Mitsuri's face flushed as she realized the implication.
Meanwhile, a thoroughly satisfied Horitake made his decision:
"This is perfect. Thank you, ma'am."
The old woman smiled warmly, kindly:
"No trouble at all. As long as our guests are pleased. Would you two like to change clothes?"
Horitake and Mitsuri exchanged a glance.
After a busy night, they were far from clean. Changing was a must.
Both nodded to the old woman.
Then, she offered an enticing choice that thrilled Horitake and was irresistible to Mitsuri:
"Would you like new Demon Slayer uniforms, or perhaps kimonos better suited for relaxing and strolling the hot spring town?"
Horitake was indifferent to men's kimonos, but Mitsuri was different.
As a traditional Neon girl, how could Mitsuri resist a beautiful kimono!? Impossible! Her heart yearned for it!
Seeing Mitsuri's shy yet eager expression, Horitake told the old woman:
"Kimonos, of course!
Pick something simple for me, but for Mitsuri, please choose a beautiful one that complements her charm.
I know kimonos aren't cheap, but don't worry—I'll cover the cost!"
"Eh!?" Mitsuri, though tempted, felt embarrassed: "How could I let Horitake-nii pay? I love kimonos, but… I have some savings!"
"What's with the fuss, Mitsuri? This is when a man steps up!"
"But… but…"
The old woman surprised them again:
"No need to worry. For first-time Demon Slayer guests, we offer a free kimono set.
And since you're not ordinary Corps members but honored guests, we'd even tailor one for free—though time might not allow it."
Horitake was genuinely shocked.
Kimonos, a traditional Neon garment, weren't cheap, and high-end ones were exorbitantly priced.
This Wisteria Family inn not only provided free lodging and meals but also gifted kimonos—even tailored ones—at no cost!
Incredibly generous!
After a moment's thought, Horitake said:
"No need for tailoring. Please pick out ready-made kimonos for us."
"Of course. Please wait a moment."
The old woman left, thoughtfully closing the door.
Now, the cozy room held just Horitake and Mitsuri.
Horitake looked at Mitsuri, who looked back, her face growing redder by the second.
Don't expect some delightful scene to unfold.
Sorry, it's broad daylight, and jumping straight to that would be too reckless.
Horitake asked Mitsuri:
"After fighting all night, don't you want to clean up and relax?"
Mitsuri, blushing and stammering, replied:
"Y-Yes! I'll go now!"
She darted into the bathroom, locking the door with a click.
Hearing the lock, Horitake sighed, a dark line forming on his forehead.
You'll be mine eventually. Do you need to guard against me like I'm a thief?
(Duh! You're exactly who she's guarding against!)
Resigned, Horitake sat on the veranda, admiring the courtyard's scenery to pass the time.
Why not bathe in the hot spring pool right there? After a night of fighting, they were filthy. Using the hot spring as a bath to scrub off dirt would ruin the mood.
Hot springs are for soaking, not washing.
After a while, the sound of running water stopped. Mitsuri, wrapped tightly in a bath towel, peeked out cautiously.
Seeing Horitake, she squeaked like a startled rabbit:
"Um… Horitake-nii, I'm done! Your turn!"
Horitake nodded, trying to stay composed… or not!
Though Mitsuri was wrapped tightly, the towel hugged her perfect curves, breathtakingly stunning!
Maintaining a facade of calm, Horitake entered the bathroom, washing carefully to avoid his wound.
But… Shinobu's stitching was so meticulous, he doubted water could even seep in.
When Horitake emerged clean, he found Mitsuri choosing a kimono.
The old woman had brought several kimonos, laying them out on the tatami for Mitsuri to pick.
Horitake joined her, noticing Mitsuri's eyes swirling with indecision.
She turned to him, eyes pleading:
"Horitake-nii, what do I do? It's so hard to choose!"
Horitake glanced at the kimonos, all crafted from fine materials—not cheap by any means!
This old woman was truly generous.
The kimonos' styles were stunning, each unique and beautiful, making Mitsuri's choice overwhelming.
Time to pick one suited for her.
After a look, Horitake pointed to one:
"This one. Try it on, Mitsuri."
"Eh, this one? Okay, I'll try it."
Mitsuri took the kimono and went to a side room to change, with the old woman assisting due to the kimono's complexity.
When Mitsuri emerged, blushing, she showed off her kimono, shy yet hopeful:
"H-How is it, Horitake-nii?"
Horitake gazed at her, awestruck!
The kimono's base was a soft pink-white, highlighting her youthful charm and shyness. Cherry blossom embroidery complemented her unique hair color. The red obi contrasted the main fabric, accentuating her perfect figure and waist!
Though he'd expected it to suit her, the effect was beyond imagination!
Mitsuri was already stunning, and with the kimono's enhancement, she was breathtaking!
Yet the kimono only amplified her beauty without overshadowing her.
Stunned by her radiance, Horitake took a deep breath and nodded solemnly:
"Gorgeous. Absolutely stunning!"
Mitsuri, though shy, felt a spark of joy.
She'd caught Horitake's fleeting moment of awe, proving her charm—at least to him.
The old woman sincerely praised:
"Truly beautiful! It suits her perfectly. Your eye is impeccable, honored guest."
Horitake, still dazed, replied:
"I didn't expect it to suit her this well."
The old woman then presented men's kimonos for Horitake to choose:
"Please select one, honored guest!"
Horitake scanned the high-quality options laid out before him.
After a moment, he pointed to a purple kimono with cloud patterns:
"That one."
"Excellent. Would you like to try it on?"
"Sure, let's try it."
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That chapter ended on a bit of a cliff, didn't it? 😅 Don't worry, the next one's already on Patreon! [If you'd like to support my work, check out my: patreon.com/DaoistRoeoNQ]