"Ah... how did it end up like this in the end...?" Shinobu looked helplessly at Yoizumi, who was lying unconscious on the bed. His face was flushed, his carefully combed hair from the morning was disheveled, and his blue eyes were half-closed and hazy.
She raised her hand and wiped Yoizumi's face with a wet towel. After finally making it through the wedding banquet, she had brought him back. Shinobu tapped Yoizumi's nose with her fingertip and asked softly.
"Yoizumi? How are you feeling?"
"Mm..." His confused eyes stared at the person in front of him for a long time, but there was no response.
"Hmm?" She sat closer to Yoizumi on the edge of the bed, letting out a small sound.
Yoizumi only felt his muddled brain go blank. He stared at Shinobu without blinking, then suddenly reached out, took Shinobu's hand, brought it to his face, and pressed it against his forehead.
Her body instinctively leaned towards Yoizumi. Shinobu didn't pull away; instead, she patted Yoizumi's head, chuckling good-naturedly.
"Why do you act like a child when you're drunk?"
This unconscious act of dependence seemed to happen every time Yoizumi got drunk.
Shinobu's purple eyes lowered slightly as she quietly watched Yoizumi, her voice very soft, like a feather, drifting... "You've worked hard... Yoizumi."
"Shinobu..." Yoizumi tightened his grip slightly and easily pulled his Kochou into his embrace, resting his chin gently on top of Shinobu's head, his voice a little slurred.
"Sleepy..."
Just a few seconds after Yoizumi closed his eyes, he felt a hand poke his chest. He opened his eyes in confusion, lowered his head slightly, his tired eyes mixed with a hint of bewilderment.
Shinobu lifted her head in Yoizumi's arms. Their distance was so close that even in Yoizumi's hazy vision, he could clearly see the eyelashes on Shinobu's eyelids.
"You've been wearing these clothes all day. Change them before you sleep."
Yoizumi stared blankly at Shinobu for a long time before nodding, releasing Shinobu, and getting up.
He swayed unsteadily towards the door under Shinobu's puzzled gaze.
"Yoizumi, where are you going?"
His hand had just touched the door when he heard Shinobu's voice. Yoizumi turned to look at Shinobu. Even with such a flushed face, Shinobu could see the seriousness he displayed.
"Go... back... to the room... change... change clothes."
Hearing this, Shinobu's eyes widened slightly, then she smiled helplessly, walked over to Yoizumi, and pulled him back.
"Did you forget? We're married, Yoizumi."
"I... didn't forget..." Yoizumi tilted his head, responding.
"Shinobu... is... wife." Yoizumi curved his lips and chuckled softly.
Hearing Yoizumi call her that for the first time, Shinobu's face immediately turned red. With her face flushed and hot, Shinobu lightly coughed.
"So... Yoizumi doesn't need to avoid me..."
"...Like this..." Whatever Shinobu said, Yoizumi nodded. The next second, he untied the sash around his waist. His previously neat clothes suddenly became loose. Just as he was about to take off his clothes, Yoizumi's movements stopped.
He hadn't gotten the clothes yet... "I'll get them for you!"
Shinobu reacted first and quickly walked towards the wardrobe.
"Hmm?" Yoizumi's collar was open, revealing most of his chest. Seeing Shinobu's unnatural reaction, he raised an eyebrow, showing a puzzled expression.
Opening the wardrobe with both hands, Shinobu lowered her head slightly, took a deep breath, her ears astonishingly red.
Well... it was a bit worse than she thought... Yoizumi finally clumsily put on his clothes and sat at the head of the bed, looking at Shinobu, who was still wearing the shiromuku, and said.
"Shinobu... aren't you changing?"
"I am..." Turning her back to Yoizumi, by the time Shinobu nervously changed her clothes and turned back around, she found that Yoizumi had already fallen asleep.
"..."
"Heh~"
Raising her hand, Shinobu poked Yoizumi's cheek with her finger, her helpless yet gentle voice ringing out.
"Idiot..."
Leaning in, a soft kiss landed on Yoizumi's cheek. She rested her head gently on his chest, and accompanied by the sound of his heartbeat, Shinobu closed her eyes.
"Good night, Yoizumi."
..."?"
Staring silently at the familiar ceiling, Yoizumi covered his head and sat up, trying to recall the details of how he suddenly woke up in bed, but for a long time, he couldn't find anything in his blank memory.
