I Became Spider-Man's Cousin in Anime Crossover

Chapter 385 Towards a New Future

Immediately after noticing Giyu Tomioka's slightly clumsy but purposeful movements, Shinobu Kocho breathed a sigh of relief, and the genuine smile in her eyes deepened even further.

Under her gaze, Tomioka Giyuu, as if he had completed some important ritual, hastily withdrew his hand from the wine pot, as if it were burning hot.

To divert his attention, Yoshiyuki Tomioka picked up his chopsticks and quickly glanced at the dishes on the table, which, while not lavish, were mostly tailor-made to his own taste.

Then, he stopped moving.

Among the common sashimi and pickled dishes, his chopsticks precisely reached for a small dish of dark-colored ginger-preserved pickled vegetables that stood out from the other dishes.

This is a side dish with a rather niche flavor and few fans, but it is one of the few dishes that Shinobu Kocho likes. It is also the only dish on this table. It is clearly not in line with Giyu Tomioka's eating habits, but he specifically requested that it be placed on the table.

Without a word, he picked up a small pinch and placed it steadily in front of Shinobu Kocho, next to the saucer he had just filled with sake.

During this time, no obvious expression could be seen on Giyu Tomioka's face.

His features were cold and hard, even his movements of picking up food seemed stiff, as if all his emotions were frozen under that calm mask.

But even in this seemingly uneventful action, every detail clearly conveys an undeniable message.

It's not that he doesn't understand her, nor that he doesn't care about her.

He's just... not good at expressing himself.

Or rather, like Shinobu Kocho, in that era when darkness had not yet dissipated and dawn was nowhere in sight, they both chose to bury all their personal emotions, desires, and even longings for ordinary yet warm daily life deep and resolutely under the heavy responsibility and mission of "eliminating evil spirits and ending Muzan," a responsibility so heavy it could devour all personal thoughts.

He had neither the inclination nor the right to consider his own happiness, nor to yearn for the dream of starting a family and building a career—a dream that is within reach for most people but out of reach for them.

He completely dedicated himself to his mission, honing himself into a cold and pure blade, existing solely to slay demons, allowing no personal feelings to become a flaw on its edge.

But now, things are different.

The greatest threat has been eliminated, and the millennia-long battle has finally come to a bloody end with victory.

The boulder that had been suppressing his personal emotions was moved by an irresistible force. In addition, after witnessing Shinobu Kocho being seriously injured and nearly dying at the hands of demons during the final battle in the Infinity Castle, something that Giyu Tomioka had been deliberately ignoring and forcibly suppressing finally surfaced and cast a glimmer of light in his heart.

"..."

Shinobu Kocho looked at the unremarkable, dark-colored pickled ginger on the plate, then glanced at Giyu Tomioka, whose face remained expressionless, but upon closer inspection, a faint, almost imperceptible blush appeared on his cheeks near his ears.

The smile on her face finally blossomed completely.

It was a genuine smile, one of relief and joy, like moonlight piercing through the clouds, its gentle glow spreading far and wide. It was more radiant and captivating than any of her usual formulaic, distant smiles, as if it instantly dispelled all the chill in that corner.

She neither thanked them nor spoke out about the unspoken, subtle atmosphere that permeated the two of them.

Words seem so inadequate at this moment.

She simply picked up her chopsticks naturally, took a piece of pickled vegetable, and elegantly put it into her mouth, chewing and savoring it slowly. She tasted the familiar, pungent spiciness and the unique salty aroma of pickled vegetables. Then, as if she had tasted some rare delicacy, she closed her eyes with satisfaction, her long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings, and her whole body exuded an aura of pleasure and tranquility.

The Pillars and veteran members who noticed this scene exchanged knowing glances, their faces showing relief, and even auntie smiles like "Just as I thought" and "I'm totally shipping them."

Even Sanemi Shinazugawa, who always disliked Giyu Tomioka, surprisingly refrained from making any sarcastic remarks.

He merely raised the corners of his mouth, forming a meaningful arc, and let out a soft hum from his nose. While watching the silent exchange between the two, he raised the wine glass in his hand, gently waving it across the crowd in the direction of Tomioka Giyuu and Kocho Shinobu. Then, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in one gulp, the movement crisp and clean, as if it were a silent acknowledgment and blessing.

Obanai Iguro glanced at the gradually warming atmosphere on their side, then couldn't help but cast his gaze towards the distance. There, Mitsuri Kanroji and several girls from the Hidden Squad were holding hands, dancing a simple celebratory dance around a roaring bonfire to a cheerful rhythm. Her long, pinkish-green hair flew in the firelight, and her face radiated a bright, untroubled smile, like the most radiant spring sunshine. Obanai Iguro's heterochromatic eyes flickered with a complex light, a mixture of longing and timidity. He seemed to want to take action, to be as brave as Shinobu Kocho, but the deep-seated inferiority complex and the fear of rejection within him acted like invisible shackles, pinning him firmly to the spot. He was afraid he had misunderstood, and even more afraid that rash action would shatter the current harmonious and natural relationship, causing everything to deteriorate rapidly, making even watching from afar a luxury. This hesitation caused his hands, resting on his knees, to tighten slightly.

Meanwhile, Riley, who seemed completely absorbed in the food before him and indifferent to the "feelings" around him, had actually already taken in all the subtle interactions. When he noticed Obanai Iguro's expression—clearly concerned but too afraid to approach, only able to stand there agonizing—his true face, hidden behind his mask, immediately revealed an undisguised look of disappointment and frustration, and he even rolled his eyes almost imperceptibly.

"Honestly, they're all so awkward! It's so frustrating to watch!" he thought to himself.

And so, just as Kanroji Mitsuri finished her lively dance, her cheeks flushed a healthy red from the exercise and excitement, and she smiled contentedly, intending to turn back to her seat—

Riley secretly flicked his finger, and an invisible and intangible psychic force silently swept past.

"Ah ah!"

Kanroji Mitsuri felt her foot slip, as if she had stepped on some non-existent, round pebble. She let out a short, surprised gasp, instantly lost her balance, and staggered, involuntarily falling headfirst to the side—in the direction where Iguro Obanai was!

Obanai Iguro, who had been focusing most of his attention on her, almost had his heart stop the moment she lost her balance! Without thinking, almost instinctively, he threw down the bowl and chopsticks he had just picked up, making a soft "clatter" sound, and sprang up like an arrow. He stretched out his arms and, with precision and steadiness, caught the pinkish-green figure that was falling towards him, carrying a faint sweet fragrance and warmth, and held her firmly in his arms.

"!"

The moment she caught her securely, Obanai Iguro instinctively breathed a sigh of relief, thankful she hadn't fallen. However, before she could fully exhale, the next second, all her senses were overwhelmed by the real touch of her in her arms—

The girl's warm, soft body pressed tightly against him, her slightly rapid breaths from the dance brushing against his neck, carrying a sweet scent... They were so close that he could clearly see her long eyelashes and her pure, glass-like eyes, slightly widened in surprise.

"boom--!"

An indescribable heat suddenly surged to the top of his head. Obanai Iguro felt his entire face, including the lower half covered by bandages, instantly turn bright red and become incredibly hot! Extreme embarrassment, panic, and a kind of unspeakable joy intertwined, overwhelming him and leaving his mind blank. Wisps of visible white steam even rose dramatically from the top of his head. He froze on the spot, as if he had become a steaming sculpture that was about to be cooked, and he even forgot where to put his hands.