She knelt on the soft cushion and lit an orange candle, the light softening Shinobu's face.
Her slender fingers opened the envelope, and only by the light could she make out the handwriting.
"Greetings, recipient."
The first thing she saw was these three words. Shinobu immediately recognized it as Yoizumi's handwriting, and a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes.
She hadn't expected him to write to her?
What couldn't be said in person?
Her gaze continued to fall on the letter.
"By the time you read this letter, I should be far enough away from you, because Shinobu said that sending a letter requires enough distance."
Seeing this, Shinobu couldn't help but rub her head. He had completely misunderstood. This wasn't right, Yoizumi.
He really was an idiot.
"You said that what you want to convey cannot be expressed with words, but I feel writing a letter is the same; words are so hard to write."
"Now I understand a little what 'cannot be expressed' means. When I face you, there are so many things I want to say, but I don't know how."
Just a few lines made Shinobu's heart pound. She inexplicably felt her body temperature rise, but her eyes couldn't bear to move an inch.
"First, I want to express my gratitude to you."
"Thank you for appearing on that night."
"Without you, I wouldn't have met Tanjirou and Nezuko again."
"Thank you for bringing me back to the Butterfly Mansion; everyone there is a good person."
"Thank you for always appearing when I'm vulnerable."
"It is you who made me perceive many emotions I had never felt before."
"Although I still don't quite understand them."
The last sentence didn't need to be written!
Shinobu smiled and continued reading.
"When I face you, I feel at ease and want to confide. When you asked me if it hurt."
"At the fireworks festival, when you held my hand, my heart felt so strange, as if it no longer belonged to me. Next time, could you please tell me what that was about?"
Ah... her fingers, clutching the letter, tightened slightly, leaving a small crease, but she quickly relaxed and smoothed it out.
It turned out that on that day, she wasn't the only one who felt that way.
For some reason, Shinobu felt a sense of peace.
She had to understand such things herself!
How could she ask her to explain!
"I once told you that I would make you show your true smile, but it's so hard. Can Shinobu give me a hint? Just a little."
"That day you asked me what kind of person Shinobu was in my eyes. After I answered, I don't know if it was my imagination, but Shinobu seemed unhappy."
"Were you dissatisfied with my answer?"
"So, I thought about this question for a very, very long time, and on the last day before leaving, I figured it out."
"If you're still not satisfied, tell me next time we meet, and I'll think about it again."
"To me, Shinobu in my eyes..."
"...is a special person."
"...is an important person."
"...is someone I want to protect."
"Is this answer acceptable?"
"Yoizumi."
"Hoo..."
Shinobu slowly lowered her head, burying it in the letter. A few strands of black-purple hair brushed against her flushed cheek. She turned her head, gently lifted her eyelids, her eyes as gentle as autumn water, and her pink lips curved into a soft smile.
A special person... that's practically cheating... Shinobu's urgent desire to see Yoizumi reached its peak.
A true smile, huh... I am smiling right now.
Too bad Yoizumi couldn't see it~
She carefully put the letter away, walked to the bookshelf, and carefully stored it.
Her hand rested on the windowsill. She looked up, a serene smile on her gentle face.
The moon is so beautiful tonight~
What is Yoizumi doing now?
She could finally get a good night's sleep tonight... "Caw caw~"
"The Infinity Train encountered an Upper Moon! Butterfly Mansion, prepare to receive the injured!"
"Prepare!"
It was almost noon when Shinobu had just crawled out of bed. She sat in her room, sipping a cup of clear tea, enjoying a rare moment of leisure. Her mood was very pleasant due to yesterday's letter.
Of course.
Not anymore.
After hearing what the Kasugai Crow said, the teacup in her hand was crushed by her forceful grip. The still-warm tea spilled completely onto the floor, running down her palm.
Upper Moon?
Infinity Train?
Wasn't that the mission Yoizumi and the others went on!
Shinobu was utterly astonished, her purple eyes trembling.
She stood up abruptly, her face grim. Shinobu, of course, understood what an Upper Moon represented. Upper Moons and Lower Moons were worlds apart. How many Pillars had died at the hands of Upper Moons? She quickly pushed open the door.
Kanzaki Aoi also rushed over.
"Lady Shinobu! The Kasugai Crow just said..." Before she could finish, Shinobu interrupted.
"Aoi, go get ready." Shinobu's face was solemn. She needed to calm down. Everything would be fine.
Kyojuro Rengoku was on the Infinity Train; he was a very powerful Pillar.
Yoizumi had also promised her.
He wouldn't get such injuries again.
First, she would make all the preparations and wait for them to return.
She pressed her throbbing head, clenched her fists, and waited in the corridor of the Butterfly Mansion's main entrance, holding her medicine box.
Every minute felt like an eternity to Shinobu.
A feeling of unease affected her mind.
Please be safe.
After an unknown amount of time.
The sound of many footsteps came from near the Butterfly Mansion. Shinobu opened her eyes.
Kakushi Memberss carried stretchers. Kyojuro Rengoku had fainted from excessive blood loss halfway back. Agatsuma Zenitsu and Tanjirou were carried back by Kakushi Memberss. Among the group that went out, only Inosuke was standing.
"Insect Pillar-sama!"
"Bring them inside." Shinobu led them into the infirmary. Her clenched fists had not loosened. Kyojuro Rengoku's arm was broken... Tanjirou lay on the bed, looking weak and powerless, glancing apologetically at the busy Shinobu.
"I'm sorry, Miss Shinobu, I'm bothering you again."
"Please, check on Yoizumi-nii's condition for me."
She lowered her eyes, examined Tanjirou, and after confirming he was fine, just exhausted with a few minor injuries, Shinobu nodded and told him to rest well and not worry.
Kyojuro Rengoku's injuries looked very severe on the surface, but after an examination, most of them had already healed. It must have been Yoizumi's doing.
The most serious injury was the severed arm. She carefully cleaned and disinfected the wound and bandaged it.
Her gaze fell on Inosuke, who was quietly standing to the side.
"Inosuke, please come with me for a moment."
To avoid disturbing those resting in the infirmary, the two walked to a relatively quiet place.
"Can you tell me what happened on this mission?"
The usually boisterous Inosuke lowered his head slightly, looking dispirited. He sensed the turbulent emotions beneath Shinobu's gentle tone.
Inosuke's voice was low, "We encountered Lower Moon One and Upper Moon Three there."
"Owl and Yosuke almost died."
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