Horitake's suspicion wasn't unfounded.
Just yesterday, while crashing at the Butterfly Mansion, Aoi Kanzaki had mentioned that the room he stayed in was a private one reserved for Hashira recovering from injuries.
Sanemi Shinazugawa, battered to a pulp by Horitake, needed a few days to heal. There was a real chance he'd taken over Horitake's room!
Worse, Horitake hadn't warned the Butterfly Mansion girls he'd be staying longer.
The thought sent him into a panic. Dumping the remaining errands on Gotō, he didn't bother with the gate. With a single leap, he vaulted over the wall, landing in the Butterfly Mansion's courtyard.
"Not dead yet, Sanemi?" he bellowed. "If you've taken my room, I'll toss you out to recover on the street!"
Without waiting for a response, he stormed toward his room.
But before he reached it, he nearly collided with Shinobu Kocho in the hallway.
Seeing Horitake, Shinobu frowned slightly, her tone edged with disapproval.
"Horitake-san, what's with the ruckus? And barging in so recklessly?"
Horitake noticed the medical supplies in her hands, and his gut sank.
"Shinobu-nee, don't tell me that jerk Sanemi took my room?"
Shinobu gave him an odd look, sidestepping the question.
"You're still crashing at my Butterfly Mansion? Doesn't the Demon Slayer Corps provide every Hashira with a residence?"
Horitake spread his hands helplessly.
"What choice do I have? The house I picked needs a few days to be furnished.
I'm practically homeless until then. Where else would I go if not here? You're not saying you don't welcome me, are you, Shinobu-nee?"
Shinobu's lips curved into a perfectly polite smile.
"Guess whether I welcome you or not."
"Hmm… tough question," Horitake grinned. "But I'll just assume you're thrilled to have me!"
Shinobu's smile didn't waver.
"As expected, Horitake, still as shameless as ever. I almost thought the you who dominated the Hashira Meeting was a fake."
"Both are the real me," he shot back. "The me who humbled Sanemi was serious. The me facing you, Shinobu-nee, is laid-back.
Speaking of which, tell me—has Sanemi stolen my room? If I open that door and see his mug, I swear I'll chuck him out the window!"
Shinobu watched him with that same serene smile, sensing he wasn't joking.
"No need to worry. Your room from last night is still free. Sanemi's in the one next door. The Butterfly Mansion has more than one room for Hashira. You can relax."
Horitake caught a subtle shift in her tone.
Sure, Shinobu was still sharp-tongued and sly, but there was a hint of… softness?
Uncertain, he pressed further.
"Could it be, Shinobu-nee, you kept my room open because you figured I might come back? Were you thinking of me?"
A brief pause. Then Shinobu replied, "Sure, let's say that's what I thought."
With that, she brushed past him, clutching her bottles and jars, and walked off.
Horitake stared after her, baffled.
Something was off. Way off.
This faint hint of coyness didn't match Shinobu's usual demeanor or vibe.
It felt like… her attitude toward him had softened? But he hadn't done anything special. Was his shameless approach actually working?
Or maybe…
A theory struck him. Could his display of strength at the Hashira Meeting have impressed her? Maybe his power shifted her view of him, making her subtly warmer.
It was possible.
Clearly, relying solely on shameless flirting wasn't enough to win a girl over. You needed to show real capability to spark interest.
What Horitake didn't know was Shinobu's true thought process after witnessing his terrifying strength at the meeting:
Such power… He might be able to slay Doma, avenging my sister and fulfilling my lifelong wish!
No, I can't pin all my hopes on someone else. My plan must go on.
But if this guy could help…
He probably would. He seems… fond of me.
This shift in perspective was why Shinobu's attitude toward him had subtly changed.
Horitake didn't know the reason, but he saw the change as a win.
Watching her retreating figure, he mused:
Shinobu-nee's warming up to me. I need to adjust my approach.
No more relentless shamelessness—that could annoy her. He'd dial it back, keep some charm but add genuine connection, talk with her, treat her well, and slowly pry open her heart.
Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine, snapping him to clarity.
Was he… acting like a simp?!
Yeah, maybe a little!
No, no, this wouldn't do! Even for Shinobu-nee, he couldn't go that far.
Better to let things flow naturally, let her grow drawn to him over time. That was the way.
In that moment, Horitake felt like he'd let go of something, gained some clarity. He turned toward his room.
But then Shinobu, not yet out of earshot, spun around and called out, "Horitake-san!"
He turned back. "What's up, Shinobu-nee?"
"Which house did you pick?"
Grinning, he pointed to the side. "Right next door."
Shinobu's smile faltered, a flash of surprise breaking through.
"You jerk! You're totally after my stunning beauty!"
"Thanks for the compliment!" Horitake laughed, turning to leave with a wave.
Shinobu blinked, caught off guard by his swift exit.
Normally, this shameless guy would've lingered, tossing out a few more cheeky lines. Why just a "thanks" and gone?
Something was wrong!
It felt like… he was less fixated on her.
What was going on?
A spark of defiance flared in Shinobu.
This morning, he was practically clinging to her. Now, post-meeting, he was acting aloof? Was her charm fading? Or was this guy just too fickle?
Unacceptable!
Shinobu Kocho, Insect Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, wasn't someone you could just pursue or ignore on a whim!
Fuming, she stormed off to start her day's work.
Her irritation led to several slip-ups, baffling Aoi at her side.
Shinobu-sama isn't usually like this. These rookie mistakes? And multiple times? What's wrong with her?
Dear readers, Shinobu's reaction proves just how spot-on Horitake's reflection was.
What reflection?
Don't be a simp!
Simping gets you nowhere. Constantly chasing only annoys a girl. Sometimes, a bit of distance works better.
See? Horitake eased off, and now Shinobu's the one rattled.
Her frustration might make her doubt her charm, think of him more, maybe even start paying him more attention.
So, here's a tip for the guys out there:
After making a strong impression on a girl you like, don't just keep throwing yourself at her. Too much can backfire. A touch of distance and confidence can make her notice you more.
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/DaoistRoeoNQ
If you guys wanna check it out.