Yuko walked into the Butterfly Mansion. The courtyard was the same, the buildings were the same, but perhaps because Shinobu had spoken so seriously, the more familiar it looked, the stronger the sense of incongruity in her heart became.
Yuko went around the courtyard corridor and stopped as she passed a corner in the hallway.
Ahead, Shinobu was sitting quietly in front of a room.
Shinobu sat there with her head lowered, both hands resting on the Zanpakuto laid across her lap.
"What's with this? I thought there'd be something new over here. Isn't this still the Butterfly Mansion?" Yuko walked over and stopped beside her, looking at the room door behind Shinobu.
This was the room she had lived in when she was at the Butterfly Mansion. Yuko couldn't sense what was beyond the door.
But since Shinobu had waited for her here, that meant the answer was inside.
"It used to be the home you shared with Yoriichi."
"...Is that so?" Yuko turned around and looked down at her. "So what's in there? Some monster that eats people?"
Shinobu raised her head and said calmly, "Forget it. Let's go back."
"Huh? Are you messing with me?" Yuko's expression went blank. "I took a sip of salt soda and worked so hard to climb all the way here, and now you're telling me to go back?"
"Don't worry, I won't touch anything. I'll behave myself, I promise."
Yuko turned around and made as if to open the door.
Shinobu suddenly stood up and grabbed her wrist, stopping her.
Yuko raised an eyebrow. "So the answer really is behind the door? Now I'm even more curious."
Shinobu sighed and released her hand. "I'm not joking. Go back."
"If you're me, then you should know what I mean." Yuko's expression remained