yoizumi."
"Tamayo, um... long time no see..." For Yoizumi, the last time he saw Tamayo was only a few days ago.
It was when he cut off her hand and took her away from Muzan's range... "I'm sorry I hurt you in that emergency, and thank you for saving me." Yoizumi said apologetically, handing over Kochou's special tea leaves. Mr. Yushiro had said Tamayo liked black tea.
For Yoizumi, what Kochou made was the best.
"No need to apologize, Mr. Yoizumi. In a way, we're even."
"There's no need to be so polite."
"And this isn't just my achievement; Miss Kochou has truly..."
"Miss Tamayo!" Shinobu interrupted, then felt her right hand being tightly held.
She heard Yoizumi say,
"I understand... I think I'll never be able to repay it in a lifetime."
Yoizumi's sapphire eyes were full of tenderness. He knew everything... everything Kochou had done for him... Tamayo revealed a gentle smile, looking at the two of them, her gaze falling on Shinobu's blushing cheeks.
This is wonderful... Miss Kochou.
Tamayo had seen Shinobu on the verge of collapse.
She had seen her with a gloomy face, her eyes almost completely devoid of life.
And now, she's finally smiling again... The smiling Miss Tamayo is so beautiful!
Mr. Yushiro stood beside Tamayo, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Lady Tamayo. The roses were handed to him again, and the distracted Mr. Yushiro unconsciously took them.
"Shinobu, Mr. Yushiro accepted them," Yoizumi whispered softly into Kochou's ear.
"Yes, yes, I saw it."
Shinobu looked at Yoizumi in front of her, her beautiful purple eyes filled with a smile.
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