𝐊𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐎 感情 || 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳

- 48 -

BENEATH THE SURFACE, A GLIMMERING DEFENSE — CHAPTER #48 — THE REDEMPTION OF A DEMON IS NEW CHANGE

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Little note:
God have mercy. Hardest chapter to write along with #24 and #34.
I just had the biggest shit of my life. Felt good. I feel like I lost 20 pounds. Dunno why I needed to share that, sorry.
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"WAHHHHHHHHHH! (Y/N), THIS IS THE WORST!!" You were met with an ear-piercing wail, the distressed cry of Ozaki echoing through the room. Her tearful lament was directed at you, and it was clear that she was overcome with emotion.

"I mean—I could totally expect this from you but... this is batshit insane..." Goto remarked, offering some comfort by gently rubbing Ozaki's back as she continued to cry in your presence.

"Ozaki, I understand that this is surprising, but please try to stop crying!" You implored, genuinely feeling bad for the woman's intense display of distress. Tears streamed down her face in copious amounts, her eyes red and swollen from her emotional outburst.

"How can I n-not be crying?! This is your end! You'll die today!" Ozaki exclaimed, her hands gripping your shoulders as she shook them with a mixture of worry and fear.

"Alright, Ozaki, I think you're exaggerating a bit." Goto interjected with a deadpan expression, attempting to inject some rationality into the situation.

"Nah, she's got a point. I'm totally dying today, hahaha!" You chimed in, placing your hands on your hips and sporting a playful smile, which only seemed to further distress Ozaki.

"WHAT?! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO SAID WE SHOULD STAY POSITIVE! WHY ARE YOU BEING SO NEGATIVE!?" Goto's voice escalated as he pointed an accusatory finger in your direction, clearly frustrated by your seemingly lighthearted attitude.

"I'm not being negative!" You retorted, your agreement laden with a hint of amusement. "I'm just positively stating that I'm about to die!"

"OH, STOP! STOP UTTERING SUCH NONSENSE! YOU HAVEN'T EVEN MET MY FAMILY YET!" Ozaki's emotional turmoil led her to cling to your waist, her despair evident as she sunk to her knees. Goto looked on with deep concern for her well-being.

"Ozaki, please calm down. I believe that things will turn out fine!" Goto offered, crossing his arms as a sign of confidence.

"H-How can you be so sure...?" Ozaki's eyes remained tearful, yet a glimmer of hope started to flicker within them after hearing Goto's reassurance.

"Well," He cleared his throat, preparing his words carefully. "In most circumstances, (Y/N) should have already met her end, along with those demons. The fact that the Head Master and the Hashira are even considering a trial is quite surprising. So, there's a chance that things might just turn out okay."

Ozaki slowly released her grip on you and stood up, wiping away her tears and mucus. She approached Goto, almost leaning against him for support. Her eyes were now tinged with hope, and she clasped her hands near her chest with a renewed sense of optimism. "...You think so?"

Goto involuntarily took a few steps back, his eyes narrowing in surprise at Ozaki's unexpected closeness. A faint blush dusted his cheeks beneath his mask, which thankfully hid his embarrassment. After quickly regaining his composure, he responded to her, a touch of awkwardness in his voice. "Y-Yeah, so please, stop crying already, for goodness' sake..."

"I apologize for my reaction... I'm just genuinely worried..." Ozaki expressed, taking a step back to give Goto some space.

"Tsk!" Goto clicked his tongue in mild exasperation, extending his hand towards Ozaki. Her surprise was palpable as she felt his hand gently pat her head. She blinked slowly, taken aback by the unexpected gesture. Goto noticed her reaction and felt a wave of embarrassment, though he managed to conceal it. "It's alright. No need to apologize. It's understandable that you're feeling this way. So, don't blame yourself."