- Y/n Tsugikuni -

Chapter 9 - We Doin' What Now? -

Silvy leaned lazily against the table, sipping a cold glass of orange juice. The sun cut gently through the windows of the Butterfly Estate, casting soft patterns over the wooden floors.

“Y/n… that mark’s growing out again,” she pointed out mid-sip.

Across from her, Y/n squinted. “Forget the mark. The real issue here is you drinking orange juice. That’s a betrayal to the Milk Gang… and to boners like me.”

Silvy blinked. “I’m sorry—what did you just say?”

From the sink, Aoi chimed in without turning around. “What he meant is that milk’s good for bones. And he likes strong bones.”

Y/n pointed at her, nodding solemnly. “See? She gets it. Milk gang makes the strongest bones. Top-tier boners.”

Silvy slid her glass away. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear any of that.”

He sighed dramatically, slouching into the seat next to her. “You people have no culture.”

“Tsugi-kun…”

A familiar voice sliced through the calm like a scalpel. The door slammed open, and Shinobu Kocho stood in the doorway with her usual serene menace.

“Who told you you could leave the bedroom?”

Y/n jolted upright. “Me! I didn’t sign up to be a lab rat! That blood is my property!”

“You left in the middle of an analysis,” she replied, already walking toward him. She pinched his cheek firmly. “Honestly. Do you want that mark spreading again?”

“I’m very concerned about both of your relationships,” Silvy mumbled into her arm.

“That was a blood test, not an experiment. You’re lucky I care enough to monitor it,” Shinobu shot back, tugging Y/n’s wrist.

“I’m not going,” he said flatly—and then, without thinking, latched onto Silvy’s arm like a hostage bargaining chip. “She’s my alibi now.”

“E-eh?! This isn’t my idea!” Silvy panicked, caught between the two.

Shinobu gave her a sweet smile. “Don’t worry. I know. Now—” she tugged harder.

Y/n tightened his grip on Silvy’s sleeve. “I will not be juiced again today.”

“Juiced—?!”

Just then, the door creaked open behind them. Zenitsu stepped in, took one look at the scene—Y/n gripping Silvy, Shinobu tugging at his arm like a tired wife—and promptly fainted.

Aoi opened the door behind him, spotted the mess, paused, then closed it again. “Nope.” She dragged Zenitsu’s limp body away without comment.

“Y/n,” Shinobu said calmly, dangerously close now. “Why are you acting like a child? It’s one drop of blood.”

“It’s my drop,” he sniffed. “I’ve grown attached to it.”

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“You’re being clingy!”

“You’re being stubborn.”

“You’re being suspicious!”

Silvy watched, eyes wide, head swiveling back and forth. “I feel like I’m watching a domestic argument in a science lab.”

Finally, Shinobu let go, exhaling slowly. “You know, I do remember when you promised to help train Tanjiro. And look—you actually kept it. That was a surprise.”