"I…"
Aoyama Ren was suddenly at a loss for words.
Butterfly Shinobu stepped lightly into the room, her gaze sweeping around once.
"Aoyama -kun."
She smiled and extended her hand toward him.
"Huh?"
Aoyama blinked in confusion.
She didn't explain anything, yet she stretched out her hand like that.
Was she asking for the regeneration potion?
Seeing him stare at her palm with a constantly changing expression, Shinobu noticed everything clearly. She wiggled the hand she had extended.
"Hurry up, Aoyama -kun."
"Th-This… asking for it directly like this is a bit too straightforward, isn't it?"
Aoyama looked troubled.
The regeneration potion had been a reward from the system—something that couldn't even be replicated in the real world.
And Shinobu was being far too direct!
No roundabout approach at all—just asking the moment she arrived.
"Pfft—"
Shinobu burst out laughing again.
She lowered her hand and asked teasingly,
"What's wrong? Aoi told me you brought Nezuko-chan a small gift. Didn't you bring one for me?"
"Hahaha… so you meant a gift! I thought you meant… that thing."
Aoyama sighed in relief, though his smile was a little awkward.
"You mean the potion you gave Rengoku-san?"
Shinobu stepped closer, slightly rising on her toes. Her beautiful face tilted upward, her violet eyes filled with playful mischief.
She had clearly noticed how flustered the mention of the potion made him.
"Yes."
Facing such a beautiful and intelligent girl, Aoyama decided to be straightforward.
"Then would Aoyama -kun be willing to share the formula with me?"
Shinobu blinked her violet eyes.
Aoyama frowned slightly and shook his head.
"Not right now. Maybe in the future."
If the system rewarded more regeneration potions later, and he had extra, he could let Shinobu study one then.
That would be the safest option.
Shinobu didn't seem too disappointed by the rejection.
She stepped back slightly, increasing the distance between them.
"Shinobu…"
Aoyama began, unsure what to say.
He clenched his teeth.
Fine.
He might as well give her the last remaining potion.
Even if it meant he wouldn't have one for emergencies.
"I—"
"Let's go to the marketplace," Shinobu suddenly said, interrupting him. "Aoyama -kun still owes me a gift."
Aoyama nodded and followed her out of the room.
He sighed quietly.
He had just been played.
When she came to see him, she hadn't actually planned to ask for the potion at all.
At most, she wanted to bring it up.
That Shinobu… she was a little mischievous.
The sun had already set, leaving only a faint glow in the sky.
The two of them arrived at the evening market.
They passed more than a dozen stalls, yet Shinobu merely walked by each one without stopping.
Aoyama suddenly quickened his pace and caught her wrist.
"Let's look here."
He pointed to a stall beside them.
Shinobu froze slightly.
She lowered her gaze toward the hand holding her wrist.
A faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
The stall owner immediately greeted them enthusiastically.
"Sir! Buy a piece of jewelry for the beautiful young lady!"
Aoyama led Shinobu to the stall before releasing her wrist.
His gaze landed on a butterfly pendant.
The butterfly was vivid and lifelike, its wings a delicate shade of purple.
Just as Aoyama reached for it—
Shinobu also extended her hand toward the same pendant.
Their hands touched.
The vendor quickly picked up the pendant with a wide smile.
"This one's perfect! The gentleman likes it, and the lady likes it too!"
Aoyama turned his head to look at Shinobu.
His eyes rested on the faint blush coloring her cheek.
His breathing paused.
Shinobu noticed his gaze and touched her cheek curiously.
"Aoyama -kun, is there something on my face?"
"Ahem…"
Aoyama coughed awkwardly and quickly looked away.
The vendor answered for him with a grin.
"There is something on the lady's face."
"Beauty. That's what the gentleman saw."
Shinobu's eyes widened slightly before she covered her mouth and laughed.
"Shopkeeper, you really know how to talk."
"But what Aoyama -kun saw… might not be exactly what you said."
Aoyama paid the vendor and took the butterfly pendant.
Then he gently took Shinobu's hand and placed the pendant in her palm.
"What I saw… was exactly what he said."
Was he saying she was beautiful?
Shinobu's thoughts suddenly became chaotic.
By the time she looked up again—
Aoyama had already walked nearly ten steps ahead.
"Aoyama -kun, wait!"
Shinobu smiled in a way she never had before and quickly ran after him.
The two of them walked side by side through a quiet alley.
Suddenly, the scent of blood drifted into Aoyama 's nose.
Shinobu also sensed the presence of a demon nearby.
A blood-covered boy suddenly stumbled out of a nearby alley.
His face was filled with panic as he pointed behind him.
"Th-There's a demon in there! It's eating someone! The person… is still barely alive!"
Without hesitation, Shinobu rushed toward the alley.
Aoyama was about to follow when he slowed his steps as he passed the boy.
Then he stopped two steps in front of him.
"Butterfly—come back."
"The demon isn't in the alley."
Aoyama called out calmly.
Hearing him, Shinobu immediately turned back.
"Aoyama -kun, there really is someone injured in there!"
Aoyama 's gaze rested lightly on the blood-covered boy.
"The demon is right in front of us."
"Pretty clever too. Covering yourself in blood to hide your demonic scent."
"You almost fooled us."
The boy froze.
"I—"
Shinobu carefully examined him and immediately noticed the inconsistency.
Seeing he had been exposed, the boy dropped the disguise.
His body twisted as he revealed his true form.
A blue-skinned demon with fangs.
His limbs stretched outward as he crouched low on the ground.
"Gahaha!"
"Since you've figured it out, let this lord show you his strength!"
With a powerful kick, he lunged toward Shinobu.
Both of them felt strong to him—
but the man seemed stronger.
So he attacked the woman first.
Aoyama frowned slightly.
"Looking for death."
Shing—
The Nichirin Blade flashed from its sheath.
In a single motion, Aoyama swung his sword.
Slash—
Blood splattered across the wall.
The demon's body split cleanly in two.
"A mere small fry… and you dare cause trouble here."
Shinobu slowly lowered her hand from the hilt of her sword.
Standing beside Aoyama , she hadn't even had the chance to draw her blade.
"Ding!"
"Host has slain an evil demon."
"Reward: Arm Strength +5, Summoning Scroll Spirit Power +1."
Aoyama clearly heard the system notification.
The second reward likely related to Makomo and Sabito—the accumulation needed for them to eventually manifest physically.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Sooner or later, Makomo and Sabito would be reborn.
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