Chapter 48: Kochou Kanae
Shinobu stared at Akira, her eyes wide with panic, but he simply offered her a small, reassuring nod before turning and walking to the door.
Click.
He slid the door open. Kanae stood gracefully on the other side, her expression a mixture of resolve and apprehension.
"Shall we talk somewhere else?" Akira asked, his gaze flicking back toward the interior of the room.
Kanae's eyes naturally followed his, and she caught a glimpse of Shinobu trying to hide. She had no desire to have this conversation in front of her younger sister, so she gave a small, firm nod.
They walked side by side toward the small training courtyard, the silence between them heavy with unspoken words. The yard was empty at this hour, the setting sun casting long shadows that seemed to stretch and twist around them.
After taking a moment to steady her breathing, Kanae was the first to break the silence. "Did Shinobu tell you everything?"
"She did," Akira confirmed, his voice perfectly calm, betraying no emotion. "She said you discovered you have a talent for Breathing Techniques. That you want to learn them, join the Demon Slayer Corps, and do something that aligns with your conscience."
"So... what are your thoughts, Kanzaki-kun?" Kanae turned her head, her gaze searching and a little anxious as she looked at the boy who had become so special to her.
"Let's not discuss my thoughts for now." Akira shook his head slightly. He stepped over to the wooden rack that held the training equipment, selected a bokken, and handed it to her. "First, show me the moves you've managed to piece together on your own."
Though Shinobu had mentioned Kanae learned a form by watching Makomo, she wasn't a swordsman. Her judgment could have been mistaken. Akira needed to see for himself.
"Okay." Kanae accepted the wooden sword, her grip firm and her nod decisive.
She took a stance, her entire demeanor shifting. The gentle girl from moments ago was gone, replaced by someone with a sharp, focused edge.
"Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash."
This was the technique she had managed to grasp from observing Makomo's training over the past few days. It wasn't the Third Form, which Makomo practiced most often; the footwork for that was far too complex for an untrained observer to decipher. The First Form, however, was the simplest and most direct, making it the easiest to learn through mimicry.
As Kanae swung the wooden sword, a faint, shimmering current of water trailed the blade. It was a clear sign that she hadn't just copied the movements; she had truly grasped the fundamental principles of Water Breathing through sheer observation.
A flicker of genuine surprise, followed by open admiration, lit up Akira's eyes. There was no denying it—Kanae's aptitude for Breathing Techniques was exceptionally high.
"How was it?" Kanae asked, returning to her ready stance. She looked at Akira with a hint of trepidation. Even if he tried to stop her, she wouldn't change her mind, but she desperately wanted his support. Her parents and sister had technically agreed, but only because of her relentless pleading, not out of true recognition or approval.
"To have reached this level just by watching Makomo train... your talent is indeed deep," Akira began, his tone measured. "From the perspective of the Demon Slayer Corps, a rare talent like you wanting to become a swordsman would be met with open arms."
A spark of joy ignited in Kanae's eyes, but she held back her excitement, sensing he wasn't finished.
"But from my personal perspective," he continued, his voice softening slightly, "I don't want you to become a swordsman. It's too dangerous. If something were to happen to you—if you were gravely injured, or even... sacrificed—Shinobu, Uncle Sawaki, Aunt Hanako, even Makomo and I... we would be devastated."
His expression hardened. "So, I need you to tell me yourself. Your reason. Your conviction. In my capacity as a Hashira-level swordsman, if I don't approve, you will not be able to enter the Demon Slayer Corps. In fact, you won't even be able to leave the Butterfly Mansion."
The air around him grew heavy, charged with an immense pressure. The easygoing, sunny youth she knew had vanished, replaced by a warrior forged in the crucible of countless battles. The killing intent he had honed, usually kept carefully sheathed, was now laid bare, sharp enough to instill a primal fear in anyone's heart.
This was a deliberate test. If she couldn't withstand this level of pressure, he would never allow her to join the Corps. Facing a real demon was a thousand times more terrifying than a stern gaze and a heavy aura.
Kanae flinched, startled by the sudden shift in his demeanor. Panic flashed in her eyes for a fleeting instant, but it was just as quickly extinguished, replaced by a burning determination.
