After finishing her letter and sending it off with her Kasugai crow to her sister, Shinobu Kocho rested her chin in her hand and sat by the window, staring blankly into the night sky.
As she tried to sort through her thoughts about the Bright Red Nichirin Sword, the Demon Slayer Mark, and the Transparent World, an image kept intruding into her mind—
That tall figure.
The first time she met him, her impression had been terrible. She had thought him nothing more than a petty man who spoke ill of others behind their backs.
After a few days of interaction, her opinion softened slightly—he wasn't entirely bad, just someone with an annoying habit of making snide remarks.
After losing to him in a sparring match, she acknowledged that he had real strength… though he still remained someone who liked to speak poorly of others.
Then came the moment he found another path for Genya Shinazugawa—a way to fight demons despite his inability to use Breathing Styles. And when he guided Tanjiro Kamado to perceive that elusive "Opening Thread," her opinion shifted again.
At that point, she began to see him as someone capable, perceptive—perhaps flawed in small ways, like giving people nicknames behind their backs—but undeniably competent.
And today…
After hearing him explain the Bright Red Nichirin Sword, the Mark, and the Transparent World—concepts she had never even heard of before, yet which held such immense power—her view changed yet again.
Even her sister didn't know these things.
Neither did Urokodaki.
And yet he did.
It made him seem… unfathomable.
As though a veil of mystery surrounded him—something she couldn't see through, yet couldn't help wanting to lift, just to glimpse what lay beneath.
The more she thought about it, the stronger her curiosity grew.
How did he know all of this?
Why did he know so much?
That quiet urge to understand him took root in her heart, filling her thoughts with his presence to the point that she couldn't even fall asleep.
"Shinobu, it's time to rest."
Kie Kamado had already laid out the bedding and now looked at her, still sitting by the window.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Shinobu turned to the gentle woman and, almost without realizing it, asked,
"How did you come to know him?"
She suddenly wanted to know more—anything about him.
"…You mean Soma?" Kie asked, slightly puzzled.
"Mm."
Shinobu slipped under the covers as she waited for the answer.
There were some things Kie couldn't reveal—especially those involving Soma's identity as a demon—but aside from that, there was still much she could share.
And so, on that quiet night, Shinobu listened.
She listened to the version of Soma that existed in Kie's eyes.
A man without flaws.
A man worthy of nothing but praise.
In this gentle woman's telling, he was someone extraordinary—kind, capable, and dependable beyond measure.
A few days ago, Shinobu had heard similar praise and dismissed it outright.
But now…
She found herself beginning to believe it.
Perhaps… he truly was different.
…
At the Butterfly Mansion—
On that same quiet night, Kanae Kocho stepped out of her room and noticed that the room next door—where patients were recovering—was still lit.
She gently pushed the door open and found Mitsuri Kanroji secretly eating.
Caught red-handed, Mitsuri panicked slightly and hurriedly tried to hide the food behind her back.
"Mitsuri, I already saw it. There's no need to hide it," Kanae said softly, her voice warm and gentle.
Looking a bit dejected, Mitsuri slowly brought out the hidden dish—a large bowl of tempura.
"You don't have to feel that way," Kanae said as she stepped closer and gently patted her shoulder. "Having a big appetite isn't a bad thing. It's completely normal."
"I still feel like it's not very proper…"
Mitsuri Kanroji spoke in a subdued voice. The memory of being mocked by a potential suitor—called a "glutton" with barely concealed disdain—still lingered vividly in her mind, a source of lingering embarrassment she couldn't shake.
Seeing this, Kanae Kocho couldn't help but feel a bit helpless. She had reassured Mitsuri many times before, yet the girl still felt ashamed of her appetite.
"Really, you don't need to worry about it so much," Kanae said gently, taking Mitsuri's hand in her own. "In fact, the things you think are flaws might actually be strengths in someone else's eyes."
"I eat as much as a pig, I'm as strong as a gorilla, and my hair is this strange color… none of that is—"
Mitsuri trailed off, unable to finish her sentence.
"Eating more means your body recovers quickly. Being strong is a good thing, too. And your hair color… there's nothing wrong with it at all," Kanae said softly. "In fact, these are things Shinobu wishes she had. If she had your strength—your muscle density—she would be overjoyed."
"…Really?" Mitsuri looked up, disbelief clear in her eyes. These were the very things that made her feel inferior.
"Yes," Kanae nodded. "Shinobu has always wished she were stronger. You may not know this, but her physical strength is quite limited—she can't even cut through a demon's neck. She trains every single day, working tirelessly to build strength, but it hardly improves."
"If gaining strength were as simple as eating more, she would do it without hesitation."
