7 Summer (2)

"An oni..." Shun continued to gaze at her as they walked along the road in the Forest of Magic. "That's right~ I'm an oni," she reaffirmed while taking another sip from the gourd.

"Uhm, is it just me or are you drunk?" Shun asked a concerned tone in his voice. "Hm?~ No~ I'm not drunk!" she protested, her wobbling movements nearly causing her to stumble.

"Hmm, how about we take a rest here," Shun suggested, finding a spot under a tree. He patted his legs, inviting her to sit down.

"Are you treating me like a kid?" Suika glared at him, her tone firm. "I'm an oni, you know!?" "I'm not treating you like a kid, I'm just inviting you to rest, and besides, isn't it hot?" Shun explained calmly, trying to diffuse the situation.

"It is... Hmmm, alright," Suika relented, taking a seat beside him. "Human, aren't you scared of that vampire?" she asked, her curiosity evident. "Call me Shun, and no, not really," he replied with a warm smile, his gaze focused on the ground. "Hm? Well, whatever..." Suika muttered, finally laying her head on his legs. "Ahh, it's so hot..." she remarked, her voice filled with exhaustion.

"It is..." Shun's gaze shifted upward to the sky, contemplating the summer heat. Suddenly, a soft snore caught his attention, and he turned his gaze towards Suika.

"Suika?" he called gently, giving her a light shake. "Oh, you're asleep." Shun couldn't help but smile as he continued to stroke her hair. "I can't believe I'm petting an oni's hair," he murmured to himself, He slowly withdrew his hand, allowing the cool breeze to caress their surroundings.

"Oh? It's the human butler! Good afternoon!" a familiar voice greeted him,

"Cirno, we don't even know who he is..." spoke a girl with a blue dress adorned with white trim and sleeves, her back adorned with golden wings. "Cirno?" Shun repeated, trying to recall the name. "Hm! I'm glad you remembered my name!" Cirno proclaimed, placing her hands on her hips with a satisfied expression. "And who is that fairy beside you?" Shun inquired, directing his attention to the fairy standing beside Cirno.

"My name is Daiyousei. Nice to meet you," the fairy named Daiyousei introduced herself with a respectful bow. Shun observed her and couldn't help but be struck by her unexpected kindness. "She's unexpectedly kind..." Shun muttered to himself, his gaze shifting towards Cirno. "Wh-What?!" Cirno exclaimed, noticing Shun's gaze. "Nothing..." Shun replied, shaking his head slightly to dismiss any misunderstandings.

"So, what are you two doing?" Shun inquired, curious about them. "Great question, Human Butler! Today, we're going to try the mochi ice cream at Eientei! I heard that the kappa sells some there!" Cirno exclaimed excitedly. "Mochi ice cream... Sounds delicious," Shun remarked, his interest piqued.

"If you want, you can come with us," Daiyousei kindly offered, extending an invitation to Shun.

"Really? Hmmm..." Shun pondered for a moment, contemplating the invitation. "I guess I'll go visit this Eientei place," he finally decided, scratching his head. With a gentle movement, he carefully lifted Suika's head from his legs and placed her in a more comfortable position under the shade of the tree.

"Now then, shall we go?" Shun addressed Cirno and Daiyousei. A few hours later... "We're lost, aren't we?" Shun says to Cirno and Daiyousei. "I shouldn't have followed Cirno..." Shun sighs. "C-Cirno, are you sure you know where to go?" Daiyousei asked. "Of course,, I know where to go! I-It's right over there!" She pointed as she slowly flew in the direction she pointed. "Ahhh, I guess this is my punishment for following a fairy... Speaking of punishment... I'm gonna be punished by Lady Remilia and Miss Sakuya, huh..." He sighed, looking down at the ground as he walked.

