Shino didn't know about the Demon Slayer Yukikaze mizuki yet; at this moment, he was turning the prayer beads in his hand, slowly chanting the Six-Syllable Great Bright Mantra.
This was his daily practice. Sitting opposite him, Akizuki Airi lowered her head, focused on eating the last bit of leftover cream on her strawberry ice cream.
Her golden twin-tails swayed gently with every small movement, like two beams of golden sunlight dancing in the air. Her cheeks were flushed with a faint pink from the cold ice cream, like a red plum blooming in the snow.
"Airi, is the ice cream good?"
Shino asked softly.
Akizuki Airi suddenly looked up, her face still dotted with cream, looking very much like a kitten that had stolen some food.
She blinked her big watery eyes and nodded gently, then quickly lowered her head again, appearing a bit embarrassed.
"Mm, it's delicious."
Her voice was as thin as a mosquito's buzz, yet it carried a clear sense of satisfaction.
Looking at the little girl before him, a protective urge rose in Shino's heart.
He knew that if things followed the original trajectory, Akizuki Airi would suffer a miserable fate.
That beastly stepfather would do unspeakable things to her.
"Airi, where do you live? Let me take you back," Shino asked gently, his finger lightly wiping the cream from the corner of Airi's mouth.
Akizuki Airi, who had just been immersed in the brief happiness brought by the delicious food, felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her the moment she heard the word "home."
Her body stiffened noticeably, and her hands gripped the hem of her skirt tightly, her knuckles turning white.
"Don't want to go back..." Akizuki Airi's voice was barely audible, but Shino heard it clearly.
Her eyes quickly reddened, tears welling up as if they would overflow at any moment.
"Airi?" Shino called out softly.
"What's wrong?"
Akizuki Airi finally looked up, staring directly into Shino's eyes, her own filled with fear and pleading.
"Don't send Airi back..." Her voice trembled, as if she were trying her best to keep from breaking down.
"Airi doesn't want to go back; Airi wants to be with Brother Shino."
Shino knew well where Akizuki Airi's fear came from.
"Airi, are you afraid of going home?" Shino reached out and gently stroked Airi's hair, which felt as soft as silk.
Akizuki Airi didn't speak; she just nodded silently, tears finally sliding down her cheeks.
Her shoulders twitched slightly as she tried to suppress her erupting emotions.
"Is it because of your new father?" Shino continued to ask.
Akizuki Airi remained silent.
"How about this."
"I won't send you home immediately, but we still need to see your mother."
He paused to ensure Airi understood him, then continued.
"I will go back with you and talk to your mother. If necessary, you can stay with me for a while, provided your mother agrees."
Akizuki Airi blinked, tears falling again. She looked up, a glimmer of hope flashing in her eyes like a sudden ray of starlight in the dark night.
"Really?"
Her voice was filled with unbelievable surprise.
Shino nodded and said with a smile:
"Really. I will do my best to help you, Airi."
Akizuki Airi suddenly stood up and threw herself into Shino's arms, her small hands tightly clutching his monks robe.
"Thank you! Thank you!"
She repeated these words, her voice full of excitement and gratitude.
Then, before Shino could react, Akizuki Airi stood on her tiptoes and gave him a light kiss on the cheek.
Shino was a bit surprised but soon smiled.
"Since it's decided, let's go to your house now." Shino stood up and reached out his hand.
Akizuki Airi finally showed a genuine smile.
She lightly held Shino's arm, like a kitten that had found something to lean on, her eyes shimmering with trust and dependence.
"Okay!" she responded with a nod, her voice carrying an unprecedented sense of ease and joy.
It was now evening, and the orange-red sunset spilled over them, plating them with a warm golden edge. Akizuki Airi followed closely by Shino's side the whole way, her small hand occasionally tugging at the corner of Shino's monks robe, as if afraid that if she let go, he would disappear.
"Brother Shino," Akizuki Airi looked up, the sunlight filtering through the gaps in the trees and casting mottled shadows on her face.
Her voice held a trace of uncertainty.
"Can you really help Airi?"
Shino looked down at the golden-haired twin-tailed girl, an encouraging smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Don't worry, Airi," he said softly, his voice firm and powerful.
"A Monk cannot lie."
Hearing this promise, Akizuki Airi's tense little face finally relaxed.
She firmly believed Shino's words; although they had only just met, the sense of security Shino gave her was unprecedented.
As they walked through several streets, Akizuki Airi suddenly stopped and pointed to a fairly ordinary-looking apartment building, saying timidly, "It's here."
Shino looked where she was pointing and couldn't help but be slightly surprised.
This apartment building was not far from where he lived.
While taking the elevator, Akizuki Airi's tension increased; her palms began to sweat, and her face turned pale.
Shino noticed her unease, crouched down, and looked her in the eye.
"Airi, remember, no matter what happens, I will protect you."
Akizuki Airi looked into Shino's eyes, which were filled with a gentleness and power she had never seen before.
"Mm, Airi believes Brother Shino."
Her voice was small but carried a rare determination.
The elevator doors opened, and they walked to the door of Room 702.
Shino rang the doorbell and waited patiently.
A few seconds later, hurried footsteps came from inside, and the door was pulled open abruptly.
A middle-aged woman in a white dress appeared at the door, her eyes red and swollen, with undried tear tracks still on her face.
Her gaze first landed on Shino, full of doubt, but she immediately saw Akizuki Airi standing beside him.
"Airi!" The woman's voice was trembling; she almost lunged at Akizuki Airi, pulling her into a tight embrace as if she wanted to meld this lost-and-found treasure into her own body.
"My precious daughter! Where did you go? Mommy was worried sick!"
The moment Akizuki Airi was embraced by her mother, all her strength collapsed instantly.
She could no longer control her emotions; tears gushed out, and her shoulders wouldn't stop shaking.
"Mommy!"
Her voice was sobbing, her small hands tightly clutching her mother's clothes.
"Airi was scared!"
Akizuki kayoko held her daughter even tighter, tears soaking Airi's golden hair.
The cries of mother and daughter intertwined.
Shino stood silently outside the door, watching the mother and daughter weeping in each other's arms.
Akizuki kayoko cried for a while before finally noticing Shino standing to the side.
Her eyes were as red as a rabbit's, but her gaze had regained some clarity.
She looked at the young man in the monks robe, her eyes full of gratitude.
"Great Master Shino, Airi told me everything."
Her voice was a bit hoarse, but her tone was full of sincerity.
"Thank you, thank you so much!"
"If it weren't for you, I'm afraid I would never have seen my Airi again!"
This young woman, overwhelmed by her intense emotions and the exhaustion of the past few days, collapsed directly into Shino's arms.
Shino quickly held her.
And this scene happened to be seen by her husband, Akiizuki Kōzō, who had just returned home from work.
...
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