The eastern forest of the core area of Mount Fujikasane
A graceful figure lightly touched the treetops with her toes and silently flew towards the core area.
Kanao Tsuyuri.
In her past life, without instructions, she would stand there in a daze.
Without the coin toss to decide, she wouldn't even know whether she should eat or not.
But at this moment, looking at the violent and terrifying fluctuations ahead, a faint rhythm inexplicably stirred deep within her heart.
She wanted to go and see.
She wanted to see what that boy with the sun-like smile was going through.
However--
"Rustle..."
A gentle breeze swept by.
Shinobu Kocho stood with her hands behind her back, the butterfly pattern on her clothes swaying gently in the cool night breeze like two outstretched butterfly wings.
"Oh dear~"
"Isn't this our usually well-behaved, obedient little Kanao, who even flips a coin to confirm before drinking water?"
"In the middle of the night, someone is hurrying into this dirty and chaotic deep mountain... Where are they planning to go for a night stroll, hmm?"
Kanao's figure froze on the tree trunk.
On the girl's delicate face, there was no panic at being caught; she maintained her usual soulless, polite smile.
She didn't speak, but instinctively reached out her thumb to pull out a copper coin from her pocket.
However, her little hand had just touched the edge of the pocket—
"Da meyo~!"
A blur before my eyes!
Shinobu Kocho's two cool and tender little hands had already reached out with lightning speed and pinched Kanao's slightly chubby, snow-white cheeks!
"Ugh...?!"
Shinobu both hands without any hesitation to pull Kanao's pretty face to the left and right, turning the originally aloof and ethereal girl into a round, chubby bun!
"Seriously! Have you just ignored all the rules I taught you?!"
Shinobu Kocho, while kneading her Tsuguko's cheeks like dough, puffed out her cheeks and uttered a resentful complaint:
"When we were gathering at the plaza, I could see everything clearly from the tree using binoculars!"
"Tanjiro held your hand and said a whole bunch of cheesy, sweet things!"
"What's wrong? Someone touched her little hand, and with that sweet, kind smile, my little Kanao's soul has been bewitched, and she's secretly defying the rules?!"
"Ouch... Little Shinobu -neechan... it hurts..."
Kanao's little mouth was stretched into a comical "O" shape, and she mumbled words indistinctly. Her two little hands hung helplessly in mid-air. She dared not push away her fierce older sister and master, and she had no way to break free from those devilish claws. She looked as aggrieved as a kitten whose fur had been ruffled by its owner.
"Hmph! So you do feel pain now?"
Although Shinobu's words were sharp, the force in her hands subtly eased.
She deftly extended two slender, white fingers and, with lightning speed, gently tucked them into the edge of Kanao's pocket.
"Bite--"
The coin that Kanao as her life spun in mid-air before Shinobu smoothly tucked it into the wide sleeve of her haori.
"Confiscated!"
Shinobu released her hands, clapped her hands, and looked at Kanao's cheeks, which were red from being pinched, with a smile:
"At this crucial moment, you can't afford to shift the blame to a mute lump of copper."
"Listen up, Kanao."
The playful expression on Shinobu's face gradually faded.
She reached out and gently smoothed the bangs Kanao had been ruffled by the wind from Kanao's forehead, her purple eyes gleaming with a clear light.
"What's locked up inside the core area... isn't some toy for little kids to play with."
"That's a 'demon' that Mr. Giyu Tomioka personally captured and that I injected with a special reagent."
"That's a trial that belongs only to Tanjiro Kamado, and he alone must overcome it!!"
"If someone gets involved, not only will they fail to save him, but they will also completely destroy that child's chance for a complete transformation."
Shinobu said this, a sly smile once again appeared on her lips:
"And you know... if a girl goes in as a third wheel when the boys are having a life-or-death battle, she'll be looked down upon~"
"So, be a good girl and listen to your sister."
Shinobu turned around, raised her right hand, and gently tapped Kanao's smooth forehead with her index finger:
"Go back! Go and wipe out the remaining weaklings, go and protect those vulnerable comrades who truly need your protection!"
"As for that kid... if he can't even get over this hurdle, then he doesn't deserve your reckless trip to worry about him~ Don't you agree, Kanao?"
Kanao stood there, stunned.
The spot on my forehead where my fingertips touched still held a faint, cool medicinal scent.
The girl lowered her head, looking at her empty palms.
The coin I used to hold tightly whenever I felt lost is no longer there.
But strangely enough, she didn't feel the usual panic and suffocation deep inside.
In its place came an unprecedented peace.
A long time.
Kanao slowly raised her small face.
Facing Shinobu Kocho, she stood with her feet together, bowed respectfully, and performed a near-perfect, standard bow.
"... Yes, Shinobu-sama! Kanao... understands."
Straightening up, Kanao took one last deep look at the swirling golden-red flames deep within the core area, then lightly touched the branches with her toes and gracefully returned to the shadows of the inner forest.
Watching her Tsuguko's departing figure, Shinobu Kocho a soft sigh of relief.
She took the warm coin from her sleeve, twirled it deftly between her fingers, and a genuine smile of satisfaction appeared on her lips.
"Honestly... they're all such a worry."
"Tanjiro Kamado, your ability to brainwash people is truly amazing..."
Putting away the coin, Shinobu slowly turned around and turned her gaze to the sky at the very center.
Even from a distance of several thousand meters, the violent tremors still caused the entire Mount Fujikasane to tremble slightly.
"The fusion of the potions should have reached its peak by now..."
Shinobu's fingers rested lightly on the hilt of her Nichirin Blade at her waist, her purple eyes reflecting the raging flames, as she murmured to herself:
"Don't lose, Tanjiro."
"Otherwise... we won't see Mr. Giyu's cold, sour face for months to come, not even a hint of a smile."
P. S.: I've been updating all day, writing 16,000 words, I'm exhausted!
Let's set a standard!
If the update count reaches 65, I will dedicate an entire day to writing! I'll write as much as I can!
It should be around 12,000 to 15,000 RMB.