Hearing the boy's proper inquiry, it was clearly just a children's game, yet his attitude was so serious.
If not for the red string in his hand, Lady Shinobu would have thought he was asking about a major decision.
"I'll do it." Shinobu reached out and took the red string Yoizumi handed her. After a moment of thought, she suddenly smiled mischievously. Her hands moved, left hooking right, fingers intertwining, and a complex red sun appeared in her palms.
Her deep purple eyes looked at Yoizumi, wanting to observe his expression, but she was disappointed. Yoizumi's face was as usual, still looking thoughtful.
"Wow ~ Lady Shinobu is amazing!"
The little girls looked at Shinobu with adoration. They only knew some simple, common patterns.
It was a pattern they had never seen before.
Blinking, Yoizumi gave up.
"I lose."
He stood up from the soft cushion and, under Shinobu's bewildered gaze, walked straight to her and tilted his head towards her.
"Please give me a punishment."
Punishment? What punishment?
What does he mean?
Shinobu was momentarily confused about the situation. Only after Kiyo explained it clearly did Shinobu slowly raise her hand. Now she could openly pat Yoizumi's little head.
His soft hair was messed up by her skillful hand. Feeling it was a bit much, she reluctantly withdrew her hand, then awkwardly averted her gaze as she watched Yoizumi try to smooth his hair.
She was wrong.
But she would dare again.
Shinobu narrowed her eyes, thinking happily about which pattern she would use to win next, and then mess up that head again.
Yoizumi, sporting a golden hair that looked like a bird's nest, sat back on the soft cushion. Now it was his turn.
What should he do?
His blue eyes seemed to light up.
The red string was unhurriedly fashioned into the shape of a beautiful butterfly, which he held in his hands and presented to her.
Indeed, after seeing her, the only thing he could think of was a butterfly.
A butterfly... using a butterfly to deal with a butterfly?
Idiot.
Her slender fingers hooked one of the red strings, her other hand cooperating. Somehow, Shinobu's mind recalled last night, the scene of Yoizumi's fingertips holding a purple butterfly and presenting it to her.
Lost in thought for a moment, she missed a step, and the red string ended up tying both their index fingers together.
Ah... it seems to have tied a knot. She gently wiggled her finger, which moved Shinobu's hand.
Unintentionally, their eyes met. They stood there, looking at each other, their fingers hooked by the red string.
Both saw their own reflection in the other's eyes.
Hastily untying the knot, Shinobu lowered her head.
That strange feeling came again!
Her heart was pounding.
"Is it okay?"
Yoizumi's question came from beside her.
What?
What's okay or not okay?
Shinobu raised her head, her face red.
Yoizumi said seriously, "You lost, you should accept the punishment."
Her fist hardened.
Her fist hardened.
She didn't know why she felt angry and displeased.
But she still wanted to curse him.
Yoizumi.
Is a big idiot!
He gently patted Shinobu's head, and Yoizumi ended his punishment. Her hairstyle looked like it took a lot of time, so it wouldn't be good to mess it up.
"Hmm... I suddenly remembered I have important things to deal with. I'll be busy for a bit, you all play." Shinobu stood up, told the four little ones, and quickly left.
"Lady Shinobu's ears are so red," Kiyo said, looking at Shinobu's retreating back.
"What's wrong with Lady Shinobu?" Sumi and Saho were equally puzzled.
She left so quickly, they didn't even get to say goodbye.
Yoizumi thought... "Yoizumi-nii, is it really okay?" Tanjirou asked with some concern.
Yoizumi-nii had just woken up and was already using his power to heal Zenitsu and Inosuke. Although he was happy they could recover, he was more worried about Yoizumi's body.
"It's fine, it's nothing."
Led by Tanjirou, he arrived at the sickroom where Agatsuma Zenitsu and Inosuke were. As soon as he entered, he heard Zenitsu's noisy voice.
"I don't want to drink it anymore! It's too bitter!"
"I've drunk it so many times, but my hands and feet still haven't grown back!"
"Is this medicine really useful?"
"No no no no!"
Agatsuma Zenitsu was throwing a tantrum on the floor. If Kanzaki Aoi and the people in Butterfly Mansion weren't diligently cleaning every day, the back of his clothes would surely be stained.
"Tanjirou ~ I don't want to drink it anymore, quickly think of something!" Agatsuma Zenitsu saw Tanjirou appear, and in a flash, he hugged his leg, crying and sniffling.
Tanjirou pushed Agatsuma Zenitsu away in disgust, only to be met with even more intense wailing. Tanjirou said helplessly,
"Yoizumi-nii will help you, get up, Zenitsu."
"Huh?"
Wiping his snot with his sleeve, Agatsuma Zenitsu looked around.
That handsome blond guy? Where is he? Why don't I see him?
Besides this child who looks quite similar to him, no, exactly like him, where is he?
"This is Yoizumi-nii. He used up all his power at Mt. Natagumo and became like this," Tanjirou explained.
Damn it!
Agatsuma Zenitsu furiously pounded the ground. It's bad enough he's handsome, but how can he be so cute even as a child!!
Didn't they say boys change a lot as they grow up?
You better change!!!
Yoizumi was already used to such situations. During those few days at Wisteria House, Agatsuma Zenitsu would occasionally act like this, so over time, it became commonplace.
Blood Demon Art: Rotation.
Agatsuma Zenitsu's hands and feet returned to normal. Feeling his familiar limbs, Zenitsu happily jumped up.
Finally... finally no more medicine!
Woohoo~
He walked over to Inosuke, who was sleeping on the bed, and used his Blood Demon Art again.
"I, the great me, will definitely become stronger!"
In his sleep, Inosuke mumbled.
"Yoizumi-nii, how are you?" Tanjirou immediately checked on Yoizumi's condition. If he fainted again, he could catch him immediately.
"I'm fine."
It seems that after each time he breaks through his limits, his power grows stronger. Is it related to Muzan's blood within him?
If there's a chance, he could ask Lady Tamayo. She might know something.
Thinking of Tamayo, he felt Shinobu would be happy to meet her. Both are excellent healers, and they could research Muzan's blood together, possibly making new discoveries.
It's just that...
Yoizumi himself would probably suffer greatly.
He wondered if there would be enough blood in his body for them to draw.
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