Kanae: "I wonder what Shinobu and Akira are doing right now," Kanae mused softly, her voice barely a whisper as she gazed at the moon from her perch on a tree branch. The pale glow of the moonlight bathed her in a soft, ethereal light, her mind wandering to the people she cared about.
Kanae: "They should be on their missions by now," she sighed, a bittersweet smile tugging at her lips. The night felt unusually lonely.
Suddenly, movement caught her eye. A familiar figure appeared below her, stepping gracefully through the clearing. The moonlight reflected off his silver hair, casting a soft glow around him, his sharp, beautiful eyes catching the light as they focused on her.
Kanae's heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat. She could feel her pulse quicken as recognition dawned.
Kanae: "Akira?" she whispered, disbelief coloring her voice as her wide eyes took in the sight before her.
Akira looked up at her, a gentle smile playing on his lips, a smile that made him look almost otherworldly under the moonlight.
Akira: "Long time no see, Kanae-nee-chan." His voice was soft, warm, and carried a kind of tenderness that made Kanae's chest tighten.
She leaped gracefully from the tree and landed in front of him, her heartbeat still erratic from the unexpected encounter. Akira hadn't changed much—his silver hair still shone like the stars, his eyes still carried that calm strength. But there was something different in his demeanor, something that felt more mature.
Kanae: "Where's Shinobu? And why are you here, Akira?" she asked, her voice filled with concern, though her heart still fluttered from seeing him.
Akira: "She's on a mission, as always. I'm here because of a demon," Akira replied, his smile fading into a more serious expression.
{Flashback}
Akira had been heading toward the train station, but something pulled him away from that path. Walking instead of taking the train, he reasoned that taking down another demon would push him closer to his goal of becoming a Hashira. Rank wasn't just a title—it was access to more information, information that might lead him closer to what he was searching for. Perhaps Kagaya Ubuyashiki knew something... something important.
{End of Flashback}
Kanae: "What rank are you now?" Kanae asked, curious.
Akira raised his hand, revealing the mark of his current rank.
Akira: "Kinoe," he said simply, though his voice held a quiet pride.
Kanae's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't expected him to rise through the ranks so quickly, especially not to Kinoe in such a short time.
Kanae: "You've grown stronger." Her voice was soft, a mixture of admiration and concern. Akira's talent had always been exceptional, but now he was reaching new heights.
Akira: "Kanae-nee-chan, do you want to come with me?" he asked, his tone casual, though there was an underlying invitation—a chance to reconnect, even if it was amidst danger.
Kanae: "Hmm, before that... what demon are you hunting?" Kanae's curiosity was piqued. Akira had always been a little lazy when it came to doing things on his own, so if he was this focused on a demon, it had to be significant.
Akira smiled, a faint blush on his cheeks. He could tell Kanae was teasing him.
Akira: "It's Kyogai, the former Lower Moon Six."
Kanae: "Former?" she questioned, tilting her head slightly.
Akira: "Yes. He was kicked out of the Twelve Kizuki for being too weak."
Kanae: "And you know this... how?" Her tone was playful, but there was genuine curiosity in her eyes.
Akira shrugged, giving her a mischievous grin.
Akira: "Would I be hunting him if I didn't know his strengths and weaknesses?"
Kanae narrowed her eyes, her hand twitching as if ready to smack him, but she held back, remembering this arrogant side of Akira. It was one of his more... frustrating quirks, but also oddly endearing.
Before she could say anything, Akira surprised her by asking something completely unexpected.
Akira: "Kanae-nee-chan, do you want to... sleep with me?"
Kanae's face turned bright red, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. She took a step back, completely thrown off by his bold question.
Kanae: "W-where?" she stammered, unable to hide her flustered state.
Akira: "In a bed, of course," he replied innocently, though his smile hinted at knowing the effect his words had on her.
Kanae's mind immediately jumped to... improper conclusions, and she shook her head quickly, trying to clear the inappropriate thoughts that flooded her brain.
Kanae: "No!" she blurted out, her cheeks still burning with embarrassment.
Akira blinked, suddenly realizing the misunderstanding. He chuckled softly, scratching the back of his head.
Akira: "I didn't mean it like that, Kanae-nee-chan. I meant, you should rest—there's a bed I've got with me."
Before she could ask more questions, Akira pulled a bed out of his inventory with a flick of his hand. Kanae's eyes widened in disbelief.
Kanae: "Where did that come from?" she asked, her voice rising in confusion.
Akira smiled as if it were the most normal thing in the world. He clicked something in the air, causing a flash of light to appear before Kanae's eyes. She instinctively closed them, but the light didn't hurt.
Akira: "Kanae, open your eyes."
When she did, she saw a strange glowing box floating in front of her. It shimmered softly, filled with information she didn't recognize. For a moment, she thought she might be losing her mind.
Kanae: "So... that's how you got the bed?"
Akira nodded, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
Kanae: "But... why did you invite me into this... group chat thing?" she asked, her tone filled with curiosity.
Akira's smile softened as he met her gaze.
Akira: "Because, Kanae-nee-chan, I want you to be a part of this journey with me."
Kanae's heart warmed at his words, her earlier embarrassment fading away. She opened the group chat, seeing Shinobu and another familiar name—Mitsuri—already in the group.
She smiled quietly to herself. Perhaps this journey wouldn't be so lonely after all.
To be continued...