At this moment, Kochou Shinobu, who was quietly drinking tea, suddenly noticed a small hand reaching for the snacks on the plate.
Nezuko was holding a rice ball with a look of pure bliss, chewing like an adorable hamster.
Miss Tamayo is truly amazing.
After sighing with emotion, she suddenly remembered that she hadn't taken Nezuko to the hot springs last night.
I must remember it tonight... Hmm?
Wait.
Hot springs... Kochou Shinobu suddenly had a brilliant idea to get close to Mizuki... Zenitsu and Inosuke still couldn't resist Tanjirou's persistent nagging and were dragged by him to go find Shinazugawa Genya to get their teeth back.
Mizuki had nothing to say about this.
Seeing that it was getting late, after sending Kotetsu home, the two took Nezuko to the hot springs.
Kochou Shinobu took out a yukata and a bath towel, secretly psyching herself up.
You can do it!
As long as she used the excuse of helping Nezuko wash her hair, and then offered to help Mizuki, she definitely wouldn't be refused... "Nezuko's hair feels so soft." Mizuki sat behind Nezuko, cleaning her long hair.
Although she was a demon, Nezuko didn't have any foul odor; instead, she smelled sweet and soft.
Kochou Shinobu sat alone on the side. The cold night wind was a bit biting. Even though she was sitting in the hot spring, she felt a chill in her heart.
How was this different from the script she had imagined?
She hadn't even had a chance to speak before Mizuki had already volunteered to wash Nezuko's hair.
It's over.
It seemed her plan to visit Swordsmith Village and have a friendly chat with Mizuki in the hot springs was ruined.
Nothing had changed after all.
Kochou Shinobu was on the verge of tears.
Just as her purple eyes stared blankly at the night sky, her mind gradually emptying and her body feeling numb, a cold voice suddenly sounded beside her.
"Shinobu, do you need help?"
Kochou Shinobu snapped back to reality and turned her head to see Mizuki looking at her with a smile.
There was a faint blush on her face, brought on by the steam from the hot spring.
Mizuki's voice was very pleasant, but her tone was too cold, making it sound as if she was pushing away anyone who tried to get close to her.
But Kochou Shinobu knew that Mizuki was a very kind person; otherwise, she wouldn't have maintained her original intentions for so many years.
Kochou Shinobu subconsciously asked, "Can I?"
After speaking, she instinctively shut her mouth again, feeling that she might have been a bit too eager. Maintain composure, maintain composure.
Mizuki smiled calmly, "Of course."
Splash, splash... Clear drops of water fell from Mizuki's body one by one. She stood up and walked towards Kochou Shinobu, openly exposing her body to Kochou Shinobu.
Her body felt like it was in a furnace. Maintain composure... It wasn't in vain that she had planned today's scheme last night.
Nezuko, you've been a great help!
Nezuko quietly soaked in the hot spring, closing her eyes and leaning against the side for a short nap, completely unaware of what she had just experienced.
To be honest... when Mizuki came behind her and started tidying her hair, Kochou Shinobu's heart unnaturally calmed down.
Kochou Shinobu lowered her head, her purple eyes examining her reflection on the water's surface by the faint moonlight.
Was she making things too complicated?
Although Mitsuri hadn't been brave enough to confess to Iguro, she had never hidden her feelings of affection.
Every time she spoke to Iguro, she had a happy, smiling face.
She was completely tormenting herself like this.
Putting aside whether Mizuki would accept her, if she continued like this, she wouldn't be able to express her feelings even until the decisive battle with Muzan, right?
Kochou Shinobu couldn't help but think of the scene where her sister almost died. If her sister had truly died then, would Shinazugawa-san regret not being able to express his feelings in time?
Over the years, there had been subtle signs that the two were growing closer. Her sister knew many things about Shinazugawa-san, and that was proof.
Regarding Genya, besides the Master, only Himejima-san, who was responsible for teaching him, would know, right?
But Shinazugawa-san told her sister.
He didn't want his younger brother to fight such terrifying and ugly monsters, which was why he rejected his brother in that manner.
The addition of Mizuki and Tanjirou made the Demon Slayer Corps realize that the peace between humans and demons had been broken.
This was definitely not her premonition.
The Upper Ranks, who hadn't been slain for over a hundred years, fell one after another, and even Upper Rank One got involved.
It was never too late to show their true colors.
Especially with the information that Mizuki had overcome the sun; the moment this news was received, almost all the Pillars had one thought in their minds.
Kibutsuji Muzan... would absolutely not let go of such an opportunity.
Perhaps this was also the reason why the Master chose to trust Mizuki.
That monster, who had hidden in the shadows for hundreds of years without appearing, they now had enough leverage to lure him out of the gutter.
What they should do now is to break through their limits as much as possible before preparing for the decisive battle.
Demon Slayer Mark, Transparent World, scarlet blade... these were all valuable assets Mizuki brought to the Demon Slayer Corps.
Before Mizuki arrived, they never dreamed that they could become so strong.
But even after activating the Demon Slayer Mark, neither Uzui Tengen nor Rengoku had the confidence to defeat the Upper Ranks they encountered.
How powerful would Muzan be?
If she continued to delay, would she still have the chance to say those words?
She was too weak... Even if she awakened the Demon Slayer Mark, dying at any moment on such a battlefield wouldn't be out of place. Moreover, compared to Mizuki, who had a long lifespan, her life was too short.
Twenty-five years old... she was already eighteen.
If she had confirmed her feelings earlier, would she still have had the same conviction to activate the Demon Slayer Mark?
Anyway, she was very small and weak, so even if she activated the Demon Slayer Mark, she wouldn't have an advantage in battle against demons.
Kochou Shinobu suddenly patted her cheeks.
What was she thinking... While her other comrades were fighting desperately, she was wavering because of these unrealistic things.
Her family was attacked by demons. She and her sister joined the Demon Slayer Corps to avenge Muzan and to prevent others from suffering their pain, wasn't that right?
Falling in love while saving the world?
This kind of story from romance novels doesn't hold true in the Demon Slayer Corps. Muzan is not someone they can slay with laughter and joy.
Just confess like this.
Rather than an uncertain future, she was more willing to bare her heart here.
"Um..."
Good, she spoke. Just express her feelings like this.
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