And she even had a towel wrapped around her already!
Kochou Shinobu, with a dark line forming on her forehead, took off her clothes, put on a towel, and generously stepped into the water.
"Ah~ This is so comfortable~" Kochou Shinobu showed a look of enjoyment, a blush rising on her face from the steaming heat.
With the hot spring water concealing her body and the added layer of the bath towel, Mizuki felt less nervous. Her muscles relaxed, and she leaned against the stones at the edge of the spring, closing her eyes slightly to rest.
Of course, she wasn't tired and wanting to sleep; it was just that seeing Kochou Shinobu's face whenever she opened her eyes made her mind feel overwhelmed.
Did she ever date in her previous life?
Did she ever have someone she liked?
Mizuki had forgotten.
But she truly hadn't had anyone she liked in this life either.
Forget liking someone; she hadn't even entertained the thought of romance.
When she was young, all she thought about was running away from home; when she grew up, all she thought about was slaying demons. For the next few centuries, she had no thought other than killing Muzan.
Asking her to suddenly develop feelings for someone—it wasn't that she had zero experience, but rather that she completely didn't understand it.
A racing heart?
Her heart wouldn't even race when fighting Muzan!
Splash, splash... A sudden sound of water reached her ears. Mizuki quickly opened her eyes and saw Kochou Shinobu walking toward her, then leaning against her side.
"The weather is really nice~"
Kochou Shinobu's gentle voice suddenly rang out.
The weather?
Who talks about nice weather in the middle of the night?
But Mizuki's mind was already blank, so she subconsciously followed Kochou Shinobu's words and looked up at the sky.
Countless stars traced a ribbon-like Milky Way across the night sky, magnificent and beautiful.
"It is indeed beautiful."
Kochou Shinobu took a continuous breath, looked up at the starry sky, and sighed, "It would be even better if we could look up at the stars without a care in the world."
Mizuki was silent for a moment: "We will win."
The thing Yoriichi couldn't accomplish, she would accomplish.
This was her promise with Yoriichi.
"Mm, I believe in Mizuki." Kochou Shinobu's gentle voice carried undeniable trust.
What should I do~
I can't find any opportunity to get closer.
Mizuki is like a piece of wood... But a girl liking a girl, isn't that strange to begin with?
My performance is truly terrible. I even found an excuse to come along.
Yet, I still can't find a chance to deepen our relationship.
As for bolder actions? She wanted to; when she bathed with Mitsuri, the other girl loved to rub against her.
But the problem is she doesn't have Mitsuri's bold personality.
Maybe it's because Mitsuri didn't have these kinds of thoughts when they hung out together.
Moreover, she isn't Mitsuri and can't adopt Mitsuri's personality.
Asking her to imitate Mitsuri, like ambushing her chest while bathing, she absolutely couldn't do that~
It's no longer a matter of being a hooligan or not; it would be terrible if Mizuki ended up hating her.
Kochou Shinobu sighed inwardly.
"Speaking of which, Shinobu, why haven't you sent your Nichirin Blade for maintenance yet?"
Mizuki's voice pulled Kochou Shinobu's thoughts back.
Seeing Mizuki confusedly point to the Nichirin Blade beside them, which was submerged by clothes with only a section of the hilt visible, Kochou Shinobu panicked slightly.
"Ah, well, because it was already very late when we arrived today, and it was night after dinner, I can only send the blade to the Workshop tomorrow."
"Hoh-lah, didn't the Village Chief ask Mizuki to go to the Workshop tomorrow to discuss Blade Forging? We can go together tomorrow."
"That's true." Mizuki nodded slightly.
Kochou Shinobu secretly let out a breath. That scared her to death; she had completely forgotten about maintaining her Nichirin Blade.
She rarely went out on missions, and the only maintenance her Nichirin Blade needed was rust prevention, which she could do at home.
So it was all just an excuse.
"Oh right, the Master mentioned something before we came; I almost forgot." A memory suddenly flashed in Kochou Shinobu's mind.
Mizuki subconsciously turned her head: "What is it?"
What met her eyes was Kochou Shinobu's fair, soft upper body, faintly visible in the water's reflection.
Mizuki's ears felt hot, and she quickly turned back around.
Kochou Shinobu didn't notice Mizuki's strange reaction because she was about to cry from her own stupidity.
What am I doing?
Her mind had been too muddled lately; she could even forget things the Master had mentioned.
Kochou Shinobu shook her head, recovering some seriousness: "The Master said there is an item in the Swordsmith Village that Mizuki might be interested in."
Mizuki froze for a moment and asked curiously, "What kind of item?"
Kochou Shinobu shook her head helplessly: "I don't know. Perhaps he wanted to keep us in suspense."
...
Is that reliable person the type who likes to keep people in suspense?
Mizuki didn't really care.
Interested?
What could possibly pique her interest now?
Thanks to the discussion of serious matters, the atmosphere finally wasn't so stiff.
However, it was still difficult for the two of them to express the secrets in their hearts.
After finishing the hot spring bath, the two emerged from the water one after the other.
Since it was summer, the temperature of the night breeze was just right. Mizuki put on the Yukata Kochou Shinobu had prepared for her and pulled the collar tightly across her chest; she didn't want to be as generous and open as Kanroji Mitsuri.
Her graceful figure, concealed by the Yukata, possessed an even greater charm, and her dignified posture highlighted a certain nobility.
Kochou Shinobu also recalled Mizuki mentioning that she was born into a Samurai Family, and the temperament cultivated since childhood would not fade even after centuries.
Mizuki's previous clothing mostly consisted of casual wear that allowed for easy movement or clothes that helped conceal her physical features. Although her extraordinary temperament was still visible, the effect of proper attire truly couldn't be ignored.
It was no wonder she had previously heard Tanjirou and the others saying that Mizuki looked beautiful wearing a black Kimono in the Entertainment District; it was just a pity she hadn't seen it herself.
Kochou Shinobu smiled: "Mizuki, it suits you very well~"
"Mm." Mizuki responded subconsciously, but a sudden flash of inspiration struck her, and her mouth opened uncontrollably, "It's thanks to Shinobu. I like it very much."
Kochou Shinobu's eyes sparkled, and she quickly replied, "Is that so? Then how about next time I take Mizuki to a clothing store to pick out some nice outfits?"
It's over, I'm going to be rejected.
Mizuki took a deep breath. She couldn't back down here: "...Alright, I will look forward to it."
Kochou Shinobu was stunned, and her eyes widened slightly.
"Mm." Finally, she replied with a smile.
The two returned to the guest rooms arranged by the Swordsmith Village. Since the Swordsmith Village had quite a few guest rooms, Kochou Shinobu's wish to sleep next to Mizuki was dashed.
If it were Mitsuri, she probably would have clung to her and forced her way in, right?
Kochou Shinobu sighed. If only she had that kind of personality.
Mizuki didn't share her thoughts. She searched the room for Nezuko but couldn't find her, finally remembering that she had returned Nezuko to Tanjirou when they parted ways.
It was a completely subconscious action, and neither party noticed anything unusual.
Nezuko... hadn't gotten to enjoy the hot spring yet.
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