For reaching 40 PS, I decided to do a double release.
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I leaned against the wooden railing of the Butterfly Mansion's balcony, my mind was replaying the spar and absorbing each of the Hashira's breathing styles.
From the perspective of someone who knew Sun Breathing, it was easy to see how each one was an offshoot of the original breathing style.
Then I thought about how I had unleashed The Fraud King's Domain Expansion. The fear it elicited from some of the Hashira, and the look on Mitsuri's face when I had cancelled it.
'Hmm, maybe it really was a bit too much… pffft Nah… that was hilarious. Sanemi's eyes pretty much bulged out of their sockets. And I'm pretty sure Tengen approves of how flashy it was.'
"Satoru?" A familiar sweet voice called my name.
I turned, smiling as I saw her. "Mitsuri-chan… beautiful as always."
Her cheeks pinked a little, but she was far too used to my tomfoolery to be like how she used to be when I first met her.
"Are you okay? That spar was really something…" she asks.
"I'm alright," I smiled, "I'm the stron—
"Ano… Satoru, that thing you did at the end. Was that…
"Yeah, that was one of my techniques. A special ability I guess you could call it."
"That was really scary…" she pouted, "I thought you were really going to hurt our friends."
I frowned, I definitely don't want her being scared of me. That was a step backwards, I gave her a little smile.
"I would never hurt anyone here…" she perked up, "maybe scare them a little, but I'd never put anyone in danger."
"Good… because if you do, I- I'll be really mad." She pouted.
I chuckled, "Alright alright… I swear I won't hurt anyone."
She hummed, seemingly satisfied with my answer. We settled into a comfortable silence. Then she suddenly looked at me,
"Satoru… why are you so strong?"
'Huh… why am I so strong?'
"Honestly I don't know," I started, "I wasn't always this strong… in the past I was weak, kinda sad really. I couldn't even do one push up." I chuckled.
Mitsuri smiled, as if picturing me laying flat on the ground.
"Then one day I just decided to stop being weak. I swore that I'd be strong enough to live my life how I wanted… free from judgment."
"Mm," Mitsuri took my hand, "thank you…"
"Huh? For what?" I asked.
"For not judging me," she smiled softly. "I'm strong too… people looked at me strangely because of it, I like to eat… people judged me for that too."
"Meh, fuck em…"
"Satoru…" Mitsuri whined, "don't be rude."
"What, I'm being honest, if they can't accept you for who you are then they don't deserve to be your friend."
Mitsuri's eyes shimmered. "Satoru…"
"Say… how about we go on a date?" I decided to shift the conversation away from where it was headed.
Mitsuri immediately blushed, her hands covered her cheeks. "D-date?"
"Yeah," I grinned, "you know, just me and you. No demons, no Hashira stuff. I heard there's a float festival in Kyoto happening soon."
"Hmmm." Mitsuri seemed lost in her own thoughts.
"So how about it? Wanna go with me?"
"Y-yes I'd love to go!" She finally responded with an enthusiastic nod.
[Scene Break]
The next day we arrived to Kyoto in a clearing where I had first teleported to the city. Mitsuri jumped down from my arms. I had insisted on giving her a piggy back ride but she refused. We compromised in a princess carry that still had her blushing like crazy.
Mitsuri held my arm as we walked, her grip tight but not uncomfortable. A rare moment where I had Limitless disabled so we could actually touch each other.
She was wearing a soft pink kimono that matched her cheerful personality. I was wearing a black yukata decorated with white snowflakes at the sleeves and hem.
I had convinced her to let me stow her nichirin blade with mine in my hidden dimension. Not one day passed where I wasn't thankful for having discovered the ability to store shit.
Every so often, Mitsuri would peek up at me with her wide shining smile that could easily make a grown man weak at the knees. She even straightened my yukata with a nervous smile as if worried that I'd get annoyed.
'Jokes on her… I found it endearing. Having someone care for me so much was something I had been unknowingly craving.'
We went around exploring every nook and cranny. Mitsuri dragged me to several food carts where I got her everything she wanted. That girl could really eat… but that's why I lo- cared about her so much.
