"Creak~"
As the tightly shut door was pushed open, Yoizumi and Yushiro simultaneously went to greet Tamayo.
"Lady Tamayo! How is your body? Are you tired? Do you want to rest?" Yushiro even eagerly pushed Yoizumi aside.
"I'm fine, Yushiro," Tamayo reassured Yushiro, then looked at Yoizumi, a faint smile appearing on her gentle face.
"It's been a while, Mr. Yoizumi."
"Shinobu will be out shortly."
"Mhm," Yoizumi nodded, his gaze sweeping into the room. When he saw the white lab coat appear, a smile flickered in his eyes.
Changing out of her lab coat and into her Kochou rainbow-colored haori, Shinobu saw her lover holding a rose, looking at her and smiling. Her slightly fatigued body immediately felt much lighter.
"Shinobu," Yoizumi handed the rose in his hand to Shinobu. It was a perfect rose in both size and shape, and he had thoughtfully removed the thorns from the stem.
The purple petals perfectly matched Shinobu's eyes and hairpins. Inhaling the rose's fragrance, Shinobu's eyes curved into a smile, and she softly sighed.
"Thank you."
"Mr. Yoizumi and Shinobu are very much in love, aren't they?" Tamayo, standing nearby, smiled with pursed lips.
"Miss Tamayo, please don't tease," Shinobu coughed lightly, embarrassed.
Yushiro, who had once been attacked and left speechless, was surprised to see this side of Shinobu, never expecting this woman to have such a facet.
"Hehe~ We won't disturb you two. We'll take our leave first," Tamayo and Yushiro left their sight, but Yoizumi and Shinobu still heard Yushiro's voice.
"If Lady Tamayo likes it, I'll go pick flowers a hundred times, no! A thousand times better than that, and bring them to you right now!"
"No need, Yushiro."
"Alright..."
Shinobu stared at the flower in her hand. She could tell it was very fresh, likely picked not long ago, and the faint specks of mud on Yoizumi's right sleeve confirmed her thought.
Carefully holding the flower, Shinobu tugged on Yoizumi's sleeve.
"Yoizumi, what made you think of giving me flowers today?"
He naturally took Shinobu's hand, and they strolled together down the long corridor.
"Because the last flower withered, this is to compensate Shinobu."
So that was it. The nutrient solution Shinobu had concocted should have prevented the flower from dying so quickly.
But she didn't think much of it, only regretting that it was a flower Yoizumi had specially picked for her.
However, she had received even more now.
Thinking of this, Shinobu couldn't help but curve her lips, her pleasant laughter particularly distinct in the quiet night.
When Yoizumi looked at her in confusion, Shinobu shook their tightly clasped hands.
"But what should I do, Yoizumi? Just these aren't enough compensation."
"Then... I'll give Shinobu flowers every day."
If he sent so many every day, her room would soon run out of space.
"I don't have anything in mind yet. I'll tell you when I've thought of something."
"Alright."
Back in her room, Shinobu placed the beautiful purple rose in a vase, sprinkled a little water on it with a small spray bottle, and gently touched its tender petals with her finger, a faint smile always on her lips.
She turned to look at Yoizumi, who was waiting by the door, and once again intertwined her fingers with his.
"Let's go~"
..."Shinobu!" As soon as they entered the meeting room, Kanroji Mitsuri enthusiastically came over, affectionately linking arms with Shinobu.
"Mitsuri, it's been a while."
"It has. Shinobu is very busy too. I've recently learned many new desserts. When you and Mr. Yoizumi have time, you can come together."
Yoizumi stepped aside, not joining the conversation between the two girls. Noticing Giyu Tomioka, who was silently staring at the tatami mat, Yoizumi thought for a moment and walked to his side.
"Mr. Tomioka, how has your training been recently?"
Giyu Tomioka, who hadn't expected to be spoken to, paused and slowly turned to look at Yoizumi, a rare look of surprise in his usually unmoving eyes.
"Mhm," he replied briefly, then, feeling it wasn't enough, added, "It's been good."
"Tanjirou has been a bother to you," Yoizumi had received a letter from Tanjirou a few days ago, saying he had arrived at Giyu Tomioka's place for training.
"It's fine."
Giyu Tomioka's expression was calm, as if he didn't care about anything.
He successfully ended the conversation in two sentences.
Yoizumi also didn't know what else to say.
The scene fell silent for a moment, with only the occasional soft laughter from the two girls nearby.
Sanemi Shinazugawa and Iguro Obanai arrived one after another.
Yoizumi held out the bento box in his hand to Sanemi Shinazugawa, saying seriously, "An apology."
Sanemi Shinazugawa subconsciously took it, opened it, and saw that it was ohagi again!
One after another, they were all bastards!
He would never forget that night a week ago when this guy inexplicably shoved ohagi at him, and then knocked him out twice in their subsequent sparring.
And now he had the nerve to say it was an apology?!
And that damned brother of his!
He and Tomioka, who knew what got into them, kept chasing him to give him ohagi!
Sanemi Shinazugawa was so angry that he activated his Mark that very night!
Thinking of this, Sanemi Shinazugawa's expression became even more distorted, radiating anger. Moreover, these two damned guys were standing together now!
They must be deliberately trying to annoy him!
Now the two people he disliked the most in the Corps were gathered.
The furious Sanemi Shinazugawa pulled out the ohagi and threw it forcefully at the two of them.
"Go to hell! Bastards!"
Yoizumi tilted his head slightly, and the ohagi flew past quickly.
"Splat!"
"What a special welcome indeed!" The ohagi hit its target squarely on Kyojuro Rengoku's face. Kyojuro Rengoku took the ohagi off his face, took a big bite, and then loudly exclaimed... "Delicious!"
"Ah, Mr. Rengoku, are you alright?" Kanroji Mitsuri offered a handkerchief for Kyojuro Rengoku to wipe the ohagi crumbs off his face.
Kanroji is so kind.
Iguro Obanai stood silently to the side with his arms crossed, thinking.
"Mr. Shinazugawa, please don't throw things around," Shinobu reminded him.
"Tsk."
Overcome with anger, he lost his temper. After an awkward apology to Rengoku, Sanemi Shinazugawa sat alone in his seat, though the bulging veins on his arm still betrayed his mood.
After Muichiro, Uzui, and Gyoumei arrived.
All the Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps were gathered at the headquarters.
Awaiting the arrival of their Master.
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