Chapter 48 "She pinched me just now, right?..."
A slight tug came from behind, but Sabito and Giyu Tomioka still stopped.
The girl had her head down, as if something new and interesting on the ground had caught her attention, but in reality, she was clearly listless.
Even the ahoge (cowlick) that stood up on his head in the morning had drooped and fallen flat, and his downcast eyes were probably filled with rejection. Sabito immediately realized where the problem lay.
It seems he shouldn't have let Giyu explain the situation to Aori alone, after all, he's the kind of person who can express "I'm not worthy" as "You're not worthy".
Even if the information wasn't wrong, he probably went straight to the point, and definitely didn't explain the details to the girl.
No wonder when I first saw Aori this morning, she seemed very relaxed and without any pressure. Sabito was a little puzzled at the time.
—Okay, this is troublesome.
Yoshiyuki Tomioka, who caused this situation, looked at Sanemi Shinazugawa, not understanding why he was so agitated so early in the morning.
However, his attitude clearly frightened A-Zhi.
The black-haired swordsman frowned and took a quick step forward, his expression still indifferent, but his right arm was unconsciously raised, a very obvious protective stance.
This subconscious behavior made those around him realize the importance of the girl in his heart, and for a moment, they had different thoughts.
Azhi had no idea what had happened in those few seconds, nor did she know about the sudden and unpredictable events between the pillars. She only felt as if the gazes coming from all directions were about to pierce her.
These pillars, some openly, some subtly, scrutinized her with probing eyes, as if she were hiding some secret that they couldn't wait to find out.
Of course, such a gaze cannot be said to be malicious; in fact, it can be said to be completely without malice.
Even just a simple glance, knowing that the gaze belonged to these pillars, made Azhi's heart skip a beat.
She instinctively began to consider the possibility of turning around and leaving, but the bleak reality told her that the possibility was zero.
Aori's feet felt incredibly heavy, as if they were rooted to the ground. Fortunately, Giyu Tomioka and Sabito were there to stop her, allowing her to carefully cushion the impact.
So why do the Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps look so intimidating? These are the kind of people that Aori would avoid even if she encountered them on the street, let alone talk to them face to face.
Azhi was filled with confusion.
However, the girl's every move was far beyond what the Demon Slayer Corps' "Pillars" had expected.
Unlike the Demon Slayer Corps members, who were all dressed very smartly, Aori was wearing a pure white kimono with floral patterns, the color of which was very refreshing.
The clothes were given to her by a girl with pigtails when she woke up early in the morning. They fit her perfectly and looked great, making the girl look very well-behaved and innocent.
But regardless of the evaluation, it seems to have nothing to do with the terrible things that happened to her.
To someone completely unaware of the inside story, they might perceive an invisible yet very obvious barrier between them and the girl.
The girl's side represents peace and tranquility, while their side represents danger and risk. She stumbled into this place by mistake, and they are fundamentally incompatible in coexisting harmoniously.
In short, apart from Giyu Tomioka and Sabito, the other Pillars who attended the meeting had heard some information about the girl.
Although they had never met, A-Zhi had already left a vague but not simple impression on them.
So how can a girl who could make all the demons go to such lengths and escape from Upper Moon One be described as weak, pitiful, and helpless? Did they really not misjudge her?
The pillars, questioning their existence: I stare—
Unfortunately, that's just how Azhi is; she's never been a bold person, and adjectives like "brave" have nothing to do with her.
She's actually more like a rabbit; at the slightest disturbance, she'll timidly retreat back into her burrow, only daring to peek out again after she's mentally prepared herself.
Aori hid behind Giyu Tomioka and Sabito, barely making a sound as she shook their haoris, her face almost scrunched up in a frown.
A moment later, she complained softly, "Next time there are so many... you could have told me in advance." Although she would still be startled, she might behave better than she is now.
Thinking this, Azhi gripped the black-haired swordsman Yuzhi's hand even tighter, almost lifting it at a right angle and revealing a large section of the team uniform hidden underneath.
Just then, a breeze blew by, and Giyu Tomioka felt a chill coming from under his arm. He also heard the girl's almost accusing words. He froze for a second, his eyes staring blankly.
He realized that he probably hadn't explained things clearly.
The girl thought she was being quiet enough, but she didn't realize that none of the Pillars present were ordinary people. Even if she deliberately lowered her voice, she couldn't escape being heard.
Shinobu Kocho could clearly sense her unstable breathing and voice, as well as Aori's evasive tactics, which could be described as self-deception.
