He sat down on the grass right beside Kanao.
"You're forcing it," he said softly. "You're pulling in new air before you let the old air out. You have to be patient with the 'Focus' breath."
She was still frowning in pain, her breathing hitched and uneven. She was trying, but she couldn't fix the rhythm on her own. The failed breath had left a sharp pain in her lungs.
"Here, let me help."
He moved closer and gently placed a hand on her back, right between her shoulders. Kanao's entire body tensed at the contact, but she didn't pull away. Su Chen focused, feeling for the muscles around her lungs. He began to apply gentle, firm pressure in a slow, rhythmic way, trying to guide her breathing with his hand.
It's not as easy as teaching her directly, he thought, but this will have to do. I'll just help her reset the rhythm.
His hand movements were steady and sure. After a few moments of this fluid, guiding massage, he felt the tension in her back lessen. The pained, scrunched-up expression on Kanao's face clearly improved. Her breathing, which had been short and panicked, began to deepen. She was following his guidance, her lungs filling and emptying in the correct, steady pattern.
In the quiet, moonlit forest, the girl slowly opened her eyes.
The first thing she saw was the silver moonlight filtering through the leaves above.
The second thing she saw was Su Chen's face, very close to hers. He was looking at her with a gentle, smiling expression.
Kanao's breath caught for a different reason. She instinctively averted her gaze, her eyes darting to the side, not daring to meet his. Her cheeks felt warm.
"Su Chen," Kanao whispered. Her voice was barely audible.
"What is it?" Su Chen replied earnestly. He pulled his hand away to give her space, and his voice was low, matching hers.
Kanao didn't answer right away. Instead, she pulled her legs up and buried her face in her knees, hiding from him. She didn't dare to look up.
But even though she was hiding, she couldn't help but say what she was feeling. "I have the same thing as you now."
"Oh?" Su Chen showed a hint of real interest. He tilted his head. "What is it?"
Kanao shyly pointed to her own chest, right over her heart. "Breathing," she said softly.
"Our breathing... it's the same now."
She took another slow, deep breath, using the 'Focus' technique he had just taught her. It worked this time. "And this breathing... it's so warm."
"Is it?" Su Chen smiled. He leaned back on his hands and closed his eyes.
He also took a deep 'Focus' breath, mimicking Kanao. The air felt cool going in, but the concentration sent a pulse of warmth through his entire body. He could see what she meant.
The two of them sat in comfortable silence, breathing quietly.
The atmosphere in the little grove was extremely peaceful. The only sounds were the distant chirping of crickets and the soft, rhythmic sound of their two breaths, in and out, in and out. Under the deep night sky, with the world so still, it felt like they could even hear each other's heartbeats.
While Su Chen had his eyes closed, Kanao slowly lifted her head. She revealed a corner of her eyes and secretly glanced at him.
She watched him for a long moment. The soft, hazy moonlight fell upon his face. It made the sharp contours of his cheeks and jaw stand out clearly. He looked calm and strong.
The girl's heart, which had been slow and steady, couldn't help but give a little thump. It started to pound.
Just then, as if he could feel her eyes on him, Su Chen suddenly opened his own.
He turned his head and looked right at Kanao. He wasn't surprised at all. There was a bright smile in his eyes.
And then he asked a "deadly" question:
"Kanao, were you just secretly looking at me?"
He leaned in a little closer, his smile turning into a playful smirk. "You wouldn't happen to like me, would you?"
Kanao froze.
Her mind went completely blank.
Then, she quickly lifted her head and waved her hands in front of her. "No! No, no, no..."
She was completely flustered. Her words were a jumbled mess, filled with embarrassment. Her face, which had been pale in the moonlight, suddenly felt burning hot.
Due to her nervousness, her delicate body, which had been relaxed, went completely rigid. She straightened her back, sitting bolt upright.
Seeing her reaction, Su Chen couldn't help but laugh. It was a warm, kind laugh. "You're all flustered! But you still haven't answered my question!"
"What question?" Kanao feigned ignorance. She lowered her head, trying to hide her red face, but a small, sweet smile touched her own lips.
She waited for him to laugh again, but Su Chen's voice didn't come. The silence stretched for a second.
Kanao looked up.
The next moment, the distance between them suddenly closed.
Su Chen had moved, and that sharply defined face was now so close to hers. Kanao's eyes went wide. She was so close she could see the specks of light in his eyes.
Kanao could even feel the warmth of his breath on her skin.
In the girl's ears, his magnetic voice began to speak again, this time much softer, almost a whisper.
"Do you like talking to me?"
Kanao's face flushed even deeper. Without thinking, she instinctively said, "I do."
"Okay," he whispered, not moving back. "Then... do you like the Breathing Technique I taught you?"
"I do," Kanao continued, her voice just as soft.
"Then..." he paused, his eyes holding hers. "Do you like me?"
"Li..." Kanao started to say it again, but she suddenly stopped. The word caught in her throat.
She looked up, meeting his gaze directly.
Then, her little face turned completely red, from her chin to her ears, like a ripe red apple.
"Why isn't Kanao speaking?" Su Chen asked, his playful smile returning.
He leaned back, giving her space again. He gently flicked her on the forehead. "Still don't like to talk?"
This time, Kanao refused to acknowledge him at all. She just looked away, but her small smile remained. This man is truly mischievous! she thought.
