𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 | 𝐆𝐢𝐲𝐮𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐨

Chapter 10 | Company

The days they spent together in the hospital sped by fast whenever Tomioka came to visit Shinobu, and before they knew it, she had almost been recovering for a month.

It was a quiet evening at the butterfly estate when Shinobu was finally getting her bandages removed. 

"It's nice to know that you're healing fast Shinobu-sama!" Aoi smiled in delight as she unwrapped the bandages off Shinobu's waist.

Shinobu herself has actually very glad that her injury was healing quickly, she couldn't bear to see other people working harder than usual just for her sake anymore, she needed to be back up and on missions as soon as possible.

"I didn't know you were getting your bandages off today," Tomioka muttered, seeing Shinobu's bandages in a basket and her standing up on her own two feet, with just a little help from the bedside table.

"Yes, her wounds seem to be healing quickly and she should be all healed up soon," Aoi replied.

Tomioka stood against the door, his face a dull expression as he watched Aoi leave the room.

"Are you alright?" Shinobu asked, sensing Tomioka's stiff face.

"Am I alright? You should sit down, Kocho, I already told you, you need to stop trying to overdo yourself."

"I am not overdoing myself!"

"It's only been one month and you think your all better already?"

"No!" She yelled back, finally losing her calm. For the past few days, Tomioka had been really protective of her, deep down, she didn't mind it, but the thought of Tomioka actually caring about her, it felt odd and she didn't let herself accept that, "I never asked for you to come visit, so you can just leave if you want to keep lecturing me like a child."

Right after those words came out, she instantly regretted them.

He was stunned, Shinobu's face was no where close to a smile anymore.

Tomioka hesistated for a couple seconds in silence but then he got up to leave to Shinobu's surprise. She didn't really think he would've taken it that seriously. 

What have I done?

"Tomioka," she whispered. She was standing a couple feet away from Tomioka now, her hand gripped onto his. 

"Please don't leave, I didn't mean that, if I were to tell the truth, I do enjoy your company," She blushed, staring down at the floor to avoid eye contact with Tomioka.

Her hair was covering the guilt in her eyes and her long bangs flopped behind her ears. It was a cute sight to see her grab on so vulnerably.

Tomioka sat Shinobu back down on the hospital bed and grinned, she's more interesting than I expected.

"I think I've seen you with that pouty look on your face this month more than I've ever seen you with it before," Tomioka teased Shinobu.

"That goes the same for you, you've smiled this month a lot more than usual, I didn't know you were capable of smiling," She teased back, lifting her head back up and smiling back at Tomioka.

I just saw her real smile again.

It had been a long evening at the butterfly estate and the two hashira collapsed back onto Shinobu's soft hospital bed.

"This is a bit ironic, isn't it, Tomioka-san," she laughed as she took a glance out of the windows.

Tomioka glanced over at her in confusion and then followed her eyes to the window.