Chapter 173: A Girl Like A Butterfly (Part 2)
Three days later.
The afternoon sun bathed the bustling city streets in a warm, golden glow, casting long shadows behind the throngs of pedestrians. Akira and Kanae strolled through the lively thoroughfare, their fingers comfortably intertwined. The ambient noise of shouting vendors and rattling carts faded into the background, leaving only the comfortable bubble of their shared presence.
"So, these past few days of companionship are really part of the gift list you prepared for me, right?" Kanae tilted her head. Her tone carried a light, melodic lilt that mimicked a complaint, but her soft, violet eyes betrayed not a hint of genuine anger. Instead, they brimmed with their usual boundless gentleness, crinkling slightly at the corners with a hidden smile.
Just as Akira had told her before, even if his only present was a few days of his undivided attention, Kanae would have cherished it without a single complaint. Voicing it now was merely her affectionate way of teasing him.
"The plan for these past few days was indeed to accompany you for some shopping, eating, and drinking," Akira replied, his thumb lightly tracing the back of her hand. "I wanted to pick up some trinkets you might find interesting along the way. However, that doesn't count as the actual gift."
"Hmm?" Kanae blinked, her head tilting further in genuine confusion. A moment later, understanding dawned in her eyes. Her heart swelled with a sudden, overwhelming mix of sugary sweetness and fond helplessness.
"This is my compensation to you," Akira added, his voice dropping to a softer, more intimate register, confirming her quiet suspicion.
"Sigh, you are still so stubborn." Kanae squeezed his hand, her gaze softening. "Didn't Shinobu say it already? Whether it is with me or the others, you shouldn't interact with us carrying some heavy sense of indebtedness. Because you do not owe us anything, Akira."
"But in the three-plus years since we met, I have never properly accompanied you on a leisurely shopping trip like this."
His quiet admission left Kanae slightly dazed. Her footsteps slowed for a fraction of a second.
It was true. Although they had traveled together extensively in the past, every excursion had been driven by duty or necessity. Their focus had always been locked on the destination, on surviving the next demon encounter, never pausing to simply stroll through a vibrant market and enjoy the mundane beauty of peace.
Yet, Kanae had never cared about such trivialities. To her, as long as she could stand by his side, as long as his warm gaze still fell upon her, and as long as she held a secure place in his heart, she required absolutely nothing more.
She had never demanded a single thing from him.
It had been that way ever since that fateful, blood-soaked moonlit night when he descended from the shadows to slaughter the demon that had nearly taken her life. From that moment on, she had chosen to stand silently by his side, watching over him with unwavering devotion and offering her strength whenever the time was right.
She had woven herself into his world so naturally, so smoothly, that it felt as though she had always belonged there.
Makomo, Shinobu, Mitsuri, and Kanao had all, to varying degrees, experienced the simple joy of shopping trips with him. Ironically, Kanae—the one who had been with him the longest—was the only one who never had. Until today.
If he hadn't noticed this quiet discrepancy and brought it up himself, Kanae would have happily overlooked it forever.
But Akira refused to let it remain that way.
Kanae was not some hollow tool devoid of personal desires, nor was she merely an extension of him. They were lovers. Yet, they had missed out on the most common, fundamental experiences shared by ordinary couples.
"On that point alone, I owe you, don't I?" Akira stopped walking, turning to face her fully amidst the flow of the crowd. "That is why I told you to be a bit more selfish, Kanae. Be a bit more picky, and a bit more greedy. Otherwise, I really might unintentionally become a terrible partner who takes you for granted."
"You are not terrible at all!" Kanae protested, her cheeks puffing out in a rare display of indignation. "It is just a missed shopping trip, yet you are acting as if you have committed some unforgivable sin."
Only as the words left her lips did she realize she had almost been trapped in his circular logic. Even without the shopping trips, his deep, unwavering concern for her—and for all the girls in the Butterfly Mansion—had saturated every single day of their lives together. He never let them feel unloved.
"Oh dear, the emotional scene I specially prepared was actually seen through." Akira let out a low chuckle, smoothly changing the subject to keep the mood from sinking. He merely wanted to express his regret and assure her that he had never ignored her sacrifices, even if she brushed them off.
