Chapter 198: What an Idiot!
Ren was startled.
"You didn't open it?"
Hearing this, Shinobu's delicate brows immediately furrowed.
"What are you thinking? Do you really think your Shinobu-sister is that kind of person?!"
Shinobu said seriously,
"This belongs to you. I would need your permission before opening it!"
Ren felt somewhat relieved, though not entirely.
His throat was still tight.
But the bag hadn't been opened, which meant there was still a chance to salvage the situation!
Even so, Ren couldn't help asking,
"How did you get this backpack?"
"This?"
Shinobu smiled sweetly.
"I didn't take it. Aoi found it."
Kanzaki Aoi?
Ren's mind went blank.
How is that possible? I remember hiding it!
Then Shinobu answered his question.
"Aoi found it while cleaning. You're such a strange person. Why would you bring gifts for everyone but refuse to take them out?"
There was a hint of playful reproach in Shinobu's voice.
Yet her words were filled with warmth.
That's right.
Shinobu had already accepted the idea that this backpack contained a gift from Ren.
The backpack was quite large, which meant there might be enough gifts inside for everyone at the Butterfly Mansion.
The thought of receiving a present made Shinobu's face bloom with anticipation.
Meanwhile, Ren felt as though he were about to die.
What is going on?!
So I'm going to die at Kanzaki Aoi's hands!
Everyone knew that Kanzaki Aoi was famous for her diligence.
Even in the original story, Aoi was constantly washing clothes, drying blankets, or taking care of one chore after another.
She was always busy and practically never rested.
Clearly, Aoi's thorough cleaning had led to the discovery of the backpack Ren had hidden away.
"Don't blame Aoi."
Shinobu looked at Ren and explained,
"She told me Tanjiro brought it back. She said you left it on the train, and that it belonged to you."
"You didn't let them open the bag, right?"
There was a trace of anticipation in Shinobu's voice.
"Looks like you wanted to wait until I came back and give all of us a surprise?"
Ren's mouth twitched.
"Yeah... that's right!"
There was no point saying anything else now.
He had to stabilize the situation first.
Still, the fact that the contents of the bag had been mistaken for a surprise was rather frightening.
Ren felt that if Shinobu discovered what some of the things inside were actually for, he might very well be torn to pieces.
"Aoi almost opened it while she was cleaning, but she told me it was a surprise you had prepared, so you should be the one to open it yourself!"
Shinobu smiled happily.
"So, Mr. Ren, why don't you open it first?"
Shinobu was still extremely excited.
Fortunately, she had gotten up and helped Ren when he returned earlier.
Otherwise, Ren wouldn't even have known when he had hidden the bag away.
Aoi had also told Shinobu that Ren was rather mysterious and wouldn't casually open the bag.
But she had guessed that it contained something meant for Shinobu, so she had brought it over.
Shinobu tightly held the black bag in her hands.
Her eyes were already sparkling!
It was impossible to guess what kind of gift might be inside.
Flowers?
A sword?
Or candy?
If it was clothing, that would be fine too.
She could wear her haori outside and whatever Ren had bought for her underneath.
Hehehe~
Just thinking about it made Shinobu giggle.
"So beautiful."
Ren couldn't help exclaiming.
He hadn't expected Shinobu's genuine smile to be so beautiful.
Unfortunately, she was destined to be disappointed.
And because he didn't want to disappoint her, he absolutely couldn't let her see what was inside.
Just like Shinobu's brilliant smile at this moment...
The fate awaiting Ren afterward would be equally tragic!
"Actually... it's... Shinobu!"
Ren suddenly spoke.
"What is it?"
Shinobu turned toward him.
"Well... I did prepare a gift for you."
"I knew it!"
Shinobu happily raised the bag in her hands.
"Isn't it this?"
"Not exactly!"
Seeing that Shinobu was about to open it, Ren acted immediately.
He suddenly leaped up from the bed.
Then he rushed straight toward Shinobu.
He firmly pressed down on her hand.
Shinobu froze.
The first thing that shocked her was Ren's speed.
"So fast!"
She couldn't help exclaiming.
When Ren rushed toward her, his figure had almost become a blur.
His speed was practically like flying.
Even Shinobu, the Insect Hashira renowned for her speed, couldn't clearly see him!
This demonstrated just how terrifying Ren's current speed had become.
However, Shinobu didn't dwell on his speed.
She wanted to know what he was trying to accomplish.
"Ren, what are you doing?"
"Nothing. It's just better if you don't open it."
"Why?"
"Because..."
An idea flashed through Ren's mind.
"Because it's not ready yet!"
Shinobu blinked.
"I'm ready."
"No, I'm not ready."
Hearing that, Shinobu's hand finally dropped.
Ren breathed a sigh of relief, though he maintained a calm expression.
"Actually, the backpack contains materials. I was planning to take you to the Swordsmith Village and have a Nichirin sword forged for you."
Shinobu's eyes lit up.
"Is it like the Nichirin sword handguard you gave me last time?"
"Yes."
Ren nodded repeatedly.
He couldn't help admiring his own cleverness.
However, he had indeed been planning to prepare a suitable Nichirin sword for Shinobu.
So the plan was now officially on the agenda.
Shinobu happily handed the backpack back to Ren.
Ren slung the black backpack over his shoulder and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He gripped the backpack tightly, confirmed with Shinobu that they would leave tomorrow, and hurriedly left.
After Ren left the room...
Shinobu picked up a piece of black elastic fabric from the bed.
It looked somewhat like a pair of trousers.
She examined it curiously.
"I wonder what this is."
Shinobu's cheeks flushed slightly.
Looking at the fabric, she could tell that it was probably some kind of garment.
Aoi had brought it over earlier after it had fallen partially out of the backpack.
Shinobu had casually picked it up at the time.
The rest was something Ren never heard.
"What an idiot."
Shinobu murmured to herself, her gaze drifting toward the direction Ren had left.
"It's just a pair of trousers. What's there to be afraid of when wearing them...?"
...
Inside the Butterfly Mansion, in Ren's room.
After returning, Ren immediately hid the backpack again.
However, this time, he didn't hide it inside his room.
Instead, he hid it in the courtyard.
As for why he hadn't simply thrown it away...
Was that even a question?
These were gifts his friends had given him. Throwing them away would have been far too disrespectful!
So Ren still planned to keep them.
Just in case, right?
This time, Ren sealed the backpack inside a box.
Then, under the cover of night, he quietly slipped outside and buried the box.
After returning to his room, Ren once again sat cross-legged on the floor and began meditating.