Chapter 164: Butterflies Return Home (Part 2)
Following Shinobu's guidance, Akira carried her on his back toward a hotel. Even from a distance, the lavish storefront made it abundantly clear that a stay here would not be cheap.
"Hmm..."
Both Akira and Shinobu let out puzzled hums, though the reasons for their confusion differed entirely.
For Akira, it was a matter of location. A hotel with such extravagant decor would make perfect sense in a bustling urban district like Asakusa. But here, in a quiet little town—and not even in the town center—it looked completely out of place.
More, he couldn't fathom why Shinobu had directed him here of all places.
It was early in the morning. This was hardly the time to be booking a room. Not to mention, neither of them was quite old enough for that sort of thing yet.
Meanwhile, Shinobu was lost in her own thoughts, marveling at how her family's once-ordinary clinic had been transformed into this grand establishment in just a few short years.
After a moment of hesitation, Akira decided to voice the question weighing on his mind. Not the one about booking a room, naturally.
"So, does this place hold some childhood memories for you?"
Shinobu nodded gently against his shoulder. "Mm... I suppose so. At least, three years ago, this was still just an ordinary clinic. When our family left, the Demon Slayer Corps purchased this property for fifty percent above market value, along with our old house in the village."
"I just never expected it to turn into something like this in only three years. If I remember correctly, there used to be two restaurants and a few small shops surrounding the clinic. It looks like the Corps acquired all of them."
At that moment, a staff member inside the establishment noticed the two figures lingering by the entrance.
Given the sheer luxury of the building, the local townsfolk rarely loitered around the storefront, making Akira and Shinobu exceptionally conspicuous as they stood there chatting.
The attendant walked to the door, his eyes widening in clear astonishment as he recognized Akira's face. He quickly stepped forward, bowing deeply.
"Lord Kanzaki."
The man spoke respectfully in a hushed tone. It was immediately obvious that he was affiliated with the Demon Slayer Corps.
After a brief inquiry, Akira and Shinobu learned the true nature of the hotel.
Following the acquisition of the Kocho family's clinic and the adjacent shops, the Ubuyashiki family had funded extensive renovations. They transformed the property into a covert contact and transfer station for the surrounding region, while simultaneously providing free accommodation for any passing Corps members.
, the building next door operated as a discreet shelter under the Ubuyashiki name, dedicated to taking in children who had been orphaned by demon attacks in the area.
Remarkably, some of the staff working at this base were children from the very same temple Akira had once lived in—including the young man standing right before them.
A wave of quiet emotion washed over Akira. His simple act of self-preservation back then had rippled outward, changing the fates of so many others for the better.
The attendant happily shared that several of those temple children had gone on to join the Kakushi, serving in regions overseen by other Hashira. Two of them had even become official swordsmen a year ago, though their current whereabouts were unknown.
He also mentioned that whenever Gyomei patrolled the nearby sectors, the gentle giant would drop by to visit the children he had once cared for.
After chatting for a while longer, Akira prepared to leave with Shinobu. Before departing, however, he went ahead and booked two rooms for the night, saving them the hassle of finding another inn later.
"I originally came here to look for my childhood memories, but I certainly didn't expect to run into an old acquaintance of yours." Shinobu leaned in close to Akira's ear, her voice dripping with playful teasing.
The warm breath she exhaled brushed against his skin, causing a slight itch. Akira's ear twitched involuntarily.
That tiny, subconscious reaction was all it took. Acting as though she had just discovered a fascinating new toy, Shinobu deliberately blew a soft puff of air against his ear.
"In a sense, isn't this just another sign of the fate between us?" Akira responded half-jokingly, pointedly ignoring the ticklish sensation.
"Now that you mention it, it really is." Hearing his response, Shinobu temporarily ceased her mischief. A hint of genuine emotion softened her tone.
The very first time Akira had encountered a demon, it was Gyomei who had rushed to the clinic at the crack of dawn, carrying Sawaki Kocho back to treat the surviving children—Akira included.
Years later, it was Akira who had appeared just in time to save Kanae, ultimately bringing the surviving Kocho sisters into the safety of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Add in everything happening between them right now, and it was impossible to deny. Connecting all those threads, how could it be called anything other than fate?
Pushing down the swell of nostalgia, Shinobu pointed down the street, guiding him toward the next location that held pieces of her childhood.
With a crisp crunch, Shinobu took a small bite of the candied hawthorn stick in her hand.
The translucent sugar coating shattered against her teeth, flooding her mouth with a rich sweetness. A moment later, the sharp tartness of the hawthorn fruit burst through, perfectly cutting the heavy sugar and preventing it from becoming cloying. It was a refreshing, balanced flavor.
In turn, the sugar neutralized the extreme sourness of the fruit, creating a mouth-watering combination that wasn't overwhelmingly intense.
"Mmm... the candied hawthorn from this shop still has that exact same familiar taste." Swallowing the bite, Shinobu narrowed her eyes in pure contentment, happily reminiscing about her childhood days.
Without a second thought, she lifted the half-eaten hawthorn berry directly to Akira's lips. "Here, you have a bite too."
Seeing the offering, Akira naturally didn't stand on ceremony. He leaned forward and swallowed the remaining half of the fruit in a single bite.
The street vendor had clearly put genuine effort into preparing the snack. The hawthorn seeds had been carefully removed, leaving behind a soft, waxy texture that didn't stick to the teeth.
"It really isn't bad at all." Swallowing the treat, Akira gave his honest appraisal.
Truthfully, the vendor's culinary skill couldn't compare to the master pastry chef employed by Mitsuri's family. The thickness of the sugar coating was slightly uneven, and the flavor balance had minor flaws. However, the hawthorn fruit itself was wonderfully plump and perfectly pitted, making it a genuinely tasty snack.
But most, this simple candied treat carried a precious piece of Shinobu's childhood. That was a seasoning no amount of master craftsmanship could ever replicate.
Pleased by Akira's affirmation, Shinobu took the skewer back. She took another delicate bite, then immediately held it up for Akira to share again.
In this manner, the two of them took turns sharing bites from the same skewer as they strolled down the street. Their natural, deeply intimate interaction drew more than a few envious glances from the passersby around them.
Before long, they arrived at their next destination.
Because Shinobu's range of activity as a young child hadn't been very large, all of these nostalgic landmarks were clustered closely around the old clinic. Even now, if they simply looked back down the street, they could still clearly see the luxuriously decorated hotel.
But the small house standing before them now had its front doors tightly shut. Dust gathered on the threshold, making it obvious that the property had been vacant for quite some time.
"An elderly grandfather used to live here," Shinobu murmured.
"He had no children of his own, and his wife passed away early, so he lived all by himself. My sister and I used to come over to chat with him whenever we had free time."
"He was always so good to us."
"But now..."
Shinobu rested her chin heavily against Akira's shoulder, her voice trailing off into a dejected whisper.
"Birth, aging, sickness, and death are natural processes that everyone must eventually go through."
Akira tilted his head, gently resting it against hers as he offered soft, steady comfort.
"Mm..." She let out a quiet breath, finding solace in his warmth. "Let's go. To the next place."
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