"Su Chen."
"I'm here."
Shinobu Kocho's eyes suddenly reddened. "If only you had appeared sooner."
"My sister was still alive then, and I wouldn't have had to struggle with all this."
"Do you know? I'm so angry. I've really been angry all this time."
"When my sister died."
"When I became the Insect Hashira."
"When demons mocked me for being too weak."
"And when Shinazugawa destroyed the only keepsake my sister left me!"
"I'm so angry, Su Chen. Do you know? I haven't stopped being angry for even a moment."
"But... but I really don't want to be angry anymore, because I'm afraid my sister in heaven will hate me if I lose my smile!"
"I, I..."
"I know."
Su Chen's voice suddenly rang out.
He opened his arms and carefully gathered Shinobu Kocho into his embrace.
"You're the Insect Hashira, yes, but you're also your sister's little Shinobu."
"The Insect Hashira needs to protect others, but Shinobu Kocho doesn't."
"Shinobu Kocho can be angry, happy, sad, and upset."
"Shinobu Kocho needs someone to protect her too, because it isn't only a smiling Shinobu who can be loved. An angry Shinobu is just as adorable~"
Su Chen's words were direct and gentle.
Nestled in his arms, Shinobu Kocho froze.
Her body trembled uncontrollably.
Shinobu Kocho raised her arms and clutched tightly at Su Chen's back with both hands.
Her fingertips tightened, her pale fingers turning red from the force of her grip.
She wanted time to stop at this moment forever, but she couldn't make it happen.
Su Chen's appearance had thrown this girl, who had been set on dying, into turmoil.
The girl's voice brimmed with reluctance, and even a trace of anger. "Why..."
"Why!"
"Why couldn't you have appeared sooner, Su Chen!"
Veins stood out all over Shinobu