Lady Shinobu Laid Hands on You, Didn't She?

The morning sun was deadly poison to demons, but for everyone else at the Butterfly Mansion, it marked the start of a new day.

Kiyohiko was awakened by a series of rapid, rhythmic knocks. The room's windows had been sealed shut with thick wooden boards and blackout curtains. Only a faint trace of light and dust floated in the darkness, and the nauseating stench of Wisteria still hung in the air.

"Come in, come in! The door's not locked. It's not like I'm some innocent maiden."

Kiyohiko rolled over and lazily reached a hand out from under the covers, waving it.

The paper door slid open a crack, and Aoi Kanzaki poked half her head inside. Her twin tails were tied a little crooked today, and her eyes darted about as though she were clearing a minefield. Only after she had scanned the room and confirmed that Shinobu Kocho was nowhere in sight did she let out a long sigh of relief and come in carrying a tray.

Kiyohiko's gaze immediately locked onto the tray in Aoi Kanzaki's hands. It was piled high with an unusually generous spread: sashimi, grilled fish, pig's blood, and rice balls.

What... Why did Sunflower Seed bring me such a lavish breakfast today? And what's with that look on her face? Why is she acting so strangely? Could she have seen what happened between Shinobu and me on the roof last night?

No... impossible. Kiyohiko, you're too nervous. How could she know about last night? What are you imagining?

"Kuihua... Miss Aoi, you're bringing me food so early? Thanks for the effort. Heh, heh heh." For once, Kiyohiko didn't call her Sunflower Seed. He cleared his throat, trying to act as though nothing had happened.

Aoi Kanzaki set the tray down in the shadowed spot farthest from Kiyohiko. Her body was tense, and her hands unconsciously twisted the corners of her apron. Seeing him like this, she felt guilt and fear instantly intertwine in her heart.

"Um... did Lady Shinobu come to see you last night...?"

He looks so strange! It must be because I gave him all the pickled ginger yesterday afternoon and lied to Lady Shinobu that he snatched it... Lady Shinobu must have punished him severely last night!

Kiyohiko's face flushed, and he instinctively raised a hand to cover his mouth.

I knew it! This girl really did know!

But how did she find out...? Shinobu Kocho must have told her. That wicked woman, can't she tell what she should and shouldn't say?!

"Ah... y-yes. She came."

His voice turned awkward, and his gaze wandered to the ceiling. He recalled the story he had told Shinobu Kocho last night, the flick to his forehead at the end, and the candy she had given him. At the thought that the girl before him knew all about it, Kiyohiko's face grew even redder.

"Actually, it wasn't a big deal. We just... talked a little about life, and then... um... had some in-depth communication and fully exchanged our respective opinions."

Kiyohiko carefully explained it all, probing indirectly to find out exactly how much Aoi Kanzaki knew. Had Shinobu Kocho really told her everything?

Aoi Kanzaki's face instantly turned deathly pale.

In-depth communication? What's that? Judging by the way he looks, it probably wasn't anything good. Lady Shinobu's "in-depth communication"... Could it have been poison testing, or some kind of physical "deep contact" with a Nichirin Blade?

"Lady Shinobu really did lay hands on you, didn't she?"

Aoi Kanzaki's voice was almost tearful.

La... laid hands on me?

Kiyohiko thought for a moment. She was probably referring to the flick on his forehead. Had Shinobu Kocho told her even that?

"Y... yes, she did. You know, I did eat all her pickles, after all, so it's only natural she'd lay hands on me. Maybe... maybe the way she did it was a little unexpected..."

Kiyohiko stumbled over his words, trying to explain the rather ambiguous act of flicking him on the forehead and get everything back on track.

He didn't have even the slightest romantic feelings for Shinobu Kocho, and there hadn't been even a hint of ambiguity about last night.

Last night had merely been a normal interaction between a demon and a Hashira for a Bond Value reward, nothing more.

Hearing Kiyohiko's words, Aoi Kanzaki sucked in a breath and took a step back, bumping into the doorframe.

The way she did it was a little unexpected!?

What kind of punishment could that have been? Did she dissect him bit by bit to test his regenerative abilities? No, no, no, Aoi Kanzaki, what are you thinking? How could Lady Shinobu be that kind of person?

But... Kiyohiko-kun must have been in terrible pain and misery last night.

[Detected an increase in target Aoi Kanzaki's Bond Value. Current Bond Value: 20]

Kiyohiko: ?

"Th... then you didn't say anything... else to Lady Shinobu, did you?"

Aoi Kanzaki asked cautiously,

"Like... where certain foods came from?"

Food? Pickled ginger? What was there to say about that? Why did Sunflower Seed look so nervous?

"Oh, that." Kiyohiko spoke indifferently. "What was there to say? Why would I bring it up for no reason?"

Aoi Kanzaki was so moved she nearly dropped to her knees before him on the spot.

This demon... Kiyohiko-kun. Even though he's a glutton, even though the things he says make me want to punch him, even though he eats like a pig, even though he seems unreliable... he's actually a loyal demon!

To help me cover up my lie, he willingly endured Lady Shinobu's anger, and even acted as though he didn't care to put my mind at ease. And what about me? I actually doubted him and asked if he'd told on me.

Aoi Kanzaki, you're truly awful.

Kiyohiko-kun, you're a good person!

[Detected an increase in target Aoi Kanzaki's Bond Value. Current Bond Value: 60]

Kiyohiko: ???

Wait, why is this girl so strange today? What did I say to make the Bond Value shoot up so high?

When I rack my brains trying to raise the Bond Value, it plummets, but now that I'm not even trying, I casually say a few things and, just like that, it keeps shooting up. What does this mean?

"Sniff... thank you!"

Aoi Kanzaki's eyes were red as she bowed deeply to Kiyohiko, her voice loud and clear.

"Even though you're a demon, you're a good demon! I made you a lot of food for breakfast today, especially for you! Y... you get plenty of rest and recover from your injuries! I'll be going now!"

With that, Aoi Kanzaki turned and pulled the door open like a startled rabbit, vanishing in a flash at the end of the corridor and leaving Kiyohiko standing there, still baffled.

"Huh?"

Kiyohiko scratched his head and looked at the lavish spread on the tray, sinking into thought.

"Why did she thank me? And why did she give me the good person card?"

No... wait! That's not the point. The point is that wicked woman Shinobu Kocho actually told Aoi Kanzaki about last night!

How could she tell someone else about something like that?!

I have to go confront her in person!