"Thank you..." The woman took the rice ball in a daze, unsure whether to eat it or not.
Chapter Seven: Kochou Kanae
Steam rose from the hot spring. In the heat, both their faces were visibly red.
Tetsu no Sosuke instinctively picked up another rice ball, stuffed it into his mouth, and swallowed it without tasting a thing.
It had sounded so nice: soak in the hot spring, enjoy some snacks, and ease the aches of a long day's work.
But... what was going on now?
Who was this woman who had suddenly emerged from the water?
A hot spring spirit?
Was that even a thing in the world of Demon Slayer?
She wasn't wearing a Fireman Mask, so she probably wasn't from Swordsmith Village!
Besides, he knew pretty much everyone in Swordsmith Village... Granted, he hadn't seen them like this, but if she were from the village, he would surely recognize her.
Wait... did that mean she had come from outside?
But the village was never opened to outsiders, except members of the Demon Slayer Corps!
Was she a swordswoman of the Demon Slayer Corps?
Once the answer occurred to him, Tetsu no Sosuke, who hadn't found the situation remotely romantic to begin with, felt a chill run down his spine.
A swordswoman!
What would one of these superhuman fighters who battled demons do in a situation like this?
Would she lose her temper and cut him down?
He stole a glance at her. She hadn't...
She seemed just as embarrassed!
And the awkwardness was about to boil right along with the hot spring water!
No, he had to do something to break the deadlock.
Tetsu no Sosuke was a man of action!
He racked his brains, then blurted out without thinking, "Here for a soak too? What a coincidence."
The moment he said it, he wanted to slap himself twice!
What the hell had he just said?!
He sounded like a complete pervert!!
That was even worse than "Want some?" wasn't it?
Then he heard the woman reply softly, "Yes, what a coincidence..."
In truth, the woman was so mortified she wanted to die. She was clearly facing the same embarrassment as Tetsu no Sosuke.
Before you continue