She seemed to be desperately hiding behind people, which made her unable to see anything herself, but she didn't notice that in the process of pulling the haori, her tightly clenched little fist was completely exposed.
Her skin was exceptionally thin, and the bluish veins on the back of her hands were clearly visible. It was evident that each finger was working hard, and her small knuckles were slightly white, further highlighting her fragility.
Anyway, it was quite eye-catching, and there was a miserable feeling about it everywhere.
This gave Shinobu Kocho the feeling that they were actually a group of wicked bullies who were bullying a weak woman. Oh, and she was one of the bullies.
It does look somewhat like him, especially with Mr. Shinazugawa staring with wide eyes. If he doesn't tone it down, he might scare the little girl to tears.
Shinobu Kocho suddenly felt like laughing, but she held it in.
To be honest, after hearing the general outline of the incident, no one was not curious about Aori—this person who seemed to be connected to both Yoriichi Tsugikuni and Upper Moon One.
This delicate and beautiful young girl carries a "secret" that she herself may not even be aware of, and is forced to get involved in complicated events. She could lose her life if she is not careful. How unfair is this?
While investigating the truth of the matter, Shinobu couldn't help but curse the damned devil in secret.
But soon, she composed herself, smiled, and tried to liven things up, saying kindly, "Don't be afraid, we mean no harm."
"We just have some questions and need your help."
Azhi heard an incredibly gentle voice coming from ahead, like someone coaxing a child. As for who it was coaxing... the answer was obvious.
The flesh-haired swordsman who was blocking her way placed his hand on the back of her hand and patted it gently, signaling her not to be afraid.
It seemed as if everyone was looking out for her feelings, and she was the one being unreasonable and wasting time. Azhi couldn't help but blush.
She didn't mean to waste time; she was just frightened by so many people. After all, a pillar couldn't be scarier than a ghost...
With that thought in mind, Azhi took a deep breath, then turned her body to the side and secretly peeked out with one eye, only to be caught off guard by a smiling face.
"Hello," Shinobu Kocho greeted him warmly, extending her hand with a smile.
She had walked over at some point and was standing right in front of Azhi, as if she had completely guessed what Azhi was going to do next.
Compared to that, Azhi's mind was filled with a sudden, overwhelming sense of beauty. Her eyes widened as she exclaimed, "[—What a wonderfully gentle and beautiful young lady!]"
I can't remember anything else besides this.
000: […………] How silly.
But it's also a good thing, at least it made her less nervous.
Azhi wasn't so scared anymore. She was always easy to coax. She leaned half her body out from behind the black-haired swordsman, wanting to grab the fingertips of the kind-hearted young lady and shake them.
She obediently replied, "Thank you, I'm fine."
Bathed in sunlight, the girl's eyes had a clear, glassy quality, and behind her long eyelashes, they seemed to flow like honey, exuding a clean and refreshing aura.
Azhi's smile is very infectious.
Shinobu Kocho paused for a moment, then couldn't help but pinch the girl's slightly plump cheek with her fingers. The texture was indeed as nice as she had imagined. She said meaningfully, "Please take good care of me later."
After saying that, she returned to Pillar's group without waiting for Azhi's reply.
Immediately afterwards, the door, which had been tightly closed until everyone had arrived, was pushed open from the inside, and a little girl who looked almost identical knelt down to one side, while two overlapping female voices drifted into the courtyard.
"Our lord has arrived!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere of the pillars, who had been standing loosely and casually to the side, underwent a dramatic transformation, and they became a very cohesive team.
They entered one after another in large numbers, naturally turning their gazes away from this direction, and the pressure eased dramatically.
As Aori and her friends stood furthest away, they were naturally the last to enter. As their footsteps faded into the distance, Sabito leaned down and whispered in Aori's ear, who was lost in thought, "Let's go."
A-Zhi was still immersed in what had just happened. She didn't know why Shinobu had pinched her cheek, but the force was not strong at all, and it was with a charming intimacy.
Come to think of it, back in the Tokitoya, Koika-neechan often pinched her cheeks. She tried pinching her cheek once in private, but didn't find anything special about it.
She wrinkled her nose, not quite understanding. As she obediently let Sabito lead her onto the wooden floor, she held onto the flesh-haired swordsman's forearm and tilted her head back.
The girl looked conflicted: "She pinched me just now, right?"
Suddenly, the rabbit stopped in its tracks, feeling a bit of a headache.
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Author's Note: One more chapter to go with "Demon Slayer Corps"!
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 23:18:14 on June 3, 2023 and 15:21:25 on June 5, 2023!
Thank you to the little angel who watered the nutrient solution: Tao (1 bottle);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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