"Hey, Yoizumi, close your eyes."
"Okay…" Yoizumi obediently closed his eyes. His muddled brain didn't even think about why Shinobu was so close. He only knew that her wisteria fragrance filled his every breath.
At this moment, Shinobu's every breath trembled. Her pink fingertips clutched Yoizumi's collar tightly. The boy's compliant face was mere centimeters from hers. He offered no resistance as she pulled him down, his waist bending. Her eyes were filled with the golden strands of hair on his forehead, gently stirred by the evening breeze, and his beautiful brows and eyes.
It was truly good that she made him close his eyes… If he continued to look at her with those eyes, she feared she would stop breathing.
Her gaze slowly descended from Yoizumi's brow to his thin lips.
Her grip on his collar tightened, and she stood on her tiptoes.
It was an extremely restrained kiss, yet it landed on Yoizumi's brow. Just as his trembling eyelashes were about to open, Shinobu spoke.
"Don't open them," her voice was soft, yet it brooked no disobedience.
What was that?
A soft touch he had never felt before, ticklish.
Yoizumi's eyes were tightly shut. What was Shinobu doing?
Ugh… his head felt so dizzy. His mind couldn't even make judgments anymore.
His entire face was frighteningly hot. He pressed his finger to his lips. So this was what a kiss felt like.
She looked up at Yoizumi, who remained motionless.
So obedient~
This isn't right, Shinobu… she scorned herself in her heart.
You shouldn't be doing this.
But… I'm sorry, she couldn't tear her gaze away from his face.
Releasing Yoizumi's collar, she cupped his face with both hands, her thumbs caressing his lips. Everything in her body screamed at her, 'Kiss him, kiss him.'
To kiss those lips that had uttered words that stirred such intense emotions in her.
Could she?
Was she allowed to make such a move?
Taking advantage of Yoizumi's unresponsiveness to anything she did to him now, she indulged her desires.
How bad you are, Shinobu.
The previous kiss was already greedy enough.
But facing Yoizumi, her desires seemed endless; she always wanted more.
Yoizumi would forgive her, wouldn't he?
Forgive her for being so greedy… Time seemed to stand still, long enough for Shinobu to memorize every detail of Yoizumi's face, long enough for her to think she might never forget.
In the end, Shinobu only gave a fleeting kiss to his eyes, which always reflected her, those eyes that almost made her fall.
She couldn't take any more from Yoizumi; it wouldn't be fair to him.
Tears of emotion welled up, blurring her vision. Looking at the oblivious fool before her, Shinobu smiled bitterly, and tears rolled into her mouth.
So, were tears salty when kissing someone you loved?
"Shinobu… you're crying…" Hearing Shinobu's sobbing, Yoizumi didn't care about being obedient anymore. He abruptly opened his eyes and carefully wiped away her tears with his fingertips.
"What's wrong?" Drunk Yoizumi's voice had lost all trace of coldness. His concerned gaze and fumbling movements showed his panic.
Even though he could barely stand, he was still trying to comfort her.
When Yoizumi saw her tears, his heart also felt a pang of sadness. What should he do?
With a confused and dizzy mind, Yoizumi could only repeat, "Shinobu, don't cry."
"Don't cry, I'm here."
"Will Yoizumi always be by my side?" Shinobu asked in a low voice, her eyes red.
"Shinobu, I will be with you for a very, very long time."
So.
"Smile."
"Smile."
Yoizumi only knew that a smile suited her face more than tears.
Not that formulaic, unchanging smile. What Yoizumi wanted was Shinobu's genuine, heartfelt smile; that was what he wanted to see.
"Like this."
Yoizumi pulled at the corners of his mouth, forming an unnatural smile. He realized it wasn't right and immediately tried to adjust, only to find he couldn't seem to smile.
Strange… "Idiot." How could Shinobu still cry after all this? She sighed deeply, looking at the fool who was struggling to smile.
How did she fall for such a blockhead?
But Shinobu was also glad that Yoizumi was a blockhead.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have been hopelessly attracted to him.
If Yoizumi was a foolish blockhead.
Then she was a butterfly attracted to a blockhead, not wanting vibrant flowers, not wanting fragrant grass, only wanting to dance around him, a stubbornly infatuated butterfly.
The blockhead would sprout tender buds and new branches in spring, welcoming gentle spring breezes and flocks of birds.
The butterfly would meet its demise in the silent autumn.
"I'm fine." She shook her head and pulled Yoizumi, continuing towards his room.
Yoizumi seemed to be on the verge of collapsing.
Once he rested his head on the soft pillow, Yoizumi tried hard to force himself not to sleep, holding Shinobu's hand tightly.
Even with his muddled mind, he knew Shinobu was unhappy, or rather, Shinobu hadn't been quite right since he returned from the Infinity Train.
Had something happened?
Could he do anything for her?
"Shinobu, if you need help with anything, just tell me…" His eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Yoizumi reluctantly watched Shinobu disappear little by little from his sight, falling into darkness, and sinking into a deep sleep.
She held his loosened hand, intertwining her fingers with Yoizumi's. Staring at Yoizumi's sleeping face, she extended her free pinky finger and hooked it with Yoizumi's other pinky.
Come save me.
Did you hear?
Their two thumbs touched, and a silent promise was made.
She thought she had gotten used to being alone until Yoizumi's appearance shattered that perception. His presence made her dependent.
Shinobu could be weak, but the Insect Pillar could not… "?"
How did he get back to his room?
Clutching his throbbing head, he got out of bed. Why did his head hurt so much?
His memory stopped at Kanzaki Aoi pouring him a glass of juice. How did he wake up in bed?
"Ugh…"
A faint flash of Shinobu leading him by the hand through the corridor flickered in his mind, but the more he tried to recall, the more it was just a blank space.
Did Shinobu bring me back again… Something seemed to have happened yesterday, but I can't remember… He raised his hand and gently touched his brow and eyes, slowly sliding down to the corner of his lips.
It was as if someone had left their lifelong tenderness there.
What was it?
Yoizumi was puzzled.
He felt that it was something he shouldn't forget.
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