Using a wooden ladle to scoop a spoonful of water into the wooden basin, Song Se's true appearance was finally revealed after some washing. She had chestnut-colored, shoulder-length short hair, lively and round brown eyes, fair and translucent skin, and delicate features.
"Huff ~" She wiped the water stains from her face with a cloth, instantly feeling much refreshed. Song Se stealthily looked at Yoizumi, only to find that he didn't even glance at her. He was just quietly washing his hands.
Coming into contact with the cool well water, his well-defined hands were tinged with red, even his fingertips were pink. After washing the dirt off his hands, Yoizumi picked up a cloth and slowly and methodically wiped them dry. Then, he drew his nichirin blade from his waist and wet the cloth to continue cleaning the blade. Although demon blood would not remain on the nichirin blade, Yoizumi still felt it was somewhat dirty.
Song Se stood aside, gazing at him in a daze.
The golden-haired beautiful young man lowered his blue eyes, intently staring at the sword. His slender fingers twirled the cloth, carefully wiping and maintaining it, exuding a sense of detachment and aloofness, like an immortal being who does not partake of worldly affairs.
Yoizumi's face was clearly reflected on the blade. He carefully scrutinized it for a while before returning the sword to its scabbard. He turned his head to look at Song Se, still without any expression, making it impossible to understand his thoughts.
Song Se, who had originally been expecting some reaction from Yoizumi upon seeing her current appearance, felt somewhat disappointed. Even though he was just a stranger she had met not long ago, his every move was able to stir her heart.
Song Se understood that this wouldn't do, but once she saw that face, she couldn't even look away. How could anything else be easy?
Could it be...
Am I...
In love at first sight?
The thought of this conclusion made Song Se's heart beat wildly. It was the first time she had ever felt this way.
Pressing tightly against her pounding chest, Song Se, who was 17 years old this year, had never considered love in the past 17 years, but now she had fallen.
Watching Song Se, who was lost in her thoughts, Yoizumi didn't speak, just waiting quietly.
The night wind carried a chill. After becoming a demon, Yoizumi's body temperature was extremely low, but he still felt the cold.
Taking a deep breath,
Winter is coming.
A vast expanse of white suddenly appeared before Yoizumi's eyes. Even his exhaled breath turned into white mist. The whole world seemed to be white, without end.
The biting cold made Yoizumi shiver.
What's going on?
How did I get here? Where is this?
Looking around, there was nothing but tall pine trees covered in snow.
Wanting to leave, Yoizumi couldn't move at all. His legs were as if rooted to the ground, unable to move even half an inch. Snow fell little by little, quickly covering...
His thighs.
His waist and abdomen.
His neck.
His vision.
"Eh! Why is there someone here? Please cheer up!"
Finally, the snow submerged Yoizumi, and the boy's gentle voice came to his ears again, only this time with concern.
... Suddenly opening his eyes, Yoizumi was still in the small courtyard just now.
Was that still his memory?
The coldness of being covered by snow seemed to penetrate through his memory and into Yoizumi's bones. That realistic feeling was as if he had really been in that snowy field just now.
Before he could think about what was going on, an old voice came from inside the house, "Children, let's eat!"
Pulling Yoizumi back to reality, even Song Se, who had been spacing out, came back to her senses, not daring to look at Yoizumi, and hurriedly ran into the house.
"Coming! Grandma"
Yoizumi also followed into the house.
The food on the table couldn't be considered lavish, but it was enough to fill the three of them. There was a cabbage and tofu soup, a stir-fried wild vegetable dish, and finally, two pancakes.
Looking at the food on the table, Song Se exclaimed, "Grandma, we're eating so well today, you even made pancakes!"
If she remembered correctly, the only remaining flour in the house was probably all used up here.
"Today we have a guest, so of course we have to treat him well, especially since he is our savior!" The old woman placed the bowls and chopsticks on the table and beckoned, "It's a bit simple, please forgive us, benefactor."
"It's no... problem."
The old woman warmly ladled a bowl of cabbage and tofu soup for Yoizumi. Yoizumi took it and drank a mouthful. It was a bit light and not very tasty, but he still obediently drank it all.
"How does it taste?"
"Delicious."
"That's good, that's good!" With that, the old woman placed a pancake in Yoizumi's bowl. The pancake was large, about the size of a palm. Receiving a whole pancake, Yoizumi looked at the only remaining pancake on the table, and that pancake was placed in Song Se's bowl.
"Grandma, aren't you eating?"
"I have enough with this. You guys eat more, you're still growing!"
"That won't do!" Song Se protested, breaking half the pancake and handing it to her grandmother. The grandmother couldn't refuse and took it.
"I don't need... this much, half... is enough." She tore off half and put the pancake back.
"Alright, then I'll leave it for you to eat when you're hungry."
Yoizumi nodded, lowered his head, and took a bite of the pancake. He felt a vaguely familiar taste, but he couldn't quite place it.
"..."
After finishing the meal, Yoizumi helped clear the table.
"I'm really sorry, even though Yoizumi-sensei is a guest, we're still making you help."
"It's nothing."
"Just put it here, I'll wash it." Song Se pushed Yoizumi away from the kitchen.
As for Song Se's grandmother, she had experienced great emotional ups and downs today, and it was also late, so she let her rest first.
Yoizumi walked outside, looking at the house. While eating, he had noticed some holes in the ceiling. Finding his bearings, Yoizumi leaped up high and landed on the roof, but unexpectedly, he stepped on a weak spot.
He fell straight through the roof into the room, making eye contact with Song Se, who was washing dishes.
... Song Se looked at the large hole in the roof, then looked at Yoizumi, who was covered in thatch, and was speechless for a moment.
"... Sorry."
"It's okay, it's okay! The roof was already broken, it's not Yoizumi-sensei's fault." Song Se waved her hand, looking at Yoizumi's somewhat disheveled appearance, and reached out to brush the thatch off his shoulder.
"Why don't, Yoizumi-sensei go wash up a bit?"
"I only have... one set of clothes."
Song Se thought for a moment and clapped her hands.
"That's right, I still have my father's clothes, I'll go get them and see if they fit you." Yoizumi stood there, waiting for Song Se to return, while he looked at the large hole in the ceiling, lost in thought.
"I found it!"
A large piece of clothing was found in the box. There weren't many mementos left by her father and mother, and they were basically all properly kept by her grandmother. She was also considered one.
It was fortunate that she met Yoizumi-sensei today, otherwise, only her grandmother would be left.
Her parents had said they were going up the mountain to scout for mushrooms to sell when she was 8 years old, but they never returned. Nishimura uncle had also organized everyone to search the mountain, but to no avail.
Overnight,
She lost her parents, and her grandmother also lost her beloved son and daughter-in-law. From then on, her grandmother's health deteriorated.
Could the demon she encountered today be the cause of her parents' disappearance?
Yoizumi-sensei said that there are many demons in this world, and perhaps a demon killed her parents.
Fortunately, she met Yoizumi. Surely her mom and dad are protecting her, so she could live.
Song Se's eyes were red, and tears were already welling up. Over the years, her grandmother often said that she was a strong and sensible child.
But she knew that she wasn't like that.
She wanted to be spoiled in her parents' arms, to not have to struggle for survival, to have parents to rely on.
The faces of her parents in her memory were already blurred.
Only their loving voices, Song Se would never forget.
"A-Se~"
"Mom and Dad will always love you."