The room smelled faintly of herbs, blood and ointment.
Shinobu worked silently, her hands steady as she bandaged Tanjiro's wound. His breathing eased under her touch, but something in the air shifted—sharp, cold, almost metallic.
Tanjiro's nose twitched.
"…Shinobu-san?" he whispered. "Your scent changed. It feels like—dread?"
Shinobu paused.
Her heart felt… heavy. Too heavy. As if someone had pushed a hand into her chest and squeezed. There was no reason for it—no demon nearby, no threat, no poison in the air—yet something deep inside her trembled.
A promise.
A memory.
A name she had locked away.
Before she could answer, Aoi burst into the room.
Her eyes darted around the chaos—Zenitsu screaming, Inosuke wrestling Kanao, Tanjiro sighing apologetically—then she looked directly at Shinobu.
"Miss Shinobu."
Shinobu nodded slightly for her to continue.
Aoi swallowed."There's a man at the front door. He says… he's here for you."
Shinobu tilted her head, confused.
"For me? Who?"
Aoi hesitated only a moment before saying:
"Haruto Hinode."
Everything inside Shinobu went still.
Zenitsu heard her heartbeat skip so violently he slapped a hand over his chest in shock.Tanjiro froze, eyes widening as new scents flooded his senses—fear, anxiety, longing… and love.Inosuke shivered, feeling goosebumps ripple across Shinobu's skin like a wave.
Haruto.
Here?
No. No, that wasn't possible. He was in Korea. He wasn't supposed to return for weeks. She wasn't ready. She had prepared a hundred excuses for her bruises, her absences, her lies. She needed time—
But he was here.
Shinobu calmly handed Aoi the water tub.
"Aoi, take over. Tend to Tanjiro and the others."
Aoi blinked."Yes, ma'am."
Shinobu stepped out of the room.Then the moment she reached the hallway—
She ran.
Her heartbeat hammered at her ribs.Her breaths trembled.Her mind whispered denial after denial:
This is a dream.This is a mistake.This can't be happening.Not now. Not like this.
The estate's doors came into view.
And there he was.
Outside — Butterfly Estate Grounds
Haruto Hinode stood in the middle of the courtyard, a suitcase in one hand, gently brushing dust off his coat with the other. His smile was soft, easy, familiar.
Warm.Bright.Exactly as she remembered.
Tengen Uzui—who had been passing by to drop off an injured slayer—was speaking with him, intrigued by the tall stranger who nearly matched his height.
Shinobu burst into the courtyard.
Uzui glanced at her, eyebrow raising as he sensed the sudden change in her aura.
"Looks like my presence isn't needed," he muttered, slipping away with a smirk. "How flamboyant." He took his leave.
Their eyes met.
And Shinobu's world cracked open.
Haruto turned fully toward her, stunned for a heartbeat—then his smile widened.
"Shinobu."
Her breath hitched.
That voice.That smile.That man who never knew she fought demons at night.Who never saw the blood on her hands.Who believed every excuse she gave him.
He was real.He was here.He came back.
Her lips parted. No words came out.
She forced her usual sharp smile—the one she used to hide everything.
"…You're early," she said, lightly sarcastic.
Haruto laughed softly, rubbing the back of his neck just like he used to.
"You make it sound like you didn't want to see me."
Her throat tightened.
"I didn't say that."
It came out quieter than she meant.
He stepped toward her.
"Are you alright? You look pale—did you think I ran away?"
"Don't come closer."
The words shot out too fast, too sharp.
Haruto halted immediately, confused.
Shinobu swallowed her regret and softened her tone.
"I… I mean the children are still treating patients. It's chaotic today."
He relaxed again, smiling that warm, understanding smile she didn't deserve.
"I don't mind chaos. Not when it's you."His voice softened."I missed you, my love."
Zenitsu—still broken inside—suddenly heard from the window.
"D-DID HE JUST CALL HER—"Aoi slapped a hand over his mouth.
"Zenitsu, pls keep quiet"
Outside
Shinobu ignored them.
Her heart hammered painfully.
"You should have written," she murmured. "I could have—"
"Prepared?" he finished playfully. "I wanted to surprise you."
His smile radiated.
Oh… how she missed it.
"…You succeeded," she admitted.
A warm silence wrapped around them.
Then Haruto reached into his coat and pulled out a cloth-wrapped parcel.
"I brought you something," he said. "From the villages."
He handed it to her.
Their fingers brushed.
Her breath caught.
Inside the cloth was a small glass vial filled with deep violet powder, sparkling like crushed butterfly wings.
"Nightshade blossoms," Haruto explained. "The true species. You once said you'd never seen them in person."
Shinobu stared.
He remembered something she mentioned once, casually, while they watched fireflies.
She turned away quickly before the tears could form.
"…You shouldn't have," she whispered.
Haruto chuckled."Of course I should have."
He reached out and gently lifted her chin.
"I missed you."
Her heart twisted painfully.
She stepped back—fast.
"Haruto," she said firmly. "There are… things you don't know."
He blinked. Innocent. Unaware.Exactly how she needed him to stay.
"What do you mean?"
Shinobu swallowed everything she could never tell him.
Her lies.Her scars.Her sister's death.Her hatred for demons.Her battle with Muzan.Her looming fate.
"…We'll talk later," she whispered, voice trembling. "For now… let me show you to your room."
Haruto smiled brightly.
"Lead the way."
She turned.
He followed.
And for the first time in years…Shinobu Kocho felt truly terrified.