The Crystal's Whisper and The Wind's Embrace

Chapter 53: When Walls Break

As Sanemi and Tsukiyo arrived at the village, tension buzzed between them. But it wasn't the tension of looming danger; it was the unspoken weight of feelings they were still navigating.

Their recent confession was fresh, raw, and left an electric charge between them—strange yet exhilarating. Disguised as a couple, they wandered the bustling village streets, playing their roles while stolen glances and fleeting touches sparked with silent intensity.

"What are you doing?" Tsukiyo blurted as Sanemi casually slid an arm around her waist.

Sanemi raised an eyebrow, his expression teasing as he replied, "What do you mean? I'm just holding my wife. Is that a problem?"

Tsukiyo glared at him, her eyes desperately trying to send a silent message to remove his hands. But Sanemi leaned in, his lips brushing close to her ear, voice low and playful. "Relax. We're supposed to act like a couple... oh wait, we are a couple, aren't we? We've even shared our first kiss. So, why the fluster now?" His smirk was impossible to miss.

Tsukiyo's face flushed crimson, and she quickly looked away, pretending to focus on the path ahead, ignoring the heat rising in her cheeks. As part of her cover to blend in with the village wives, she was carrying a basket—one that was clearly too full for her own good.

Sanemi watched her struggle with a bemused smirk. "Careful, or you'll end up face-first in the dirt," he said, his tone light but filled with amusement.

As if on cue, Tsukiyo tripped over a loose stone, the basket tumbling from her hands. Before she could hit the ground, Sanemi moved in an instant, catching her effortlessly and cradling her close against his chest.

"Told you," he murmured, smirking again, though his heart pounded harder than he would admit. "Clumsy as ever."

Tsukiyo, cheeks burning with embarrassment, lightly punched his chest. "Says the man who nearly dropped all the groceries this morning."

They both laughed, but the laughter soon faded as the warmth of his embrace lingered longer than necessary. For a brief moment, neither of them moved, and the air between them thickened with something unspoken, something deeper.

Sanemi gently set her down, his hands reluctantly sliding from her waist. As they fell back into their roles, walking side by side through the village, the truth of their feelings simmered beneath the surface, growing harder to ignore with each passing moment.

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Later that evening, after hours of subtle inquiries and watching the villagers for signs of demonic activity, Sanemi and Tsukiyo retired to the small house they were using as cover. The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver glow through the thin walls, creating an atmosphere that felt both peaceful and heavy with unsaid words.

As they settled down, Tsukiyo broke the silence with a teasing grin. "So, how many points do I get for my performance today?"

"Zero," Sanemi said, deadpan and without hesitation.

"What? Zero?" Tsukiyo gasped, eyes wide with exaggerated outrage. "How could you!"

"Says the one who kept fidgeting the whole time, looking like you were about to break out into a sweat," Sanemi shot back. "All we were doing was holding hands, and I had my arm around your waist—what's there to get so worked up about? It's not like we were making out in the middle of the street."

Tsukiyo's face turned a shade of red at his words, and she stammered, trying to explain herself. "I... I mean, this is... new for me. I just got a little nervous, okay?"

Sanemi's brow lifted slightly. "What makes you think I wasn't nervous?"

Tsukiyo blinked, staring at him in disbelief. "You? Nervous?"