Giyu Tomioka had been directly called out by Obanai Iguro for punishment.
Yet he stood there as if he hadn't heard a word.
Unmoving.
Silent.
As though the world could chatter all it liked—he would remain untouched, undisturbed.
At first, Tanjiro had felt resentment toward him for knocking him unconscious.
But now—
It was clear.
He had dragged Giyu into trouble.
Because of him.
Guilt crept into Tanjiro's heart.
Below, Mitsuri Kanroji looked up at the tree.
Ahh! Iguro-san is just like a snake again—so persistent and sharp! So difficult… but so cool!
Her cheeks flushed pink.
Then her gaze shifted to Giyu.
Standing all alone off to the side…
He looks kind of cute…
Mitsuri's inner world was always lively and dramatic.
But when it came to actually speaking—
Her face would burn, and words would fail her.
The discussion had shifted from Tanjiro to Giyu.
And still—
Giyu said nothing.
Shinobu stepped forward lightly.
"Well~ it doesn't matter for now, does it? He came back obediently. As for punishment, we can decide that later."
Giyu remained silent.
Meanwhile—
Aoyama had already arrived at Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.
Guards stood stationed at the main gate.
Without authorization, no one could enter.
And it was broad daylight.
Climbing the wall openly was not an option.
He wasn't afraid of fighting.
But he couldn't afford delays.
From his system space, he took out the Concealment Talisman he had been rewarded earlier.
He pressed it against himself.
His presence—
His scent—
His very trace—
Vanished.
Then he walked straight through the front gate.
Openly.
Calmly.
The guards never noticed that someone had just passed between them.
Back at the courtyard—
Shinobu's words had effectively eased the focus off Giyu.
Now, her eyes returned to Tanjiro.
"Compared to that, I'd rather hear from this little one."
She smiled gently.
"As a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, you carried a demon on missions."
"I would like to hear your explanation personally."
"Of course, you understand this violates Corps regulations, correct? Kamado Tanjiro."
This time, no one interrupted her.
Tanjiro knelt upright, bound, listening carefully.
"Why would a Corps member travel with a demon?"
Uzui crossed his arms behind his head impatiently.
"There's no need to ask. Just finish it."
"It's fine. Let him speak," Shinobu said softly.
She remembered Mount Natagumo.
Giyu and Aoyama had both intervened.
There had to be a reason.
Tanjiro felt a flicker of hope.
"My… my sister…"
He coughed violently, chest wounds flaring with pain.
Shinobu crouched down, offering a gourd.
"Drink some water. It'll help."
He gulped greedily.
"Your jaw is injured. Slow down," she reminded him gently. "There's pain-relieving medicine in it."
Tanjiro breathed heavily, steadying himself.
"But your wounds aren't healed, so don't overexert yourself."
"Now then, Kamado Tanjiro. Speak."
Uzui looked annoyed. In his mind, this was pointless.
But for now, he held back.
"That demon… is my sister."
Even saying it aloud hurt.
"When I returned home… my entire family had been slaughtered."
"My sister was the only one left alive—turned into a demon."
"But she has never eaten a human! Not once! Not now, not ever! I swear she will never harm anyone!"
Obanai, lounging in the tree, tapped his finger lazily.
"Empty words."
"Protecting family is only natural."
"Your claims are meaningless. I don't believe you."
At that exact moment—
Invisible and silent—
Aoyama arrived.
Hearing Obanai's words, he leapt lightly into the tree.
He had half a mind to kick him down.
He softened his landing, but the branch still shifted slightly.
Leaves rustled.
Kaburamaru, the white snake around Obanai's neck, flicked its tongue toward Aoyama's position.
Aoyama immediately stilled his breathing.
Gyomei's voice rang out again.
"Ah… perhaps he has been possessed by a demon. It would be merciful to end his suffering."
Tanjiro hurried to protest.
"Please, listen to me!"
"I became a swordsman to find a way to turn Nezuko back into a human!"
"She's been a demon for over two years!"
"In all that time, she has never eaten anyone!"
"She can fight alongside me! She protects humans!"
Uzui scoffed.
"Meaningless. Words are worthless without proof."
The argument intensified—
When suddenly—
A figure stepped forward.
Holding a wooden box.
The box that contained Nezuko.
From the tree, Aoyama's gaze locked onto him—
Killing intent surged in his eyes.
The Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa.
No wonder.
He had searched for the box earlier and couldn't find it—
It had been taken by him all along.
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