The two of them rushed back to the Butterfly Mansion, dusty and travel-worn. Kanae Kocho nearly cried when she saw how bedraggled they looked. She had been worried sick these past few days.
They told her everything that had happened, since Kanae Kocho was the one person they could not keep it from. Kanae Kocho forcibly made Shinobu Kocho stay in bed for an entire week before she finally felt reassured.
As for Tsugikuni Kuuga, he trained diligently, since the day of Final Selection was fast approaching.
To join the Demon Slayer Corps, one had to pass the Corps' Final Selection. It was held on Mount Fujikasane, where demons captured alive by Demon Slayers were imprisoned. From the foot of the mountain to its halfway point, Wisteria Flowers bloomed year-round—the flowers demons hated most.
The way to pass Final Selection was to survive on Mount Fujikasane for seven days. After passing, every candidate would immediately receive a Demon Slayer Corps uniform and a talking Kasugai Crow for communication. They could also select the ore used to forge their blade, then wait ten to fifteen days for the finished sword.
For every swordsman, Final Selection was a turning point in life. After all, it was a gamble with one's life on the line. Tsugikuni Kuuga knew very well that five survivors in Tanjiro's group had been an exceptionally impressive generation.
As for whatever year's selection this was, who knew what might happen? Still, Tsugikuni Kuuga was confident he could take down that Hand Demon.
Soon, it was the day before Final Selection. Tsugikuni Kuuga was training in the courtyard as usual, and thankfully, no one disturbed him.
Suddenly, someone wearing a Hyottoko mask entered the Butterfly Mansion. He held a Nichirin Blade in his arms, and his powerful muscles made it obvious at a glance that he was someone who forged iron regularly.
Tsugikuni Kuuga walked over with a smile and greeted him. "Excuse me, who are you looking for?"
The burly man replied politely, "I am Haganezuka. I came to deliver the Flower Hashira's broken sword."
When Haganezuka Hotaru mentioned the broken sword, his breathing grew heavier. White steam even puffed from the nostrils of his Hyottoko mask.
"My sister isn't home. You can give it to me, Mr. Haganezuka!" Tsugikuni Kuuga said with a smile.
He rather liked the highly dedicated Haganezuka Hotaru. Every swordsmith deserved respect—otherwise, where would the Nichirin Blades used to slay Evil Demons come from?
"Your sister?" Haganezuka Hotaru asked doubtfully. "May I ask who you are?"
"I'm Tsugikuni Kuuga. I forgot to mention that!" Tsugikuni Kuuga said, scratching his head sheepishly.
"So, you're the one." Haganezuka Hotaru's tone was calm.
Then, from who knew where, Haganezuka Hotaru pulled out a kitchen knife and slashed at Tsugikuni Kuuga while he was still staring in confusion.
At the moment when someone could be chatting amicably with you one second and pull out a knife to hack at you the next, Tsugikuni Kuuga was dumbfounded.
Luckily, Tsugikuni Kuuga was agile enough to dodge Haganezuka Hotaru's blade, though it still scared the life out of him.
"Holy crap! What are you doing, Mr. Haganezuka?!"
"What am I doing? Of course I'm killing you, you bastard! Die!" Haganezuka Hotaru shouted.
Haganezuka Hotaru then swung several more slashes at Tsugikuni Kuuga. As he dodged, Tsugikuni Kuuga remembered something extremely important: Haganezuka Hotaru deeply hated people who broke their swords.
Tsugikuni Kuuga did not want to fight him, so he could only run and dodge. Haganezuka Hotaru relentlessly pursued him, clearly unwilling to rest until he had chopped Tsugikuni Kuuga to death.
At that moment, Tsugikuni Kuuga truly experienced the terror of a swordsmith. When they went mad, they really did try to chop you up!
"Mr. Haganezuka, I was wrong! The sword just wasn't sturdy enough—the demon snapped it in one hit!" Tsugikuni Kuuga explained as he ran.
"Huh? Are you questioning my craftsmanship? You damned brat, die!" Haganezuka Hotaru seemed to grow even angrier.
Fortunately, there was a turn ahead. Around it was Shinobu Kocho's laboratory. Thinking he was finally saved, Tsugikuni Kuuga suddenly accelerated.
At that moment, the kitchen knife grazed past him and embedded itself directly in the wall before him, startling Tsugikuni Kuuga into jerking back.
"Damn! You can throw knives too? Impressive, Mr. Haganezuka!" Tsugikuni Kuuga complained.
"Don't think praising me will save you! I'm going to kill you!" Haganezuka Hotaru shouted.
But once Tsugikuni Kuuga entered the alley, he vanished from sight. Haganezuka Hotaru looked left and right.
"Where did that guy go? Damn it, he'd better not let me see him, or I'll definitely destroy him!" Haganezuka Hotaru said viciously.
Haganezuka Hotaru lingered there for a long while before finally leaving. Inside the laboratory, Tsugikuni Kuuga heard the commotion outside stop and let out a sigh of relief. Swordsmiths were terrifying!
"Did a demon attack headquarters or something? Why are you panicking like this?"
As Tsugikuni Kuuga panted heavily, Shinobu Kocho's voice came from behind him.
"So Shinobu was here too. That man outside is Mr. Haganezuka Hotaru, so you should know what happened! Boohoo!" Tsugikuni Kuuga wailed.
"I see. That's understandable." Shinobu Kocho put on a sympathetic expression.
Then Shinobu Kocho walked toward Tsugikuni Kuuga with a mischievous grin and said, "Since you're already here, lend me something."
"Hm?"
Tsugikuni Kuuga instinctively covered his body, and Shinobu Kocho pulled out a syringe from behind her back.
"Don't come any closer!"
Tsugikuni Kuuga opened the door to run, but shut it the instant he opened it because Haganezuka Hotaru had not left yet.
Haganezuka Hotaru heard the noise and turned to investigate. Finding nothing, he left.
"I thought I could wait here and catch that guy. He sure knows how to hide. Hmph!"
Meanwhile, Tsugikuni Kuuga had already been cornered. The Tsugikuni Kuuga who never feared even demon-slaying now trembled like a little lamb.
"Do you really have to draw blood?" Tsugikuni Kuuga asked.
"Mr. Haganezuka!" Shinobu Kocho was about to call out.
Tsugikuni Kuuga instantly stretched out his arm, as though saying, Take as much as you want, just don't call that guy back!
Shinobu Kocho smiled as she drew his blood. There was not much, only a third of the syringe, but Tsugikuni Kuuga acted as though he were in unbearable agony, just short of crying.
After she finished drawing blood, Tsugikuni Kuuga prepared to leave. Suddenly, his cheek felt something warm and soft. Before he could savor the feeling, it was gone.
When Tsugikuni Kuuga turned around, he saw Shinobu Kocho walking toward the workbench with a red face. Then it suddenly hit him—he had been kissed.
"Um, Shinobu."
Just as Tsugikuni Kuuga was about to say something, Shinobu Kocho pushed him out. Pressing herself tightly against the door, she said softly, "Do your best in Final Selection!"
Tsugikuni Kuuga touched his cheek with a lovestruck expression and foolishly grinned. "Then I definitely won't have a problem!"
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