'Woah… almost said the L word there. Too soon for that.'
As the sun slowly set, we stood at the riverbank watching floats go by. Overhead, fireworks burst in dazzling colours. The crowd cheered around us, distant drum beats echoing into the dusk sky.
Mitsuri held a candied apple I had bought for her. Munching away at it while she hummed softly along with the music playing from one of the shops nearby.
"This is amazing…" Mitsuri whispered, leaning slightly closer to me. I caught her scent and fought the urge to lean in myself.
I brushed a small crumb off her cheek, she looked up at me and immediately blushed when she saw me put the crumb in my mouth.
"You look really beautiful, happy…" I said softly, "I'm glad to be here with you Mitsuri."
Her blush deepened. We walked a bit further, arm in arm. We stopped at a bridge overlooking the river. Larger more extravagant fireworks lit up the sky reflecting in the water below.
The moment felt perfect. I could feel the charged air between us, the tension building. Slowly I reached for her hand. She looked at me, her breath hitching, and I leaned in…
She didn't move away, leaning closer to me…
And just as our lips were about to meet—
"Graaaahahahaha die humans!"
Mitsuri's smile twitched, I felt a vein pop up on my forehead. Closing my eyes I slowly took off my sunglasses and met Mitsuri's eyes.
"I'll be back…"
She was still frozen in place, clearly disappointed that our moment had been interrupted. I strolled slowly towards the demon that was lashing out at civilians around us.
The people ran as the demon drew closer. The grotesque looking demon spotted me and sneered as it dashed towards me.
Of all the moments… I would have preferred getting interrupted on the toilet rather than now. Irrational rage bubbled up in me before I squashed it down to simmering annoyance.
"I was about to get a kiss you dirty rat bastard…" I growled low.
The demon seemingly sensing my bloodlust tried to slow down but it was too late. I raised my hands and clasped them together. My Cursed Energy flared around me.
"Nine ropes… polarised light… crow and declaration… between front and back…"
I unclasped my hands and raised one hand in a snapping gesture. A swirling mass of violet light came into existence in my fingers.
'I really fucking hate getting interrupted.'
"Hollow Purple…"
I didn't need to say the names of my techniques, but I was aura farming. So fucking sue me.
Luckily the demons backdrop was the forest. The imaginary mass of Hollow Purple shot forward like a bullet and erased everything in that particular direction.
The demon and dozens of trees were instantly erased from existence in a flash of light. I dusted my hands off and turned around to look at Mitsuri…
She was gaping at the raw destruction I had caused. Her hand raised as if to say something but thought better of it.
'Fuck… I overdid it again.'
I slowly walked back to Mitsuri sheepishly scratching the back of my head. "…a little too much?" I asked as I slipped my sunglasses back on as if nothing had happened.
She blinked, lips parted, candied apple half eaten in her hand. Her voice came out small, "…Satoru… that was… terrifying."
'Ouch' I winced a little, that stung more than it should have.
I sighed, "Yeah okay… maybe Hollow Purple wasn't proportional retaliation for interrupting our date. But hey, collateral damage is real low… I made sure to hold back. You can't argue with that." I grinned.
Her cheeks puffed out into a pout, "You could have just cut off its head, you know! Not erase half the forest."
I raised a finger, mock lecturing. "Correction Mitsuri-chan… I obliterated half the forest. There's a difference, it's much more stylish."
She smacked my arm playfully, her pout turning into reluctant laughter. "Moh… you're impossible Satoru…"
"Impossible?" I leaned closer with a smirk. "Nah, I'm irresistible."
Her blush came back in full force. Before I could blink she quickly planted a kiss on my cheek. Looking away quickly she chomped on the last of the candied apple before grabbing my hand and pulling me away.
I chuckled at her antics but gently squeezed her hand. I looked at her again as we weaved through the crowd of people slowly coming back.
The lights sparkled in her eyes as she pulled me along. Her smile returning as she squeezed my hand too.
'No doubt about it… I've caught feelings… HARD.'