Ryuya grinned and grabbed Kaigaku by the ear.
"That blind monk you betrayed? He is now the Stone Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps—Himejima Gyomei. Interesting, isn't it?"
Kaigaku was too terrified to speak.
Ryuya's smile felt like a branding iron pressed against his soul. It suffocated him.
"You're not a demon… you're a devil!!!"
In his entire life, Kaigaku had never encountered a demon this horrifying—this twisted.
It wasn't just strength.
It was psychological.
The sarcasm. The exposure. The way Ryuya peeled open the filth in his heart and forced him to look at it.
Anyone who had experienced that kind of humiliation would understand.
He never wanted to see Ryuya again.
"Oh, this story is wonderful," Ryuya continued lightly.
"I wonder what Iguro Obanai would think if I shared it with him? Maybe he'd pass it along. From one to ten. Ten to a hundred."
He leaned closer, "Do you think there's a chance it might reach Himejima Gyomei's ears?"
"I don't know! I don't know!!!"
"No. You know."
Ryuya released him and left one final remark before vanishing.
"Kaigaku… it's every man for himself."
The moment Ryuya disappeared, Kaigaku's legs—still trembling—began moving instinctively.
He ran.
He stumbled.
He fell face-first into the dirt.
He got up again.
He kept running.
No matter how many times he tripped, he didn't stop.
His will to survive would not allow it.
He had to escape this nightmare.
As he ran, his mind raced.
Ryuya would tell Obanai about his past.
So Obanai had to die.
As long as Obanai died, no one would believe the story.
Even if Ryuya told the Stone Hashira, he could claim it was slander—an attempt to sow discord.
Between a demon's words and his own, surely the Demon Slayer Corps would trust him.
Yes.
That was the solution.
But—
What if Ryuya broke his promise?
What if Obanai survived?
Then Obanai would resent him for not returning.
He might expose everything.
In that case he needed to gain more trust within the Corps.
He couldn't build universal trust overnight.
But he only needed the Corps to trust him more than Obanai.
So the answer was simple.
Ruin Obanai's reputation first.
If Obanai appeared flawed then Kaigaku would seem spotless by comparison.
The more he thought about it, the more brilliant the plan seemed.
He began laughing wildly as he ran.
"Hahahaha!"
Ryuya.
You devil.
Letting me go was your biggest mistake.
I'll make sure you never see me again.
I'll hide so well you'll never find me.
That's my confidence.
That's Kaigaku!
Butterfly Mansion
Sunlight filtered gently through the trees.
At the Butterfly Mansion, Kocho Shinobu sat quietly, her thoughts far from training.
Recently, she had noticed her older sister's condition worsening.
Ever since Ryuya and Shinazugawa Sanemi had their falling out, Kanae had grown distant. She barely ate. She was distracted. Quiet.
The Demon Slayer Corps was tense as well, still searching for the Wind Hashira's younger brother, Shinazugawa Genya.
Shinobu didn't need to guess.
Kanae's state was connected to Ryuya.
What should she do?
She couldn't allow her sister to remain like this.
Should she go find Ryuya?
Maybe Kanae would feel better if she saw him.
Shinobu didn't particularly like that bad guy. She couldn't understand why her sister cared so much.
But for Kanae's sake she could swallow her pride.
But could she persuade him?
Kanae hadn't been able to that day.
How could she?
Shinobu felt torn.
Go?
Or don't go?
Just then, Tsuyuri Kanao walked over.
Since being adopted by Kanae, the once filthy, disheveled girl had grown into someone graceful and beautiful.
Large pink-purple eyes.
Neatly trimmed black bangs.
A butterfly hairpin.
A white haori draped over a dark uniform.
Quiet.
Elegant.
And impossible to read.
Shinobu had always been slightly frustrated by Kanao.
The girl rarely spoke.
When spoken to, she simply stared.
Now, Kanao silently picked up a watering can and began tending the flowers Kanae cultivated.
As always.
Shinobu stood and walked over.
"Kanao, watering the flowers?"
Kanao turned, met her gaze, and nodded.
"Kanao… Big Sister hasn't been herself lately. I want your opinion on something."
Kanao stared blankly.
No agreement.
No refusal.
Shinobu briefly explained everything.
Though Kanao's expression didn't change, her thoughts churned.
Big Sister Shinobu is asking me?
Me?
How do I decide?
What if I choose wrong?
What if it doesn't match what she wants?
So difficult…
So difficult!
"Kanao," Shinobu asked gently, "should I go find Ryuya… or not?"
Pressure.
Too much pressure.
Kanao's eyes wavered.
Then she noticed the coin in her hand.
That's right.
Big Sister Kanae once told her when you can't decide, let the coin decide.
Kanao quickly opened her palm and held the coin up to Shinobu.
"You want me to flip a coin?" Shinobu blinked.
She used to dislike this method.
Now it felt comforting.
Let fate decide.
Why torture herself over it?
"Heads, I go. Tails, I don't." She smiled faintly.
"Alright then."