That acknowledgment was enough. Dwelling on it further would only drag down the festive atmosphere. This outing was meant to celebrate her birthday, after all; heavy, melancholic moods were strictly forbidden today.
"Oh my, should I have seen through it but kept quiet?" Kanae tapped her chin thoughtfully, a mischievous glint replacing her previous solemnity. "Hmm... no, should I have acted a bit more simple-minded?"
Seeing this rare, playful side of her, Akira felt a spark of curiosity. He leaned in slightly, playing along. "Why do you say that?"
"Because I have heard rumors that men do not want their lovers to be too smart. It supposedly makes them feel insecure." She leaned closer, her floral scent washing over him. "So, should I have just thrown a tantrum and gone along with your words just now?"
Before he could answer, Kanae dramatically clasped her hands together, her voice pitching up into an exaggerated, whiny register. "Waaaah, you finally remembered me! You have to accompany me shopping right this instant and buy me everything to make it up to me!"
She blinked her large eyes at him innocently. "Like that?"
Faced with her sudden, theatrical outburst, Akira froze. He stared at her in utter shock, the bustling street around them fading away. He remained stunned for several long seconds before finally finding his voice. "Are you really Kanae?"
"Ara, did I overdo it?" She pouted slightly, her delicate brows knitting together in feigned dissatisfaction at his reaction, though the bright, dancing amusement in her eyes completely betrayed her true feelings. "So, would you like me if I were like that? Selfish, mischievous, and even a bit sarcastic?"
"Do you want the truth or a lie?"
"The truth, of course."
"The truth is, I think that version of you is also incredibly cute," Akira replied, his tone entirely serious. "Besides, that level of interaction is far from being annoying. If anything, that kind of playful banter between a couple can actually strengthen the relationship."
"I see..." Kanae hummed, clearly pleased. "And the lie?"
"The lie..." Akira tilted his head back slightly, gazing up at the clear blue sky as if seriously organizing his thoughts. A moment later, he lowered his gaze, meeting her expectant violet eyes with a helpless, entirely defeated expression.
"I really cannot think of one right now. After all, a lie that is too obvious is just boring. But to actually put effort into crafting a convincing lie... at least when facing you, I simply cannot do it." He reached out, gently tucking a stray strand of dark hair behind her ear. "Whether it is you, Shinobu, or the others, I do not have the heart to ever lie to you."
"Mmm..." Kanae's breath hitched. A lovely, vibrant shade of pink rapidly bloomed across her cheeks, traveling all the way to the tips of her ears. "Your answer is a bit of a foul. Saying something so sweet so suddenly, without any warning... I will get embarrassed, you know."
"I am just telling the truth." Akira shrugged, a faint, satisfied smirk touching his lips.
It took a few moments for Kanae to recover from her bashfulness. Once the heat faded from her cheeks, she tugged at his hand, and the two resumed their leisurely stroll through the vibrant market.
They stopped at various stalls, occasionally buying warm, sweet snacks to playfully feed each other, or picking up delicate, handcrafted hairpins and accessories to tuck into their pockets.
As a strikingly handsome man and an ethereal, beautiful woman, they naturally drew the attention of nearly everyone they passed. They moved in their own intimate, insulated world, completely oblivious to the envious and admiring stares of the pedestrians around them. People would pause, captivated by the couple's radiant chemistry, before eventually looking away to continue with their own mundane lives.
Finally, like a pair of elegant butterflies taking flight, the two of them fluttered away from the noisy market, turning their steps toward their next destination.
'So the gift he prepared for me is in a place not far from the Butterfly Mansion? I didn't even notice it before,' Kanae thought to herself, a wave of surprise washing over her as she recognized the familiar path they were taking. Her anticipation and curiosity flared, growing stronger with every step.
Over the past few days, under Akira's deliberate lead, their travel route had essentially formed a wide circle around the territory of the Butterfly Mansion, taking them through several neighboring towns.
And now, with the sun beginning its slow descent, Akira was leading her directly toward the very center of that circle.
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