Dust swirled across the training field, kicked up by the force of blades. Pale green sword light fell like sudden rain, each strike slicing the air with a sharp whistle.
Tomioka Giyu sidestepped, his deep-blue haori drawing an arc through the wind. His Nichirin Sword met the oncoming blade precisely—"clang!"—the impact shuddering through his arm until his palm went numb.
"Wind Breathing, Sixth Form: Black Wind Mountain Mist!"
Shinazugawa Sanemi's roar echoed across the field as a pale green whirlwind rose around him, wrapping Giyu completely in its raging gusts.
The Wind Hashira's strikes were even fiercer than during their last sparring session. Every swing carried the intent to destroy both of them, pure reckless anger behind each blow.
Giyu inhaled deeply, his blade tracing a smooth arc before him. "Water Breathing, Eleventh Form: Dead Calm."
A ring of faint blue water formed instantly, dissolving the swirling wind layer by layer. The rapid hum of spinning water intertwined with the howl of wind, creating a sharp, grating noise.
Sanemi burst from the fading whirlwind, blade aimed straight at Giyu's throat. "Don't dodge! Show me your real strength! Didn't you create a new form? Use it!"
"No need."
Giyu twisted his wrist slightly, his sword gliding along Sanemi's blade to deflect the force before stepping back half a pace. "It's just training."
"Training?"
Sanemi let out a cold laugh, his glare growing darker. "You still have the nerve to talk about training? Tomioka Giyu, what the hell did you do to make Kanae cry?"
Giyu froze mid-motion.
Kanae? Crying?
He frowned, confusion flickering in his eyes. "I didn't."
The last time he saw Kanae had been during the Hashira meeting. She had smiled and talked about Shinobu's progress. How could she suddenly be crying? And what did that have to do with him?
Seeing Giyu's baffled look only made Sanemi angrier. "Don't play dumb! I saw Kanae crying in the courtyard yesterday with my own eyes! She was saying your name! If it wasn't you, then who?"
Giyu opened his mouth to deny it—but then remembered the moment Shinobu had handed him that paper pouch of poison powder, her face red as she hurried away. Could it be something happened with Shinobu instead?
The wind on the training field suddenly stilled. Dust drifted back down in silence.
Looking at Sanemi's furious face, Giyu realized something was clearly misunderstood.
He sheathed his sword calmly. "Cool down first. It's not what you think."
"Not what I think? Then what is it?"
Sanemi lowered his sword but kept glaring. "Kanae's such a kind person. Who else could've made her cry besides you?"
Giyu didn't argue. He simply turned and started walking toward the Butterfly Mansion. "Come with me. We'll ask her directly."
Sanemi blinked, hesitated a few seconds, then followed. He wanted to see for himself how this cold, expressionless Water Hashira planned to explain.
The courtyard of the Butterfly Mansion bloomed with countless butterfly flowers.
Two days earlier, in the afternoon sunlight, Kocho Shinobu had been crouched by the flowerbed, holding a small paper pouch and carefully packing something inside.
It was her new batch of poison powder—stronger than the one she had given Giyu before. After repeated testing, this powder could not only paralyze demons but also slow their regeneration. Most importantly, it was harmless to humans, so there was no risk of hurting allies.
She had divided it into small portions and sealed them in waterproof paper packets, making it easier for Giyu to carry on missions.
"What are you doing? You look very focused."
A gentle voice came from behind her, and Shinobu froze instantly.
She quickly hid the paper packet behind her back and turned around. "Neesan! Why are you here?"
Kocho Kanae smiled warmly as she walked closer, wearing her light-colored haori and holding a freshly made rice ball. "I brought you a snack. You've been crouching here forever—I thought you were studying herbs again."
Her eyes drifted toward Shinobu's hidden hands, a playful spark glinting there. "What are you hiding? Let me see."
"It's nothing!"
Shinobu stepped back, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Just some ordinary medicine powder."