The two sat quietly again. For a moment, the air was silent, filled only by the sounds of the night.
...Until a ticklish, itchy sensation suddenly appeared on Kanao's arm.
Kanao's cheeks, which had just started to cool down, felt a little warm again.
She cautiously glanced at Su Chen, but he wasn't looking at her. He was leaning back, "enjoying the scenery" and hadn't leaned closer again.
For just a tiny second, Kanao felt a slight sense of disappointment.
The itch came again, sharper this time.
"Su Chen."
"What is it?"
"Itchy."
"Itchy?"
Su Chen turned his head. He looked and only then noticed a big mosquito had landed on Kanao's arm at some point.
"Slap!"
His hand moved faster than she could see. The mosquito instantly met its demise.
Su Chen scanned the surroundings. With his enhanced senses, he immediately noticed that the first mosquito wasn't alone. More were buzzing in from the trees, drawn to their warmth.
"Ah, now they're all coming."
His hands became a blur.
Slap, slap, slap, slap, slap, slap!
With a flurry of impossibly fast actions, all the mosquitoes in their immediate area were accurately killed before they could even land.
Kanao just watched, amazed.
Su Chen looked at Kanao's arm. He gently brushed away the dead mosquito.
He noticed a small, raised, red bump already forming on her fair skin.
He frowned. "Hold on."
He walked towards the bushes behind him, near the edge of the grove. He picked a pure white flower from a flowerbed, one he knew had soothing properties. He came back and gently placed the cool petals on the mosquito bite on Kanao's arm.
He softly asked, "Still itchy?"
Kanao stared blankly at Su Chen.
At that moment, the scene seemed to freeze.
Under the bright moonlight, the young man was holding a beautiful white flower. He gently held the flower against the bite on her arm.
His eyes held that same kind, playful smile. His words, which were as gentle as a breeze, brushed against her face and made her feel... safe. Refreshed.
Kanao couldn't help but be mesmerized.
"Sister?" the girl thought blankly.
This feeling... he really resembles Sister Kanae.
He even picked the same kind of flower she used to like.
A powerful feeling of warmth and nostalgia washed over Kanao. She really wanted to stay just like this, in this peaceful moment, for a little longer.
Just then, Su Chen's voice came again, pulling her from her thoughts. "Still itchy?"
Kanao lightly pursed her lips. "Not anymore."
"Is that so?"
Su Chen revealed that mischievous smile again. The flower had done its job.
Then, his hand, which had been on her arm, wiggled its fingers. "What about... here?"
His "wicked little hand," as Kanao was starting to think of it, moved quickly towards her side, near her armpit.
The girl's face instantly flushed! She stared at Su Chen in disbelief, shrinking away.
Her eyes were wide, and they seemed to say, "Don't you dare do that!"
Interesting. Too interesting! Su Chen thought.
Seeing Kanao's expression—half-panicked, half wanting to laugh, but not daring to—Su Chen ultimately couldn't bear to tease her any longer.
So he reluctantly withdrew his hand, holding it up in surrender. "Okay, okay. No tickling. I promise."
Su Chen's expression turned serious again. He spoke, "Kanao, you've actually always been afraid to talk to people, haven't you?"
Kanao's delicate body trembled.
The shame from being teased and the (not really) anger in her heart instantly vanished.
Su Chen's words struck a chord, hitting the very center of her problem.
Su Chen picked up the flower, which had fallen, and idly played with it. He spoke again, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze.
"A person's heart is kind of like a flower bud. It only blossoms when it has a reason to," he said. "So it's okay that you're quiet."
He looked at her. "If one day you find something you really, truly like... something you want to do... then Kanao will change, too."
"But," Kanao clutched her hands nervously in her lap. She looked down. "It's... it's not enough."
Su Chen smiled and looked at her. "Then, Kanao, can you show me your coin?"
Upon hearing this, Kanao looked surprised. How did he know about that?
She reached into her Demon Slayer uniform with her small hand and carefully pulled out an ancient bronze coin. It was attached to a simple cord.
The coin was smooth and lustrous. It was clearly very old, but it shined as if it had been handled by someone for a long, long time. Kanao had carried it for years, ever since her sisters gave it to her. She never let it leave her side.
She handed the coin to Su Chen.
He took it and examined it for a second. Then he placed the coin on his thumb, getting ready to flip it.
The next moment, Su Chen said, "Let's play another game. A better one."
He held up the coin. "If the coin lands tails down, Kanao will continue to be as she is now. She'll keep using the coin to decide."
He smiled. "But... if the coin lands heads up, Kanao must listen to her own inner voice and decide on one thing, all by herself."
He looked at her. "What do you say?"
Kanao thought for a moment. Just one thing? Listen to... her inner voice? It was a scary thought, but... it was also exciting.
She nodded.
"Alright then, let's begin!"
Su Chen exerted force with his thumb, and the coin went flying up into the air, spinning over and over, flashing in the moonlight.
Flip. Flip. Flip.
Kanao stared intently at the coin in the air. She was afraid to miss a single second. Her heart was pounding again, this time with nervousness. Heads or tails? What would it be?
Suddenly, Su Chen made a loud 'PAH' sound.
The sound immediately attracted Kanao's attention, pulling her gaze away from the falling coin.
It was the sound of hands clapping!
The girl's gaze instantly fell upon Su Chen's hands. He had clapped them together, catching the coin between his palms.