"Hey! Don't push! I'm going to fall!"
"I want to see too! Make some room for me!"
"Ah! Who!? Who kicked my butt? You jerk!"
...
A rustling sound echoed through the bushes as a group of Demon Slayer Corps members crowded together, their curious eyes peeking through the bushes at two figures sitting not far away.
Bathed in moonlight, the silhouettes of Shinichi and Shinobu appeared particularly harmonious, a scene that deeply excited the hidden onlookers from the Demon Slayer Corps.
#Shocking! The long-missing Forest Hashira is actually with the Insect Hashira...#
#The secrets that the Forest Hashira and Insect Hashira must discuss...#
#Why did the Insect Hashira suddenly cry late at night? It turns out to be because...#
As for another topic of the night, a certain Lower Moon was likely seething in hell, feeling utterly ignored.
On the other side.
After her earlier embarrassment, Shinobu had adjusted her demeanor and was now sitting obediently beside Shinichi, her delicate face restored to its standard smile.
However, compared to her previous somewhat forced smile, this time, Shinobu's smile was gentler and more natural.
Aside from a slight redness on her forehead, she looked like a well-behaved child.
This version of Shinobu intrigued Shinichi, after all, he had never seen her so quiet and gentle before.
Wasn't she supposed to be fiery and strong-willed?
Now, Shinobu really resemble Kanae and the oblivious Shinichi had no idea that her transformation was due to a certain someone words (details in Chapter 117).
However, facing the drastically changed Shinobu, Shinichi felt a bit awkward.
After a long separation, he didn't know what to say.
They engaged in a somewhat stilted conversation, mostly consisting of Shinichi asking questions and Shinobu responding obediently.
"Um... Shinobu, when did you become a Hashira?"
"A month ago. I killed fifty demons and Oyakata-sama promote me."
"Is that so? You're really impressive, Shinobu. It seems like you can fulfill the promise you made with Kanae even better now. By the way, how is everyone else? How are the other Hashira? What about Kanae?"
"Everyone is doing well and my sister is fine too. It's just that she got seriously injured last time and sometimes she feels unwell."
"Oh, that's good..."
Not knowing what else to say, Shinichi fell silent and the air once again became awkwardly quiet.
At that moment, Shinobu who had been smiling, cautiously turned her face to sneak a glance at Shinichi, then quickly turned back, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.
In fact, it wasn't just Shinichi who didn't know what to say.
Shinobu was also quite nervous because she didn't know how to express herself.
During the time Shinichi was presume dead, her personality had changed significantly and her motivation to become a Hashira was largely due to viewing Shinichi's sacrifice as a source of strength.
Perhaps Shinichi was unaware and even Shinobu herself didn't realize that through their long-standing companionship, they had both deeply place each other in their hearts.
It was just that Shinichi had yet to uncover these feelings, while Shinobu's heart had already nurtured them.
Originally, Shinobu thought that since Shinichi had sacrificed himself, her feelings would gradually wither and transform into her motivation to keep moving forward.
However, Shinichi's return quickly revived those feelings.
Shinobu's earlier reaction to Shinichi's sudden appearance was an instinctive emotional response.
Faced with the unexpected return of Shinichi, she felt both excited and worried that she might be imagining things, a hope hidden beneath despair.
But once she confirmed that it was indeed Shinichi, her heart was completely enveloped in immense joy.
'He looks good, I like looking at him... but I don't know how to say it'
"Ah, Shinobu, I haven't explained yet. Actually, that day, you should have seen my condition, so everyone should know my identity, right? Yes, actually, I am..." Shinichi hesitated, then looked seriously at Shinobu, preparing to confess his demon identity.
Just as he was about to reveal that he was a demon, a small soft hand suddenly covered his mouth.
With her beautiful violet eyes filled with warmth, Shinobu gently said.
"You don't need to say it. Oyakata-sama has told me and only me. I believe in you, Shinichi-kun, just like Oyakata-sama does. Oyakata-sama said he wouldn't reveal your secret, that secret is something only you can choose to share."
Looking at Shinobu's lovely face, Shinichi was momentarily taken aback.
He had prepared himself for the possibility of fully exposing his identity within the Demon Slayer Corps, but now, Oyakata-sama and Shinobu...
After a long pause, Shinichi sighed softly and said.
"Thank you!"
Once again, silence fell as both Shinichi and Shinobu gazed up at the bright moon in the sky.
Shinobu stole another glance at Shinichi and then quietly broke the silence.
"The moonlight tonight is really beautiful..."
Unexpectedly, Shinichi nodded seriously. "It really is nice, big and round."
Shinobu's beautiful brows furrowed slightly; this wasn't like what she had read in books!
She quickly changed her tone "Shinichi-kun, I, I want to thank you. Thank you for saving me and my sister, whether in the medicine house or in Osaka. I'm really grateful."
Shinichi smiled slightly; he never regretted saving the Kocho sisters.
"It's nothing, Shinobu. I've always considered you and Kanae as family, especially you, Shinobu. You're different from Kanae, I see you as my..."
With each word Shinichi spoke, Shinobu's eyes sparkled and her smile grew sweeter, especially when Shinichi finally said he saw her as his...
Shinobu's expression was like this: (⁎⚈᷀᷁ᴗ⚈᷀᷁⁎)
"...little sister."
Crash! *lighting sfx*.
Shinobu: (゜.゜)
The onlookers in the shadows: (=ﾟДﾟ=)
No, this was not the outcome she wanted to hear!
However, completely oblivious to the sudden shift in atmosphere, Shinichi stood up joyfully and waved at the sky.
Soon, a Kasugai Crow adorned with wisteria flowers deftly landed on his arm—it was Shinobu's crow!
Seeing the crow made Shinichi very happy.
He reached out to playfully poke the crow.
"Long time no see, Yan. How has Eizo been lately?"
Yan was also excited to see Shinichi again.
Since Shinobu had been accompanying Shinichi on missions, Yan had developed a good relationship with him.
Even Shinichi's crow, Eizo, got along well with Yan and Shinichi had even sensed a budding ship between the two crows.
However, Eizo had been in a poor state lately, having stayed at the crow's home since he thought Shinichi had passed away.
He had been listless and hadn't flown in a long time.
Now that Shinichi had returned safely, Yan was overjoyed and couldn't wait to fly back to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters to share the good news, hoping Eizo could regain his spirits.
Caught up in excitement, Yan completely overlooked the slightly mad expression on her owner face.
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