Demon Slayer: Muzan, will you dance too?

Even though the mouth and nose are very close, that's no excuse for you to poke the tip of my nose with a wooden spoon.

The warm medicine spilled out, some clinging to the straight bridge of the nose, but most of it flowed down the philtrum and onto the tightly pursed lips.

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry."

Realizing that she had been daydreaming, Shinobu Kocho said insincerely.

"..."

How could Kiyokawa Izumi blame her?

They would even make excuses for her, saying that the steam rising from the medicine bowl might be blurring her vision.

Perhaps he was so captivated by his own handsome face that he couldn't snap out of it for a long time.

He was so understanding—even during his recovery.

"Don't move!"

Seemingly noticing Kiyokawa Izumi's subconscious raising of his hand, Kocho Shinobu quickly put down the medicine bowl and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. The force was very light, just a barely perceptible touch, as if to stop him from raising his hand.

With her other hand, she put down the wooden spoon, gently pinched up her sleeve, and bent down to wipe him.

Shinobu carefully and gently wiped away the remaining medicine from Izumi Kiyokawa's face.

In the instant she bent down, Kiyokawa Izumi felt the light in front of her suddenly blocked, and her gaze was forced to be fixed on the exquisite face so close to hers.

There was still little light in his purple pupils, and his familiar smile was like a mask on his face.

The herbal scent mingled with the girl's faint body fragrance. Kiyokawa Izumi subconsciously held her breath and whispered, "I have it on my neck too, it's really itchy."

"Don't move!"

Shinobu Kocho spoke again, emphasizing that her warm breath was on her face, and her slightly cool fingers gently unbuttoned Izumi Kiyokawa's collar.

The latter had layers of bandages wrapped around its chest to fix it and reduce the movement of the fractured bone ends—similar to the external fixation techniques of later generations, except that the medical materials and methods used were more primitive.

A slightly cool touch appeared on her neck. Although the ends of the girl's hair were hanging down, they did not touch Qingchuan Quan's face or collarbone. She controlled this sense of distance very well.

She was clearly worried that the light touch of her hair on his face or collarbone would make him uncomfortable.

Even the slightest movement of the chest muscles causes noticeable pain, so Shinobu Kocho consciously avoids unnecessary touching.

Watching her movements so gentle and focused, Kiyokawa Izumi, having nothing else to do, could only shift her gaze slightly and stare blankly at the ceiling.

"I hope Mr. Kiyokawa Izumi won't mind that I smell of herbs on you?"

Shinobu Kocho smiled and said, "The previous ones don't count; you need to add another spoonful!"

"..."

I need to take medicine again.

Kiyokawa Izumi really wants to ask, why do you need to take medicine even if you have a broken bone?

Could it be a lung-nourishing medicine?

Unable to resist, he could only obediently open his mouth and passively accept his mother's feeding.

"Good boy/girl, should I give you a compliment?"

"?"

Why does this sound so familiar? It's like someone has said it before.

"Why are you mimicking the Serpent Pillar's way of speaking... Do you really think I'm a child?"

"After all, you're really obedient right now."

That way you won't be disliked, right, Mr. Kiyokawa Izumi? You don't want to end up like Mr. Giyu, do you?

"Tsk."

Shinobu Kocho found it very amusing to tease the disheveled Kiyokawa Izumi. Just as she was about to leave with her bowl, she reminded him.

"If you can't hold it in, remember to send that little guy to inform Yin who's staying behind: No sneaking out of bed, and using breathing techniques is absolutely forbidden!"

"receive!"

These words were certainly not spoken by Kiyokawa Izumi.

A black raven with jet-black feathers flew into the room at some point and stood on the windowsill, tilting its head and staring intently at Kiyokawa Izumi.

It wasn't trying to assess the extent of its owner's injuries; the little guy wasn't that smart.

However, having taken on the surveillance mission, one must keep a close eye on their master to prevent him from misbehaving.

Kiyokawa Izumi's face stiffened, staring at his Kasugai Crow in disbelief—when were you bribed?

"Why are you listening to her so much? Everyone says I can do it. I'm not the kind of person who would overdo it, understand?"

The raven continued to stare at him without saying a word.

"..."