Izumi Again?
Kochou Shinobu's voice drifted from behind, her warm breath brushing against the back of Kiyokawa Izumi's neck as she spoke.
Her fair, slender fingers gently traced the scratches on the black haori. "Didn't I already warn you not to use the Breathing Technique? Why did you seek out Mr. Giyuu for a duel?"
"Can you give me an explanation?"
"And also, who was it that said I like eating hagi mochi?"
As if he could feel the temperature of her fingers, seeing that Kiyokawa Izumi remained silent for a long time, Kochou Shinobu, becoming somewhat impatient, couldn't help but poke him in the side with her finger.
"Why aren't you saying anything, Mr. Kiyokawa Izumi?"
"First, I didn't bully Giyuu. Second, I didn't use the Breathing Technique during the duel; it was just a simple contest of Swordsmanship."
"Third, whether you like eating hagi mochi or not isn't important. It's just that I suddenly wanted to try some and hoped Mr. Giyuu could bring me some next time he visits."
Kiyokawa Izumi suddenly turned his head, his nose almost touching Kochou Shinobu's cheek.
He suddenly raised his hand and lightly tapped his own cheek. "You didn't just wake up, did you? Just finished a nap?"
There were two faint marks pressed into her slightly red right cheek, making her look like she hadn't quite woken up yet.
"Wipe away your drool!"
Kiyokawa Izumi said casually.
Hearing this, Kochou Shinobu was slightly stunned and subconsciously wiped the corner of her mouth, but how could there be any drool there?
This guy was playing with her on purpose!
"I was kidding. It's actually on the left side, sticking to a stray hair. Hurry up and clean yourself up!"
Kiyokawa Izumi raised an eyebrow slightly, suppressing a laugh as he spoke.
Seeing his confident expression, Kochou Shinobu, half-doubting, still lightly touched her left cheek.
However, there was still nothing.
The veins on her forehead throbbed slightly. Perhaps because she hadn't fully woken up, she had actually been played twice in a row by this bastard in front of her.
"Don't look at me like that. You look quite cute when you're being silly."
Kiyokawa Izumi laughed mockingly under his breath.
Her hands beneath her sleeves were already clenched into fists, but Kochou Shinobu still wore an exquisite smile. Just as she was about to say something, she saw the person in front of her continue.
"A mature adult like you wouldn't hold a little joke like this against me, right?"
"You mustn't lose control of your emotions! You really mustn't!"
Having finally gained the upper hand, Kiyokawa Izumi spoke with smug abandon.
"It's just a joke, why would I care?"
Kochou Shinobu lightly patted Kiyokawa Izumi's shoulder, but the veins bulging on her forehead became even more apparent.
The hand patting his shoulder also grew increasingly forceful, as if carrying some sort of resentment.
Kiyokawa Izumi didn't mind.
Anyway, her strength wasn't that great.
He might as well think of more ways to provoke her emotions.
What bad intentions could Kiyokawa Izumi possibly have?
It was nothing more than a little revenge for his embarrassment while taking medicine, his embarrassment during flexibility training... he had suffered plenty at her hands.
"Are you giving me a back massage? Your strength is a bit lacking; you need to use more force!"
Kiyokawa Izumi's tone was improper and full of smugness.
In terms of the art of language, could he really not outplay a young girl?
Having lived two lives, he had also surfed the internet in his previous one.
Not far away, Mr. Giyuu was watching the Team Members train with a blank expression—the socially withdrawn boy said nothing, just stared at them.
How could the Team Members have ever experienced such a scene?
They didn't dare slack off for a single second!
All because this man wore a cold expression that said "strangers stay away, acquaintances get lost."
Terrifying!
"Mr. Kiyokawa Izumi, you're as childish as a kid sometimes. This won't do. As a Hashira, you need to be more composed!"
"You can't frown every day, or you'll get wrinkles."
Kiyokawa Izumi said leisurely, "As for me, I'm at an age of innocence and romance. If I act a bit immature or speak without tact, shouldn't a certain adult be understanding?"
He glanced at the small hand on his shoulder out of the corner of his eye. "A certain adult shouldn't be secretly throwing a tantrum. This won't do. You need to be more composed!"
Kochou Shinobu took a deep breath, looking at the smiling Kiyokawa Izumi in front of her, almost losing her temper.
This guy was even more annoying than Giyuu!
There really was no way to deal with this kind of bastard. If her sister were here, what would she do?
Unlike herself, her sister was truly gentle from the bottom of her heart and would probably tolerate this bastard's immaturity.
"Isn't it tiring to stand? Why don't you sit down?"
Kiyokawa Izumi patted the spot beside him. "Though even if you're standing, I don't have to look up, it still feels a bit strange."
This was the truth.
Kochou Shinobu was 151 centimeters tall; even if Kiyokawa Izumi was sitting and she was standing, he really didn't have to look up.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're very bad at talking?"
Control emotions?
Be a mature adult?
What was that?
Her slightly cool hands tugged at Kiyokawa Izumi's cheeks. Unable to bear it any longer, Kochou Shinobu smiled while teaching the increasingly brazen Kiyokawa Izumi a lesson.
"Um, why are you fighting?"
A confused voice suddenly came over as Tomioka Giyu looked at them in bewilderment.
Because his favorability toward Kiyokawa Izumi was maxed out...
...he, overestimating himself, wanted to persuade the Insect Hashira not to bully Kiyokawa Izumi.
If it was because of the hagi mochi, he could bring some the next time he came.