At those words, Mitsuri found herself recalling the first time she met Shinobu Kocho—a girl who rarely smiled, always wearing a tense, composed expression. Compared to Kanae's warmth, Shinobu had seemed distant, almost cold.
"I've heard… about what happened to your family," Mitsuri said quietly, lowering her gaze. "So… Shinobu must really hate demons."
Kanae's violet eyes dimmed slightly as memories surfaced—of that cruel night, of fear and despair overwhelming them both. She had been just as terrified as her younger sister, yet she had forced herself to stay strong, holding Shinobu tightly in her arms as the nightmare unfolded.
Even now, recalling it still sent a chill through her.
Shinobu's hatred of demons wasn't superficial—it was etched into her very being.
For someone like Mitsuri, whose body was practically made for combat, Shinobu would likely feel nothing but admiration.
As her older sister, Kanae knew better than anyone how much Shinobu had endured to walk the path of a demon slayer. The girl who once couldn't bear even small hardships in front of their parents had spent years pushing herself relentlessly—no matter the pain, no matter the exhaustion—just to gain the strength needed to sever a demon's neck.
"I… I know that you, and everyone else, joined the Demon Slayer Corps with the determination to kill demons," Mitsuri said softly, her voice trembling. "Most of you have had your happiness destroyed by them… you fight to protect others from suffering the same fate."
The more she spoke, the more ashamed she felt. Yet perhaps because of Kanae's gentle presence, she found the courage to voice the insecurity buried deep within her heart.
"My reason for joining… feels so shameful."
"Oh?" Kanae tilted her head slightly, curiosity in her expression. "What was your reason?"
"I… I just wanted to find a good man… to fall in love…"
At that, Kanae couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
Mitsuri immediately lowered her head, her face flushing with embarrassment. Compared to those who fought to protect others or avenge their loved ones, her reason felt unbearably shallow.
"Even you think it's… embarrassing, don't you, Miss Kanae…?" she murmured.
Before she could finish, Kanae gently squeezed her hand.
"Hearing your reason… was certainly surprising," she admitted with a smile.
At that point, Kanae Kocho let out another soft laugh.
Startled, Mitsuri Kanroji looked up, only to find Kanae's beautiful eyes filled with warmth and amusement. But it wasn't mocking laughter—there was no ridicule, no hint of belittlement.
That alone left Mitsuri stunned.
Kanae gently held her hand, her voice as soft and comforting as ever.
Mitsuri felt as though she were being wrapped in a quiet warmth, something gentle that settled deep into her heart.
"If everyone moved forward fueled only by hatred and sorrow," Kanae said softly, "then even if we tried to comfort one another, we would never truly move on."
"We don't walk this path because our hearts are filled with hatred. We move forward because we want to see people like you, Mitsuri… because we hope everyone can find happiness, meet someone they love, and live fulfilling lives."
As she spoke, her expression dimmed slightly.
"If Shinobu had thoughts like yours, I would be so happy. I've always wished that she could meet someone kind, fall in love, and live happily with them."
"…You really think that?" Mitsuri looked up in disbelief. "You want Shinobu to think like me?"
"Yes," Kanae replied gently.
She lifted her gaze toward the dark night beyond the window.
"My sister's heart has always been consumed by hatred. All she thinks about is hunting demons. Every day… is exhausting for her."
In Mitsuri's mind, the image of Shinobu Kocho surfaced—her cold, composed expression, sharp and unyielding like a blade drawn from its sheath.
For some reason, Mitsuri suddenly felt the urge to hug her.
"I used to worry," Kanae continued, her voice soft but heavy with emotion, "that she might stay that way forever."
Then, as if releasing something she had held in for too long, her face brightened with a genuine smile.
"But recently… it feels like she may have met someone who could change her."
"I've always believed that Shinobu wouldn't remain this way forever—that her heart wouldn't always be filled with hatred. I believe that one day, when she meets someone she truly cares for, that feeling will take root within her… and quietly bloom into something beautiful."
"Wow…"
Mitsuri's eyes lit up with anticipation.
"That sounds so romantic. I feel like…" She pressed a hand against her chest. "My heart is beating so fast—it feels like it might burst out…"
"Are you feeling unwell?" Kanae asked, concern flickering across her face.
"I'm not sure," Mitsuri admitted softly. "But every time I hear things like this, I feel like my heart is blossoming… like I'm falling in love with the idea itself."
"And when I feel that way… my breathing speeds up, and somehow, I feel like I become stronger too."
"It's strange… but it doesn't seem like a bad thing."
Kanae frowned slightly in thought.
"If Shinobu were here, she might understand what's happening. After all… her medical knowledge is the best."