Let us return to a slightly earlier time.
The villa's cinema hall officially opened, and visitors began entering one after another.
Since this was a free screening, the visitors didn't need to purchase tickets again. After entering the cinema hall, they could freely choose any seat.
"Alright~ you two sit here."
Following the crowd into the hall, Mitsuba found a corner seat near the back row and pressed Akaza and Koyuki into the seats.
"And then, tie this on~"
Immediately after, she took out a section of thin red string from her person and tied it onto both of their wrists.
"What is this thing?"
Under Koyuki's puzzled gaze, Akaza asked.
As a demon, he had also detected the demonic aura on this red string. This thing was a creation of demon flesh and blood.
"It's a wonderful little prop we'll be using next~"
Mitsuba smiled and blinked, speaking mysteriously:
"It's the legendary Red String of the Old Man Under the Moon that can make two people in love become even more deeply in love~"
"L-l-love?"
Koyuki instantly blushed upon hearing this, turning her head away in embarrassment.
Akaza looked up at Mitsuba. After a moment of wanting to speak but stopping himself, he ultimately just let out a helpless light sigh, saying nothing.
The Red String of the Old Man Under the Moon or whatever—of course this was fake.
This red string was shaped from Enmu's flesh and blood. It possessed Enmu's Blood Demon Art ability, allowing both parties tied by the red string to enter the same dream.
Yes, this was the reason why Mitsuba had insisted on having Akaza bring Koyuki here tonight.
She had decided to use Enmu's unique ability to shape dreams, and through the method of dreaming, return Akaza's memories from when he was human tonight.
Although Mitsuba had indeed said before that she would respect Akaza's choice and let him decide when to recover his memories himself.
But how should she put it...
Who knew if this child had read too many books over these past few centuries and read himself silly? His head seemed to be filled with quite a bit of that sour pedantry and affectation of those scholars.
So many days had passed, yet not only did his relationship with Koyuki seem to show no progress whatsoever, he also showed completely no intention of coming to find her to recover his memories.
Meow, what the hell are you being so reserved and shy about?
You're already a demon of several hundred years old. Look at Koyuki's attitude now—just charge up and confess to her!
Are you really still thinking of yourself as human? This isn't some elementary school romance. If it really doesn't work, just call your big sister and I'll go with you to propose to Keizo directly!
Honestly, so unpresentable!
As Akaza's guardian, Mitsuba was quite anxious about this.
So she decided to directly force things forward.
The boring and dragging Japanese-style romance ends here. Next, it should be the straightforward and crisp American-style romance's turn!
[Little Hakuji, remember not to resist later. Follow Enmu's Blood Demon Art into the dream. I will return your memories to you in this dream.]
[Hah?!]
Only now finally learning of Mitsuba's true purpose, Akaza suddenly became somewhat flustered.
[Wait, damn woman! You mean right now? Right here?]
Damn it! This woman really does whatever comes to her mind. She clearly said before that she would let him decide himself—how could she suddenly go back on her word? He hadn't even mentally prepared himself yet!
Subconsciously, Akaza turned his head to look at Koyuki beside him, who was still lost in shy thoughts because of Mitsuba's earlier words.
Akaza hadn't forgotten that Mitsuba had clearly warned him before—his lost memories weren't good memories, but rather painful recollections so terrible they might make him commit suicide on the spot.
She had even hinted that these memories of his were very likely related to Koyuki.
It was precisely because of this that Akaza had been unable to make up his mind all this time.
Although hearing these words from a "people's teacher" would make one feel very immoral.
But Akaza still wanted to say that he truly liked this girl named Koyuki very much.
If described using human words, this should be the emotion called "love at first sight."
That late night, when he first saw Koyuki at that izakaya, he had already fallen for this girl.
And this liking gradually grew deeper through his continuous contact with Koyuki afterward.
Clearly they were just ordinary meetings, ordinary conversations, ordinary outings for meals and shopping, ordinary walks home...
Clearly they were just some ordinary daily routines, yet they made Akaza feel incomparably happy from the bottom of his heart.
That was why he was afraid.
He was afraid that in these memories he had lost, there would be bad recollections about Koyuki.
Afraid that once he recovered his memories, he would lose this ordinary happiness he now had.
Akaza had even thought more than once that it didn't really matter whether those past memories could be recovered or not. Since they were already lost, as long as Koyuki was still by his side...
[Young man, only by accepting your past can you better walk toward the future.]
As if seeing through the worries in Akaza's heart, Mitsuba said to him in his mind.
[Rest assured, I think for the current you, you should no longer be affected by those memories...]
Lightly patting his shoulder, after speaking, Mitsuba walked straight toward another direction in the cinema hall.
[Alright, you lovebirds sit here for a while. I still have some business next—going to meet a friend. See you later...]
"..."
Rewinding time a bit, at the same time Mitsuba and Akaza entered the cinema hall, Kanae and Kyojuro also walked in following the crowd.
"Mr. Rengoku, later you must be careful not to take anything handed to you by anyone in this cinema hall."
"Oh? Is there some problem with this place?"
Hearing this, Kyojuro asked curiously.
"Previously in Tokyo, Mr. Giyuu and I were caught by that Lower Rank Two's Blood Demon Art this way..."
Her expression somewhat unpleasant, Kanae explained:
"That demon can attach its blood to some objects, thereby remotely activating its Blood Demon Art and forcibly plunging those who have touched these objects into the dreams it shapes—very troublesome..."
"I understand! So as long as we ensure we don't have direct contact with any objects in this cinema hall, we can maximize the possibility of avoiding being affected by that demon's Blood Demon Art!
Speaking of which, this cinema hall actually has air conditioning installed!"
Keenly sensing the abnormal airflow in the cinema hall, Kyojuro looked up at that large machine placed in the corner.
Air conditioning—a new machine invented by the Americans across the ocean in recent years. It could regulate indoor temperature and humidity, very suitable for use in crowded public places, and expensive.
"There don't seem to be any empty adjacent seats..."
Not paying attention to this small detail, Kanae's gaze swept over the rows of seats ahead.
At this moment, the movie was about to begin. The hall's seats were already scattered with many people. Looking out, they couldn't see any connected empty seats?
"In that case, let's temporarily sit separately for now."
Kyojuro immediately proposed.
"Try to split to both sides. If something happens later, it'll be easier for us to protect these visitors separately."