The following evening, Haruto met with Koinatsu, the oiran of Tokito House, through arrangements made by Miyamaru Rei.
He knocked on Shinobu's door-on their first night, he had asked the person in charge of the Wisteria House to arrange an empty room for her and bring the clothes she wanted-and a light reply came from inside.
Haruto stepped back twice, and a short, round-faced boy emerged from the room.
Shinobu was already quite short. With her hair swept into a French twist, she always had a gentle, mature air. Once she let it down, the collarbone-length strands resting loosely on her shoulders made her look younger. Combined with her bare, unpowdered face, the change almost left Haruto unable to recognize her.
She wore clothes somewhat similar to Haruto's, though nowhere near as flamboyant. Her collar was neatly buttoned, making her look less like someone headed to a brothel and more like a schoolboy returning from class-the sort who would obediently nod and go upstairs to do homework.
But Shinobu Kocho was no obedient student. She would fix those lovely purple eyes on you, then lean close to your ear and quietly ask, "What are you thinking about?"
A faint fragrance of flowers and medicinal herbs washed over Haruto's face. Or perhaps it was that youthful look, long absent from Shinobu's face, that reminded him of the girl from several years ago whose temper always showed plainly. The White-Haired Swordsman pressed his lips together, a little nervous.
"Sh-shall we go?"
Fuck, what the hell are you nervous about, Takanashi?!
She's your girlfriend, not some stranger!
Shinobu Kocho curled her lips and nodded casually. "Let's go."
Requesting a particular oiran in the Entertainment District was never a simple matter.
Unlike arranging a meeting with an ordinary courtesan, meeting an oiran-the star