"I like it."
Suddenly, Shinobu was glad that Yoizumi was a blockhead, a blockhead that belonged only to her.
If Yoizumi were the type like Zenitsu, who knows how many girls he would charm into a joyful flutter. Luckily, Yoizumi only liked her.
She also only liked Yoizumi... With her eyes burning, Shinobu lowered her eyelashes. Each flicker of her long, slender lashes seemed to brush against Yoizumi's heart, leaving a ticklish sensation.
Shinobu, who had dressed up specifically for him... Yoizumi felt an inexplicable urge within him.
That was to hide such a Shinobu away, not letting anyone but him see her... He gently shook his head, clearing his mind. Now was not the time to think about that. Tightening his grip on Shinobu's hand, Yoizumi said softly.
"Let's go."
"Okay."
"Do you need me to help you carry it?" Yoizumi asked, looking at a small purple bag on Shinobu's wrist, recalling content from a book.
"No need ~ This is also a kind of decoration."
"Mhm."
For several days in a row, not a single snowflake had fallen. The accumulated snow on the roads had long since melted under the sun, turning into muddy puddles scattered across the uneven surface, making the already rough road even more muddled.
Yoizumi looked down at the road beneath his feet, pondering to himself.
He himself didn't mind, but Shinobu was wearing geta with pristine white socks. Such a delicate outfit would likely get dirty with mud if she wasn't careful.
Thinking of this, Yoizumi knelt down in front of Shinobu without hesitation and said softly, "Let me carry you on my back."
Shinobu heard him and showed no hesitation or refusal. Instead, a faint sense of relief welled up in her heart.
She knew that Yoizumi was truly becoming better at making her happy.
She smiled, gently placed her hands on Yoizumi's shoulders, and then slowly leaned onto his strong back.
Her chin naturally rested on Yoizumi's shoulder, and her hands gently wrapped around his neck. With her movement, her body weight completely pressed against Yoizumi's back.
Easily carrying Shinobu on his back, her scent continuously filled his nostrils. The girl's soft body pressed tightly against Yoizumi's back.
Suddenly, Yoizumi felt his back getting a little hot.
Shinobu, perched on his shoulder, stared ahead with curious, dark purple eyes.
So this is Yoizumi's usual perspective.
It's really convenient... She softly pressed her face against Yoizumi's shoulder, observing his profile. Looking like this, it seemed Yoizumi's eyelashes were even longer... One, two, three... too many to count.
In her line of sight, Shinobu suddenly noticed that while Yoizumi's face showed nothing, his ears were visibly and rapidly turning red.
It seems Yoizumi isn't as composed as he appears ~
Like discovering a new toy, the mischievous Shinobu raised a finger and gently poked Yoizumi's earlobe.
Ah... Yoizumi's blinking speed increased.
Thinking this, Shinobu leaned her head even closer, almost touching heads with Yoizumi. Her lips neared Yoizumi's ear, and her pleasant voice, accompanied by warm breath, sprayed onto Yoizumi's ear.
"Yoizumi ~ Are you shy?"
Yoizumi's walking paused, and he almost stumbled. His increasingly hot ears were impossible to ignore, and a faint blush spread across his usually stoic face, his voice laced with a husky tone.
"Shinobu..."
New discovery ~
Yoizumi's ears are very sensitive.
Shinobu chuckled softly; she made a mental note of that.
She finally won a round... They arrived at the town.
Yoizumi half-knelt, and Shinobu gently stepped onto the ground.
The geta made a crisp sound as they met the ground.
Due to Valentine's Day, the town was bustling. Couples were everywhere, walking together, their faces beaming with happy smiles.
Yoizumi naturally took Shinobu's hand, blending in with the crowd.
In an instant, they became just another ordinary couple among them.
Yoizumi's mind replayed the itinerary he had inquired about early that morning in town.
First.
Go eat!
He had specifically asked about the most famous restaurant in town.
However.
"I apologize, customer, there are no available seats at the moment," the staff member said with an apologetic expression.
"..." It seemed he wasn't the only one with this idea. He looked back at Shinobu, feeling helpless, not expecting to encounter a setback on the very first step.
"It's okay ~ We don't have to eat this," Shinobu suggested, pointing to the night market not far away. "There are more choices here, and it's also good."
Gently leading Yoizumi towards the crowd, blending into the night, amidst the lively atmosphere, Shinobu's smile didn't diminish in the slightest. Just the fact that Yoizumi had seriously thought about how to have a date was enough to make her happy for a long time.
A date full of surprises wasn't necessarily bad.
"Mhm." Following Shinobu's steps, one by one, as she pulled him along, Shinobu was in a very good mood.
Why?
"Grandma, I'll have an apple candy." Shinobu held a bright red apple candy in her palm. Occasionally, she wanted to try things she didn't usually try. She bit through the sweet outer layer and ate the crisp, sweet apple.
Shinobu's eyes narrowed slightly from the sweetness. So sweet... Yoizumi would like it, right ~
And so, in the next moment, an apple candy with a bite taken out of it appeared at Yoizumi's lips.
He obediently took it, recalling the sour apple they had at the fireworks festival. Yoizumi cautiously took a small bite.
Yoizumi, who had been feeling somewhat regretful due to the flaw in his plans, saw a flicker of light in his sapphire eyes.
So sweet... "Is it delicious ~"
Shinobu's soft, unique voice was clearly heard by Yoizumi even amidst the bustling crowd. Biting into the sweet apple candy again, Yoizumi looked at Shinobu.
He thought... the color of the apple candy was somewhat like Shinobu's lip color... So sweet.
Delicious.
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