"What is it for this time?" Kanbe Hikaru glanced at the girl.
"Thank you."
Kikyo repeated: "For accompanying me on this trip."
Kanbe Hikaru was taken aback.
This cold, elegant girl would actually say thank you for this?
He shook his head.
"Don't mention it, I have my own goals too."
"Goals?"
"Hmm."
Kanbe Hikaru still didn't explain much.
His goal was very simple—Favorability.
The Shikon Jewel's favorability, the Hiraikotsu's favorability, and the favorability of various objects encountered along the way.
And... Kikyo's favorability.
These were the things he truly wanted.
But there was no need to say these things out loud.
Kikyo looked at him without asking further.
She just nodded, then looked back at the rising sun.
The morning light grew brighter, and the golden radiance spilled onto her face, adding a touch of warmth to her cold, elegant features.
"I suddenly feel that a scene like this is incredible."
She spoke suddenly.
"What?"
"Before these past few days."
Kikyo's voice was very soft: "I never thought that I would spend day and night with a demon."
Kanbe Hikaru didn't speak.
"And I never thought I would get used to fighting side by side with a demon."
She continued: "At first, it was because of naohi's approval of you; it was the one that told me you could be trusted."
"That's why I accepted you."
She paused.
"But now..."
She didn't continue.
Kanbe Hikaru looked at her.
An extremely subtle expression appeared on that cold, elegant face.
It was as if she were puzzled, or perhaps... thinking about something.
Kikyo was indeed thinking.
She was thinking about what just happened.
Thinking about how her heart had been in turmoil when she heard Tsubaki say she wanted to 'take away' Kanbe Hikaru.
That was a very unfamiliar feeling.
They had only known each other for less than ten days, and they were only temporary companions.
But just by thinking about it for a moment, the image of this demon being taken away—made her feel unhappy and flustered.
She felt... she didn't want to see such a future.
That was why she drew her bow.
That was why she said that to Tsubaki.
Could this be considered... liking someone?
Although Kikyo was a shrine maiden, she was also a young girl. She had never experienced emotions, but she actually knew about them.
Her master, although just an ordinary, unremarkable shrine maiden from the countryside, had told her before she died that a shrine maiden needed a calm heart.
However, a calm heart did not mean being heartless; it just meant distinguishing between priorities.
But now... she couldn't distinguish them anymore.
She only knew that she cared deeply about this demon.
Caring about whether he would get hurt, caring about whether he would leave.
Caring about whether... he would be taken away by someone else.
This was the first time.
The first time someone had fought side by side with her.
The first time someone had accompanied her on such a long journey.
The first time someone... made her feel that she was no longer alone.
Although that 'person' was not actually a person.
He was a monster, an Oni Samurai.
But so what?
Kikyo looked at the pale face beside her.
Crimson eyes, pale long hair.
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