"I want to use my own strength to protect the people I care about," she declared, her voice unwavering. "I refuse to live comfortably in a peace that others have paid for with their lives."
"Logistics are no less important than the front lines," Akira countered, his gaze unblinking.
"At the mansion, my father and Shinobu handle the medicine. My mother and the other caretakers manage the daily needs and coordination. If I had no other ability, that would be one thing. But I do. I have the talent to learn Breathing Techniques. I cannot stand by and hide in the Butterfly Mansion, doing work that feels insignificant."
"Have you truly thought this through?"
"I have."
"No regrets?"
"No regrets."
"Even if it might bring sorrow to Shinobu, to your parents?"
"..."
Kanae, who had answered every question with unshakeable firmness, finally fell silent at the mention of her family.
Akira didn't rush her. He simply waited, letting the silence stretch between them. Slaying demons was no child's game. Without an iron will, many swordsmen couldn't even hold their blades steady when faced with the grotesque, ravenous monsters that stalked the night. Kanae lacked the burning hatred born of personal tragedy that fueled so many others. Akira couldn't be certain she was truly ready to face a demon.
If she hesitated for too long now, then he would have his answer. Even if it made her unhappy, he would not let her walk the path of a demon slayer.
He didn't have to wait long.
Taking a deep breath, Kanae met his intense gaze once more. She spoke slowly, each word deliberate and firm. "Then... just consider me selfish this one time."
After she finished, they stood locked in a silent standoff, the weight of her decision hanging in the air. Finally, a soft sigh escaped Akira's lips, and he spoke with a tone of fond helplessness that broke the tension.
"Hah... I knew I couldn't talk you out of it. I couldn't even get you to change how you address me. Persuading you to give up on learning to fight was always going to be a lost cause."
Having said that, there was nothing more to add. The oppressive aura around Akira dissolved, and he returned to his usual, easygoing self, even adding a casual complaint.
"Kanzaki-kun?" Joy bloomed across Kanae's face, bright and unrestrained.
"I won't stop you," he confirmed. "You have the right to choose your own path. Now, go pack your things. Say a proper goodbye to Shinobu and your parents. Tomorrow morning, I will personally introduce you to a Cultivator."
"Thank you, Kanzaki-kun." Kanae bowed deeply, her gratitude evident in the gesture.
"Go on." Akira said nothing more. He simply took the wooden sword from her hand and gestured for her to leave.
After Kanae had disappeared back into the main building, Akira returned the bokken to the rack. He then walked to the narrow space between the equipment stand and the corner of the wall.
Shinobu was curled up there, her small frame shaking with silent sobs. She had snuck out after he'd asked Kanae to demonstrate her swordsmanship and had overheard their entire conversation.
"You saw it, too. Your sister is resolute," Akira said softly, bending down to gently ruffle her hair. "At this point, as her family, you need to be the strength that supports her, not a burden on her heart."
He lowered his voice, making a solemn vow. "I brought your family here. I promise you, as long as I'm around, none of you—including Kanae—will come to any harm."
His voice wasn't loud, but it connected with unshakable power. Shinobu's sobs quieted. She looked up at the boy who wasn't much older than her—the boy who had single-handedly changed her family's fate. In that moment, bathed in the soft light of the setting sun, he seemed to almost glow. She found herself momentarily stunned, lost in the sight of him.
'Hey, the glowing thing is just the angle of the light,' Akira thought with a touch of internal amusement.
"Alright, come on out," he said gently. "Go say a proper goodbye to your sister. Give her your blessing."
He extended a hand to her. Shinobu hesitated for a second before placing her small hand in his. Akira pulled her to her feet.
"A friendly reminder," he added, a playful glint in his eyes. "You should probably wash your face before you see her. You've cried yourself into a little messy-faced cat."
As he spoke, he gently pinched her slightly chubby cheek. He'd only meant to lighten her mood, but it was the first time he had made such an openly affectionate gesture toward her.
'It's soft,' he thought, a subconscious impulse making him want to pinch it again.
His hand was promptly slapped away.
"You—! Hmph!" Shinobu, whose heart had just been fluttering, immediately puffed up her cheeks in the familiar, indignant expression he knew so well. She shook a small fist at him before turning on her heel and storming off, leaving him alone in the quiet courtyard.
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