Aoyama turned around, shrugged at Tanjiro, and spread his hands.
"Of course I can. You seriously didn't notice all this time?"
He raised an eyebrow and turned to leave.
Behind him, Tanjiro stood petrified in the night breeze.
Just what kind of person was his Aoyama-senpai?!
He quickly chased after him and grabbed his sleeve.
"Then why didn't you tell me earlier? I could've started training sooner!"
Aoyama glanced at him, then suddenly reached out and pinched his cheek hard, stretching it mercilessly.
"Ow! Ow! That hurts!"
Tanjiro clutched his reddened cheek, wincing.
"You need me to tell you how to breathe too?" Aoyama scoffed. "Use your brain. Don't just wait for answers. Think for yourself."
He released Tanjiro and walked off.
Tanjiro stood there rubbing his cheek, deep in thought.
How could he maintain Total Concentration Breathing all day?
What shocked him even more was Kanao.
They had passed Final Selection together—yet she was already this far ahead.
He was still the one being trained by her.
"Come on, Tanjiro," he muttered to himself. "You can do this too."
Not far ahead, a soft rustle came from above.
Shinobu Kocho descended lightly from a tree, landing behind Aoyama.
He had sensed her presence earlier and deliberately slowed his pace.
"You're here," he said without turning.
Shinobu smiled.
"Oh my, Aoyama-kun, what a coincidence."
"It's not a coincidence," he replied calmly. "You were waiting for me."
From the moment he returned, he had felt her attention on him—not surveillance, but close observation.
She covered her mouth with a giggle.
"Hehe, you caught me. How embarrassing."
Her tone was playful, but there was no embarrassment in her eyes.
Seeing him silently watching her, her smile widened slightly.
"You even brought Miss Nezuko along on your mission. That's rather sweet. At least you won't feel lonely."
Aoyama's gaze darkened.
"If you have something to ask, just ask."
Shinobu's smile slowly faded.
"Why are you so protective of Miss Nezuko? You defend her in meetings and even take her on missions. Do you… pity demons? Sympathize with them?"
He laughed softly.
Pity demons?
If he pitied them, his system wouldn't be called the Demon-Slaying System.
"You misunderstand," he said calmly. "I have no pity or sympathy for demons. And my protection of Nezuko isn't because I feel sorry for her."
Shinobu tilted her head slightly.
"Then… are you like my sister? Determined to coexist peacefully with demons?"
She stepped closer, her smile returning.
"Why do you always smile?" Aoyama asked quietly. "That's not what you truly believe, is it? Demons slaughter innocent people. How can we coexist with them? How can we sympathize with them?"
Her eyes trembled.
He had struck the heart of it.
It was Kanae—her older sister—who believed in showing compassion to demons.
Even in death, Kanae had mourned for them.
But Shinobu—
She never understood.
Demons devoured humans.
Massacred families.
How could she possibly forgive that?
"You're right," she whispered. "I want to inherit my sister's wish. She liked seeing me smile… but lately, I'm tired."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"These demons lie constantly. They kill for survival, guided by raw instinct. And every time I see the tears of the victims… the anger just builds inside me."
A tear slipped from her eye.
Aoyama reached up and gently wiped it away.
"You don't have to force yourself," he said quietly. "The smile your sister wanted to see should be one that comes from your heart."
"If you can't forgive demons that kill, then don't. Slay the ones that deserve it. And if one day you meet a demon worthy of compassion… you'll know. You'll decide."
The knot binding her heart slowly loosened.
"Thank you… Aoyama-kun."
She stepped forward on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around his neck, whispering her gratitude beside his ear.
The sudden embrace caught him off guard.
Warmth pressed lightly against him.
Just as quickly, she stepped back.
Her eyes were still shimmering with tears—but now her smile was genuine.
Aoyama smiled too.
This version of Shinobu—
Was beautiful.
"I enjoyed talking with you," she said softly. "Let's chat about something else next time."
With that, she turned, leapt into the tree, and flitted from branch to branch like a butterfly until she vanished into the night.
Aoyama exhaled slowly.
For some reason—
He felt a slight regret.
Perhaps he should have hugged her back.
Above them, the moon hung bright and pure in the quiet sky.
Everything seemed peaceful.
Elsewhere—
Muzan Kibutsuji extended a single finger and pressed it against a woman's forehead.
Dark blood flowed from him into her body.
"I grant you my noble blood," Muzan said coldly. "Rise from a lowly species to a superior being."
Cells in her body were violently replaced, her form convulsing in agony.
Her consciousness still lingered—
But she was no longer human.
Muzan's voice echoed like a commandment.
"I order you… bring me his head."
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