Can't Do it Without You

✨ Chapter 2 ✨

"Toji Yamato" he replied before finishing his glass of water.

"Hmmm, that name rings a bell. Would you mind telling me your rank as well?" Asked Shinobu.

"Rank Kinoto, you might recognize me since I'm Uzui-sama's tsuguko"

Shinobu's eyes lit up. She knew she had seen him before but something seemed different. Toji blushed lightly as the female slayer seemed to study him closely for a moment.

"My, you have grown since the last time I saw you. You also grew out your hair as well" she commented.

Toji couldn't help but blush more as he heard this. Being remembered by a Hashira was a shock considering they only met briefly while she talked to Uzui about a mission at his estate.

"Y-yeah, that was me. I'm surprised that you remember me at all considering we didn't talk when you visited us at our estate" Toji said with a chuckle in an attempt to hide his nervousness.

"Of course I'd remember you, Uzui-san speaks highly of his students. You know how he likes to boast" she laughed.

"Well, jokes aside. I would like to begin your evaluation to make sure the poison hasn't done any lasting damage" said Shinobu with a more serious tone but with her signature smile still visible.

"Y-yes of course! What do you need me to do" Toji asked, sitting up on the side of the bed.

He winced as his muscles were still fatigued from his recent battle.

"Please remove your shirt for me" stated the Hashira as she searched through the cabinet next to his bed.

Toji's face quickly grew bright red. He turned to face away from Shinobu before she noticed but it was too late.

"Oh my" Shinobu giggled while covering her mouth with her tiny hand.

Toji kept his face turned away as he desperately tried to hide the huge blush now very visible to the woman next to him.

"Relax Toji-kun, it's just for the evaluation" she laughed as she sat down and rolled her chair over to him.

"Right, sorry Kocho-sama" he replied, keeping his face turned away.

"God, I can't believe I lost my cool so fast in front of a Hashira. She probably thinks I'm a total loser of a slayer now"

Toji was snapped out of his train of thought when he felt a small poke in his side.

"Toji-kun, I can't perform a proper evaluation if you're turned away from me the entire time" said Shinobu.

Feeling confident he finally calmed himself down, Toji cleared his throat and turned his head back towards Shinobu.

"Right, sorry" he nodded.

Shinobu closed her eyes and smiled before pointing to Toji with her pencil "Your shirt, Toji-kun" she said sweetly.

"Oh yeah right" Toji quickly replied as he began unbuttoning the light blue hospital shirt he had on.

Silence filled the room as Toji went through all the buttons and placed his shirt to the side. All the while Shinobu maintained her closed eye smile.

"I wonder if this is as awkward for her as it is for me" Toji thought once he finished.

"Right, now I gave you an antidote for the poison that was in you but I just want to make sure that there aren't any residual effects from it being in your system" Shinobu stated as she examined his torso.

Toji was trying his best to not make eye contact with her while she evaluated him and decided on just staring straight ahead.

He didn't know what it was about her presence but he couldn't completely maintain his composure when around her. He didn't want her to see him blush again while she saw him shirtless.