The sun rose and set, lighting the lands of shadows. Time went by and the seasons changed. It was once the end of summer but now it was the cold winter. Her eyes slowly fluttered open, the strong light of winter threatened them.

"Y/N IS AWAKE!"

Aoi stumbles out of the room, announcing Y/N's wake. Shinobu enters and checks for any signs of harm, letting her take a few sips of water.

"How do you feel?"

"I feel as if I took a really good nap..."

She looks out the window and fear crawled up her features.

"H-How long was I out for?"

"A couple of months. Here, drink this medicine. I think that you'll be fine to walk back to the Swordsmith village in a day or so."

"How's the village?"

"Well, it's under Sanemi's care. You know that guy. People are basically scared of him."

"Ah..."

"Oh yes, those flowers over there, is from your little admirer~"

"Admirer?"

Shinobu smiles at Y/N as if she had a slightly teasing aura.

"Who?"

"You'll see. He'll be here soon. He comes nearly every single day."

The door slowly opens and their eyes land on the male. His head was still hung low, still thinking that she was asleep. The insect pillar pats Y/N's shoulders and looked between the two.

"I'll let you guys talk for a bit."

Their eyes connected as Shinobu exited in an almost mocking way, giving them side glances.

"H-Haganezuka?"

"Y/N!"

He nearly dropped whatever he had in his hands, scurrying to her side.

"You're awake!"

"Yes. I just woke up today."

"Thank god."

Haganezuka sits down on the sit Shinobu had sat, holding her hands tightly. He leans his forehead against her fingers,

"I thought you were really gone for good."

"Why? Miss me?"

There it was. Her teasing voice that would always make him go mad. But this time, it made him madly grateful. He turns his head, not wanting to make any eye contact with her. She squeezes his hand and he looks back.

"T-Thank you for the flowers. They're beautiful. When I woke up, I thought it was spring."

"O-Oh... your welcome..."

Haganezuka swats his hands away from hers, replacing the nearly dried up flowers with fresh ones he brought.

"Haganezuka, why did you visit me nearly every day?"

"H-How did you know?!"

"Shinobu."

"Ah... Well, I- erm- maybe... I might... I-I missed y-you?"

"So you l-like me?"

"Y-yeah... But you don't have to like me back, alright? L-let's just be good friends."

Y/N pulls him by his collar, into a hug. Those arms that barely moved for months wrapped around his broad shoulders, engulfing him in a warm embrace.

"I-I'm glad... that you l-like me because I d-do too..."

"Really?"

"Yes..."

Her fingers trace his mask, hooking underneath, slowly pulling it up. Just as she saw his lips, the door flings open.

"Y/N, you need to take your med- Oh. Need an extra minute?"

Shinobu smirked. Haganezuka's arms caged her and as she was pulling off his mask. They scrambled and he sheepishly headed towards the door.

"H-Haganezuka? Can you w-walk me back to the Swordsmith village tomorrow?"

"S-sure."

The insect pillar laughed evilly and Y/N knew that she was going to be teased so badly for the next couple of hours. The next morning came slower than expected, also due to Shinobu's constant teasing and horrible medicine that she forced it down her throat. Haganezuka was sitting by the wooden steps, waiting for Y/N to grab her belongings. She steps out of the room and shyly calls,

"Ready?"

His body flinched and he got up, offering to hold her things. They waved goodbye to the butterfly estate girls, heading back to the village. On the way to the village, they had to go through a deep forest. But, since it was the day, they did not need to worry about demons popping out as the sun was shining brightly—unless those demons were immune to sunlight. The cold breaths that formed smoke in the air accompanied the stillness of winter. Haganezuka did not like the awkward silence and he scratches the back of his neck.

"Y-Y/N?"

"Yes?"

"W-what are w-we?"

Y/N blushes, cute pink powdered cheeks hidden behind her mask. Her fingers fiddled around,

"I-I guess b-boyfriend and g-girlfriend? T-that's if y-you want..."

His arms wrapped around her, a small squeal coming out, as he engulfs her in his warm arms. He lifts her mask, showing her cute blushing face, and he chuckles.

"I'd gladly be your boyfriend..."

Her eyes looked so angelic, letting them forget the demons that lurked in the darkness. She glides her hand up his broad arms, hooking underneath his mask. This was it, the moment of truth. Inch by inch, his face was revealed. Though she fell for him, it surprised her that behind that hideous mask was an extremely attractive man. As if her lungs stopped working, her breath hitched. She could see him, the way his eyebrow furrowed and eyes peered at hers.

"A-are you disappointed?"

Y/N was snapped out of her trance. Her fingers caressed his cheeks as she sweetly smiled at him, eyes squinting from happiness.

"Why would I? After all, you are the Haganezuka I fell for... It's a bonus you're this attractive."

She buries her head into his chest, still new to confessing her love to him. His heart was beating rapidly and she could hear it through the thick clothing he wore. Haganezuka cups her right cheek, lifting her face to meet his orbs. He grins and leans down to the smaller female in his arms. His hot breath tickled the frost that formed on her face, melting them as he moved closer and closer.

"I guess now we won't get interrupted?"

"Huh?"

Those lips that smirked at her softly crashed onto hers. Their cold lips turned warm from contact. Y/N's eyes widened but slowly fluttered close, hands sliding down to his chest to grip his jacket. His arms moved down to hold her waist as their lips lovingly connect. He grips onto her waist and she squeaks her mouth open. Haganezuka starts moving his lips in such an erotic way, tongue entering her mouth to explore her oral cavity. She started panting heavily, soft mewls vibrating through their mouths. He leaves her slightly bruised lips, a silver line of saliva connecting them. The two realized what they had done, blushing madly as they pushed each other away. They faced away from each other as they proceeded their journey, hands slightly touching until he enveloped her small hands in his big ones. The walk was quiet but there was a hint of comfortability in it. The sun had set and the two had finally made it back to the village in time. Unannounced to them, every single villager was waiting for her return. They had missed her. When the two walked through the entrance, hand in hand, there were loud screams of astonishment.

"T-THEY'RE HOLDING HANDS?!"

Y/N and Haganezuka realized and released their grip, fiddling with their clothing as the villagers started questioning their relationship, which was in the end revealed that they are together as a couple. The chief wanted to cry as Haganezuka was like a child to him, finally finding a girlfriend when people assumed he would stay single for life. There were lots of questions and congratulations as they walked through the village. As the crowd cleared, the two stood between their houses as they stayed opposite each other. Haganezuka grabs her arm as she walked towards her house.

"E-Erm... Do y-you want to spend t-the night over at my place? We c-can have dinner and talk to make up for t-the time you were bedridden."

"S-sure..."

He opens his door hastily. It was the first time he was going to have a girlfriend over at his place, the first one ever.