"Are you going on a mission?" Yoizumi encountered Shinobu, who was about to leave. It had just gotten dark; was today's mission so early?
"Yes, the biggest town here is holding a fireworks festival~"
"During such a crowded time, demons can easily blend in. I and some other members need to investigate and take precautions."
Shinobu nodded. Tonight would be a big undertaking.
"Can… I go with you?" Yoizumi thought for a moment and asked.
He had been staying in the Butterfly Mansion lately, and occasionally wanted to go out for some fresh air.
He saw the dark circles under Shinobu's eyes.
He wanted to help her.
"Hmm… sure." Shinobu had intended to refuse, but seeing the faint anticipation in Yoizumi's eyes, she inexplicably agreed.
"It's very big here~ Don't get lost." Shinobu said playfully. Yoizumi thought she was worried he would get lost, and he replied seriously, "It's fine, I'll find you."
"Oh~" Shinobu seemed to believe him, leading Yoizumi along the bustling street. The area was brightly lit and noisy, without any of the quietness that night should have.
The hawkers' cries, the children's laughter, the adults' loud discussions.
So many people.
All sorts of smells mixed in the air. Only the wisteria scent emanating from Shinobu in front of him gave Yoizumi a moment to breathe.
Following Shinobu's steps one by one, his gaze never left her. Yoizumi didn't even clearly see the faces of the people passing by; only the back of her rainbow-colored haori was clear.
"Why are you walking behind?" Shinobu turned her head and asked Yoizumi.
"Come by my side." She beckoned, and Yoizumi cooperatively walked to Shinobu's side, walking shoulder to shoulder with her.
"But… Yoizumi, you really do attract attention~" Shinobu could clearly sense that many passersby glanced at Yoizumi, but he himself was completely unaware.
"Ah~ Look at that person, he's so handsome, like a prince from a fairy tale!" a woman said to her friend, her eyes fixed on Yoizumi, unwilling to look away.
"Yes, but he probably has a companion." The woman's friend looked at Shinobu, who was equally beautiful, next to Yoizumi, and said regretfully.
"If only we could get to know him."
Indeed.
Just that face alone was enough to attract people.
Shinobu glanced at Yoizumi. His golden, choppy hair slightly covered his eyebrows, and his sapphire eyes were clear and bright. Yet, his expression was indifferent, with no curve to his lips, making people want to see him smile.
"What's wrong?" Unexpectedly looked at by Shinobu, Yoizumi tilted his head in confusion.
"Nothing." Shinobu thought cheerfully:
Who would have thought that behind such an expression was a ditz~
"More and more people are coming, we need to move faster." Shinobu quickened her pace, heading towards their destination. Yoizumi did the same… "Some members are already providing covert protection. We'll split up here. If anything happens, come find me." After Shinobu finished speaking, she blended into the crowd, disappearing without a trace.
His body was occasionally bumped by passersby. Yoizumi still chose to stay in a relatively quiet place; he disliked crowded areas, as the noise was too chaotic and made his ears uncomfortable.
He closed his eyes, sensing for the presence of demons. With so many people, even sensing was a bit difficult. Fortunately, after some investigation, no demons had infiltrated.
Returning to where he had parted ways with Shinobu, just in case she came back and couldn't find him, he felt a poke on his back. Turning around, he saw an old woman holding a straw target full of candied hawthorn skewers, a smile squeezed onto her aged face.
"Young man, would you like a candied hawthorn?"
"No need." He didn't have a single coin.
The old woman didn't give up, taking down a candied apple and promoting it: "It's not expensive, only five sen. Young man, you're waiting for someone, right? You can buy it for your beloved."
As she spoke, the candied apple was forcefully placed in his hand. Yoizumi was still wondering how to refuse when a fair, small hand reached out from behind him.
"Five sen, right? I'll buy it~" Shinobu had returned and saw Yoizumi being handed a candied apple. Realizing Yoizumi probably had no money, she stepped in to help.
"Oh~ Thank you, little girl. Would you like one?"
"No, I don't really like sweets." Shinobu smiled and declined.
After the old woman left with her candied hawthorn skewers, Yoizumi handed the candied apple in his hand to Shinobu.
"Thank you, you eat it."
"Yoizumi, you eat it. I really don't like sweets." Shinobu waved her hand.
"Okay." He took a bite. The brown sugar coating the apple was sweet, but when he bit into the apple flesh, Yoizumi's eyes twitched from the sourness.
"Is it very sour?" Seeing Yoizumi's expression, Shinobu covered her lips and laughed.
"So sour…" Frowning, he took another bite, and was successfully soured again.
"If it's sour, don't eat it."
"Can't waste it." Trying not to chew the apple, he quickly finished the candied apple. Feeling warm fingers touch his lips, Yoizumi looked at Shinobu's retreating hand.
"There was sugar glaze there." Shinobu said calmly.
"Thank you." He lowered his gaze, subtly looking away, his slender, bony hands clenching in his sleeves. The sensation of being touched on his lips seemed to linger.
So strange.
"Whoosh~ Boom!"
A huge sound erupted from the sky, illuminating the dark night for an instant, followed by more fireworks igniting and bursting.
"Yoizumi, look, it's so beautiful~" Shinobu raised her hand, pointing at the dazzling fireworks. Seeing his lack of reaction, she tugged at his sleeve, only to discover… he was trembling!
What's wrong? What happened?
"What's wrong with you?"
Yoizumi felt a blankness before his eyes, and a ringing in his ears echoed in his mind, making him unable to hear anything. Each time the fireworks exploded, it made him tremble, his nerves taut. He clenched his fists tightly, trying to calm himself down, but it still didn't improve.
Shinobu's lips moved, but he heard nothing.
What are you saying?
Why that uneasy expression?
Shinobu looked at Yoizumi. Was he afraid of the sound of the fireworks?
The explosive sounds constantly stimulated his eardrums, and the buzzing caused Yoizumi a splitting headache, until a pair of hands covered his ears.
The world seemed to quiet down, and the ringing in his ears disappeared.
Shinobu forcefully turned Yoizumi's head to make him look at her, their gazes meeting, her tone gentle.
"It's okay, don't be afraid."
"Look, these are fireworks, aren't they beautiful?" She guided Yoizumi's head upwards. The light of the fireworks illuminated Yoizumi's pupils, and he stared blankly at the beautiful fireworks in the sky.
Beautiful and fleeting, yet he couldn't tear his gaze away.
Her hands slowly moved away.
The sound didn't seem so loud anymore.
Why had he been like that just now? It was as if he had been shaken to the depths of his soul.
"If you still don't like it…" Shinobu smiled and took Yoizumi's hand: "Then let's leave here~"
Her slender yet warm hand held his tightly. Yoizumi's eyes only saw Shinobu's back.
Why it happened no longer mattered.
Right now.
His hand clasped back onto the hand guiding him.
What he had to do was not let go.
At this moment, in Yoizumi's eyes, Shinobu was even more dazzling than the fireworks.
The two ran against the flow of people, heading in another direction.
The butterfly-like girl, her hair blown by the wind, her dancing rainbow-colored haori, were deeply etched into those sapphire eyes.
Yoizumi felt.
He might never forget it for the rest of his life.
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