Can't Do it Without You

✨ Chapter 2 ✨

Toji apologized and nervously tried to laugh it off.

Shinobu then placed the blade back onto the cabinet and continued inspecting it closely. Running her fingers on the hilt and over the edge of the blade.

Finally, she turned back to Toji.

"I'm no bladesmith, but it's easy to tell that these blades are in pretty bad shape. What exactly happened to you in your encounter yesterday?" She questioned.

Toji rubbed the back of his head and tried to recall the events of his fight.

"I... I don't remember exactly. It's all kinda fuzzy but all I know is that the demon was abnormally fast. The last thing I remember is trying to jump away from it when it slashed through my defense and cut me across the chest" Toji stated as he tried to remember anything else of significance.

"Hmmm, are you sure it wasn't a twelve kizuki that you encountered?" Shinobu asked while sitting back down and examining the cut he had just mentioned.

Toji turned away and shook his head "I'm not sure of that either, I only arrived last second to defend another slayer that was about to be killed.  I didn't get a good look at its eyes" he said regretfully.

Silence once again filled the room as Shinobu continued looking at his chest. She ran her finger across the mentioned wound, causing the young man to wince slightly.

The wound ran from his collarbone on the right down to beneath his left pec. Thankfully it didn't seem too serious and had already began scabbing up to heal.

After a minute of silence, Shinobu looked back up and smiled.

"Luckily the laceration doesn't look too deep and is already healing. I can prescribe you the proper ointment and wrap it up for you so you can go back to resting" she said cheerfully.

"Sounds good to me, Kocho-sama" Toji replied with a smile.

Shinobu nodded and got up to look through the cabinet for the ointment. "Apply it three times a day and make sure to properly bandage it so it doesn't get infected. I will return to check on your condition in 5 days".

"Three times a day, got it" Toji noted to himself.

After she placed the ointment on his nightstand she began re-wrapping his torso.

Toji looked down at the pillar as she worked for a second and once again blushed.

"She's so young and yet knows how to treat her patients so kindly and lovingly. It's crazy to think that we're the same age and she's already so mature" he thought to himself.

"Alright! Wraps are looking good and you're free to put your shirt back on" she said in her sweet tone.

Toji quickly grabbed his shirt next to him and slid it back on.

"Well I'll be on my way now, if you have any further questions or needs just call for one of my students. They'll help you with whatever you need"

Shinobu stood up and brushed herself off.

"Thank you for your help, Kocho-sama" Toji said with a bow, doing his best to ignore his aching muscles.

"Of course! And please, you don't need to use 'sama' when we're alone, Toji-kun" she said closing her eyes.

Toji felt his face get hot but managed to reply "R-right, thank you for your help Kocho-san".

He bowed once more.

She didn't move a muscle and just kept smiling her smile as if she wasn't satisfied with his reply.

"What is she waiting for? Did I misinterpret the situation? Don't tell me...."

He decided to take the risk...

"I mean, thank you.... Shinobu-san?"

The tiny woman nodded happily and turned to make her way out of the ward.

Once he was sure she was gone, Toji sat back down and covered his face with his hands as his mind was bombarded with a thousand different thoughts.

"She's fine with me using her first name?! What if she wasn't fine with it? What did she mean by that? Does she want to be friends? Are we friends already? This was our first time talking and she's already that comfortable with me?!"

He decided it was best to just not worry about it and try to get some rest. He laid down and shut his eyes.

"She's amazing"

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Chapter 2 is ✅. Let me know if you guys enjoy it and also let me know if this chapter length is alright or if I should shorten/lengthen it.

Peace ✌️