He only remembered that Sanemi Shinazugawa had asked him to drink, and he had said something... he couldn't remember... and then Yoizumi... woke up in bed.
His clothes were changed. Was it Shinobu?
But, he didn't see Shinobu... Yoizumi got up and glanced out the window, his sapphire eyes blinking as he looked at the plain white scenery outside. Amidst the vast whiteness, a touch of purple captured all of Yoizumi's attention.
Shinobu... Yoizumi finished washing up, looked at the falling snow outside, and returned to the room.
Shinobu stood in the courtyard, her purple eyes sweeping over the flowers covered in white snow. She raised her hand to catch the falling fine snow, and white mist escaped her lips.
This year's first snow... A familiar sound of footsteps came from behind her. Shinobu didn't turn around; she knew it was Yoizumi.
A weight fell on her shoulder, and Shinobu had an outer garment draped over her. Yoizumi stood behind Shinobu, looking in the direction Shinobu was gazing. Besides snow, he could only see snow, so Yoizumi asked.
"What are you looking at, Shinobu?"
Leaning back into a warm embrace, Shinobu raised her eyes slightly and replied with a smile.
"I'm looking at the snow~"
He reached out and held Shinobu's hand, which was a little red from the cold, enveloping it. Yoizumi lowered his head slightly and could clearly see the gentle smile on Shinobu's face.
"Is it cold anywhere?"
A soft chuckle reached Yoizumi's ears.
"It's cold here too..."
Shinobu leaned back in Yoizumi's arms, grabbed his collar, pulled his head down, and tilted her head up to kiss his lips.
"Mm..." Yoizumi's eyes widened. For a moment, he couldn't react. The warm and soft sensation was transmitted through their lips.
Yoizumi thought... Shinobu's lips were clearly warm... not cold.
Her pink fingertips pressed against her lips, Shinobu pursed her mouth, looked at Yoizumi's flushed face, then turned around and gently wrapped her arms around Yoizumi's waist, burying her face in his comforting embrace. Her soft voice, like the fluttering fine snow, fell into Yoizumi's ears.
"Yoizumi, carry me back to the room."
"Shinobu, aren't you looking at the snow anymore?" Obediently bending down to pick up Shinobu, Yoizumi asked.
Shinobu rested her head on Yoizumi's shoulder, smiling as she stared at his profile. She raised her hand, her slightly cool fingertips touching his face, her voice very soft.
"There's something else I want to see more."
"Hmm?"
Yoizumi didn't understand, but he still hurried towards the room. It would be cold if they stayed outside.
This day
Shinobu personally untied the sash she had once tied,
Except... this time, what she had to do... was to teach her beloved how to love herself... (End of full text)
2025.12.2
[Concluding Remarks]
Started writing in August 2024, with a long break in between, and only resumed in March 2025.
Updates were very slow, and many darlings complained that it took almost 9 months to finish.
Thank you all for your patience.
The original intention of writing this book was nothing special; in fact, the author was just idle and hadn't thought anything through. Neither the name, the male lead's character, nor the story's direction were decided. I just downloaded a novel app and started writing as I thought, finishing and publishing it on the evening of the 22nd.
So, as everyone has seen, the early content was indeed not very good. When I initially decided on Little Shinobu as the female lead, my understanding of her was only superficial. I just thought she was a strong and interesting girl. The more I delved into her, the more I felt sorry for what she went through.
And the more I felt she was an extremely charming girl.
The youngest and most pampered child in the family.
The young Shinobu who openly showed her emotions.
Became the Insect Pillar who only smiled with endure... In short, the more I wrote, the more I liked Little Shinobu, and I hope I haven't disappointed her in the hearts of all the darlings who like her.
Of course, if you like the Yoizumi I've written, I'd be very happy too ୧⍢⃝୨
And for the other characters that appeared, I hope what I expressed was consistent with them.
The full text is 610,000 characters, with no outline at all, relying entirely on imagination. The author would repeatedly flip back to see if any details were missed, and then continue writing.
Some parts might be nonsensical... haha
This is my first novel, and I thank you all for your long-term support, and thank you for liking the story of Yoizumi and Shinobu!
Next, I will gradually write some interesting extras, as well as Yoizumi's past, which everyone has always been interested in.
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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!"