"Are you... are you really a demon?"
Nezuko clenched her small fists tightly, summoning what little courage she could muster. Yet the moment his gaze fell upon her, that fragile bravery deflated like a punctured balloon, vanishing without a trace.
Soma watched her with a faint smile, amused by the way she lowered her head, looking so defenseless, so easily bullied, that he couldn't resist reaching out. His fingertip gently pressed against her cheek.
It was, he found, an unexpectedly pleasant sensation—soft, warm, yielding.
Nezuko stiffened instantly, her arms instinctively drawing in toward her chest, yet she did not dare move her face away.
Fear held her in place, fear that even the slightest resistance might anger him and bring disaster upon her family. And so she endured it, allowing a demon to prod her cheek as though she were nothing more than a curious toy.
The touch itself was not forceful, barely more than a light poke, yet being touched like this—by a demon of all things—sent her imagination spiraling. In her mind, it was only a matter of time before those same hands would tear her face apart, devour her whole.
Wasn't that what demons did?
The thought alone made her tremble uncontrollably, her eyes quickly filling with unshed tears.
"Are you really… that afraid of demons?"
Soma let out a soft chuckle and withdrew his hand, his gaze drifting toward the bowl in front of her. "Eat."
Nezuko's body tensed further, as though bracing for something worse, her eyes nearly shutting as she waited for what might come next. But after a moment passed with no further words, she cautiously peeked up again.
He wasn't looking at her anymore.
Instead, he was calmly placing food into Kanao's bowl, his movements gentle, almost… caring.
There was nothing terrifying about him at that moment. Nothing at all like the demon she had seen that night.
That night, he had been terrifying beyond words.
But now… he didn't seem so frightening.
Could he really be the same one?
And even if he is… maybe he's—
Maybe he's a… gentler kind of demon?
After all, the way he treated Kanao… it was unmistakably kind.
As if sensing her gaze, Kanao looked up after taking a bite, her pinkish-violet eyes meeting Nezuko's. There was something faintly triumphant in them—something almost like quiet pride, even a hint of smugness.
Startled, Nezuko quickly lowered her head again, her attention falling back to the chicken drumstick in her bowl. The aroma wafting up from it was irresistible. Slowly, carefully, she reached out with her chopsticks, lifting it with hesitant movements. Even as she did, she couldn't help but sneak a glance toward him, like a timid little squirrel stealing food.
Seeing that he truly paid her no mind, she finally brought it closer and took a small bite.
It was delicious—so delicious that the moment the flavor spread across her tongue, she felt as though she were wrapped in a quiet, overwhelming happiness. And yet, after only a single bite, her thoughts wandered once more to her family: her hardworking brother, her weary mother, her gentle younger siblings.
If only they could taste this too…
The thought lingered, a fragile, impossible wish.
Soma, eating leisurely, cast a brief glance at her. Noticing the way she nibbled so cautiously, he tapped his chopsticks lightly against the table.
Startled, Nezuko froze mid-bite. Because she had just taken a mouthful, she didn't dare swallow immediately, and her cheeks puffed out slightly, making her look almost comically flustered.
"Finish chewing first," Soma said, tapping his chopsticks again.
The embarrassment hit her all at once. To be seen like this—by a demon, no less—was mortifying. She couldn't even begin to imagine what he might be thinking.
Hastily, she swallowed the food in small, careful motions. Sitting upright, her body stiffened, hands placed neatly before her, she looked for all the world like a well-behaved student awaiting her teacher's words.
"Later, take me to see your brother," Soma said casually.
"N-no!"
Nezuko shook her head at once, panic flashing across her face. "Y-you can eat me if you want, but please… don't eat my brother!"
Her voice trembled, her face paling as fear gripped her again.
"Who said I wanted to eat you? Do you even taste that good?"
Soma leaned closer, his breath brushing against her skin as he bent toward her neck, inhaling lightly.
There was a faint fragrance there—soft, clean, and natural. Not strong, but strangely pleasant.
The sensation sent a shiver through Nezuko.
Being sniffed by a demon like this filled her with terror… yet at the same time, an inexplicable heat rose to her cheeks, a shy, flustered feeling she couldn't quite understand.
After all… this demon was a man, and she—she was a girl…
"That scent… it's rather pleasant."
Soma licked his lips lightly as he spoke.
At his side, Kanao straightened without realizing it, her cheeks puffing out faintly in quiet displeasure.
Sensing the shift in her mood, Soma withdrew and sat back properly, his attention returning to Nezuko, whose expression had grown increasingly unsettled. He tapped his chopsticks lightly against the table.
"Relax. I won't harm your brother."
Nezuko, however, found it difficult to believe him.
After all… those words were coming from a demon.
"Even if you don't tell me," he continued calmly, his gaze drifting out the window as though the matter held no weight at all, "do you really think I couldn't find your brother… your mother… your younger siblings on my own?"
Though he didn't look at her, he could feel it—the way her entire body trembled.
So timid, he thought.
Nezuko knelt there, her face pale, teeth clenched tightly as fear pressed down on her heart until it bordered on despair.
"So?" Soma asked at last, turning back to her. "Would you rather I find them myself and risk something unpleasant happening… or would you prefer I speak with your brother properly?"
"You… you really won't hurt them?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Mm."
He nodded, a faint smile curving his lips. "If I truly meant them harm… what could you possibly do to stop me?"
The sunlight fell across his face, illuminating his teeth in a stark, almost blinding white. To Nezuko, the sight was terrifying—so much so that it pushed her to the brink of hopelessness. And yet, she knew… he wasn't wrong.
"I—I'll take you," she said at last, her hands clasping together in a pleading gesture, her voice soft and desperate. "Just… please… don't hurt my brother. Don't hurt my family…"
A mist gathered in her eyes, trembling beneath her long lashes.
Soma tapped his chopsticks idly against the table again, his gaze lingering for a moment on her delicate face. Even without adornment, dressed in plain and simple clothes, there was something undeniably captivating about her—a gentle beauty woven into her natural charm.
"Of course," he said lightly. "Though if you manage to please me, I might treat your family even better."
He spoke in jest.
But Nezuko, in her state, took the words to heart.
Almost immediately, her mind began racing—how could one possibly please a demon?
The one before her didn't seem inclined to eat people. So if not that… then what?
In a flash, her thoughts drifted to the women in the entertainment district—those boldly dressed figures who beckoned to passersby with practiced smiles.
But that kind of thing… how could she ever do it?
"Eat first."
Soma tapped the table again, watching her earnest, troubled expression with faint amusement. Unable to help himself, he added, "I'm not… quite as terrible as you seem to think."
But Nezuko had already lost her appetite.
Even so, under his gaze, she didn't dare hesitate. Lowering her head, she obediently resumed eating in small, careful bites.
Perhaps… to protect her family, she would have to endure something worse than death.
But for now… at least for now…
She could keep them safe.
At least… the food was delicious.
Perhaps it was because she had just made the greatest decision of her life, but suddenly, she lifted her head, as if intending to glare fiercely at him—to show some small defiance.
Yet the moment his eyes met hers, all that resolve vanished.
She dropped her gaze at once.
Then, mustering what little courage she could, she bit down hard on the chicken drumstick in her hand.
As though it were him.
As though she could crush him between her teeth.
And yet… there was nothing threatening about it at all.
If anything—
It was almost laughably ineffective.
...
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