Another

Chapter 18: Misunderstanding

I sighed, preparing for the worst. “Shinobu-san,” I mirrored her, my hands grasping each other tightly, “what is your. . .” 

 I softly exhaled, and reorganized my thoughts before trying again. Her fingers tapped impatiently against the other. I gathered my courage. “What is your opinion on the Oni we kill?”

Shinobu-san’s eyebrow’s furrowed, and she gazed at me confusedly. “My opinion?” I nodded once. Her lips curled into a grin. “Why, I’m shocked, Urokodaki-sama!” 

She threw her head back and laughed. I only stared, waiting for her answer. After another minute or two, she finally calmed enough to the point where her laughs were reduced to the occasional giggle. I kept my gaze focused on my hands. 

She sighed. 

“You know, Urokodaki-sama,” I lifted my gaze. She was dabbing at the corner of her eyes with her sleeve. “The trio asked me that too, a while back.” 

I squinted. “Is that so?” 

Shinobu-san hummed. “To be exact, it was Makomo-kun who had asked me,” she leaned into her hand. “Right after-” she tipped forward, eyes on mine. “-an emergency Pillar meeting, actually.” 

I couldn’t help but lean backwards. Shinobu-san’s mirthful gaze and knowing smile only followed me. My nose twitched, her scent strangely mellow compared to earlier. 

A floral scent of medicinal herbs. 

I unclasped my hands. “I see.” Shinobu-san’s brow arched, urging me to continue. “You already knew.” 

Shinobu-san smiled sweetly at me and nodded. The hand supporting her face moved with the motion, causing the small table to shiver. “I suspected it.” 

I scoffed, crossing my arms. 

Shinobu-san only grinned. 

I shook my head. “Why?” Shinobu-san blinked. “When,” I clarified,” did your suspicions begin?”

“Ah.” Shinobu-san leaned back into a more relaxed position. She combed her fingers through her bangs. “I guess since the Water Trio returned from that mission, really.” She closed her eyes, smile gone. “The one where they fought against Muzan.” 

My hand massaged my chin. “That far back, huh?” 

“Yeah.” She murmured into her hand. 

“So-” I leaned on the table ”-you decided to see for yourself.” Shinobu-san’s eyes flitted to mine. “Right?” 

She paused. Her gaze had sharpened, and was fixated elsewhere. Finally, she nodded. 

I sighed, somewhat relieved that she had decided to keep her suspicions to herself, but I was even more confused. “How many times-” she glimpsed up at me-”did you travel to the mountain?” 

Shinobu-san straightened her back. “About five times.” 

“ Five times?” I exclaimed. “How?” 

Shinobu-san smiled and stood up. She walked into her lab, and returned with a perfume bottle. She carefully sat into seiza and placed the bottle between us. 

“The first time around,” she began, “you had realized that someone else was on the mountain aside from the doctor that night.” She looked at me inquisitively.  “Right?”

I nodded, and urged her to continue. She grinned and picked up the bottle. “I did some research, and I discovered-” she jumped up-”your keen sense of smell!”