"Hm? What are you two doing here? And who is that boy behind you?" A girl with long light-purple hair and long rumpled rabbit ears approached them. Her ears stood up straight and were decorated with two button-like accessories. She wore a long-sleeved black business suit over a white shirt, paired with a beige skirt. Her left lapel bore a crescent moon-shaped insignia, and a pocket square adorned her left shirt pocket. "Ahh! It's the rabbit!" Cirno exclaimed.

"It's Reisen Udongein Inaba, to be precise!" she corrected, glaring at the fairy before shifting her gaze to Shun. "Ah, are you perhaps... the butler of the Scarlet Devil Mansion?" she inquired. "Y-Yes," he cleared his throat and elegantly bowed. "My name is Shun, a butler of the Scarlet Devil Mansion." He then looked up to meet her eyes. "So gentle..." Reisen murmured, covering her mouth with her hand.

"So, what are you three doing in the Bamboo Forest of the Lost?" Reisen asked, looking at the three. "W-We wanted to try the mochi ice cream!" Cirno exclaimed, and Daiyousei nodded in agreement. "I followed them because I also wanted to buy some," Shun added. "Hmm, I see... then come with me," Reisen said, gesturing for them to follow her.

"Ah, thank you, Miss Inaba?" Shun said. "Reisen is fine," she replied with a smile as she walked. "Though you two have to watch out since a certain rabbit might tra-" Before she could finish her sentence, Reisen fell into a hole. "Trap," she continued, frustrated. "Hehehe~ I got ya!" a girl in a frilly pink-white dress with fluffy white rabbit ears exclaimed, laughing at Reisen. "Tewi!!" Reisen shouted in annoyance. "Ahh! Let me help you, Reisen," Shun said, walking near the hole and kneeling down, extending his hand. "Grab my hand."

"T-Thank you," Reisen said, blushing slightly, as she grabbed Shun's hand and he pulled her up from the hole. "Hm? Who are you, human?" Tewi asked, curious about Shun. After Shun helped Reisen, he brushed off the dust from his pants at the knee. "My name is Shun, a butler of the Scarlet Devil Mansion," he introduced himself with a polite bow. "Oh? You? Ahhh, the rumors I've heard from the rabbits," Tewi responded, sounding intrigued.

"Tewi, I hope you're ready for the consequences of what you just did," Reisen said, glaring at Tewi. "Eek!" Tewi let out a frightened squeal and quickly ran away. "Come back here, you little!" Reisen chased after Tewi, and soon they both disappeared from sight. "Uhm, I think Miss Reisen just left us here," Daiyousei remarked. "Are we there yet? I'm tired!" Cirno complained.

"Cirno, how about sitting on my shoulders?" Shun suggested with a smile. "Really?! That'll do!" Cirno exclaimed, promptly placing her legs on Shun's shoulders. "E-Eh? Cirno, you can't do that," Daiyousei protested.

"Huh? But the human butler said it," Cirno retorted. "It's alright, Daiyousei," Shun reassured her with a smile. "T-Thank you, Mister Shun," Daiyousei said with an awkward smile and bowed.

"No worries... but again, we have a bit of a problem," Shun replied, looking at the two paths ahead. "Are you lost?" a woman's voice suddenly echoed. "Huh?!" Shun turned around to see a woman wearing a light brown shirt that seemed discolored from fire, along with dark red sashinuki hakama adorned with random paper charms. Her hair was tied with the same red and white paper charms.

"It's the guide of the bamboo forest!" Daiyousei exclaimed.

"Oh? You fairies again?" She sighed. "How many times have you two gotten lost in this-" She stopped and stared at Shun. "Huh? I haven't seen you here. Are you new?" she asked.

"Ah! I'm Shun, the butler of the Scarlet Devil Mansion," he replied, offering a slight bow. "That's right! It's the human butler who will serve me, the strongest!" Cirno chimed in. Shun awkwardly chuckled. "Pfft!~ Ahahaha~ A human butler in that vampire's mansion..." She burst into laughter.

"It's time to introduce myself. My name is Fujiwara no Mokou, a Hourai," she introduced herself with a confident smile.