Chapter 227: Sanemi’s Nightmare

Sanemi’s eyes were as wide as saucers.

"You two..."

His gaze bounced between Marcus, Mitsuri, and Marcus’s finger, which was still trapped between Mitsuri’s lips.

Mitsuri finally realized she still had Marcus’s finger in her mouth. She hastily pulled it out and swallowed her bite. Her face burned so intensely it looked about to burst.

"Shinazugawa-san! It’s not what you think!"

"...And what do I think?" Sanemi muttered through clenched teeth.

In that instant, he understood the cause of Obanai’s utter collapse.

Marcus, on the other hand, didn’t lose his composure. With that same freshly freed finger, he picked up another piece of sushi, brought it to his mouth, and savored it with delight.

"Is there something you need?"

The corner of Sanemi’s lips twitched, and for a moment he didn’t know what to say.

Even though he understood Obanai’s misery, he had no right nor standing from which to make demands: Mitsuri was free to fall in love with whomever she pleased.

He could only stare fixedly at Marcus, ready to demand an explanation, when suddenly he felt a tug at the hem of his uniform.

Lowering his gaze, he came upon a small silhouette.

Nezuko, round and adorable, had slipped off Mitsuri’s lap to plant herself beside him, staring up at him with her head held high.

’Nezuko?!’

Sanemi froze at those big pink eyes.

The memory of that Hashira Meeting came rushing back—that embarrassing scene where he’d ended up calling her "mom" all because of a cookie!

He instinctively took a step back, his lips trembling.

Nezuko tilted her head and pointed at him with her finger, recognizing him at once.

"Hehe~ Mi!"

A vein popped on Sanemi’s forehead.

"Who are you calling Mi?!"

Seeing Sanemi’s enraged face, Nezuko felt neither fear nor anger; she simply puffed out her cheeks in confusion.

"Mi.. why aren’t you happy?"

"Tsk!" Sanemi took a deep breath. "You’ve got the wrong person, that’s not my name! And I’m not angry!"

With that, he looked away.

Nezuko blinked, and her eyes lit up.

She rummaged through her pocket until she pulled out a candy in a pink wrapper, her favorite. Rising onto her tiptoes and stretching her arm up as high as she could, she offered it to him.

"For you. When you’re sad, eating candy makes you feel better."

Sanemi’s face contorted further. ’Candy again? Does she still expect me to call her mom?’

He wanted to brush her off harshly and tell her not to try acting all friendly, but as he looked at that guileless gaze, the words caught in his throat.

He felt, to his own dismay, that the little girl genuinely cared about him.

’Sanemi! What the hell are you thinking!’

’She’s a demon!’

He looked at the candy for a second, turned on his heel, and set off at a hurried pace, practically fleeing the scene.

He didn’t even remember Obanai, whom he himself had dragged there.

In two seconds he vanished down the hallway.

Nezuko remained standing with the candy in her hand and her mouth in a little pout.

... It was the first time anyone had refused a gift from her.

She lowered her head, clenched the candy in her hand, and murmured in a subdued voice: "He didn’t want it..."

Sighing, Marcus came closer, crouched down beside her, and stroked her head.

"He didn’t want it? Well, I do."

He grabbed the candy, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth: "Sweet."

The little girl smiled again. She wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him a soft shove, and buried her face in his shoulder.

Mitsuri, seeing this, felt her eyes grow moist. "Nezuko is so sweet..."

He glanced at her sidelong. "So are you."

Mitsuri’s face turned red again.

Without Sanemi, the room settled back into calm, save for the presence of a stunned Obanai who remained motionless.

At first, Marcus thought about continuing to tease him, but noticing that empty gaze, he decided to let it go.

Finishing off someone who’d already hit the ground wasn’t his style.

He drew his eyes away, adjusted Nezuko, and looked at Mitsuri. "Let’s go."

"Where to?"

"To find something fun."

Even though she didn’t understand what he meant, Mitsuri got up and followed him at a light trot. As she passed by Obanai, she stopped and tilted her head in confusion.

"Iguro-san, are you feeling all right? You’re very pale."

Obanai moved his lips, but couldn’t manage to make a single sound.

Marcus tugged at Mitsuri’s sleeve. "Let’s go. There’s nothing wrong with him, he’s just heartbroken."

"Heartbroken?" Mitsuri’s eyes lit up. "Iguro-san... was he in love?"

Marcus made a face: a woman who was always talking about love, yet was clumsy and oblivious to men’s intentions.

"...You could say it was an unrequited love," he let out a low chuckle. "When it comes down to it, he never knew how to express himself. Unlike me—if I like Mitsuri, I tell her at the first opportunity."

"Eek~!!" Mitsuri got flustered all over again, steam practically bursting out of her. "Marcus-kun!!"

"All right, I’ll stop teasing you."

"But you didn’t tell me what we’re going to look for..."

The two of their voices drifted off and reached Obanai’s ears.

In that instant, he understood where he’d gone wrong.

Mitsuri had never been the type to catch hints.

What could truly move her was a fervent, clear, and open devotion.

He let out a sigh, walked step by step back to his room, and sat down in the dim light. Kaburamaru poked his head out from his sleeve and brushed his finger with his cold nose, but he didn’t move.

In the courtyard, Marcus asked a servant: "Where is Kotetsu?"

"Kotetsu?"

"The boy who does the maintenance on the mechanical doll."

"Ah," the servant pointed toward the mountain behind the hot springs, "he lives in the hut over on that side."

He thanked him for the directions and set off alongside Mitsuri. Nezuko rode on his shoulders, swinging her legs and rolling a couple of candies around inside her mouth.

"Marcus, why didn’t Mi want my candy?" the little girl asked curiously.

He thought about it for a second. "It’s not that he didn’t want it, he was just too embarrassed to accept it."

"Why?"

"Because... last time he cried in front of you and felt ashamed."

"... And next time will he not want it either?"

Mitsuri smiled at her. "Of course he will! You’re so cute that if you offer it to him again, he’s sure to accept."

"Jiji~!"

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Throw your stones, drop them ALL! 💎

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