Chapter 61 The Intensified Curse
Seeing Kochou Shinobu like this, Tomioka Giyu stopped teasing her and instead reminded her,
"Oh, right, tell your sister to watch out for Shinazugawa Sanemi."
"Hm? Why?" Kochou Shinobu picked up a tissue to wipe her mouth, looking a bit confused.
After eating the last bite of fish, Tomioka Giyu said earnestly,
"Nothing, but I estimate he'll be your brother-in-law someday."
"Wh-What?!" Hearing this, Kochou Shinobu immediately stood up. "N-No way, Shinazugawa him?"
"He should only be interested in slaying demons, right?"
Tomioka Giyu gave her a strange look. Is this how Shinazugawa Sanemi appears to outsiders?
"That's because you don't know him well enough. That guy is unusually calm and not at all irritable when he's alone with your sister."
"Just now when he saw me, he didn't say a word. If it were normal, he would definitely draw his sword and slash at me under the guise of sparring."
Tomioka Giyu took a helpless sip of tea. He couldn't quite understand where Shinazugawa Sanemi got so much anger towards him.
"Also, don't let his usual irritability fool you; he's actually a very good person."
"Someone who likes small animals and ohagi, how bad can he really be?"
Kochou Shinobu sat back down in her chair, pursed her lips, and muttered, "Hmph, why would I need to understand him anyway..."
Immediately after, Kochou Shinobu stared into Tomioka Giyu's eyes, a hint of jealousy in her tone,
"You know him so well, huh? Hehe, what about my preferences?"
Tomioka Giyu pretended to recall very seriously for a moment, then, under Kochou Shinobu's expectant gaze, he uttered three words:
"I don't know."
"You! Hmph!"
Kochou Shinobu put on her haori and stood up to leave. Tomioka Giyu quickly stepped forward and grabbed her hand.
"See, you're angry again. Of course, I was just joking."
"You like ginger pickles, Aoi's cooking, and ramune soda."
"Your favorite small animals are goldfish and the like; you don't like anything with fur, and you also don't like wearing revealing clothes."
"All of this, I'm not wrong, am I?"
Kochou Shinobu was stunned, partly by what Tomioka Giyu said, and partly because her hand was actually being held by Tomioka Giyu!
"You... how do you know so much, and also, my hand... (⁄ ⁄ • ⁄ ω ⁄ • ⁄ ⁄) ⁄"
Tomioka Giyu quickly let go of her hand and lightly coughed twice.
"My apologies, I was a bit hasty."
"It's nothing... (⁄ ⁄ • ⁄ ω ⁄ • ⁄ ⁄) ⁄"
Just as the two were feeling awkward, the restaurant door opened.
A girl with cherry blossom mochi-colored hair and a boy wearing a black and white striped haori walked in together.
When Tomioka Giyu saw them, he sighed helplessly, realizing how small the world truly was.
Yes, these two were none other than the Love Hashira, Kanroji Mitsuri, and the Serpent Hashira, Iguro Obanai!
"Hm? What a coincidence, Shinobu, you're here too... oh no, are you and Tomioka-san eating together too?"
"Ah? The two of us?" Kochou Shinobu glanced at Tomioka Giyu.
"Yes, he was hungry, and I saw he was injured, so I accompanied him to eat."
Tomioka Giyu nodded cooperatively, not exposing Kochou Shinobu.
Iguro Obanai, however, scrutinized Tomioka Giyu from head to toe and asked curiously,
"But, Tomioka's injuries have already healed, haven't they?"
Seeing Kochou Shinobu suddenly freeze, Tomioka Giyu quickly said, "Speaking of which, Iguro, what about you? Are you pursuing Kanroji?"
"Eh? Eh!!" Kanroji Mitsuri covered her mouth, looking incredulous, but her eyes, full of happiness, gazed at Iguro Obanai.
Iguro Obanai turned his head away, not daring to look directly at Kanroji Mitsuri, and his hand unconsciously went to his bandaged mouth.
"Let's eat."
Seeing Iguro Obanai's embarrassment, Tomioka Giyu and Kochou Shinobu exchanged a smile.
"You two eat. We'll be leaving now. See you at the Hashira Meeting this afternoon!"
With that, Tomioka Giyu and Kochou Shinobu left the restaurant together and returned to the Butterfly Mansion to await the start of the Hashira Meeting.
During this time, the two laughed and played, even engaging in a fierce debate about how an ant should transport things.
But soon, they inexplicably started laughing.
These behaviors, which seemed childish to ordinary people and even to themselves in the past, now brought them endless joy.
Perhaps they themselves hadn't noticed that the pink bubbles of love were rising around them.
--------------------
Soon, the Hashira Meeting arrived, with all ten Hashira gathered.
Tomioka Giyu and Kochou Shinobu had arrived early.
As soon as Tomioka Giyu arrived, he was pulled away by Rengoku Kyojuro to study sword techniques.
The Shinobu Sisters, meanwhile, chatted with Kanroji Mitsuri, seemingly inquiring about Kanroji Mitsuri and Iguro Obanai's relationship.
Iguro Obanai stood with Shinazugawa Sanemi, discussing their missions from a few days ago.
Himejima Gyomei stood by a small pond, hands clasped, holding his prayer beads, while Uzui Tengen chatted beside him about how to be flamboyantly flamboyant.
Further to the side, Tokito Muichiro gazed at the fish in the small pond, counting, "One, two, three, four."
At this moment, The Shinobu Sisters and Kanroji Mitsuri stopped chatting.
This was only because when the topic of strength came up, Kanroji Mitsuri said,
"Oh, I'm so grateful to Tomioka-san for sparring with me that time; it made me understand the importance of distance control even more!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Tomioka Giyu, who was chatting, immediately felt a bad premonition.
Sure enough, just as he thought, two gazes shot at his back, making him feel uncomfortable all over.
First, of course, was the "very happy" Kochou Shinobu.
"Is that so? He's really very enthusiastic."
The other was Iguro Obanai, who looked over with his snake.
Tomioka Giyu quickly corrected, "Yes, we happened to meet in the Swordsmith Village."
"The new sword had just been forged, so it was a good time to test it. Nothing else."
"Of course, there's nothing else. Do you want something else to happen?" Kochou Shinobu asked again, "smiling."
Tomioka Giyu felt a chill down his spine; he was clearly being watched by the snake.
"No, of course, I couldn't possibly..."
Before Tomioka Giyu could finish speaking, Amane walked out of the house.
"My apologies, everyone, Ubuyashiki Kagaya's health has worsened, so he can only speak to you through the door."
Everyone was worried, but they all understood that Ubuyashiki Kagaya's curse was incurable.
Soon, this Hashira Meeting concluded, mainly discussing the matter of killing the upper rank six.
Everyone could hear the excitement in their Master's voice, but they were not happy, because his weakness was also clearly audible.
After the Hashira Meeting, everyone left with heavy hearts.
Tomioka Giyu was no exception; the Master's curse was spreading too quickly, giving him no chance to break it.
The only method he could think of was to have Tamayo turn the Master into a demon!
But as soon as this idea appeared, Tomioka Giyu rejected it. Such was the Master's will.
If he were to become a demon to survive, what would be the difference between him and Kibutsuji Muzan?
----------
Check Out P atreon For More Chapters:
P atreon.com/AnonymousWriter6