Has Aoi Found Out?

The office in the Butterfly Mansion had always been the quietest, most solemn place in the entire residence.

A faint scent of Wisteria and dried herbs filled the air. Sunlight streamed through the paper windows onto the neatly arranged medicine cabinets, and dust danced slowly in the air.

Shinobu Kocho sat at her desk, pen in hand, focused on the observation report before her. Her brows were slightly furrowed, and her pen hovered over the paper without coming down.

One line was written on the page: [Subject of observation: unusual demon, Kiyohiko]. Below it lay a vast expanse of blank paper.

Last night...

Shinobu Kocho's thoughts drifted back to that rooftop under the clear moonlight.

That clumsy demon, that lousy story, and that crisp flick to the forehead.

"What a foolish demon."

She murmured softly, her lips curving into a tender smile she didn't even notice. How could she put something like that in a report? Something like that... something that could only be kept between the two of them.

Just then, someone threw the office door open.

"Shinobu Kocho! We need to talk!"

With a low growl that sounded aggressive but was clearly lacking in confidence, Kiyohiko stormed in like a gust of wind.

He planted both hands on Shinobu Kocho's desk. His face, usually wearing a silly grin, was now as red as a ripe apple. He was breathing hard, his eyes full of embarrassment, indignation, and grievance.

Startled by the sudden intrusion, Shinobu Kocho nearly dropped her pen onto the paper. She quickly composed her expression, replacing it with her signature, flawless mask of a smile.

"Oh my, isn't it Mr. Demon? You're full of energy. It seems last night's 'reward' helped you recover quite nicely."

She deliberately emphasized the word "reward," her eyes sweeping playfully over his forehead.

"You've got the nerve to bring up last night!"

Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Kiyohiko raised his voice several pitches. Then he quickly cast a wary glance outside the door and lowered it again. "You... how could you tell someone else about that?!"

Shinobu Kocho froze, and the pen in her hand finally rolled onto the desk.

"Huh?"

She blinked, a rare trace of confusion flashing through her purple eyes. "Who did I tell?"

"Who else? Aoi Kanzaki!"

Kiyohiko pointed toward the door, his face full of aggrieved indignation as he accused her. "She just brought me a meal, and that look in her eyes... that tone... everything about her was off. She knows everything! She definitely knows everything!"

Shinobu Kocho's pupils contracted slightly.

Aoi knows?

Knows what?

That she was alone with a demon on the rooftop? That... embarrassing story the demon told? That not only did she not kill the demon, she flicked him on the forehead instead?

Th-this... how could that be? There was clearly no one else on the rooftop last night!

"W-wait..."

For the first time, a trace of panic entered Shinobu Kocho's voice. She rose to her feet, braced both hands on the desk, and leaned forward, searching Kiyohiko's face for any sign that he was joking. "Aoi... what exactly did she say?"

"She said..."

Kiyohiko took a deep breath and imitated Aoi's cautious yet sympathetic tone. "She said, 'Lady Shinobu came to see you last night, didn't she?' She also asked if you'd 'done anything,' and even asked if you'd said 'anything else'!"

At that, Kiyohiko's face grew even redder. He gritted his teeth and gave Shinobu an intensely resentful look.

"Listen, you wicked woman. I'm a demon and you're a Hashira, so we're on different sides, but... what happened last night... that thing just between the two of us... ahem, something that private-how could you go and tell someone else about it?!"

"Don't you know how embarrassing those words were? How am I supposed to show my face around the Butterfly Mansion now? What about my dignity?!"

Boom-

It was as though a thunderbolt had exploded in Shinobu Kocho's mind.

A flush spread visibly across her cheeks, all the way to her ears and neck.

Aoi asked if she'd "done anything"? If she'd said "anything else"?

As Shinobu Kocho understood it, that was undeniable proof-Aoi really had seen them last night! She had seen what happened! She had seen how Shinobu Kocho let down her guard in front of a demon, and even... even took the initiative to tease him.

Oh, heavens.

Her dignity as the Insect Hashira... had been smashed to pieces. Having Aoi Kanzaki see her like that was ten thousand times more humiliating than being defeated by an Upper Rank Demon!

"Um... um... Aoi..."

Shinobu Kocho bit her lip, clutching the corner of the desk tightly with both hands. She tried to stay calm, but she couldn't hide the tremor in her voice. "She... she really saw it all?"

"Of course she did!"

Kiyohiko continued to complain, feeling more aggrieved with every word. He leaned forward, bringing himself close to Shinobu and staring straight into her eyes.

"Hey, wicked woman. Tell me honestly, do you think teasing me is fun? You really went too far this time."

"My feelings matter too! How could you just tell someone about last night like it was a joke?"

His voice dropped. "Last night... I was so serious, and I thought you were serious too."

Shinobu Kocho looked at Kiyohiko's somewhat dejected expression, and all her panic turned into a strange ache and... guilt.

No, Shinobu Kocho, what are you thinking? You didn't tell anyone at all, so what do you feel guilty for?

What you should do now is throw out this demon who's making a scene in front of you without knowing the facts. Yes! That's what you'll do.

Shinobu Kocho took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the panic in her heart. But when she looked at Kiyohiko again, the words changed as they reached her lips. "Idiot..."

She reached out. This time, instead of flicking his forehead, she gently and somewhat hesitantly poked Kiyohiko's shoulder.

"Who said I thought it was a joke?"

"If I really thought it was a joke... I would've thrown you out ages ago. Would I still be here listening to you shout?"

"Then why did you tell Aoi?"

"I didn't tell her."

Shinobu Kocho turned her head away, unable to look him in the eye, her cheeks burning. "She probably... just happened to pass by and see us last night."

"Huh? She saw us?"

Kiyohiko's eyes widened. An image of Aoi peeking over the edge of the roof appeared in his mind, sending a chill through him. "Isn't that even worse?! Then she saw what I said to you... saw you..."

"Shut up."

Shinobu Kocho glared at him in embarrassed irritation, a little of her usual authority finally returning. "Since she's already seen it... there's nothing we can do."

"Aoi... I'll go talk to her. Just don't say anything you shouldn't."

She sat back down, picked up her pen, and tried to continue writing the report as if nothing had happened, but the trembling tip drew a crooked streak of ink across the paper.

"And... you're not allowed to bring up last night again. Especially not in front of other people. Understand?"

"Oh." Kiyohiko scratched his head and agreed.

He watched Shinobu Kocho working and felt a little embarrassed.

So I'd misunderstood her and caused her trouble? I can't leave everything for her to handle. Didn't I say I'd help shoulder some of it?

"Um... actually, you don't have to be so anxious." Kiyohiko spoke slowly.

"If Aoi gets the wrong idea about our relationship, I won't mind. I'll explain it to her when the time comes."

Shinobu Kocho: ...