"Ordinary medicine powder?"
Kanae raised an eyebrow and deliberately stepped closer. "If it's ordinary, why hide it? Don't tell me it's... for someone special?"
Shinobu's face turned completely red, like a cooked shrimp.
She glared at Kanae, her voice flustered. "Neesan! Don't say nonsense! I just... thought this kind of powder was useful, so I made more to keep!"
"To keep?"
Kanae chuckled, reaching out her hand toward the packet. "Then let me see what kind of useful medicine it is. I'll make some for myself too."
"No!"
Shinobu dodged quickly, her tone sharper than she meant it to be. "This one's made specifically for something—it's not suitable for you, Neesan!"
Kanae's hand froze in midair, her smile fading a little.
She looked at her sister's tense face, and a faint sting of hurt rose in her chest. In the past, Shinobu had always shared everything—training troubles, new discoveries about herbs—never hiding a thing.
But now her little sister had secrets. She wouldn't even let Kanae see a small paper pouch.
"It's for Giyu, isn't it?" Kanae asked softly.
Shinobu's whole body trembled, unable to deny it.
She lowered her head, clutching the hem of her sleeve tightly, her cheeks burning so red they seemed to glow.
Seeing that, Kanae understood everything.
She sighed quietly, a trace of helplessness in her voice. "Shinobu, you've grown up."
The words pierced straight into Shinobu's heart.
She looked up, eyes slightly red. "Neesan! I didn't mean to hide it from you! I just... felt embarrassed, that's all..."
"I know."
Kanae stepped forward, wanting to pat her shoulder—but Shinobu instinctively avoided her touch.
Her heart was in chaos. It wasn't that she didn't want to tell her sister; it was just that every time she thought about Giyu receiving the poison powder, she felt shy—and even more afraid of Kanae teasing her.
But now, seeing the faint sadness in Kanae's eyes, guilt twisted inside her.
"Neesan, I..."
Shinobu's lips trembled, but she couldn't find the right words.
Kanae watched her flustered expression, and the quiet hurt in her heart suddenly overflowed.
She turned her face slightly away, her voice trembling. "It's fine. I understand. You've grown up, and you have someone you care about now. You don't have to tell me everything anymore."
Shinobu froze.
She hadn't expected her sister to say that, nor to see such sadness in her expression.
Shinobu quickly stepped forward and grabbed Kanae's sleeve. "Neesan! It's not like that! I'll still tell you everything! I just—"
"All right. You're busy, I won't bother you."
Kanae gently pulled her hand free and turned away. She was afraid that if she stayed another second, she might start crying herself.
Shinobu stood frozen, watching her sister's back as panic rose in her chest. Tears spilled down before she even realized it. She wanted to run after her, to explain—but didn't know what to say. So she crouched by the flowerbed and cried softly.
Kanae walked out of the Butterfly Mansion courtyard, her heart growing heavier with each step.
She wasn't angry that Shinobu cared for Giyu; she just felt that her sister had suddenly become distant. That quiet ache of realizing 'my little girl has grown up' made her eyes sting.
She stopped under the veranda, leaning against a pillar, about to wipe her eyes when she heard footsteps behind her.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
Sanemi's voice startled her. She turned quickly, but he still caught sight of her tear-reddened eyes.
"You're crying?"
His brows furrowed, tone immediately sharpening. "Who made you cry?"
Kanae shook her head, her voice unsteady with a hint of a sob. "It's nothing… I just… feel like Shinobu's grown up. She doesn't need me anymore…"
"Shinobu?" Sanemi blinked. "This has to do with her?"
"Mm…"
Kanae sniffed, speaking haltingly. "She's been secretly making something lately. When I asked, she wouldn't say… Later, I found out it was for Giyu. She doesn't tell me anything anymore—her thoughts are all about Giyu…"
The moment Sanemi heard the words "Giyu," his focus tunneled in. He didn't catch the rest—only "Shinobu," "Giyu," and "crying." Seeing Kanae's red eyes, his mind instantly filled in the blanks: Giyu must have upset Shinobu, and Kanae cried from frustration defending her.
