Shinobu looked at Yoizumi with a strained, false smile, while simultaneously racking her brain for who Yoizumi might be giving flowers to... But... she couldn't think of anyone else besides herself... "Just who is it?" she muttered, one hand slowly clenching into a fist while the other pinched Yoizumi's waist.
Yoizumi was slightly unable to react to Shinobu's sudden change, but seeing her unhappy expression, Yoizumi frowned. Could it be that she was upset because he hadn't given her flowers? "This is for Yushiro..." Yoizumi cautiously leaned closer to Shinobu. His sapphire eyes held no hint of deceit, only inquiry.
"If Shinobu doesn't agree, I won't give them to him... okay?"
...?
For... Yushiro?
Shinobu froze in astonishment. The hand pinching Yoizumi unconsciously loosened, and her eyes widened slightly. She even wondered if she had misheard... Flowers... for Yushiro?
The two pairs of bewildered eyes stared at each other... Finally, Shinobu was the first to regain her composure, repeating the question as if seeking confirmation.
"Yoizumi is going to give flowers to Mr. Yushiro?"
Yoizumi nodded, his serious expression causing Shinobu to sigh softly. Had this idiot misunderstood something again?
"Why?"
Seeing Shinobu return to her usual self, Yoizumi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't know why... but he wasn't sure how to handle that Shinobu from a moment ago.
"Because Yushiro always tried to snatch the flowers I was going to give Shinobu, so I thought maybe he liked them."
"I plan to give them to him as a thank-you gift when we go see them tomorrow."
Yoizumi recalled the scene. Yushiro had wanted Shinobu's roses more than once; one time, he had even reached out to snatch them.
How much did he want them, exactly... He stared at the rose in his left hand. Although he didn't know if Yushiro would like this one... Yoizumi would only give those roses to Shinobu alone.
"You... haha~" Shinobu took Yoizumi's hand again and couldn't help but rest her head against his arm, her body trembling slightly as she let out pleasant, soft laughter.
It was because of that... There was truly nothing she could do... Yoizumi really was... a complete and utter idiot.
"Idiot."
"Hmm..?" Yoizumi, called an idiot by Shinobu again, blinked and tilted his head slightly.
"Since Mr. Yushiro likes those roses so much, why doesn't Yoizumi give him the ones from over there?"
Both of them knew what "over there" referred to. Hearing this, Yoizumi shook his head without hesitation, his clear eyes full of seriousness as his gentle voice rang out.
"Those are roses that belong only to Shinobu. I won't give them to anyone else besides her."
Belongs only to... me... This phrase repeated constantly in her mind. With every repetition, Shinobu's heart rate would uncontrollably speed up.
Blushing, she quickly handed the money into Yoizumi's hand, then pushed his back, urging him.
"Hurry up. Kanao and the others are probably waiting for us to get back for dinner."
"Mm."
Yoizumi held the roses in one hand and led Shinobu with the other, slowly walking step by step toward the Butterfly Mansion... "Ouch! Watch where you're going!"
Before the two even reached the Butterfly Mansion, they heard Zenitsu's noisy voice, followed immediately by Inosuke saying:
"Monitsu is still too weak. He can't keep up with my speed at all!"
"What are the children doing now?" Shinobu sighed softly, walking with Yoizumi through the Butterfly Mansion gate. Nezuko was walking toward them.
"Ah! Welcome back! Yoizumi-nii, Miss Shinobu."
Nezuko was holding a bowl of freshly pounded rice cakes, smiling as she greeted the two of them.
"Brother Yoizumi! Look at him!" Zenitsu held up his red and swollen hand to Yoizumi, pointing tearfully at Inosuke to complain.
Inosuke indifferently rested the hammer on his shoulder, acting as if it had nothing to do with him.
"Haven't you finished pounding yet?" Kanzaki Aoi came out of the kitchen, checked the consistency of the rice cakes, squatted down, wet her hands, and then looked at Inosuke.
"Stop spacing out."
Inosuke's green eyes blinked beneath his mask. In the end, he slowed his speed and lessened his force. If he hit her... Ugh... he wouldn't get any tempura to eat.
"Why is it so gentle when it comes to Miss Aoi! Although that's totally reasonable!" Zenitsu held his bright red hand up in front of Inosuke, trying to make him feel guilty, but unfortunately, Inosuke didn't, and even slapped his hand away.
"Ow!"
Watching Zenitsu and Inosuke squabble, a smile unconsciously appeared on Yoizumi's usually impassive face. Feeling a poke to his abdomen, Yoizumi turned to look at Shinobu.
"Wh— Mph..." Just as his mouth opened, a piece of warm rice cake was stuffed inside. Shinobu chuckled, retracted her hand, and took a bite herself.
"It tastes great when it's fresh, right~"
"It's delicious."
"Have another bite, ah~" Yoizumi readily accepted the rice cake Shinobu offered him again.
This was because one hand was holding the flowers, and the other was holding Shinobu's hand.
He couldn't free his hands... "Tch... Ugh... Darn it..." Zenitsu turned around and saw this scene. His already teary eyes immediately streamed with tears. Angrily, he wanted to clench his fists but was afraid of aggravating his injury.
Both of them... Waaah... I want to leave here!
"Mr. Zenitsu? Does your hand hurt a lot?" Nezuko's worried voice came from behind him, her pink eyes looking at Zenitsu's swollen hand.
It must really hurt. Mr. Zenitsu is crying from the pain.
"Let me put some medicine on it for you."
Zenitsu looked at Nezuko with gratitude, sniffled, and a blush appeared on his face.
Nezuko-chan is the best after all!
As for Tanjirou and Kanao... Tanjirou was seriously working on shaping the rice cakes in his hands.
They were making red bean rice cake soup for dinner. Yoizumi-nii would definitely like it!
He looked at Kanao beside him, who was as quiet as a lily of the valley, and couldn't help but show a gentle smile.
Kanao is amazing... Her timing when pounding the rice cakes was always precise, so they finished quickly.
Tanjirou watched the faint smile on Kanao's face and sighed softly.
"I'm really looking forward to dinner."
Although he didn't receive a response from Kanao, Tanjirou could tell from her scent that she was also looking forward to it.
— — — — Short Skit — — — —
"Yoizumi?"
"Where did he go?"
Shinobu opened the door, but not finding Yoizumi, she spoke in confusion. But the next second, the familiar, reassuring scent belonging to Yoizumi gradually approached.
"Shinobu."
Shinobu turned her head. The first thing she saw was not Yoizumi, but the large bouquet of Purple Roses in Yoizumi's hands.
"They're for Shinobu."
Yoizumi slightly pursed his lips and spoke slowly.
Reaching out to accept the strongly fragrant roses, Shinobu's voice, full of helplessness yet tinged with joy, rang out.
"Idiot, there are so many flowers, they won't fit in the room."
------------------------
There are already 70+ chapters available on my Patreon!
The story will continue to update 1 chapter per day on Webnovel,
while early access chapters are posted on Patreon.
Maybe it's not worth it today but it could be later
[email protected]/Kazenova223
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"