"So? Are you saying that girl is actually Tsugikuni Mitsuba's spy, deliberately sent to the Demon Slayer Corps to mislead them?"
"I merely believe this possibility exists."
"Hmm..."
Leaning against Ubuyashiki's seat, Mitsuba raised her hand to stroke her chin and nodded gently:
"From a logical standpoint, this isn't an impossible occurrence. Rather, I'm exactly the type who would do such boring things, aren't I?"
"It's just, Miss Tamayo..."
Her figure instantly appearing beside Tamayo, Mitsuba leaned sideways, resting her chin on one hand against the table before her, and asked with a smile:
"Even if your intuition is correct, even if that girl truly has other thoughts in her heart, what can you do about it?
"You are very clear about my strength. I've long grown tired of this lengthy and boring slaughter.
"The Demon Slayer Corps' fate is already sealed. This time, I will not give them another chance.
"Whether they come to kill me or not, whether they attack or flee, they will ultimately head toward destruction in the near future.
"So~ even if that child is pretending, so what?
"Could you possibly just give up and say 'I won't fight anymore, I'm going home,' treating everything as if nothing happened?
"Do you think I'm such a reasonable person?"
Yes, this was the predicament the Demon Slayer Corps currently faced.
The power to decide the final battle was not entirely in their hands. The intelligence Doma had previously revealed had completely made it clear that Tsugikuni Mitsuba also wanted to thoroughly eradicate the Demon Slayer Corps, and was very proactive about it.
Therefore, rather than disbanding and fleeing now, waiting to be defeated one by one later, it would be better to gather together and strive with all their might—perhaps they could fight for a chance at survival.
The current Demon Slayer Corps had no path of retreat whatsoever.
"So~ no matter how much you suspect in your heart, at this moment you can only pray that the child is sincere, that she truly wants to kill me—isn't that right?
"Ah, of course, if it's just you, Miss Tamayo, you actually have another choice.
"That is to quietly flee, hiding in fear for another few hundred years as in the past.
"After all, you're different from those demon slayers. No matter what, you're still a demon. My Blood Demon Art can't trace you~ How about it?"
"I don't want to run anymore."
Facing Mitsuba's deliberate teasing, Tamayo's expression didn't change. She simply closed her eyes and spoke calmly:
"You're right, Mitsuba. These hundreds of years of lengthy time should indeed welcome a true ending.
"The current Demon Slayer Corps has reached their peak in several hundred years. This is very likely my final opportunity as well.
"No matter what, I will do my best to fulfill what I should do. As for the rest, I will do what humans can do and leave the rest to heaven's will..."
Tamayo gave up thinking.
Because in the past several hundred years, she had already thought too much.
So this time, she decided to completely cast Kanae's problem to the back of her mind, leaving everything entirely to fate.
"..."
On the other side, in Tokyo, Shinobu Kocho went to Mitsuba's apartment the moment she returned.
Her sister had always told her very little about Demon Slayer Corps matters.
Furthermore, these past two years she had basically been living in Tokyo teaching. Honestly, if she hadn't been suddenly notified to return for a meeting this time, Shinobu Kocho had almost forgotten that she was actually still a member of the Demon Slayer Corps...
Therefore, when she heard the name of Upper Rank One at the meeting, Shinobu Kocho was undoubtedly shocked for a moment.
Tsugikuni Mitsuba—a name exactly the same as Mitsuba.
Was this a coincidence?
In an instant, Shinobu Kocho suddenly remembered those abnormalities about Mitsuba when they spent time together in the past.
Such as having a special hereditary illness, never appearing in sunlight, never eating directly in front of her, and that younger brother of hers named Hakuji who had the same "hereditary illness"...
Could these really just be coincidences?
Could Mitsuba actually be one of the Twelve Kizuki...
Shinobu Kocho forcibly suppressed her thoughts that wanted to diverge further. She didn't even dare ask her sister, instead deciding to come find Mitsuba herself.
She wanted to hear Mitsuba tell her the answer with her own mouth.
But to Shinobu Kocho's disappointment, Mitsuba was still not home.
When she hurriedly rushed over, what she saw was still that familiar sign hanging before Mitsuba's apartment door—
[Out of Town. Do Not Disturb for Trivial Matters. Do Not Disturb for Important Matters Either.]
This sentence had a very Mitsuba-esque style—one look and you knew she wrote it personally.
"Damn it! Stupid Mitsuba! Where the hell did you run off to at this critical moment?!"
Shinobu Kocho was somewhat agitated.
These past days, she had come here to check almost every day.
But each time, what she saw was this cold sign.
Gone for so many days without returning home... What, did you run off to Europe to be a war correspondent?
[Right!]
A flash of inspiration crossed her mind. In her agitation, Shinobu Kocho suddenly remembered a person, immediately turned around and quickly went downstairs.
Although Mitsuba was constantly nowhere to be seen, this person—she believed would definitely be there!
Furthermore, he could definitely answer the questions in her heart!
"..."
By noon, inside a certain teaching building on the Tokyo University campus.
Akaza had just finished his morning classes and was preparing to go chat with Kocho, who had also finished class, to cultivate their relationship or something, when he suddenly saw a short figure flash before his eyes.
"Mm? Butterfly?"
"Teacher?"
Looking down at Shinobu Kocho, who was panting from running, Akaza showed confusion on his face and subconsciously asked with concern:
"What's wrong, running so urgently... Speaking of which, I remember you took two days off. Why are you at school today?"
Not responding to Akaza's concern, Shinobu Kocho took a deep breath to calm her breathing, then abruptly turned to look at Kocho beside him.
"Miss Kocho, that paper I asked you to revise a few days ago—did you revise it?"
"Eh?!"
Completely unexpected that Shinobu Kocho's first words would be asking about this, the smile on Kocho's face visibly and rapidly vanished.
So, Teacher, you rushed to school without even caring about your leave, just to catch me about my paper?!
In an instant, that strong sense of guilt immediately filled Kocho's heart—she who had been spending these past days only clinging to Akaza.
"I-I'll go revise it right now!"
"Um, Kocho..."
Tears of happiness mixed with pain fell from the corner of her eyes. Ignoring Akaza's attempt to stop her, Kocho immediately turned around and quickly ran away.
Having sent her away with one sentence, Shinobu Kocho then turned to look at Akaza and spoke seriously:
"Hakuji, listen to me. I have a friend who has something she wants to ask you."
"...Huh?"