"How can I succinctly explain his Blood Demon Art?"
Yoizumi lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment.
"I transfer the wounds, and then my regeneration ability digests them."
"Yoizumi, look into my eyes. You just said yesterday you wouldn't lie to me." Shinobu furrowed her delicate brows, pressing closer to Yoizumi, who instinctively recoiled until his back hit the wall, realizing he had no escape.
"I'm not lying." Yoizumi shook his head, meeting her purple eyes directly.
"Such an ability can't possibly be without side effects, can it?" One hand propped against the wall, Shinobu looked down at Yoizumi, who stood obediently still. She could even clearly see the swirl of his golden hair.
Side effects?
How did he not know?
"..."
"According to what you just said, after you activate your Blood Demon Art, you transfer the target's wounds to yourself and heal them with your regeneration ability, right?"
"Mm."
If she was just asking a question, why did she have to stand so close?
"What about the pain? Does that also transfer into Yoizumi's body?"
"Mm."
Shouldn't that be obvious? The wounds are transferred, after all.
Seeing Yoizumi's matter-of-fact expression, Shinobu inwardly thought, 'I knew it!'
She had said it was impossible for there to be an ability that made everyone happy. As a healer, her greatest wish was for everyone to be free from illness and misfortune. Medicine is inherently toxic, and it's best not to take it if possible.
Thinking of this, Shinobu's brows furrowed even tighter, and the curve of her lips disappeared.
She still asked the question she was most concerned about: "Is the pain normal?"
"When transferred, it will roughly increase by 3 times on oneself."
This meant that no matter how much pain the target endured, as long as Yoizumi used his Blood Demon Art on him, Yoizumi would have to endure three times the pain himself.
How could he say such a thing in such a cold, calm tone? Who could endure the pain of broken bones, let alone three times that amount?
From what Tanjirou and the others said, they clearly didn't know.
Yoizumi had never thought of telling anyone.
If she hadn't asked, would he have never said anything, enduring it silently for his entire life?
If others knew, he would probably be treated as a convenient healing ability, to be used arbitrarily.
Shinobu pursed her lips, her hand, which had been on the wall, now rested on his tender face. Her palm was filled with the softness of his cheek, and her eyes darkened.
See? Even a demon's flesh is soft, and their heart is made of flesh.
Why is he always silent? Why does he always hide his emotions, when everyone around him is willing to listen to him?
Is it habit? Or is he unwilling to reveal his inner self?
"Don't you hurt?" Shinobu whispered.
"..." This question even made Yoizumi's breath catch.
He stared at Shinobu, his blue eyes wide in a daze.
Why was she showing such an expression?
An expression so complex that Yoizumi couldn't understand it.
Don't you hurt?
It hurts.
It hurts so, so much.
It hurts so much he can't breathe.
He actually hates pain.
But hating pain doesn't mean he fears pain.
Just as people who fear suffering don't fear death.
He can endure it.
As long as he endures the bone-gnawing, heart-burning pain.
The rest is nothing.
Just endure.
Swallow all the painful whimpers, so at least the people he cares about won't be upset.
After all.
He'd said it before.
What he was best at was probably endurance.
But this time, his increasingly agitated heart made Yoizumi feel very strange; his heart felt peculiar.
A warm palm rested on his face, an endless source of heat transferring from there to every corner of his body.
"Mm, it hurts a lot." Yoizumi slowly closed his eyes, rubbing his face against her palm, as if entrusting his entire weight to that warm hand.
For the first time.
He actively showed his vulnerability to someone.
Her hand supported Yoizumi, her thumb stroking his face. The wind blew, occasionally lifting his soft golden hair, brushing against her hand.
It tickled.
But Shinobu wouldn't let go.
"Don't use your ability casually anymore. It's not good for you or for others." Shinobu's voice was softer than ever, gently comforting the kitten in her hand, afraid that a louder sound would scare it away.
If Tanjirou and the others relied too much on Yoizumi's ability, they might fight recklessly, thinking that any wound, no matter how severe, could be healed.
Such a mindset would one day harm them, and it would also harm Yoizumi.
"Mm..."
Moving his head away, Yoizumi opened his eyes.
"Thank you."
Reluctantly withdrawing her hand, Shinobu turned her back to Yoizumi.
"Tanjirou and the others are starting their training today. You can go watch too, you know~"
"I'll be going first."
"Okay, goodbye."
Her departing footsteps paused, a smile playing on her lips.
"Goodbye~"
The rainbow-colored haori disappeared around the corner at the end of the corridor. Yoizumi withdrew his gaze and walked in another direction.
He forgot to ask.
Where was the training ground?
He might as well wander around for now.
At least until this heart settles down... "Whew~..."
Leaning against the wall at the corner, it was a good thing she hid quickly, or Yoizumi would have seen her in this state.
Her fair cheeks were flushed, her full earlobes almost dripping blood. She slowly raised the hand that had brushed Yoizumi's face; a lingering warmth seemed to still be there.
It was so hot that Shinobu felt flustered.
She pressed both hands to her face, her forehead against the wall.
She felt like she had done something incredible just now!
Lady Shinobu...?
Kanzaki Aoi saw this scene and immediately stopped walking towards that direction, turning around instead.
She had originally intended to report to Lady Shinobu that Tanjirou and the others' functional recovery training was ready.
She would come back later.
Yes.
The timing didn't seem right now. She casually grabbed Saho, who was about to walk in that direction.
"Eh? What's wrong, Sister Aoi?"
Saho was pulled away by the back of her collar, looking bewildered... "Ah... ow, ow, ow!" Tanjirou grimaced, holding his lower back. Stretching exercises really hurt; he felt like his meridians were about to snap.
And... he looked at Kanao, who sat there, maintaining the same smile.
No matter what he did, he couldn't stop her from splashing him with tea.
Even with all his strength, he couldn't grasp even a trace of her.
She was too strong.
Zenitsu and Inosuke also seemed a bit frustrated. Zenitsu, who was initially happy to interact with a girl, was mercilessly defeated by Kanao.
Now he was squatting in a corner, drawing circles.
This isn't right, is it?
How can she be so strong?
Why can't I even touch her hand?
Inosuke kept exhaling white mist, his wild boar mask drenched with tea, and his clothes were more than half wet.
Still unconvinced, he shouted for another round, only to be doused from head to toe again.
Tanjirou watched Kanao's movements; he couldn't even catch them. They weren't much different in age, so how could their strength gap be so huge?
Sensing Yoizumi's presence approaching, Tanjirou looked towards the doorway.
A familiar figure appeared, and he happily greeted him.
"Yoizumi-nii, you're here!"
"How's the training going?" Yoizumi walked over to Tanjirou, looking at Inosuke over there. What kind of training was this?
"Not so good. I can't win against Kanao at all."
He sighed.
Hm?
His nose twitched slightly. Yoizumi-nii had a lot more wisteria scent on him...? Was Yoizumi-nii really okay with so much wisteria?
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