"Yae-san has really been through a lot."
On the snow-covered path, Shinichi and Shinobu walked side by side.
Not long ago, they had slain the "Killer Bear" in the snowy mountains—Yae's father who had turned into a demon.
After that, the hearthbroken Yae, had nearly taken her own life with a gun.
Fortunately, Shinichi reacted quickly enough to knock the firearm from her hand with his sword before she could pull the trigger.
But even if Shinichi hadn't intervened, Yae wouldn't have been able to fire the gun, as the trigger had been frozen solid by frozen blood.
Her father's blood.
It seemed like a final, unseen protection from her father.
In the end, with Shinobu's comforting words, Yae broke down into sobs but found the will to live again—for herself and for her father.
With the "Killer Bear" incident resolved, Shinichi prepared to leave the snowy mountains and return to headquarters.
Shinobu chose to accompany him, as she had nearly finished gathering the medicinal herbs she needed.
Along the way, Shinobu chatted animatedly about her various experiences.
However, compared to her enthusiasm, Shinichi seemed much more subdued, only occasionally grunting in response.
Talking to someone so indifferent was truly exhausting!
But Shinobu was no ordinary person.
Even with Shinichi's dismissive attitude, she could still carry on happily.
Perhaps, for Shinobu, simply having someone to confide in was a wonderful thing.
A cold sensation touched Shinichi's forehead.
He looked up to see snowflakes beginning to fall again.
This endless, gloomy snowstorm had persisted for a long time.
Soon, both Shinichi and Shinobu's hair was dusted with white snow.
Though the biting wind was harsh, to the two Hashira, such cold was nothing.
Shinichi stopped and glanced back at Shinobu, who looked at him curiously.
"What is it, Shinichi-kun?"
After a brief silence, Shinichi took off his blue-green battle robe and draped it over Shinobu's head, using it as a makeshift umbrella.
"Ara, Shinichi-kun?" Shinobu was momentarily flustered by his sudden act of kindness, but Shinichi had already turned away.
"Let's go. There's still a long way ahead. Let's see if there's an inn or something up ahead."
Watching Shinichi's retreating figure, Shinobu reached out with her pale hand and gently tightened the robe around her.
A faint smile graced her beautiful face before she hurried to catch up with him.
However, sometimes even a peaceful journey was too much to ask for.
Shinichi stopped again, but this time, his expression was grave.
His black Demon Slayer Corps uniform flapped violently in the wind as he suddenly raised a hand to stop Shinobu.
Shinobu noticed something too.
Her large violet eyes followed Shinichi's gaze.
Amid the howling snowstorm, two indistinct figures slowly approached, carrying with them an overwhelming demonic presence.
"This aura... is it... Maito?" Shinichi frowned, sensing the familiar energy.
But as soon as he recognized its owner, his tense expression softened.
Sure enough, as the two figures emerged through the snowstorm, Shinichi and Shinobu could clearly make out their appearances.
The Martial Demon stood with arms crossed, the forehead band bearing the character "Martial" slightly tattered, and his martial attire looking somewhat disheveled.
Yet, his cold, stern expression remained unchanged.
However, compared to the familiar Maito, the figure standing beside him was entirely unfamiliar to Shinichi.
He didn't recognize the Demon, only finding this disheveled, bandaged figure in ill-fitting clothes rather peculiar.
While Shinichi knew the 'Maito, Shinobu beside him did not.
The moment she saw the two demons, her body tensed up immediately, clearly preparing for battle.
The pressure emanating from these two demons was immense—comparable to the Twelve Kizuki!
"Maito, what are you doing here? Wait, you're the one who helped Giyu break free, aren't you?" Shinichi spoke while pulling Shinobu behind him protectively.
Though Maito was different from Muzan and his ilk, Shinichi still didn't want Shinobu to interact with them too much, just to be safe.
"The demon who helped Tomioka-san... is this one?" Hearing Shinichi's words, Shinobu's eyes widened in surprise.
Though shielded by Shinichi, she still peeked out from behind him to get a better look at Maito's face.
At Shinichi's words, Maito chuckled, seemingly indifferent.
"Just a casual act. I also wanted to see how strong Muzan's underlings really are. Not bad—Upper Three is far stronger than that gay looking Upper Two. And that human boy from your Demon Slayer Corps isn't bad either. His Breathing Style is quite impressive."
Shinichi knew Maito was referring to Tomioka Giyu.
He wondered if Giyu would be pleased to have two powerful demons acknowledge his Breathing Style.
Shaking his head to dismiss the odd thought, Shinichi turned back to Maito.
"So, why have you sought us out now? Was your fight with Upper Three not satisfying enough?"
Hearing this, Maito grinned, revealing sharp fangs, his golden pupils blazing with intense fighting spirit.
Boom!!
The sheer force of his unleashed aura sent snowflakes swirling violently, showering the sleepy Demon beside him.
The sleepy Demon showed no reaction, silently using his wide sleeves to wipe the snow off his face.
"As expected, Shinichi, you understand me best. Perfect timing—it's been so long since we last met. Let me see how much you've improved!" Maito said with a slightly ferocious grin.
Shinichi sighed helplessly, a glimmer of understanding flashing in his heterochromatic eyes.
"I knew it. Shinobu, stay here. I'll be back soon."
Turning to comfort Shinobu softly, Shinichi then drew the green-and-red Nichirin Blade from his waist.
A surge of vibrant life force erupted instantly, clashing head-on with Maito's overwhelming battle aura.
"Shinichi, since when did your tastes become so... unique? have you fallen in love with watermelons? That blade's color is certainly... unique" Maito mocked, eyeing Shinichi's Nichirin Blade.
Shinichi's gaze turned cold.
"Enough talk. If you want a fight, come at me! Even a 'watermelon knife' can beat the shit out of you!"
"Hahaha! Then bring it on!!"
Boom! Swish!
In an instant, the green and red figures collided like lightning!
"Shinichi-kun!?" Shinobu instinctively reached out towards Shinichi's retreating figure with a startled cry, her hand simultaneously gripping the hilt of her Nichirin Blade.
But a shadowy figure blocked her line of sight.
When she looked up, she met the lifeless gaze of dull gray eyes.
"Yaaawn~, mmm, sorry. But Maito said i can't let a little girl like you interfere."
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