Night flowed like water across the layered black-tiled roofs of the Butterfly Mansion.
A cold last-quarter moon hung above the treetops, its pale light making the wisteria trees in the courtyard look almost ghostly.
Shinobu Kocho sat alone upon the highest ridge of the roof.
Her legs were pressed together, her arms wrapped around her knees, while her butterfly-patterned haori fluttered gently in the night breeze.
Here, in a place where only the moon and wind could see her, she finally removed the mask of gentleness that seemed permanently welded to her face.
Moonlight was reflected within her violet eyes, yet not even the faintest trace of warmth could be found inside them.
“Sister…”
She murmured softly, her fingers tightly gripping the edge of her haori.
“Can demons and humans truly live together peacefully?”
“If I keep smiling and continue trying my hardest… will that dream eventually come true?”
The only response was the mournful sound of wind passing across the roof tiles.
The anger inside her gnawed at her organs like a venomous serpent, screaming every moment of every day for her to slaughter every demon in existence.
Yet she also wanted to realize the dream her sister had always believed in.
That gentle wish bound her like chains, forcing her to suppress her true nature and pretend to be someone she was not.
She was tired.
So terribly tired.
Just then, an extremely soft yet undisguised clatter of roof tiles came from behind her.
Shinobu’s gaze became sharp for an instant before relaxing again.
Kiyohiko emerged from the shadows beneath the eaves while yawning.
As a demon, sleeping during the day and becoming active at night should have been his natural routine.
Now that the sun had set, he was overflowing with energy.
He had originally come outside for some fresh air and perhaps to see whether he could steal some leftovers from the kitchen.
However, the moment he looked up, he saw the petite figure sitting upon the roof.
Beneath the moonlight, Shinobu looked so fragile.
The Insect Hashira, who normally wore a flawless smile while delivering sinister remarks, now resembled nothing more than a lost little girl.
“Tch.”
Kiyohiko clicked his tongue.
The foot he had been directing toward the kitchen abruptly changed course, and he climbed onto the roof.
I’m only going over there to raise her Bond Value and obtain rewards.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother.
Kiyohiko convinced himself of this as he slowly approached Shinobu.
He sat down a full five meters away from her, crossed his legs, folded his arms, and turned his head aside, showing her nothing but the stubborn back of his head.
“My, if it isn’t Lady Butterfly, who barely reaches five feet.”
“Why aren’t you asleep?
You won’t grow any taller if you stay up late.”
Provocative words came from his mouth, yet he could not stop himself from occasionally glancing in her direction.
“Oh, right.
I shouldn’t interfere.”
“After all—’This has nothing to do with you, Demon’ and ‘I don’t need a demon teaching me how to value my life.'”
“I understand completely.
I remember every word.” This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
“I absolutely won’t overstep my boundaries!”
Like a broken record, Kiyohiko sarcastically repeated the cruel things she had said inside the dojo that morning, heavily emphasizing every word so she would not miss the resentment behind them.
The air remained silent for several seconds.
Kiyohiko had already prepared himself for an argument.
He might not be able to defeat her in a fight, but surely he could defeat her verbally.
Otherwise, all those years spent defending his parents’ honor online would have been wasted.
However, the venomous response he expected never came.
Shinobu turned her head slightly and looked at the figure sitting in the distance.
He was clearly a demon, yet he resembled nothing more than a sulking child.
Under ordinary circumstances, she probably would have smiled and said something that made him jump around in fury.
Perhaps, Demon-san has such an excellent memory.
Or, Since you possess such admirable self-awareness, why haven’t you left the roof yet?
Tonight, however, she did not feel like doing that.
She could not explain why.
Perhaps this foolish demon was simply too foolish for her to have the heart to bully him.
“Good evening, Kiyohiko-san”
“Did you enjoy my ginger tsukudani?”
Shinobu’s voice was soft and became slightly scattered by the night breeze.
It lacked the sharp tension that had existed between them during the day.
Kiyohiko’s back stiffened.
He muttered under his breath before finally turning toward her, though his eyes wandered everywhere except her face.
“It was mediocre.
The ginger flavor was too strong, and it made my tongue hurt.”
“I ate a little and threw the rest away.”
Kiyohiko lied without the slightest change in expression.
For some reason, admitting that he had enjoyed it felt almost equivalent to admitting that he thought highly of Shinobu herself.
Even though those two things had no necessary connection whatsoever.
“Is that so?”
Shinobu rested her chin lightly against her folded arms.
“I think ginger is rather pleasant.”
“That sharp, burning sensation reminds you that you’re still alive.”
After speaking, Shinobu turned toward Kiyohiko, her gaze settling upon his hand.
She still remembered how the foolish demon had raised his injured hand and lectured her that morning, even while grimacing in agony.
“Your hand…”
Shinobu’s voice unconsciously became gentler.
“Does it still hurt?”
“I know your regeneration is powerful, but… poison at that concentration would affect even an Upper Rank demon.”
“Are you truly all right?”
When he looked up again, he happened to meet Shinobu’s violet eyes.
Something inside his chest suddenly felt as though it had been lightly scratched by a cat’s paw.
This woman had been sitting here looking sorrowful only moments ago.
During the day, she had treated him so harshly.
Yet now she was looking at him with an expression that was almost impossible to resist.
Kiyohiko quickly turned his head aside.
Beneath the moonlight, the tips of his ears became suspiciously red.
“Stop pretending to care about me.”
“If you have enough time to worry about my hand, you should worry about your own body after marinating it in wisteria.”
Shinobu seemed exceptionally tolerant of Kiyohiko tonight.
Even after that remark, she did not punish him.
She merely continued watching him in silence.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Eventually, Shinobu was the one who broke the awkward silence.
“Say, Kiyohiko-san”
Her soft voice mingled with the night breeze and drifted toward his ears.
“Do you know any ghost stories?”
“Since you’re a demon, I imagine you must know quite a few.”
Kiyohiko turned toward her with an expression normally reserved for idiots.
“Huh?
You want me to tell ghost stories on a roof in the middle of the night?”
He complained, but when he saw the rare sight of Shinobu without her daytime mask, Aoi’s words about her returned to his mind.
She was living as another person for the sake of her sister.
She was trying to inherit a dream she did not even believe in herself.
Shinobu watched as Kiyohiko suddenly began behaving as though ants were crawling across his entire body.
One moment, he scratched his head.
The next, he touched his face.
Then he stared blankly at the roof tiles beneath him.
Finally, Kiyohiko seemed to make a decision.
He cleared his throat and adjusted himself into a more comfortable cross-legged position.
Even in the darkness, Shinobu could still see the faint redness upon his cheeks.
“Ahem…”
“Since you’ve asked so sincerely, I’ll be merciful enough to tell you one.”
“Listen carefully…”
“I have a friend.”
“He’s a demon.
He’s extremely handsome, kindhearted, charming, and extraordinarily dashing.”
“Unfortunately, he encountered a fierce and wicked woman…”
“That friend is obviously you.”
“Shut up and let me finish!”
“It took me a tremendous amount of courage to tell this story, so you’re not allowed to interrupt!”