"That bastard!"
Sanemi exploded with anger. "I knew he was up to no good! Come on, I'll help you deal with him!"
Before Kanae could explain, Sanemi had already stormed off.
She sighed helplessly as she watched his back. Great—now the misunderstanding had grown even worse.
In the Butterfly Mansion courtyard, Shinobu was still crouched by the flowers, wiping her tears with her sleeve.
Hearing footsteps, she thought her sister had returned. She looked up quickly—only to see Giyu and Sanemi walking toward her.
"Shinobu."
Giyu's voice was soft, carrying faint concern.
Shinobu's face turned red at once. She hurriedly wiped her eyes and stood up. "Tomioka-san? What are you doing here? And… Shinazugawa-san too?"
She grew nervous seeing the Wind Hashira's scowling face.
Just as Sanemi was about to speak, Kanae arrived from behind, sighing. "Sanemi, don't misunderstand. It's not Giyu's fault."
"Not his fault? Then why were you crying?" he asked, frowning.
"I cried because I felt sad that Shinobu's grown up—it has nothing to do with Giyu."
Kanae explained gently. "It's true Shinobu was making something for him, but it was her own choice. Giyu didn't do anything."
Sanemi froze.
He looked from Kanae to Shinobu's red face, then to Giyu's calm expression—and suddenly felt like a complete fool.
"So… I misunderstood?"
"What else?" Kanae sighed, shaking her head helplessly. "You're always like this—acting before you think."
A flush crept up Sanemi's cheeks. He turned away, grumbling stiffly, "How was I supposed to know you women think so complicatedly…"
Watching the scene unfold, Giyu finally understood everything.
He stepped forward, meeting Shinobu's tearful eyes. "Are you all right?" he asked softly.
Her cheeks flushed even deeper as she lowered her head. "I'm fine… I just argued a little with Neesan."
After hesitating, she pulled a small paper pouch from her pocket and held it out to him. "This… is my new poison powder. It works better than the last one. Please take it."
When Giyu accepted it, his fingers brushed against hers. Both froze for a heartbeat.
He looked down at the neatly packed small pouches inside and felt a quiet warmth spread through his chest.
"Thank you."
"No need to thank me…"
Shinobu mumbled quickly, then turned and ran back toward the Butterfly Mansion.
Kanae watched her sister's retreating figure, smiling softly as she shook her head. She turned to Giyu. "Sorry you had to see all that."
"It's fine." Giyu shook his head. "Shinobu is… remarkable."
Sanemi stood off to the side, feeling awkward as he scratched the back of his neck. He coughed once. "Since everything's fine, I'm leaving. Next time we train—I'm definitely winning!"
With that, he turned and strode off.
Only Giyu and Kanae remained in the quiet courtyard.
Sunlight fell on the butterfly flowers, glowing softly.
"Giyu," Kanae said suddenly, her tone calm but serious. "Shinobu's a pure-hearted girl. If you have any feelings toward her, please treat her well."
Giyu stiffened slightly. Meeting Kanae's gentle gaze, he nodded earnestly. "I will."
He understood that Kanae wasn't just speaking for her sister—but also out of concern for him.
The ever-kind Flower Hashira was always like that—caring for everyone around her.
Kanae smiled faintly and turned toward the house. "Then I'll head back. Shinobu's still sulking inside."
Giyu stood alone in the courtyard, the paper pouch warm in his hand, and felt an unfamiliar calm settle over him.
The misunderstanding had been cleared. Shinobu's feelings were clear. Kanae was fine.
He looked up at the sky. The sunlight was bright, the breeze gentle, carrying a faint floral scent.
In that moment, he realized—even amid hardship, there were still these quiet, warm moments.
Giyu tightened his grip on the paper pouch and turned back toward the training field.