In the blink of an eye, winter had passed. The continuous spring rain lasted for a long time, and the sound of raindrops falling was like a kind of melody.
Standing on the veranda, Yoizumi looked absentmindedly at the freshly blooming wisteria all over the wall. Against the plain-colored wall, they were exceptionally bright and eye-catching.
Yoizumi thought that besides the scent brought by the rain, the most noticeable thing in the air was the fragrance of the wisteria, just like the scent on Shinobu's body.
Now, Yoizumi still had the same thoughts as when he first saw wisteria.
Beautiful, fragrant... and very reassuring.
His gentle gaze quietly fell on the purple stamens until familiar footsteps and a presence approached and stopped beside him. Yoizumi turned his head slightly, and what met his eyes were those beautiful features.
Deep purple eyes, even more captivating to Yoizumi's gaze than the wisteria.
"The wisteria bloomed early this year," Shinobu's beautiful lips curled up slightly, her pleasant voice filled with comfort.
"I remember when Yoizumi first came to the Butterfly Mansion."
Raising her eyes to meet Yoizumi's, the person before her gradually overlapped with him from three years ago. Yet, there seemed to be an airtight wall separating the Yoizumi of that time from the Yoizumi currently before Shinobu's eyes.
Perhaps it was because...
The once empty and aimless heart was now beating for the person he loved.
"I remember too." Back then, how could his dull self have failed to notice the abnormality in Shinobu's body?
The fact that even back then, wisteria poison had already permeated Shinobu's body.
He felt another pang of heartache from his helplessness.
Fortunately, Shinobu is very healthy now.
Yoizumi thought, his blue eyes curving with tenderness.
"The rain has stopped." The rain that hadn't stopped for days finally had a brief pause. Being cooped up in the house all day was somewhat suffocating after all.
A flash of rainbow colors passed through the corner of Yoizumi's eye; it was Shinobu's haori. Even though the days of the Demon Slayer Corps were over, Shinobu would still wear her haori from time to time when going out.
That was the haori symbolizing her sister. Shinobu said that wearing it felt like her sister was right beside her.
Yoizumi watched Shinobu's every move intently, seeing her approach the wisteria and seeing her raise her hand to gently pluck a flower.
Like a Kochou flying into a cluster of flowers to gather nectar.
And now, that fluttering Kochou landed by his hand.
Accurately pinning the wisteria flower onto Yoizumi's head, Shinobu's eyes curved into smiles as she looked at his dazed expression. Her slightly trembling body caused her haori to sway and her hair to flutter.
She blended perfectly with the wall of wisteria behind her.
His sapphire eyes widened slightly, reflecting Shinobu's smiling face, and his calm heart began to beat faster.
That time, he hadn't been able to find the answer for the same pounding heart.
But this time, Yoizumi knew clearly.
It was beating for Shinobu.
Everyone looks good under the wisteria, but he felt Shinobu was the most special.
Later, on a quiet afternoon.
Yoizumi was called over by Shinobu. Seeing the indescribable expression of joy on Shinobu's face, Yoizumi was a bit stunned until his hand was taken by Shinobu and guided to her lower abdomen. He heard Shinobu say,
"Yoizumi, our child is in here."
His stunned gaze fell on Shinobu's abdomen, and Yoizumi's hand actually began to tremble involuntarily.
Our child...
Shinobu and his child...
Slowly kneeling on one knee, his hand gently brushed over it.
Shinobu's eyes were slightly red as she gently stroked Yoizumi's head.
Their child would surely be happy.
Everything your father and mother didn't have in the past, we will surely give you twofold.
"Yoizumi, you should pick the name."
Yoizumi looked up and kissed Shinobu's forehead, then froze upon hearing her words.
"Me?"
"Did you expect me to do it?" Shinobu was self-aware about her own naming abilities.
Kanao, who was almost named Flying Fish Roe, would certainly have a lot to say about that.
Yoizumi lowered his eyes in thought, then turned his head to look out the window.
A vast expanse of emerald green vitality was right before his eyes. He stared at a Kochou dancing among the flowers.
Yoizumi already had the answer in his heart. His lips parted slightly as he said in a clear, gentle voice,
"Hope Spring."
"Xi... chun," Shinobu repeated to herself, then smiled radiantly.
"It's a good name. Whether it's a boy or a girl, it sounds lovely."
"I wonder what our child will be like," Shinobu sighed, tilting her head to rest on Yoizumi's shoulder.
"Cute, just like Shinobu was as a child," Yoizumi replied.
"Yoizumi, you never saw me when I was little. How do you know I was cute?"
Yoizumi took Shinobu's hand, interlacing his fingers with hers, and said with a low laugh,
"I have seen you."
In that dream, a little Shinobu.
He had seen her.
"Where?" Shinobu looked up in confusion. She clearly didn't remember showing Yoizumi any photos of herself as a child.
"In a dream."
"...Idiot."
Years later
"Hey, Papa."
"Hmm."
Yoizumi, sitting on the veranda, responded softly.
A little girl with beautiful black-purple hair and sapphire eyes lay on Yoizumi's shoulder, her small hands causing mischief on his head.
"Why am I called Hope Spring?"
"Because..." Before Yoizumi could answer, a gentle voice came from ahead.
"Hope Spring, it's time for your nap." Shinobu smiled and waved to her daughter.
"Coming, Mama!"
Watching Hope Spring's skipping figure, Yoizumi's gaze softened. He also stood up and walked toward Shinobu. Passing a cluster of flowers, Yoizumi paused and gently poked a Kochou resting on a stamen.
Because...
After winter comes spring, which is the season when Kochous are most free.
It was what Yoizumi hoped for.
...
...
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