The Softness Beneath Her

The room inside Shirayuki’s estate was warmer than Sanemi expected.

Not warm like comfort—just… less cold than outside.

A kettle quietly sat over a low flame. The soft sound of boiling water filled the silence between them.

Sanemi stood near the entrance at first, arms still crossed, like he wasn’t sure he belonged there.

Shirayuki moved calmly, preparing tea without speaking much. No unnecessary noise. No hesitation. Just quiet efficiency.

It should’ve annoyed him.

It usually did—silence like this.

But for some reason…

It didn’t.

Sanemi watched her.

She didn’t fidget. Didn’t rush. Didn’t try to fill the silence. Even the way she poured water felt controlled, precise, almost emotionless.

“…Tch.”

He clicked his tongue under his breath, but softer than usual.

Too quiet.

That was the thought that came first.

Not “boring.”

Not “weird.”

Just… too quiet.

His eyes shifted slightly as he sat down without really realizing when he decided to.

Shirayuki placed a cup in front of him.

No smile. No expectation.

Just… offering.

“…You always like this?” he muttered suddenly.

Shirayuki paused for a moment.

“…Like what?”

Sanemi frowned, staring into the steam rising from the cup.

“Silent.”

A beat.

Shirayuki sat down opposite him.

“…Yes.”

Simple answer.

No explanation.

No defense.

Sanemi’s grip on his cup tightened slightly.

Of course she is.

That should’ve been the end of it.

But it wasn’t.

Because silence from her didn’t feel empty.

It felt… heavy.

Like she was saying everything without opening her mouth.

Sanemi’s eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced at her over the rim of his cup.

She doesn’t waste words.

Doesn’t react like normal people.

Doesn’t even look at me like I’m… anything special.

That last thought made something irritating twist in his chest.

He clicked his tongue again.

“Tch… annoying.”

Shirayuki looked up slightly.

“…The tea?”

“No,” he snapped immediately. “You.”

Silence again.

But this time, it didn’t break.

Shirayuki didn’t respond right away.

Just watched him.

Still. Calm. Unreadable.

And Sanemi—

for once—

couldn’t tell what she was thinking.

That bothered him more than any insult.

Because everyone else around him was loud in some way.

Angry. Afraid. Nervous. Excited.

Even enemies showed something.

But her…

Nothing obvious.

And yet she wasn’t hollow.

That was the problem.

Sanemi stared down at his tea.

“…You don’t talk much,” he said again, quieter this time.

Shirayuki replied softly.

“…There is no need.”

That made him pause.

He scoffed, but it lacked strength.

“Tch. That’s stupid.”

But he didn’t actually argue.

Instead, he leaned back slightly, eyes half-lidded.

And in the quiet that followed—

he realized something he didn’t want to admit.

Her silence wasn’t uncomfortable.

It was steady.

Like snow falling without permission… but also without harm.

And somehow—

he didn’t hate it.

“…Tch.”

He turned his face away slightly, as if annoyed at his own thoughts.

Shirayuki watched him for a moment longer.

Then quietly returned to her tea.

No pressure.

No question.

Just silence again.

But now—

Sanemi stayed in it instead of leaving.

The quiet inside Shirayuki’s estate didn’t last long.

A sudden rustling sound came from outside the nearby bushes.

Sanemi’s posture changed instantly.

His hand moved slightly toward his sword.

“…Tch.”

His eyes narrowed.

“Something’s there.”

He stood up halfway, tense and alert, already ready to react.

But then—

He glanced at Shirayuki.

And froze.

She was still sitting exactly the same way.

Calm.

Unbothered.

Quietly drinking her tea as if the sound outside didn’t even exist.

“…Oi.”

No response.

Shirayuki simply took another sip.

Sanemi frowned.

“Hey, did you not hear—”

Before he could finish—

A small white cat suddenly jumped out from the bushes.

“Meow.”

It landed straight inside the room.

And without hesitation—

jumped onto Shirayuki’s lap.

Sanemi went completely still.

“…Hah?”

The cat curled up comfortably like it had done this a hundred times before.

Shirayuki didn’t even flinch.

She slowly lowered her tea cup.

Then—

with both hands—

she gently lifted the cat up.

Holding it in the air.

Face-to-face.

The cat blinked.

“Meow?”

Shirayuki stared at it silently.

Sanemi stared at both of them.

“…What the hell am I looking at?”

The cat kept mewing softly, legs dangling.

Shirayuki said nothing.

Just turned slightly and walked into the next room while still holding it.

Sanemi followed, confused and suspicious.

“Tch… are you seriously just ignoring a random animal in your house?!”

A few minutes later—

Shirayuki came back.

With a small bowl of milk.

She placed it in front of the cat.

The cat immediately ran to it and started drinking happily.

Sanemi’s eyes widened slightly.

“…You planned this?”

Shirayuki sat back down calmly.

“…Yes.”

Silence.

Sanemi stared at her like she had grown a second head.

“You just… keep stray animals here?”

The cat continued drinking.

Shirayuki replied softly.

“…If they need help.”

Sanemi clicked his tongue.

“Tch. Ridiculous.”

But his eyes didn’t leave her.

Something about it didn’t match what he expected from her.

Cold. Quiet. Detached.

And yet—

she picked up a stray cat like it mattered.

Sanemi narrowed his eyes slightly.

“…You’re weird.”

Shirayuki blinked.

“…I am normal.”

That made him scoff.

“Normal people don’t collect strays like it’s a hobby.”

Shirayuki looked at the cat for a moment.

Then said quietly:

“I couldn’t save its owner.”

A pause fell.

Even the cat’s eating slowed slightly.

Sanemi didn’t speak immediately.

His expression shifted—just a little.

Shirayuki continued, voice still flat.

“…Mission. I arrived too late.”

She gently touched the cat’s head.

“So I brought it back.”

Silence again.

Sanemi looked away slightly.

“Tch…”

But this time, his tone wasn’t mocking.

It was lower.

“…So you do feel things.”

Shirayuki tilted her head slightly.

“I act on them.”

Sanemi scoffed under his breath.

“Same thing.”

But inside his mind—

something shifted.

She doesn’t show it… but she carries it.

He glanced at her again.

Still calm.

Still silent.

Still unreadable.

But now he understood something different.

Her silence wasn’t emptiness.

It was control.

And somehow—

that made her feel even more real.

Sanemi clicked his tongue one more time.

“…Weird woman.”

The cat purred softly.

And for once—

the room didn’t feel empty at all.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***