Before opening it, Su Chen hesitated.
Isn't it bad to read a young girl's diary like this? It's her privacy!
But... what if something like last time happened again?
Su Chen had an idea. His hand "accidentally" slipped.
With a thud, the diary fell to the ground and opened.
"Oh no, how could I be so clumsy!" Su Chen grinned and quickly picked up Shinobu's diary. "I need to close this quickly!" he said.
He then "carefully" closed the diary, page by page... until he "closed" it to the spot where he had finished reading last time.
Tuesday, Weather: Heavy Fog.
Sister, do you remember that mission I told you about a few days ago? I made a mistake. I was stabbed in the arm by a human. With so many powerful demons around, my heart just sank. I didn't know how I'd get out. This was my fourth day on Autumn Mountain. The team's energy was almost gone. I thought... maybe I'd see you soon, Sister.
Wednesday, Weather: Cloudy.
Sister, I'm back. Tonight, I found traces of three Lower Moon demons on Autumn Mountain's peak. They were all killed by the same person. I found out it was Su Chen. I'm really grateful to him. Otherwise, I might have been in trouble today.
Su Chen was injured, and I was so anxious. By the time I rushed back to the Butterfly Mansion, it was almost dawn. And Sister, do you know? He was sitting on the doorstep waiting for me. I don't even know how long he'd been sitting there. He saw my wound at a glance and patiently bandaged it and applied medicine. I've never seen anyone so gentle, besides you.
Everyone calls him 'Mr. Su Chen,' but that brat really thinks he's a gentleman. He's clearly just a stinky younger brother, but he acts more like an adult every day. Sister... do you think Su Chen likes me? Why is he being so good to me?
Sister, I almost fell for him. But I am the Insect Pillar. I still have my own goals and plans. I can't be with Su Chen. I know that Shinobu Kocho can have someone she likes, but the Insect Pillar cannot.
Thursday, Weather: Sunny.
Sister, after I said goodbye to Su Chen and returned to my room, I suddenly heard Kanao shout. Su Chen fainted! I'm a doctor, but I was just stunned. Sister, do you think he fainted because he saved me?
I feel a little guilty. I'm a Pillar, but Su Chen ended up having to take care of me. I sat by his bed all day, wiping his sweat and changing his clothes. I... I noticed his profile is exceptionally handsome. Before I knew it, it was afternoon.
I knew he was about to wake up, but I couldn't let him see me. This relationship... it should just be like this. I'm carrying too many burdens.
Friday, Weather: Cloudy.
Sister, Su Chen went to the Training Grounds today. I specifically asked Rengoku-san to teach him some practical things so he won't get hurt next time! Also, do you know who I met? Shinazugawa-san. It looks like he's trying to awaken a Mark, just like Su Chen's.
I was going to leave, but then I heard him badmouthing Su Chen! I got so angry I immediately reprimanded him. Hmph! If it weren't for the fact that he once pursued you, Sister, I would have greeted him with a 'Butterfly Dance!'
Hehe, I can't be like that. You always liked my smile, Sister, so I must be a lady!
Saturday, Weather: Rain.
Sister, I discovered something on a recent mission. The demons outside seem to be looking for Mr. Su Chen. I also learned from a demon that he didn't show his face that day. I don't know why he covered his face, but he must not want to expose his identity. So, I didn't report this matter to Oyakata-sama.
Today, I'm alone again. The rain outside is heavy, and I feel a little cold. Sister, I miss you so much. I really miss you.
The last page was finished. The handwriting stopped abruptly at the word "missing."
Su Chen could read the complex emotions in the girl's heart between the lines. The diary held Shinobu's joys, sorrows, and the unique thoughts of an eighteen-year-old girl. He never knew her inner world was so lively.
Su Chen breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, she wasn't in trouble. Otherwise, the Butterfly Mansion would lose another doctor.
He lowered his head, thinking about the diary's contents. Shinobu had already discovered that he was the person on Autumn Mountain. But she didn't report it. That had to be against the Demon Slayer Corps rules, right? He didn't expect Shinobu to go to such lengths for him.
And one more thing.
Su Chen flipped the diary back a few pages. He read the sentence, "Sister, I almost fell for him," three times.
Shinobu likes him, right?
Su Chen subconsciously curved his lips. It seemed there was a reason why she had suddenly become so cold toward him that night.
Was it because of Doma?
Su Chen's eyes narrowed. He remembered Shinobu had made many preparations to kill Doma. This included injecting herself with wisteria poison every day, just so it could be used one day in the future.
Normally, the amount of poison in her Nichirin Sword at one time was about 70 grams. This amount was enough to kill any demon below the Upper Ranks. But for an Upper Rank, Shinobu wasn't confident.
For this, she added a trump card: her own body.
Large amounts of wisteria poison were injected into her body every day. Su Chen estimated the time. By now, the wisteria poison content in Shinobu's body must be seventy times the lethal dose. Every inch of this girl's skin was wrapped in purple hatred.
Now, even a single drop of her blood could poison any demon except the Demon King and the Twelve Kizuki. This was also the reason why Su Chen could always smell wisteria on her.
Su Chen's grip on the diary tightened slightly. Now that he was at the Butterfly Mansion, he would never allow such a thing to happen. After living here for a while, he had come to see everyone as family.
Therefore, Doma, you really deserve to die!
Su Chen secretly decided to catch Doma and use him for research in the future.
Just as Su Chen was lost in thought...
Footsteps suddenly came from the basement entrance.
Someone was coming!