Eros. (Benimaru Shinmon)

八十九

As I made my way back to the front of the guardhouse, still mildly irritated by the loss of my breakfast, I found Konro sitting on the engawa, his plate of food resting on his lap. He was enjoying a quiet moment, the warm morning sun casting gentle shadows across the wooden planks beneath him. I plopped down beside him with a dramatic sigh, making sure he knew I was still fuming.

"Konro," I began, my voice filled with the mock severity of someone who had suffered a grave injustice, "Benimaru smote my food. Completely destroyed it."

Konro looked up from his meal, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he saw the annoyance etched on my face. "Smitten, huh?" he repeated, clearly amused. "What brought that on?"

I shrugged, trying to keep my voice light despite the irritation that still lingered. "Apparently, Captain Obi mentioned that he likes my cooking, and I might have offered Shinra and Arthur a taste. Next thing I know, my plate's on fire, thanks to a certain someone."

Konro couldn't help but chuckle at that, his deep, warm laughter resonating through the courtyard. "He must be jealous," he said, still laughing as he took a bite of his meal.

I rolled my eyes, though a small smile played on my lips. "Jealous? Please. His jealousy is only a mere fraction of what I felt back then when he was screwing around with some girl."

The words slipped out before I could stop them, and for a moment, the weight of that old wound resurfaced, a reminder of the insecurity and hurt I'd once felt. But Konro, ever the steady presence, took it in stride, shaking his head with that same knowing smile.

"You two need to grow up," he remarked, though his tone was more affectionate than reprimanding. "But I have to admit, it's fun watching you both be so immature. It reminds me of when the three of us were growing up—me, you, and Beni. Some things never change."

I pouted playfully, picking up a piece of grilled fish from his plate and popping it into my mouth. "Yeah, well, back then I didn't have to worry about my breakfast being set on fire," I retorted, though the frustration had mostly faded, replaced by the warmth of our shared history.

As I chewed on the fish, savoring the salty, smoky flavor, my mind drifted back to those earlier days. I remembered the festival we had attended as kids, the lanterns casting a warm glow over everything, the laughter and excitement in the air. I'd often wondered what might have happened if things had been different—if, instead of going back to my room that night, I'd stayed with Konro a little longer, maybe even kissed him.

I glanced over at Konro, catching him mid-bite as he nibbled on his egg. For a moment, I let my thoughts wander, imagining what life might have been like if we'd taken that step all those years ago. Konro must have sensed where my thoughts were headed, because I noticed a faint blush creeping up his cheeks, his usually calm demeanor slightly flustered.

I laughed, breaking the tension as I leaned over and took the last bite of food from his plate, my amusement evident. "Guess we'll never know," I teased, standing up and dusting off my kimono as I prepared to head back inside.

Konro shook his head, still smiling despite his earlier blush. "Yeah, I guess we won't," he agreed, though there was a softness in his voice that made me think he might have been pondering the same thing.

I turned to leave, casting one last glance back at him. "Thanks for sharing, Konro. I owe you one."

He waved me off, his usual easygoing smile back in place. "Anytime, Inori. Just try not to get the next one burned."

I grinned, giving him a small wave as I walked away.

As I walked back towards the rear of the guardhouse, I was greeted by the sight of Benimaru sitting on the engawa with two long wooden sticks resting beside him. He was watching Shinra and Arthur with an intensity that only Benimaru could muster. The sight made me quirk an eyebrow in curiosity. Before I could say anything, he noticed me approaching and spoke up, "Now that Inori's back, I suppose we should get started."

I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow at him, questioning his apparent need to wait for me. "You were waiting for me?" I asked, half expecting a dismissive answer.

"Yes," he replied simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You're supposed to observe."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes, my tone turning slightly sarcastic. "Oh, I see. You mean observe you burning my food?" I shot back.

Benimaru remained unfazed by my jab, simply grunting as he stood up. "I'm not taking any complaints," he said, his voice as flat and unyielding as ever.

Before I could retort, he effortlessly lifted the two wooden sticks onto his shoulder with one arm and reached out with his free hand, grabbing mine in a surprisingly gentle grip. The action startled me, and I felt my heart skip a beat as his rough, calloused fingers interlaced with mine. A blush crept up my cheeks as I tried to process what had just happened.

"Benimaru, I can walk beside you just fine," I said, my voice tinged with hesitation.

He glanced at me, his expression as calm and steady as always. "I like it this way," he replied, his tone leaving no room for argument.

My blush deepened, and I found myself unable to look at him directly as we walked together. As we made our way through the streets of Asakusa, I couldn't help but notice the curious and amused glances from the townspeople. Some of them even made comments, adding fuel to the fire of my embarrassment. By the time we reached our destination, I felt like my face was on fire.

The moment we stopped, I quickly pulled my hand away from his, cradling it to my chest as if it were something precious. My mind raced, still reeling from the unexpected warmth of his hand, rough and strong from years of fighting fires and building homes. It wasn't surprising, given our shared backgrounds as firefighters and carpenters, but still—it had caught me off guard.

I was snapped out of my thoughts by the sound of Shinra's voice. "Captain Shinmon, is this really training?" he asked, his tone laced with confusion.

I looked up to see Shinra and Arthur in an utterly ridiculous position, hanging upside down by their ankles, both of them looking bewildered and slightly panicked. The sight was so absurd that it momentarily banished any lingering embarrassment from my mind.

Benimaru, however, remained completely composed. He walked over to them, still carrying one of the wooden sticks on his shoulder, his demeanor as nonchalant as ever. "You wanted training, didn't you?" he asked, his voice calm but firm.

The scene before me was almost too much to take in. Here I was, still reeling from the unexpected warmth of Benimaru's hand, while Shinra and Arthur dangled helplessly like a pair of lost children.