Blissful [Shinazugawa Sanemi]

Chapter 9

Sanemi returned to the headquarters and reported how his mission with Shiori went. When he left the headquarters, he saw Shiori leaning against the gate, waiting for him to finish.

He took a deep breath before speaking to her.

"You still have something to do with me?"

Shiori looked at him, muttering a small 'oh'.

"No, not really. I thought I should wait until you're finished talking to Oyakata-sama." She said.

"Why didn't you go inside too? It's rude to not greet him in person." Sanemi said.

"Not every demon hunters have the privilege of meeting Oyakata-sama. We non-pillar hunters should know our places." She replied. "I'm flattered that I've met him in person even though it's only for once."

"Then we got no business with each other anymore." Sanemi said and was about to walk away.

"Do you want to eat ramen?"

Sanemi stopped his tracks. He turned his head toward Shiori, who had her hands behind her. She tilted her head and asked, "You haven't eaten, right? We returned immediately without eating lunch."

To say he's shocked was an understatement. Sanemi knew how Shiori ignored every guy to avoid conflict with her fiance, but now she's inviting him to eat lunch together. Sanemi spent a good one minute staring at her before sighing and running a hand through his hair.

"Sure." He mumbled. He had to remind himself that he agreed just because he's hungry.

Both of them walked to a near ramen restaurant and placed their order. They sat beside each other, both watching the cook preparing their dishes. Sanemi stole some glances at Shiori's face, noticing that her eyebags looked lighter.

"Hey, she's..."

Sanemi's ears perked up at the whispers from his side. He turned his head to the door and he saw a group of men, all whispering to each other while staring at Shiori. Some of them looked at Sanemi and snickered.

Sanemi felt insulted by their attitude.

"Look who's playing around with another man." One of them said when they walked past Sanemi and Shiori. Sanemi gaped at them, he was about to stand up but Shiori's voice stopped him.

"Please don't mind them." She mumbled.

"What?! How can you keep calm after hearing that?" Sanemi asked in disbelief.

"It's fine. They're all talk and won't do anything." She said.

"But still- Tsk! Who are those guys anyway?!" Sanemi clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"Izuru-san's lackeys."

Shiori's answer made Sanemi stare at her in confusion.

"That man is the head of a certain clan." Shiori explained, referring to her fiance. "Basically, he has power and his men are all over the place."

"... No one can escape from him." Shiori mumbled.

Sanemi stared at her with mouth agape. He looked as if he doesn't believe what she said. Being engaged to the head of a gangster family, her life feels like a drama or something.

"Then does that mean they know about what he's been doing to you?" Sanemi asked.

"Doing what?" Shiori tilted her head.

Shit! Not again! Sanemi quickly thought of an answer.

"Locking you up at home and not letting you go out by yourself." He finally said.